THE JEWISH NEWS

A Good Plank for Both Parties

Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951

Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial
Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35. Mich.,
Vim. 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year Foreign $6.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich.. under Act of March 3, 1879

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

SIDNEY SHMARAK

FRANK SIMON'

Editor and Publisher

Advertising Manager

City Editor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath., the eighteenth day of Elul, 5716, the following Scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Ki TaVo, Dent, 26:1-29:8. Prophetical portion, Is. 60:12.

Licht - Benshen, Friday, Aug. 24, - 7:02 p.m.

VOL. XXIX. No. 25

Page Four

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. August 24, 1956

Right to Political Self-Expression

Both political parties have set down
their views on the. foreign situation, and
have given assurances to Israel that the
smallest State in the Middle East will be
provided protection and will be given
support in its struggle for economic
existence.
The Democratic National Convention
was first to speak on the subject. Then
came word from the Republicans. , The
latter incorporated in its platform ex-
tremely favorable sentiments to Israel,
with thumbs down on arms.
Now, in the face of possible accusations
that the mythical "Jewish vote" was
flaunted as a threat to both parties, we
find it necessary to express the hope that
the sentiments of both parties will not
remain mere lip service, but that they will
be translated into action in the best in-
terest of peace.
It is undeniable that the Republicans
were on - the defensive in the matter of
the Middle East. Israel's existence con-
tinues to be threatened by the flood of
Communist arms into Egypt and other
Arab countries, but our Secretary of State,
a spokesman for the Republicans, not only
has refused American defensive aid to
Israel, but was responsible for the with-
holding of such aid by other nations.
* * *
Only a few days before the opening
of the Democratic National Convention,
under the date of Aug. 12, the Jewish
Telegraphic Agency reported from London
that it was indicated there, prior to the
opening of the international Suez Canal
conference, that, whatever, the outcome
of that conference, "Israel is unlikely to
receive increased military assistance from
Britain . . . Stress. was laid on Prime Min-
ister Sir Anthony Eden's stand that Bri-
tain's quarrel is with __Egyptian President
Nasser and not with the Afab world."
Predicting new moves by Britain "to
win the now hostile Arab opinion to its
side," the JTA cable ascribed it to Sir
Anthony's failure to make reference to
Israel's case and stated:
."There is no indication in London that
the United States' attitude has changed.
In fact, with Secretary of State Dulles
parading as the man who stopped Britain
and France from going to war with the
Arab world, political circles here expect
some further pro-Arab American moves.
In view of British observers, supplying
arms to Israel is not likely to be one of
these."
Faced with such threats from the dem-
ocratic powers, Israel naturally is con-
cerned by our Government's attitude, and
Israel's kinsmen are disturbed lest the con-
tinuation of the policy of leaving • Israel
unprotected, in the face of Communist
arming of the Arab states, should lead to
another world conflict.
* * *
There are elements in this country,
some Christians and a handful of panicky
self-hating Jews, who become jittery the
moment these facts are mentioned. There-
fore, in evaluating the existing conditions,
we wish to point out that we are not par-
tisan, that we shall continue to adhere to
a position of neutrality in the Presidential
campaign and that we have no intention
of taking sides for or against either politi-
cal party.
But this traditional position of the
English-Jewish press can not and must
not deter us from presenting the facts
vis-a-vis Israel and the Middle East crisis.
The Israel-Arab problem and the Middle
East's crisis affect the peace not only of
that area but also of the entire world.
An outburst of serious violence in the
Middle East will threaten the lives of a
million and a half of our kinsmen, most
of whom have been rescued, in the last
eight years, from Nazi and Moslem perse-

cutions. No one with a heart can or dare
begrudge us the right to speak in defense
of the embattled Israelis. No one with a
heart and a mind dare deny to these em-
battled Israelis the right to self-defense
and the justice of encouragement in their
struggle for existence. This is the internal
Jewish position in the matter.
There also is the external, the general,
the American position. If, as it is agreed
generally, the Middle East is like a keg of
dynamite and that 'dangers of .war among
the nations of that area may result in a'
world war, then it is the duty of all
Americans, who no longer are isolated
from the rest of the world, to consider
that problem seriously. If war is to be
averted, all possible aid must be given to
the democratic forces in the Middle East
--and Israel is a major factor for demo-
cratic action there. Therefore, it is our
contention that concern over the peace of
that area is not a partisan matter, and that
if one party or another, or both, fail to
act in democracy's defense, the citizens of
this country must speak in protest against
indifference. This is our intention, and it
is our sincere hope that Americans with
an understanding of the problem will not
be silent.
* * *
There is a basic principle involved in
the discussion of current political ques-
tions. Americans are false _to their calling
as defenders of freedom and justice if they
do not speak and act in support of ideals
they hold dear. In common with all our
fellow-citizens of all faiths, we are con-
cerned that there should be peace in the
world. We believe that a strong and se-
cure Israel will be a factor in assuring
such peace. Therefore, we repeat again
and again and again that a- serious obli-
gation devolves upon both political parties
to guarantee the fulfilment of promises
to -Israel and to live up to their party
platforms.
It is in order that the complete truth
should be known that we reiterate that
Secretary Dulles and his associates have,
in the opinion of many Americans'—which
is also our opinion—been blind to reality
in' handling the Middle Eastern situation.
It is our opinion that the indecision of
State Department officials has contributed
towards a lack of firmness in dealing with
-the Arab-Israel issue. We have said it
before and repeat it now: that a positive
approach to the problem could- have
brought the contending forces together at
a peace table, to put an end to the strife
that is being perpetuated by the Arabs
with their Jewish cousins.
It is not too late to act for peace. If
what we have said is pressure, we have
no apologies to make. In the first place,
it is a basic American right to exert pres-
sure upon our leaders and legislators in
behalf of causes we believe in and hold
dear, in defense of ideals and ideas we
believe to be just. In the second place, if
pressure is in the interests of peace, no
one can possibly take exception to it but
must, on the contrary, concur in it.
* * *
We call upon the political leaders of
both parties to strive for such peace and
to work for the total implementation of
campaign pledges.
We appeal to all Americans to make it
known to the leaders of the parties they
plan to support that they will hold them
to their words when the November elec-
tion is over, no matter who are the
winners.
And we urge our fellow-citizens of all
faiths to uphold the right of Americans to
express opinions on public matters, even
if the issue involved is Israel. The mo-
ment such rights are denied, it will be the
beginning of the loss of all our rights.

`Dos Klayneh Mentsheleh'

'The Parasite,' Mendele Mocher
Seforim's First Yiddish Story

"In my time, the Yiddish language was a hollow vessel,
containing naught but gibes, nonsense, and fiddle-faddle,
the work of fools who couldn't talk like human beings . . .
Our writers, the possessors of the gift of expression, were
interested only in the holy tongue and did not care about
the people; they looked down their noses contemptuously
at Yiddish . . . How great then was my dilemma when I
considered that if I were to embark upon writing in the
`shameful' tongue, my honorable name would be besmirched!
. . . My love for utility, however, conquered my hollow
pride and I decided: come what may, I will write in Yiddish,
that cast-off daughter—it is time to work for my people.
One of my good friends, Joshua Mordecai Lifshitz, stood
by me, and we both began to convince the editor of
Hamaylitz (the leading Hebrew literary journal of the
time) to issue a journal in the language of our people . .. •
Then the peace of God descended upon me and I wrote
Irby first story, 'Dos Klayneh Mentsheleh'."

This is a quotation from the memoirs of Mendel Mocher
Seforim (Shalom Jacob Abramowitz), incorporated in the
introduction to "The Parasite," Mendele's first story, in the
translation by Gerald Stillman, published by Thomas Yoseloff
(11 E. 36th, N.Y. 36). "Dos Klayneh Mentsheleh" means
literally, "The. Little Man." That hardly describes the power
of this excellent story that is contained in the term "parasite."
It is no wonder that Mendele's name is perpetuated in
Jewish history as that of the "grandfather. of Yiddish literature."
"The Parasite" reflects his power. It was his first story—and it
preceded a long list of narratives abOut Jewish life in which
are mirrored the life of the Jew, the characters who composed
the ghetto communities, the men and women of the shtetel who
gave rise to generations of martyrs and saints and scholars—
and later men of wealth and learning and science.
"The Parasite" is the story of a sinner who, repenting of
his strong-arm schemes against his own family, of his
unscrupulous money-making tactics, offers his reasons for his
misdeeds, the causes that motivated his atonement, the soul-
stirring events that . aroused him to confession and admission
of guilt.
The parasite in the story, in his greed for power and money,
heard a reference to a "klayneh mentsheleh" who became
wealthy and was able to dominate those around him. He
emulated him, and out of the mimicry developed a leech and
a low creature.
Mendele's story at once captured the imagination of the
people. "The Parasite" first was published in 1864. It was
revised in 1879 and again in 1901. Mr. Stillman's splendid
translation is based on both versions. The translator, imbued
with knowledge of and love for Yiddish literature, not only
has given us an excellent English version of a great story, but
also has written a scholarly introduction guiding his readers
towards an understanding of the background of Yiddish literature,
the conditions under which the Yiddish-speaking Jews lived in
Russia, their miseries and the faith that was instilled in them by
men like Mendele.
"The Parasite" assists in reviving interest in one of world
Jewry's greatest personalities. Through it, Mendele Mocher
Seforim live again. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to Gerald
Stillman for his fine translation of a Yiddish classic.

Jesus' Death Blamed on Romans

WILDACRES, N. C.—Resporisibility for the death of Jesus
was placed squarely at the door of Roman imperialism by one of
the nation's outstanding younger historians, Dr. Ellis Rivkin.
Speaking at the ninth annual Bnai Brith Institute of Judaism held
here, Dr. Rivkin, professor of history at the Hebrew Union College,
said that Roman rule felt it was threatend by the preachings of
Jesus concerning an imminent kingdom of God and therefore
ordered him crucified.
This is proved by the notation over the cross which read,
"Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews," and also by the taunts of
the procurator, Pontius Pilate, Dr. Rivkin maintained.
Roman imperial rule, Dr. Rivkin explained, was maintained
by procurators who were solely interested in the welfare of the
Empire and in the suppression of discontent.
The historical Jesus won few followers until Paul enunciated
the redemptive character of the theological Jesus, Dr. Rivkin
said. Christianity failed to win over the Jews as a whole because
Pharisaic Judaism, through the synagogue, the observance of
mitzvoth and circumcision, and its concept of monotheism offered
Jews a total system of salvation that encompassed all of