Detroiters Establish Initial Fund o i4ate
Haifa Technion Experimental Laboratnry

Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

President Eisenhower's Pastor and Zionism

From the very first year of President Eisenhower's ascendancy
to the Presidency, fears were expressed in many quarters that the
anti-Zionist attitude of the Rev. Edward L. R. Elson, the Presi-
dent's pastor, may bring harm to Israel and to the cause of liber-
tarianism in the Middle East.
Recently, Dre-vir Pearson revealed the contents of a letter by
Mr. Elson in which his views became a matter of public record.
Rev. Elson followed a rabidly pro-Arab line by comparing Zion,-
ist organizations with the German-American Bund, Adolf Hitler's
supporter in this country prior to the last war. While he insists
that he is not anti-Israel, Rev. Elson's position stamps him in a
bad light by virtue of his position as national chairman of the
anti-Zionist and pro-Arab American Friends of the Middle East.
. Pearson revealed that Mrs. Alfred Loewenthal, of Chicago,
had written to the President's spiritual adviser with an inquiry
about his influence upon the President, and Mr. Elson replied:
_ "My relations with the President are of a pastoral and spiritual
nature, and I am not a political consultant.
"Many of my choicest friends are observant.Jews for whom I
have utmost appreciation.
"Nor am I anti-Israel," he added. "Although its creation was a
diplomatic debacle, Israel is here and must be regarded as a ,valid
entity among the nations. I am not now nor have I ever been
anti-Israel, but I am desperately and earnestly pro-American in
the highest and most refined sense of that word.
"Political Zionism, it seems to me, does violence to that con-
cept. The so-called German-American Bund was out of place in
American life. In our American political life, similarly, Zionist
American organizations are out of place.
"Judaism is a great faith and the Jews a great people, and
these concepts should be clearly separated from political Zionism."
Such statements, made by so prominent a Presbyterian minis-
ter, call for evaluation, for the sake of averting misrepresenta-
tions among Jews as well as non-Jews.
Mr. Elson's conceptioni are shocking, to say the least. We would
like to assume that he is acquainted with the Zionist program. In
that case, we must ask whether he has an appreciation of the
basic libertarian ideals which make Zionism a movement akin to
fighters for freedom throughout the generations. -
If it was right for the Irish to fight for Irish freedom a gen-
eration ago, and to enlist American aid; if it was proper for Poles
to enroll support in this country for the liberties of their fellow-
Poles overseas; if it is just for Hungarians to seek succor for their
fellow-men in Hungary among the people of this country, and if
it was right for Czechs to make this. country the center of rev-
olutionary' effort for the liberation of Czechoslovakia—why is it
wrong for Jews to seek freedom for the survivors from Nazism?
We wonder where Mr. Elson was when six million Jews were
being pulverized in crematoria! -
But if he can't be helpful in rescuing Jews, why can't he be
silent when. Jewry's enemies at piesent, his companions in arms,
the Arabs—seek to destroy Israel?
This country still is the center of revolutionary efforts in be-
half of oppressed Poles, and Czechs, and Romanians, and Hun-
garians—and Jews. Those who have enlisted their efforts in such
a battle for justice have nothing to apologize for. On the contrary,
Zionists and pro-Zionists have much to be proud of, the injustice
of the Elsonian approach notwithstanding. Zioniim is libertarian-
ism, and fighters for human freedom and for the rights of men
need not offer excuses for joining movements for fair play. If
apologies are to be made for interfering with justice, they must
come from the Elsonian corner.
'* • •

.

From the left: Dr. Joseph Epel, Dr. Richard C. Hertz, Jules Lev, Leon Kay, Prof. Sebas-
tian Littauer, Benjamin Wilk, Col. J. R. Elyachar and Murray Altman.

.

At the annual dinner of the
Detroit Technion Society, held
Saturday at L'Aiglon, a fund
was created for the establish-
ment of a food laboratory at the
Haifa Technion in IsraeL
A gift of $10,000, made at
the dinner by Mr. and Mrs.
Tom Borman, supplements an
earlier similar gift made 'by
Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Shaye. •
• The Bormans and the Shayes
have undertaken to solicit lead-
ers in the food industry to as-
sure the raising of $250,000
necessary for the creation of the
proposed laboratory at Israel's
technological university.
Other gifts made at the dinner
included an additional $20,000,
announced by wire from Miami
Beach by Mr. and ,Mrs. Sam
Brody, who previously had
given close to $100,000 to the
Technion, and a number of
gifts by local leaders who enroll-
ed as Technion Founders — at
$1,000 each — to assist in the
$10,000,000 building fund for
the new Technion campus.

Guest Speakers

invocation. Brief remarks were
made by Joseph Epel, president
of the Detroit Technion Society.
Leon Kay, a national vice-presi-
dent of the American Technion
Society, was another speaker at
the dinner. He announced the
gifts made to the Technion
building fund.
Murray Altman was chair-

man of the dinner arrangements
committee. Working with him,
among others, were the society's
local treasurer, Sam Grand;
Benjamin Wilk, former presi-
dent, and others.
William Schwartz, national
executive director • of the Amer-
ican Technion Society, was a
guest at the dinner.

Boris Smolar's
3

Between You
... and Me'

(Copyright 1956,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)

Israeli Personality:

Much has been said and written about Secretary of State
John Foster Dulles as the "flying" member of the government
... But Israel's. Foreign Minister Mrs. Golda Meir put his record
to shame when it comes to "flying missions" . . . During her
current visit to the United States she has performed a really
superhuman task in flying from one city to anotheras no other
Foreign Minister has ever done . . . With plenty of .diplonratie

on her head, she not only spent her time in address'
Dr. Sebastian Littauer, pro- worries
United Nations and conferring with Washington officials ..
fessor of industrial engineering the
greater '
at Columbia University, who She also devoted her visit in this country to arousing
of Israel in its
plans soon to go to Israel as an interest among American Jews in the fate
numerous
assistant to General Yaakov present Sinai crisis • . to achieve this, she addressed
Dori, president of the Technion, UJA and Israel bond meetings from the Atlantic to the Pacific
addressing the dinner, spoke of . . . In the morning one could hear her deliver a passionate
the Technion as a symbol for speech at the United Nations General Assembly and in the same
all who found refuge in Israel. evening she was addressing a bond meeting in Los Angeles . . a .
As a native American, he said The next morning she _was again in New York addressing
he felt a spiritual feeling in press conference, and in the same evening she was somewhere
Israel and "acquired a growing in the South speaking at a UJA dinner . A day, later she
sober sense there of the people's was answering questions on a nationwide television hook-up
Leonard Simons States the Case
will to live not by bread alone." originating .from Washington, and that same day she managed to
the
Leonard Simons, the prominent Detroit advertising executive,
He described the sincerity fly to Boston to appear at a Jewish gathering there .. In
has shown a keen understanding of the Israel situation. His with which Israelis devote them- evening she attended a reception in New York and early the
speeches, in which he evaluated the experiences he gathered selves to the upbuilding of their next morning she was again on the plane winging toward a city
on his recent visit in Israel, show an excellent awareness of the homeland, the simplicity of their in the Middle West . To the average American Jew she repre-
lives, the determination to sur- sented the personification of all the energy and effort that the
problems.
people in Israel are investing to preserve the security and stabil-
Speaking a few days ago before the Vortex Club, Simons vive in defiance of all obstacles. ity of their country.
"Israel will forge ahead in
made this comment on Zionism:
am not a Zionist—although, truthfully, I don't believe developing its technical enter-
-
American Personality:
I could accurately define what a Zionist is. I mention this be- prises," Prof. Littauer, said. "The
Brigadier General Morris C. 'Proper, who was honored by
cause we see and hear this word used a lot. But if being a country stands as a most pro-
Zionist means being interested in the welfare of my coreligionists found symbol of human dignity. the American Jewish Congress, is a modest man despite his
who are trying to establish their lives on some sort of a decent We need technical means of sus- achievements I do not think he is a member of the American
Jewish Congress, or of any other Jewish political group . . .
basis, similar to the way that you and I are living and trying taining this culture."
His great love is the Joint Distribution Committee, the UJA,
Blunders Described
to raise our families in the U. S., then perhaps I am a Zionist
The other guest speaker at the ORT and other purely humanitarian bodies . . . This is be-
without realizing it."
the
dinner, Col, J. R. Elyachar, cause he is essentially a humanitarian ... I spent quite a num-
That's what we call being honest with one's sentiments. That's
described
the background of ber of years with him in Europe shortly before and after the
proof of genuine humanitarianism. The fellow who is so moti-
Outbreak of World War II, and can best testify to his humani-
vated by prejudice that he is unable to recognize the libertarian American diplomatic activities tarian
actions during the most critical times for European Jewry
principles. of a movement like Zionism can never be of value in the Middle East. He referred
to Byroade's influence in forc-
..
I
accompanied
him to Poland when the • Nazis started their
community.
Simons
is
proving
that
he
can.
to his
ing Britain out of Egypt and brutal mass deportations of Polish Jews back to Poland before
* * S
called it "our first blunder," they invaded that country . . • I saw his mood when the Nazis
S. L A. Marshall's Reports from Israel
adding," and we'll make more burned synagogues in Germany and looted Jewish stores . . .
Brig. Gen. S. L. A. Marshall's reports to the Detroit News of them." The only solution, he I was with him in Paris when Nazi fliers dropped their bombs
from Israel evince marked sympathy for the defenders of the said, lies in America's leader- over the city and when all the glory of Paris was veiled in
Jewish State. They show a keen understanding of the problem ship in getting Arabs and Jews gloom and darkness . I witnessed with him the Nazi bombing
and an appreciation of the right of the embattled Israelis to life, together for peace talks.
of Bordeaux and observed his devoted work to Jewish refugees
Col. Elyachar, a native of in Lisbon where they fled after the Nazi occupation of France
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
While many correspondents have indiCated similar feelings, Israel who came to this country . . In all these and other cases he spared no energy to bring
as a youth and distinguished maximum aid to those who needed it.
the unusualness of Sam Marshall's interpretations, in the face himself
*
*
a
as a member of General
of otherwise prejudiced interpretations of Israel's position in the Eisenhower's
military s t a f f, Jewish Personality:
Detroit press. (excepting W. K. Kelsey, the other courageous
Detroit News libertarian), cause us to wonder: will Sam Marshall spoke also of the value of tech-
Chief Justice Horace Stern of the Pennsylvania State Su-
nology to help make Israel self-
now be called a Jew?
Court, one of the "grand old men" of American Jewry
preme
supporting.
We say this because of the story related to us some time
Referring to the current situ- who all his life has been active in Jewish affairs, is now being
ago by Bill Kelsey. When he resided at the Belcrest, a woman, ation, he said Nasser talks and honored at official farewell dinners by lawyers and judges . .
a fellow-resident at the hotel, approached him with the remark: acts like a winner, but that his- The younger generation of American Jewish leadership may
"Oh, Mister Kelsey! I always thought you were a Jew, until I tory has known haw to deal not remember his plan for organization of Jewish community—.
saw you reading a Catholic newspaper."
with dictators. The UN blun- which betame known as the "Stern Plan"—but they may be
This is a good season of the year to recall this incident—and dered in dealing with England interested in the vision he displayed some 25 years ago when
Bill Kelsey surely will forgive us for bringing it up. The moment and we let the British down, he came out with this plan ... According to the "Stern Plan,*
a person who insists on fair play dares defend the Jews, he is he said, but he predicted that which provoked a good deal of discussion, all Jewish philan-
Called a Jew. In some quarters, the position that seems never eventually Israeli ships will go thropic, charitable and educational endeavor were to be regu-
lated constructively through the synagogue .. The centraliza-
through the Suez Canal.
to be challenged is that of the maligners of Israel.
Jules Lev was toastmaster. tion of Jewish communal activity in the synagogue, Justice Stern
Thank Heaven for the Kelseys and the Sam Marshalls. They
vital to the perpetuation of religion. =
give reality to the -call: "Peace on earth, good will among men." Dr. Richard C.- Hertz,- gave the •maintained, is

—

-

-