THE JEWISH NEWS
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„
VE. 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year, Foreign $6.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1952, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
SIDNEY SHMARAK
FRANK SIMONS
Editor and Publisher
Advertising Manager
City Editor
Om.
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the tenth day of Shevat, 571 7, the following Scriptural selections will be read
tn. our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Beshallah, Shabbath Shirrah, Ex. 13:17-17:16. Prophetical portion.,
Judges 4:4-5:31.
Hamisha Asar b'Shvat will be observed next Thursday.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Jan. 11, 5:03 p.M.
VOL. XXX No. 19
Page Four
January 11, 1957
Plea to Statesmen and Our Arab Cousins
We reiterate: it is not Israel alone that
Charged with tensions and uncertain-
is affected. Millions of dollars are lost an-
ties, the atmosphere surrounding the
nually, in tourist trade, to every one of the
world political situation remains uncer-
Arab states wherefrom visitors are barred.
taro, replete with threats, predominantly
marked by barbs constantly aimed at Tens of thousands of Jews would have
visited Egypt yearly under conditions of
Israel and frequently at American Jewry
freedom. They are barred from such
for being Israel's strongest supporter.
travel. Their American passports have
We are reminded of the lines written
been invalidated for travel to Arab areas.
75 years ago by Emma Lazarus, in "The
Their lives would have been endangered
Crowing of the Red Cock":
had they stepped foot on Arab soil.
"His cup is gall, his meat is tears,
Also: many Christians who now are
His passion lasts a thousand years."
compelled to take round-about routes
Jewry's cup still is gall, and Israel,
when planning tours to both Israel and
the Jew's highest achievement in two
the Arab states are abandoning their trips
thousand years, is being subjected to
rather than risk humiliations when their
dangers that are threatening not only the
passports indicate the inclusion of Israel
security of the infant, small Jewish State,
in their itineraries.
but the peace of the entire world.
These represent great losses. So does
New programs are in the making. A
the termination of trade among states in
new policy is about to be formulated, but
that area.
Israel is kept in doubt as to her status in
Those who support the policy of
international relations.
* * *
threatening Israel's existence, those who
encourage the continuation of the pres-
Objective students of world affairs
ent state of affairs in the Middle East,
are agreed that there can be no perman-
Many books have been written, dealing with our holidays,
therefore are not helping anyone. On Sabbaths and festivals. Few, however, are as impressive as the
ent peace in the world without an effec-
the contrary, while harming Israel, they volume of homiletical essays, "Links to Eternity," by Harris L.
tive peace between Israel and the Arab
are harming the Arabs. Instead, of as- Selig, published by Bloch.
states, and fair-minded statesmen agree
sisting in the elevation of the standards
that there can be no solution to any of the
There are 18 sections in the book, devoted to the major festi-
of living of the Arabs, they are contrib- vals and to the most important Sabbaths. In each section there
existing problems without the recognition
uting towards lowering them.
are several articles on the specific subject.
of Israel's existence and her right to exist-
* * *
ence.
The essays are studded with Hebrew quotations and sayings.
That is why we say, in addressing our- Those who possess knowledge of Hebrew will be especially
Therefore, there must be a return to
selves to our dear cousins, that it is not pleased with this fine work. But a lack of such knowledge will
fundamentals. Saber-rattling nations must
only the crime of fratricide that is involved not be a handicap to its understanding, in. view of the clarity of
be informed, by our Government, which
here; it is not only the• injustice of man the compositions.
has been giving them succor and has done
threatenineman, but also the basic econo-
everything to please them, and by the
The author shows a fine understanding of Jewish values and
mic interest of the nations in the Middle traditions. He states in his foreword:
United Nations, where they now form a
East that is at stake.
formidable bloc, that if there is to be peace
"The Jews are a symbolic people, and all their national
We wish to say to our dear cousins
in the world—and peace is the first objet-
holidays are signs and indications that proclaim to the world
that when they applaud an archaeologi-
tive of this country and of the United Na-
the ideals of their faith . . . Not on bread alone does man live.
cal professor at the Univeisity of Michi-
tions—there must be peace with. Israel;
Economic and political achievements, however great and sig-
gan who assails Israel; when they em-
nificant, are not the primary goals of a people of eternity .. .
and that they must stop festering the free
brace a so-called foreign expert who
The holidays and festivals we were told in the Torah to cele-
air of the world with threats that Israel
brate link us with eternity."
writes misleading newspaper articles
must be destroyed.
about Israel, they are giving comfort not
What would the statesmen of the
The excellence of his essays is proof of the validity of his
only to Israel's enemies, but to people arguments. The reader, the student of Jewish traditions will
world say if Russia were to adopt a
who are rendering them great harm.
be compensated by studying Selig's "Links to Eternity."
policy of repeating, time and again, an
Can't these people understand that
aim to destroy Britain, or France, or
while Israel's "cup is gall," while "his
Germany, or New Zealand, or the United
meat is tears," "his passion (nevertheless)
States? Would the UN permit that to
lasts a thousand years?" Haven't they FROM THE BEGINNING: A New Look at the Bible. By Rabbi Ely E. Pilchik.
go on unabated? We doubt it. Therefore,
Bloch Publishing Co., 31 W. 31st, New 'York.
learned the lessons of Haman and Pobed-
we plead against the application of simi-
THIS IS MY GOD: A Primer for an Abiding and Sustaining Faith. By
onostziev
and
Torquemada
and
Hitler,
that
lar threats to Israel.
Rabbi Max Machtei. Pageant Press, 130 W. 42nd, New York.
*
*
Israel is indestructible?
?0
Rabbis Pilchik and Machtei have added to Biblical narrations
. Also: haven't they learned the basic
On this score, we would like to ad-
right of people to "life, liberty and the with their two interesting books.
dress ourselves to our dear cousins, the
pursuit of happiness?" They desire it for
"From the Beginning," aimed at "adults and older children
Arabs. Neither they nor Israel can afford
in the religious school," contains the suggestion that parents and
themselves: let them grant it to Israel.
the continuation of a state of war. Ameri-
Therefore, as the bargaining proceeds students study the book together. The author's position, stated
can Jews cannot afford it because they
on the international front, as new policies in his introduction, is:
will not stand by and see their kinsmen
are being formulated, we pray for peace,
"The Bible was written by God-inspired men, over a
slaughtered. We have witnessed enough
and we plead: with - the statesmen of the period of 1300 years. Its authors and editors were religious
holocausts not to permit another.
world—primarily with our President—to teachers who sought to invoke God's name upon every human
But the air of the entire Middle East
strive for amity in the Middle East, by act . . • Their tongue was Hebrew . . . Their setting was
has been polluted. The economic status of
insisting upon immediate direct peace ne- Palestine . . . Their theme ' was life — human life upon an
Israel and her neighbors is seriously af-
gotiations between Israel and her neigh- abundant earth, under a God who cared."
fected by the war threats. The Midcjie East
bors; and with our dear Arab cousins that
Rabbi Pilchik analyzes the Biblical traditions in Israel and
is suffering from economic stagnation, and
they should stop being misled by propa- Judea, and reviews the teachings of Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah,
even progressive Israel is seriously en-
gandists who flatter them in support of a Ezekiel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Jonah, Daniel; and deals with other
dangered by the lack of freedom on the
"destroy Israel" policy while they, there- factors in Biblical history — with the smaller anthologies, with
seas, by the boycotts, by the termination
the Psalms, with Ruth and the activities of the priesthood.
by, harm them as much as Israel.
of a lucrative tourist trade.
'Links to Eternity: Essays on
Jewish Holidays and Festivals
Two New Biblical Primers
New Eisenhower Plan's Effects on Israel
It is too early to form definite opinions
on the effects of the new Eisenhower-
Dulles for the Middle East, on Israel and
on the future of the Middle East.
One point already is clear, however:
Secretary of State Dulles is pursuing a
policy of penalizing Israel by barring con-
sideration of Arab-Israel peace from the
Eisenhower doctrine.
We consider it an injustice, in line
with the total United Nations policy which
unrealistically makes demands upon
Israel that would restore the Jewish State
to the status quo ante—a position that
would tend merely to invite renewed at-
tacks on Israel.
We wonder: can't our administration
in Washington understand, doesn't Sec-
retary General Dag Hammarskjold real-
ize, that Israel is the only nation under
Communist threats in the Middle East;
that the Soviet aim is to create a weak
Israel and thereby instigate new war-
fare?
Our major hope at this time is that
Congress will recognize the immorality of
the treatments accorded • Israel. Perhaps
the changes planned in framing legislation
on the Eisenhower proposals will serve to
remove the injustices that are now in evi-
dence.
Rabbi Machtei's "This Is My God," also written as a guide
for parents and teachers, is in the form of informal chats. He had
written them originally for his grandchildren, and every word
which he believed needed explanation was clarified for easy
understanding.
"The Bible," Rabbi Machtei writes, "properly understood
and correctly taught, holds the solution to our human problems.
We must understand that the Bible furnishes the lessons for
moral character building, as well as for health, happiness, peace
of mind."
But the author recognizes that the Bible cannot be inter-
preted literally, that if what they were taught by-the religious
school teacher does not coincide with life's realities his faith
can be shattered, "the collapse is demoralizing." This need
not be so, Rabbi Machtei states, and his book "is one poor
effort to remedy the situation."
His lessons deal with prayer, hunger, rest, the Bible, God,
creation, time and space, evolution, reward and punishment, work,
justice, love, disease, dreams, fears, and many other problems
related to Biblical and Jewish traditional teachings.