•
Repagn-tent
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
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager"
Circulation Manager
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-seventh day of Adar Sheni, 5717, the following Scriptural
selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portions, Tazria, Hahodesh; Lev., 12:1-1'3;59, Es. 12:1-20. Prophetical portion,
Ezek. 45:16-46:18.
Rosh Hodesh Nisan, Tuesday.
Lict Benshen, Friday, March 29, 6:36 p.m
VOL. XXXI. No. 4
Page Four
March 29, 1957
•
Mid-East Showdown Must Come Quickly
We are so far removed from a solution
in the Middle East that it is proper to
ask that our Government take firm steps
to assure just approaches to - the Israel-
Arab issue and to insist upon strict adher-
ence by the Eisenhower administration to
certain assurances given Israel to protect
her right on land and on sea.
Three editorials _of the past week em-
phasized the urgency of the issue. The De-
troit News found it necessary to challenge
the complacency of the Eisenhower ad-
ministration when it declared:
"Some weeks ago when Israel was ignor-
ing United Nations' request that she give up
occupied Egyptian territory, Washington hum-
med with tension. Today while Egypt no less
flagrantly violates the spirit of the UN settle-
ment, moving as rapidly as possible toward
the resumption of hostilities against Israel,
Washington remains remarkably calm.
"What has happened to the s p it it of
righteousness that rang from the President's
speeches denouncing Israel's defiance?
"One change is obvious and significant. It
was President Eisenhower who publicly took
charge of breaking the Israel-UN deadlock.
It was his voice that affirmed so strongly the
rights and wrongs of the conflict. It was he
who demanded quick action and who gave
weight to the talk of possible economic sanc-
tions. Today the President is silent. The Mid-
dle East is again in the hands of the profes-
sional diplomats."
-
At the same time, the New York Times
reviewed the record relating to the exist-
ing situation and warned that the United
States and the United Nations must act
in accordance with the assurances given
Israel—"assurances which led to Israeli
"assumptions" that they were pledges, but
which nevertheless resulted in denials by
the U. S. spokesmen in Washington and
at the UN that they had made any prom-
ises to Israel. The following review of the
record, in the New York Times editorial
"Middle East: The Record," will guide the
citizens of this country in reaching their
own conclusions whether promises had
been made:
"The new tension arises because Egypt's
President Nasser has taken over the admin-
istration of the Gaza Strip; because he is mov-
ing troops equipped with new Soviet arms to
the area from which Egypt launched its main
guerilla attacks against Israel; because he pro-
claims a continued blockade of Israeli shipping
in both the Strait of Tiran and the Suez Canal
on the basis of belligerent rights derived from
a continued 'state of war;' and because he as-
serts not only unrestricted control of the Suez
Canal but also the right to use it as an instru-
ment of Egyptian politics.
"Now, the United States and the United
Nations have not only expressed "hopes and
expectations" concerning all these issues. They
have assumed definite commitments involving
their good faith.
"These commitments are contained in the
following pronouncements:
1.
"The basic resolution of the United Na-
tions General Assembly of November 11, 1956,
which, in calling for a cease-fire and with-
drawal the invading forces, also called on all
parties "to observe scrupulously the provisions
of the armistice agreements" "to desist
from raids across the armistice lines" a a * "to
refrain from introducing military goods into
the area" and "to restore secure freedom of
naviagation in the Suez Canal."
2.
"The General Assembly resolution of No-
vember 5, 1956, which established United Na-
tions Emergency Force "to secure and super-
vise the cessation of hostilities in accordance
with all the terms" of the resolution of Nov. 2.
3.
"Secretary General Hammarskjold's re-
port of November 6, endorsed by the General
Assembly, that it would be the function of the
United Nations force "to help maintain quiet
during and after the withdrawal of non-Egyp-
tian forces" * *
4.
"Mr. Hammarskjold's report of January 24
that in view of the armistice agreements and a
Security Council decision "the parties to the
armistice agreement may be considered as not
entitled to claim belligerent rights"; his report
of January 16 that "the international signi-
ficance of the Gulf of Aqaba may be co it-
sidered to justify the right of innocent passage
through the Strait of Tiran and the gulf in ac-
cordance with recognized rules of international
law"; his report of February 22 that "the take-
over of Gaza from the military and civilian
control of Israel * * * in the first instance
would be exclusively by the United Nations
Emergency Force," and his report of March 8
that "until further arrangements are made, the
United Nations Emergency Force has assumed
responsibility for civil affairs in the Gaza
Strip."
5.--
"Ambassador Lodge's statement to the
General Assembly on January 28 that "under
the armistice agreement and pursuant to the
Security Council decision, neither side may as-
sert belligerent rights, much less engage in
hostile actions" ...•
6.
"The United States memorandum to Israel
dated February 11- and "the future of the Gaza
Strip is to be worked out through the efforts
and good offices of the United • Nations," and
that "the United States believes that the Gulf
of Aqaba comprehends international waters
and that no nation has the right to prevent free
and innocent passage in the gulf and through
the straits giving access thereto."
7.
"President Eisenhower's statement of Feb-
ruary 20 that "The United States would be
glad to urge and support some participation by
the United Nation s, with the approval of
Egypt, in the administration of the • Gaza Strip"
* * to assure that the Strip "could no longer
be used as a source of armed infiltration and
reprisals"; that "we should not assume that
* * * Egypt will prevent Israeli shipping from
using the Suez Canal or the Gulf of Aqaba"
•
* and that„ "if; unhappily, Egypt, does
hereafter violate the armistice agreement or
other international obligations, then this should
be dealt with firmly by the society of nations."
8.
"President Eisenhower's letter to Premier
Ben-Gurion assuring that "Israel will have no
cause to regret" its withdrawal .. .?
"This is the record, and these are the com-
mitments. The United Nations and the United
States will be judged by the way they live
up to them."
*
*
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2SX
•
tSy
`Questions Jews Ask'
Reconstructionism Redefined in
Volume by Dr. Mordecai Kaplan
• Reconstructionism has become an enchanting subject in Jew-
ish ranks. Its very name is anathema to the Orthodox, because
of its proposals to reconstruct basic thinking on Jewish religious
subjects. But it is influencing the ap-
proaches of many in Conservative syna-
gogues, and even some Reform Jews. In
Tact, it is a sort of an approach between -
the latter two.
" A basic understanding of t_ he Recon-
structionist idea is offered in "Questions
Jews Ask: Reconstructionist Answers," by
the founder of the Reconstructionist
movement, Dr. Mordecai M. Kaplan, pub-
lished by the Reconstructionist Press (15
W. 86th St., N.Y.. 24).
Once again, this volume outlines Dr.
Kaplan's views of "Judaism as a Civiliza-
tion" in the answers to questions on
Jewish Peoplehood, which is considered
as "the Basis of Judaisni."
Dr. Kaplan
Prof. Kaplan insists that if the Jewish religion is to be
"revitalized," it can only be accomplished "by providing it
with a healthy functioning body of the Jewish people. That
would revitalize and redirect the Jewish religion which is to
the Jewish people what the soul is to the body."
Thus, not only strictly religiOuS probleins, but other issues,
including Zionism and other vital matters affecting Jewry, are
covered in this important book.
It is an authoritative volume, and when Prof. Kaplan presents
The sentiments we have just quoted
appear to represent the general consensus his ideas on Kashrut or on the differences his group has with
of opinion of the country at large. The De- Reform or Orthodoxy, he accomplishes his task. with skill and
troit Free Press editorially challenged by bringing into play his undisputed scholarship.
Dr. Kaplan's opinions on Jewish cultural matters, on edu-
"Secretary Dulles on Communiques" and
cational
issues facing Jewry, have special merit. He .makes a
declared:
strong appeal to Jews to learn to know their people and, con-
"Secretary of State Dulles and Mrs. Golda
Meir, Israel's foreign minister, conferred nearly
two hours Monday. After that, Mrs. Meir spent
upward of another hour with Mr. Dulles' sub-
ordinates, and a communique was issued.
"It announced a scoreless tie.
"When reporters pointed out to Mr. Dulles
that the communique left a great deal unan-
swered, the Secretary replied that "we do not
answer all questions in communiques."
"Mr. Dulles would have been several coun-
try miles nearer the truth about his depart-
ment•had he said that its -communiques never
answered any question at all, for the very
simple reason that Mr. Dulles never has any
answers to give.
"In this instance, 'nobody knows what is
covered by the moral commitments Mrs. Meir
was talking about.
"A great deal that is of consequence to
America, its future and conceivably the affairs
of its individual citizens are at stake in the
Middle East. If anybody finds out what we're
doing and what we stand for out there, notify
Mr. Dulles at once.
"We're sure it would be news to him."
These challenges and resumes of the
situation speak for themselves. The old
Lincolnian warning that "you can't fool
all of the people all the time" remains
valid. In spite of denials, it is on the
record that Israel has been given assur-
ances of protection against assaults from
the war-threatening neighbors who en-
circle her. These promises must be ad-
hered to—without further shenanigans.
trary to attacks often directed- at him from extremist quarters,
he advocates "Torah as the Jews' , Primary and Life-Long
Concern."
There is a strong appeal in his answers to a number of
questions for the study of Hebrew by American Jews. While he
does not insist that Hebrew should be the sole means of imparting
a Jewish education to Jews outside of Palestine, he states that
"no Jewish education can be deemed adequate which fails to
impart facility in the understanding 'of the Bible, Prayer Book
and other Jewish literature in the original, and which does not
enable the individual Jew to maintain contact through the
Hebrew language with the inner life of Israel."
In reply to an open letter written him by Rabbi Max
Weine, of Camden, N. J., a former Detroiter, Dr. Kaplan an-
swers criticisms of Reconstructionism and outlines the way in
which the movement seeks to provide solution for wholesome
and stronger Jewish existence, by retaining the basic Jewish
principles, in this country.
Analyses -of rituals, answers to questions on marriage and
intermarriage, kashrut and other explanations give great value
to this interesting book, which acquires significance and vitality
by the scholarship injected in it by the eminent author.
•
The Reconstructionist Press also announces the reprinting
of the monumental and classical "Judaism as a Civilization,"
by Dr. Kaplan. This book, 'which has been out of print for
several years, is being reissued in the original format with a
new foreword, by Dr. Kaplan. This book offers a program for
creative Judaism that maintains the continuity of the traditional
Jewish civilization in the face of today's challenging conditions.
For spring publication the Reconstructionist Press is also
pleased to announce the following books: "Reconstructing Jewish
Education" by Michael Alper, "Dusk in the Catskills" by Reuben
Wallenrod, the novel which in Hebrew won the LaMed prize
for fiction under the title "Ki liana Yom," and "Footprints and
New Worlds" by Temima Gezari.