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Allied Jewish Campaign Reaches A Community in Danger
All-Time High with $5,850,000 Lebanese Jews Isolated

The Allied Jewish Campaign
was expected to register a
historic achievement at its
closing dinner Thursday night,
at the Sheraton Cadillac Hotel,
with the announcement that
$5,850,000, the greatest sum
ever raised in an annual drive,
already had been assured, and
that a substantial additional
sum could be expected in the
"mop up" process.
Max M. Fisher, chairman
of the 1957 campaign, in a
tribute to the army of 4,000
workers and close to 30,000
contributors, lauded his asso-
ciates — on the eve of the
closing event — for their suc-
cessful efforts, paid tribute to
Detroit as a "beacon" com-
munity and pointed out that
the figures to date 'exceeded
the 1956 performance by more
than a half million dollars
and are well beyond the
hitherto best year of 1948.
Fisher also cited the fact that
beyond the continued support
of more than 50 basic local,
national and overseas organiza-
tions and causes, the proceeds
of the campaign would guaran-
tee the United Jewish Appeal
its essential continuing alloca-
tion of more than $2,000,000 for
continuing services and at least
$1,600,000 more toward the
Emergency Rescue Fund.
Last minute returns were to
be announced at the dinner by
Isidore Sobeloff, executive vice-

president of the Jewish Wel-
fare Federation, after an ad-
dress by Rabbi Herbert A.
Friedman, executive vice-presi-
dent of the United Jewish Ap-
peal, .principal speaker of the
evening.
Playing important roles in
the program, in addition to
Fisher and Rabbi Friedman,
were to be Judge Theodore
Levin, president of the Jewish
Welfare Federation, who earlier
expressed his appreciation to
the campaign organization, say-
ing, "the campaign is the heart
of the Jewish Welfare Federa-
tion, which enables our 13 mem-
ber agencies to exist;" Milton
K. Mahler, chairman of trades
and professions, who praised
division - leaders and workers
for their "outstanding" job;
Leonard N. Simons, pre-cam-
paign chairman, who was to
call for campaign reports, and
Mrs. Emma Lazaroff Schaver,
who was scheduled to sing the
Israeli and American national
anthems. •
"Two men who really did a
job," was Fisher's description
of pre-campaign chairmen
Leonard N. Simons and Irwin I.
Cohn. "The tremendous . effort
of campaign executive vice-
chairmen Louis Berry, Harvey
H. Goldman and Abe Kasle con-
tributed materially to the suc-
cess of the campaign, and we
all pray for the speedy re-
covery of vice-chairman Irving
W. Blumberg."

Among those receiving special
mention were campaign vice-
chairmen, Louis C. Blumberg
and Hyman Safran, whom Fish-
er describes as "pillars of the
campaign," John E. Lurie, spe-
cial events chairman; Joseph
Holtzman, UJA National chair-
man; and Max J. Zivian, trea-
surer.
"Detroit's response to emer-
gency rescue needs has been
magnificent," stated Rabbi
Friedman upon his arrival in
Detroit, "but you can not,
must not, abandon your ef-
forts while there are Jews
living in terror, Jews in tran-
sit to freedom and Jews in
staging areas dependent on
you for the funds needed to
send them further.
The race for possession of the
Detroit Service-- Group cup,
awarded annually to the divi-
sion which does the best job in
the campaign, will continue
through the campaign's "mop
up" ,phase, with the ,award
being presented at the annual
"Stag Day" outing in Septem-
ber. The mechanical trades
division, under chairman Rob-
ert Trepeck, which passed last
year's total giving, reported re-
sults slightly ahead of those of
the food division, under chair-
man Merwin K. Grosberg.
Arts and Crafts division
chairman Paul Broder an-
nounced that his division, now
third, is still very much in
contention.

Purely Commentary :Liz::

(Continued from Page 2)

one holding up the sides. ... For hundreds of
miles in every'direction there is a Mohammedan
world which regards the Zionist experiment as
temporary and is determined to destroy it. . .
The quarrel is not to be appeased: it is perma-
nent: and that is why the Zionist experiment,
in proportion to its success, will be an increas-
ing anxiety to this country.' "
Quoting the latter from Belloc's article in
Universe, Speaight adds: "It would be hard to
find a more lucid analysis or a more accurate
prediction. _Certain things had a way of com-
ing ,far truer than even Belloc foresaw." But
this does not prove that Belloc had sud-
denly become infatuated with Jews. Certainly
"The Battle Ground," published in 1936, did
not prove it.
*
*
*
Speaight's splendid biography makes an-
other effort to clear Belloc of the anti-Semitic
charge, in his discussion of "The Jews."
Speaight makes this defense: "The Jews" was
anything but an anti-Semitic tract, and -it is a
tragedy that for a hundred people who know
the rhyme about Lord Swaythling or the 'little
curly-headed men' there is not one who has
read Belloc's sober examination of the prob-
lem."
This reviewer did read it. He reviewed it
when it first appeared (in 1922), and he must
side with those who charge that Belloc never
abandoned his anti-Semitism.
But in all justice to the" able biographer
and his subject, we shall quote another state-
ment by Belloc, made on Nov. 25, 1913, and
quoted by Speaight: "My own attitude is quite
clear. The Jewish nation ought to be recog-
nized as a nation in some way or another, with
all the advantages and disadvantages that fol-
low from the recognition of any truth. I express
that policy in the word privilege. Where there
is conscription the obvious bargain would be
not to submit Jews to military service. . . . I
would have registration and charters, Jewish
Courts and so on . . . "
Is it possible that Belloc could not under-
stand that Jews reject privilege, that they in-
sist on the same duties, as well as right, as
other citizens?
It is an appalling inconsistency! Speaight
quotes Page 54 of Belloc's "The Jews": "The
first to enlist (in World War I) from the United
States was a Jew, whom I had the pleasure of
meeting on Mangin's staff at Mayence . ."
Belloc thereupon told the story of Major Louis
Henry Cohn. At one point he advocated no
conscription for Jews, and here he glorified a
Jewish hero!
But again to Belloc's credit, and in justice
to his brilliant biographer, we quote: "When
Belloc came to New York in 1923 Major Cohn
gave a luncheon for him at a Jewish Club.
-There was some indignation that one who was
generally regarded as an anti-Semite should
be admitted as an honored guest, and one
eminent Jewish judge had made a speech say-
ing that he ought to be deported. Belloc, let
us repeat, thought popular anti-Semitism a

violent and vulgar absurdity, and in corre-
spondence with Major Cohn he was at pains
to dissociate himself from it."
Such is the conflict over Belloc's attitudes
towards Jews, but the gifted biographer, in ad-
dition to having produced an outstanding work,
also has made a very valiant effort to protect
his friend against the charge of anti-Semitism.
*
*
*
Having referred to the anti-Semitism of
Hilaire Belloc and Gilbert K. Chesterton, two
eminent Catholic laymen, it is not out of order
at this point to examine certain attitudes of
American Catholic lay leaders and clergymen.
Last month, the Rev. Ralph Gorman, editor
of the national Catholic magazine The Sign,
published in Union City, N. J., utilizing—as
so many of Israel's antagonists have chosen to
do—the Arab refugee problem as a pivot for
attacks on Israel, resorted to such terms as
"Zionist invaders" in inciting to prejudice
against the Jewish State. He spoke of Palestine
25 years ago having been_"unquestionably and
unreservedly" an Arab country, now taken over
by, "invaders."
Father Gorman, by resorting to the argu-
ment that anti-Semitism would result from
present-day pro-Israeli plans, really encourages
such prejudice by suggestion. He could so easily
have acquired the facts that disprove most of
his contentions. But he has chosen to be an-
tagonistic to Israel.
Two years ago, an editor of the liberal
Catholic magazine Ccimm -onweal was a mem-
ber of an American Council for Judaism dele-
gation to Israel; and while he was not rabid
in his opposition to Israel, he certainly was
not helpful.
But the most disturbing anti-Israelism,
often bordering on anti-Semitism, has been
in evidence in the columns of the Boston Pilot.
The reports it published from its Israel cor-
respondent, Edward R. F. Sheehan, in which
all the pro-Arab propaganda, including the
shocking emphasis on tax-exempt dollars from
America pouring into Israel—with little or no
concern for the fact that these dollars go to
aid new settlers in Israel who are escaping
persecution from Moslem and Communist coun-
tries; its articles by its columnist, David Gold-
stein, the Jewish convert to Catholicism; its
editorials and other items, all have been on
such antagonistic angles against Israel that
they were truly disturbing.
We had hoped for a better deal from our
Catholic friends. Israel deserves a friendlier
response from official Catholic quarters. It is
time even for an exchange of Vatican-Israel
diplomatic relations.
In fact, it is to be expected, by this time,
that all Catholics will speak the language of
Jerzy Turowicz, editor of the Tygodnik Pows-
zechny, which is assumed to reflect the views
of Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski of Poland, who
wrote in his paper, in condemnation of anti-
Semitic manifestations in Poland: "It must be
stated explicitly that anti-Semitism cannot be
reconciled with Catholicism; anti-Semitism is
completely pagan in essence." 5

(Continued from Page 1)
from Syria who, after a considerably short time,. took over
the major part of Lebanon's goldware trade and all the by-
lines of it, and the agencies of the Beirut Harbor.
A vital trade artery running through this harbor is the
traffic of gold cargos imported into Lebanon from all over the
world through legal and' "private" channels. In Beirut this
gold is being speedily melted into tabs; these . are being quickly
distributed among the goldsmiths of whom a decisive majority
are Syrian Jews.
The influx of Syrian Jews to Lebanon dates back to
1947—shortly before the proclamation of the State of Israel.
Shortly after the outbreak of the Israel War of Independ-
ence, the Syrians knew that they were hopelessly beaten. The
influence of the faltering government's propaganda was zero.
The morale in Syria was below zero. Something just had to._
be done about it.
. By that time most of Syrian Jewry had managed to
escape and some 14,000 Sephardic Jews had crossed the nearby
border and found asylum in Lebanon—the sole country in the
Middle East able and willing to grant asylum to Jews.
Tribute should be paid to Lebanon for that; because its
government was well aware that by granting asylum to these
Syrian Jewish refugees and naturalizing them into Lebanese
citiens, it could even strain more the unfriendly relations with
Syria.
The newcomers meanwhile filled the synagogue and the
Maccabi House with pulsating life. They built a Jewish day-
school, a Bet Kehillah and a Jethish library, and the Lebanese
government with a military defeat on its neck and ari-inimiv-ent
revolution in its belly, decided to close clown all Jewish
institution-s, including the Jewish kindergarten , - "on grounds
of Zionist tendencies."
Dr. Abraham Hellmann, president of the Maccabi of Leba-
non, was arrested. The movement was declared illegal. The
Maccabi House with all its property was confiscated; but the
government compensated the three co-owners of the building
with 15 Lebanese pounds.
Three weeks later Dr. Hellmann was released and per-
mitted to continue his practice as a general physician.
Rabbi Dr. Kurdagi was summoned to Beirut police head-
quarters and advised that for every single service to be con-
ducted in his synagogue he is to obtain a special police license
at the price of five Lebanese pounds; persons conducting un-
licensed service to be arrested.
A special "defense tax" was imposed on every Jewish
person with earning capacity.
Jewish officials in the Ministry of Commerce were dis-
charged.
The newspapers advertised these incidents and stirred the
Lebanese against Jews. One Jewish merchant was stabbed to
death.
Many Jewish businesses folded up. Many Jews left Leba-
non for France, England and the U.S. But by the time 8,000
Jews managed to leave, the authorities became aware that
invested money was sliding out again. Exit visas to Jews were
refused forthwith and this state of affairs prevails to this day.
No additional "serious" anti-Jewish measures have taken
place. The government claims that in Lebanon there is no anti-
Jewish prejudice at all and Jews agree that they suffer only
from the "conventional - forms of anti-Semitism." But, no further
building licenses are being granted to Jews; many schools have
expelled Jewish children, in spite of the fact that elementary
education in Lebanon is compulsory. -
One missionary school did admit 60 Jewish boys on condi-
tion that while on the premises of the 'school they wear uniform
white shirts with blue stripes to be recognized" asJews. Their
parents, too poor to afford private tuition, agreed to this hu-
miliating condition. Education is being given free of charge - in
the missionary school.
Of the three universities of Beirut and its Academy of
Science only the American University refused to follow the
"advice" of the government and expel the 80 Jewish. under-
graduates. The Academy of Science still employs four Jewish
lecturers. Eleven Jewish lecturers resigned in protest against
the expulsions of Jewish students. One of the lecturers, Prof.
Jaques Dupont, who advocated the resignations, was arrested.
Nothing is known of his whereabouts.
Curiously enough the Beirut Jewish School of Domestic.
Science, owned by - Dr. Ellias Abarbanell, has been left un-
touched and the 200 Jewish girls continue their training there
undisturbed. Beirut police agreed, upon Dr. Abarbanell's re-
quest, to have sentries patrolling the school to protect the girls
from being pestered by unwanted intruders. But this is one of
the murderously generous sparks of the unpredictable Orient.
Of the 11 hospitals of Beirut only the American owned
clinic "Cedars of Lebanon" admits Jews at any time.
The anti-Jewish measures violate the fundamental rules
of UNESCO whose representatives of Jewish faith were denied
entrance into Lebanon.
The Lebanese Ministry of Interior founded an "Office for
the Boycott of Israel."
The French Embassy in Beirut warned the Lebanese airport
authorities that if discriminative action against passengers of
Air France did not cease forthwith, the company would fold
up its maintenance shop at the Beirut International Airport,
as it did in Syria, and leave 2,000 Lebanese out of work. No
official reply has been received in the French Embassy, but
the boycott of Air France passengers egased.
An advocate of Jewish affairs—the representative of the
Jewish minority in Parliament—is the . Lebanese MP Kmal
Junblat. If he gets a chance, during Parliament debates, he
opposes anti-Jewish measures. But he is only the Deputy of
the Driize minority - of Lebanon. •
On the list of 17,000 ex-immigrants who wish to return
to Lebanon, there, are 34 Jews: one resident in Germany, six
U.S., 11 Canadian and 16 French citizens.
It is surprising to learn that there are Jews who wish
to return to Lebanon (immediately!). Apparently they know
nothing about the present situation of Lebanese Jewry. Any-
way Lebanon would not admit them: they are Jews.
The 11,000 Jews of Beirut, on the other hand, would like
to leave Lebanon (immediately). But there is no need to worry
about that either. Lebanon would not let them go: they are
Jews.
The isolation of the Lebanese Jewry is now complete. All
one can do now is — hope.

Copyright by David Ben-Mordechay Bligh Service, England

