P ure l y Commentary
z
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
The Beginnings of This Great Republic
ti
Israel Working on Formula Involving
Attitude toward Eisenhower Doctrine
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News)
spent an hour at Premier David Richards' talks with top Israeli
Ben-Gurion's residence outlin- Ministers last Friday, he told
JERUSALEM — The Israel ing its position.
newsmen that he felt "very
cabinet spent five hours Tues-
The objections within Ben- good" after his talks with
day discussing the Eisenhower Gurion's own party and in the Premier David Ben Gurion and
Doctrine. Afterwards, it issued foreign Soviet relations and other Cabinet members. He
a noncommital one-sentence the Soviet attitude toward the noted. the approach of Sabbath
communique revealing the sub- question of the emigration of had 'prevented Cabinet action
ject of its meeting but failing Jews from Eastern Europe, on Israel's attitude toward the
to indicate the nature of the while there is little doubt that Eisenhower Doctrine. -
decision it reached or even if the Premier favors adherence
Richards said that some coun-
it had come to a decision.
to the U.S. Doctrine, policy tries might adhere to the Doc-
It is obvious that when James makers are trying to work outl trine without making a public
P. Richards, President Eisen- a course which will improve announcement to that effect. He
hower's special ambassador to Israel's position both in rela- asserted that American pledges
the Middle East., who went tions to the Arab states and to of assistance against Communist
or Communist-dominated coun-
there to sound out reaction to the USSR.
It' was indicated that the dis- tries which aggressed against a
the Eisenhower Doctrine, re-
ports to the President, he will cussion within the cabinet Tues- Middle East country would be
not be able to give him Israel's day was strictly on political honored by subsequent ad-
reply. When a cabinet decision aspects of the problem. It is ministrations, whether Repub-
is reached it will be conveyed understood that even in the lican or Democratic. He de-
to Washington by Ambassador most favorable of circumstances clined to state whether military
ISrael's share of funds available aid to Israel had been discussed.
Abba Eban.
Circles close to the Mapai through the new Eisenhower A Foreign Ministry spokesman
Party Tuesday pooh poohed re- Middle East program would be said that the discussions had
centered chiefly on political
ports of an impending cabinet negligible..
Although no formal joint matters and only slightly on
crisis over objections by Ma-
pam and Achdut Avodah, left- communique was issued after economic . affairs.
4.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va.—From this vantage point, which
currently is being reconstructed as the original starting point of
our Republic, Americans now recall this nation's earliest begin-
nings.
It was on May 13, 1607-350 years ago next Monday—that the
immigrants from England, who established the first permanent
settlement in • this country, arrived in nearby Jamestown. They
struggled, their ranks were decimated, they battled the Indians
and were about to abandon their new homes. Help arrived on
time and they remained to create the beginnings of American
life..
At the cost of many millions, this area is being rebuilt ac-
cording to the designs of its earliest days. Williamsburg and
Jamestown are becoming the most famous restored areas on this
continent. Until next November there will be celebrations of the
350th anniversary of the founding of America's first permanent
settlement, and for years to come Williamsburg and Jamestown,
and nearby Yorktown, will attract endless numbers of tourists.
Williamsburg, which had replaced Jamestown as the capital
of the Virginia settlement in the early years of the 17th century,
is the center of the celebration, but the entire area is in the lime-
light.
Unlike all other developments in this country, there are no
Jewish roots on the Williamsburg-Jamestown celebration. The
reason is obvious. The settlers came from England, and there were
no Jews in England in the beginning* of the 17th century. It was
not until the middle of the century that negotiations for the return
of the Jews to England were conducted with Oliver 'Cromwell by wing parties in the government
Menasseh Ben Israel. And it was not until 1653 that Virginia coalition, to adherence to 'the
yielded to Cromwell's rule, being the last English territory to Eisenhower Doctrine. They pre-
Boris Smolar's
submit to the sovereignty of the rebellious Cromwell.
dicted with considerable assur- .
Bernard Postal and Lionel Koppman, the ingenious and alert .ance that a formula would be
authors of the `Jewish Tourist's Guide to the U. S." (a Jewish found acceptable to both Wash- 1
Publication Society book), could not find a single item of Jew- ington : and the leftwing coali-
ish interest to attach to Williamsburg and Jamestown. But there tion parties.
1
is : - much that can be appended to latter-day Yorktown, where
Informed circles have insisted 1
Jews fought side-by-Side with the armies of the French and the
opposition to joining any 1
12 Original Colonies, under George Washington, to defeat Lord that
(Copyright, 1957,
arrangement- resulting from the
Cornwallis' army and to participate in the triumph of the Revo-
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Eisenhower Doctrine has arisen'
lution.
on several levels from the lef t-
All Americans have a deep-rooted share in the Williams-
wing parties within the Mapai Diplomatic Views:
burg-Jamestown festivities. If Jews are • not represented by per-
and in the foreign ministry. The
With Israel entering the 10th year of its existence, top_ex-
sons, they certainly are by the wide display of the Holy Word
on perts on the Middle East,— both in Washington and at the
—the Bible being exhibited everywhere, in all the restored build- leftwing opposition raised
grounds United Nations — are taking a look into the future of Arab-
ings, as indications of the influence of Hebraic culture upon the ideological and political
was expressed Monday night Israel relationship .. . Their opinion is that Arab-Israel tension
founding of America.
when a Map a rn. delegation will continue for many years and that no magic formula should
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be expected to remove the factors responsible for hostility be-
Dr. Handlin's New Book: Weapon for Anti-Israelis
tween the Arabs and Israel . . . Therefore, they believe the
In his highly acclaimed "Race and Nationality in American 538 Graduate from
most constructive way to view the Arab-Israel problem is to
Life," Dr. -Oscar Handlin reviews the numerous problems relating
take this hostility for granted, but prevent it from exploding .. .
to 'racism and to nationality problems among Americans and he Hebrew University
This, they agree, requires that the United States and the United
admonishes his i eaders, in advance, in his introduction: "Our
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — A to- Nations do not tolerate belligerency between the Arab countries
own history shows that some of the sentiments that engage men's tal of 538 men and women were and Israel, regardless of %legal arguments to the contrary .. . In
loyaltieS may find creative, rather than destructive, outlets in a graduated from the Hebrew the long run, the experts assert, Arab-Israel peace can be
nationalism free • of restrictive and exclusive elements."
University of Jerusalem this reached only when there is an understanding between the United
A bit later, he tells us in this book published by Atlantic- week in the institution's 28th States and the Soviet Union on stability in the Middle East to
Little Brown Press, about the social uneasiness and prejudice annual commencement. This prevent a situation which might spark a third world war . . .
behaviors -which have led to race exploitations.
brought to 3,590 the total num- However, as matters stand now, Moscow seeks to 'consolidate
He goes into detail in describing anti-NegrO prejudice and ber graduated since the uni- its position in the Middle East by keeping the Arab-Israel ten-
anti-Semitic trends. He refers to Henry Ford's "International versity was opened.
sion alive and by inciting the Arabs against Israel . . . The
Jew" and the activities of the Klan to indicate the conditions
Degrees of Bachelor of Arts experts are reluctant to publicize their views, lest their opinions
that existed in the 1920s, "but the backward glance," he writes, were awarded to 174 graduates; be branded as 'defeatist . . . However, they are convinced that
"is encouraging. In the past 20 years our society has experienced Bachelor of Education to three; any study of the Arab-Israel problem will show that it may
a veritable revolution . . . The experience of Europe; the actual Bachelor of Science to three; take "generations" before the, incompatibility between the Arabs
diversity of our people, and the strength of our free institutions Master of Arts to 27; Master of and Israel is bridged . . Hence a realistic appraisal, they say,
provided the instruments for destroying the inequalities of prac- Social Sciences to 11; Master of is a necessary prelude to taking the steps which will prevent
tice and theory that made minorities of some of us."
Science to 82; Master of Science Arab-Israel hostility from breaking out of bonds . . . Such an
For the Jewish reader, chief interest in this book lies in
in Agriculture to 21; Master of appraisal, they claim, will definitely indicate that to' limit the
Dr. Handlin's attitudes on Zionism and Israel as outlined in
Laws to 115; Doctor of Medi- scope of action on the Arab-Israel problem to what is attainable
the chapter "Israel and the Mission of America." It is a dis-
cine to 51, and Doctor of Phil- might prove extremely constructive.
*
*
*
turbing chapter because it serves to corroborate the charges,
osophy to 59. Among the recipi-
made against Dr. Handlin during the American Jewish Ter- ents were men and women in Progress Report:
centenary celebration, that he was anti-Zionist and that he uniform and several married
The campaign 'of the United Jewish Appeal this year — con-
bore prejudices against those who are engaged in the task of
couples.
ducted under the shadow of tremendous emigration possibilities
aiding Israel in her struggle for survival.
of JeWs from various European countries to Israel — is showing
True: he emphasizes that "the American Zionism of the
be following an American unprecedented results . . Reports from -communities through-
last 50 years . . . falls into a well-established American pattern.
tradition of long standing. In out the country show that by May 1 the combined UJA regular
It is not the eccentric behavior of a single group, but rather the
their departure, so long as and special campaign averaged 27 _percent more than in 1956
normal- outcome of the freedom of group life in a democracy."
He makes the point that "Zionism was regarded as the form they think of halutziut as a . .. . This was on top of a 20 percent 1956 increase over 1955
. . A •survey made by the Council of the Jewish Federation's
pioneering movement, dedi-
through which an oppressed people struggled for liberation. .. .
cated to the furtherance of and Welfare Funds establishes that by the end of. April, the 11
That Jews should labor to create a prosperous; progressive demo-
humanitarian ethics and dem- largest carnpaign cities showed increases ranging from 18 per-
cratic state in Palestine comported perfectly with their interests
ocratic nationalism, they will cent to 54 percent.
as Americans." But then come the "buts."
*
*
*
only be spreading to another
He charges "a few American Zionists" with being "too cava-
-part
of
the
world
the
ideals
Communal
Trends:
lier in their attitude toward the Arab refugees; a few were reck-
of American democracy."
Are congregations in the United States killing their rabbis?
less in their apologetics for terrorism; a few have taken a hot-
In spite of this note of real- . . . Two Detroit physicians — Drs. N. H. Schlafer and R. A.
headed and unprincipled position on the UN decision to inter-
nationalize Jerusalem." Then comes the concluding sentence: ism, Dr. Handlin's major theme Sokolov — have come out with a warning that the demands
"The best hope of a sound and creative relationship between sheds 'doubts on the deep-rooted which are being made on the time and nerves of the modern
Israel and the Jews of the United States is that which rests upon humanitarian ideals of Zionism. rabbi endanger his health ... They claim that the rabbi of the
It is useless at this point to last generation did not carry nearly the burden assumed by the
faith in the traditional democratic mission of America."
Implied in these assertions are accusations that Jews are not repeat the answers to the issues rabbi of today . . . In addition to the fact - that synagogue pro-
complying with UN decisions, that Zionists are not going along raised by Dr. Handlin in his grams are becoming more intricate and religious schools are
in the paths of American democratic ideas, that Zionists (Handlin criticism of the "handful" of expanding, rabbis are also taxed by the new fields of teenage
is careful to say "even though a minority") are interfering with Zionists. What he overlooks' is and adult education . • . Their flocks are increasing and so are
efforts to solve the Arab refugee problem. If he has accomplished Israel's fight for its very exist- the services they must perform for their). . . They must also
anything, it is to provide additional "quotes from Jewish authori- ence. He fails to make note of give a good deal of their time to personal counseling . . • They
ties" for Arabs who are instigating to riots against Israelis in genuine Israeli offers to solve are also kept busy interpreting Judaism in civic organizations,
their orations in the UN General Assembly. William Zuckerman, the refugee problem. He ignores on the radio, on TV, and in the public press . . • A lot of their
a front for the American Council for Judaism, already has been realization in the impossible time is consumed by the hectic social. whirl in which the rabbi
used as a "Jewish authority" by the Jordanian UN delegate proposal for the international- is expected to participate . . . Not to speak of the fact that the
Rifa'i. Now Rifa'i also can use Dr. Handlin: for, the sentiments ization of Jerusalem. He plays rabbi must still continue to study and absorb a voluminous
we have just quoted are sheer libels, on issues involving the into the hands of those who amount of ancient and modern literature . . . Thus, the .rabbi
refugees, the Jerusalem internationalization, "terriorism apolo- would destroy Israel and who must be preacher, teacher, pastor, civic leader and scholar in
would, in the process, spread addition to being responsible for most of the things which go
getics," etc.
Handlin's bias against Zionism is in evidence also in his in- the venom of anti-Semitism on under the roof of his synagogue .. . Then, he must also give
troduction to the two-volume collected papers of Louis Marshall against American Jews. Dr. addresses and lectures outside his synagogue and is on constant
Oscar Handlin would not be im- demand- for services by outside organizations . . . He has no free
published by the Jewish Publication Society.
The surprising element in Dr. Handlin's negative com- mune from attack were the evening, no week-ends, no time to spend with his family, not
Arab propagandists to succeed even much time to prepare his sermon .. . The two physicians
ments is that he does propose this positive view about American
in their efforts along the very come to the conclusion that the congregation of today, and the
Jews going to Israel in the course of his evaluations: "If there
are among American.. Jews young men who find a challenge lines outlined in the otherwise Community, expects more of the rabbi than he can deliver . . .
They ask for a' "re-evaluation" of the position of the rabbi with
and
scholarly
"Race
corn- interesting
tá their social imagination in the new life of the Israeli
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V_
,.
Friday, May 1 0, 1957
-
'Between You
and Me'