fti I State Department. Conflict Over Hebrew
BY MILTON FRIEDMAN
• FrIthiy, Ma,y .10, • 1957 — THE DETROIT JEWISH
(Copyright, 1957, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
WASHINGTON — The day
may yet come when one State
Department diplomat turns to
another and says in Hebrew:
"It's hard to be a non-Jew:"
The State Department has un-
dertaken to train young Amer-
ican diplomats in the Hebrew
language. This was made known
by Loy W. Henderson, Deputy
Undersecretary of State for Ad-
ministration. Henderson said "a
program of intensive language
training in Hebrew and Israeli
area specialization wilL be of-
fered to a limited number of
Foreign Service officers." He
envisions officers "who have a
deep cultural, historical and po-
litical understanding of Israeli
problems."
This development came 'about
after a number of exchanges
between the State Department
and members of the House For-
eign Affairs Committee. Mem-
bers had observed what they
considered "pro-Arab" and "an-
ti-Israel" thinking by some
State Department officials. The
matter was quietly probed by
Congressmen to insure a bal-
anced U.S. diplomacy in that vi-
tal area. A surprising discovery
was made.
American Foreign Service of-
ficers, prior to assignment to
Near Eastern posts, receive - a
year of training from Arab
teacher s. This occurs at a
branch school of the U. S. For-
eign Service Institute at Beirut,
Lebanon. The branch is attached
to the American University at
Beirut.
The Arab teachers espouse
open hatred for Israel. Some
have been charged with fol-
lowing the Nasser - Moscow
line.
Henderson announced "the
specific actions whtn- the For-
eign Service Institute is initia-
ting in order to make sure that
Israeli aspirations and problems
ave given objective, adequate
and balanced treatment and
consideration in all seminars,
lectures, and discussions."
However, a few days later,
director Harold B. Hoskins of
the Foreign Service Institute
suggested there was some
misunderstanding. He denied
any possibility of anti-Israel
bias in the official training
program. He pointed out that
the Department considered
Arabic more important than
Hebrew because the Arabs so
vastly outnumber the Israelis.
From time to time in the past,
he said, a few young diplomats
were taught Hebrew. This year
such instruction may be' pro-
vided for two officers destined
for Israel. But Hoskins men-
tioned no sweeping new pro-
gram like that suggested by his
superior, Undersecretary Hen-
derson.
Hoskins was born in Beirut.
He is a former president of the
American University of Beirut,
the institution which nurtured
an anti-Zionist philosophy. Hen-
derson also possesses a record
that has been questioned as to
objectivity on Arab-Israel af-
fairs.
Commenting on Henderson,
the Washington Post said edi-
torially on September 18,
• 1951, that "he carried much
weight with Washington offi-
cialdom on Palestine. Here,
however, his counsel proved
wrong — perhaps because he
was guided by his prejudices."
Congressmen are waiting to
see if Henderson's broad promi-
ses will now be fulfilled. It is
a fact that the State Depart-
ment is interested in generally
expanding its. language train-
ing program. The Russians are
training their foreign service
personnel in every conceivable
tongue. Out of 400 U. S. For-
eign Service officers accredited
yearly about three-fourths are
so deficient in linguistic ability
they are probationed for this
reason.
For some time seven Amer-
icans have been studying He-
brew on a part-time basis in
Haifa. Among them is the
American consul. Classes have
been conducted from time to
time at the Embassy in Tel
Aviv. A new Foreign Service
officer assigned to Israel, a
graduate of Smith College, has
already made known she in-
tends to learn-Hebrew as early
as possible.
Friendlier relations usually
result in Israel, as well as else-
where, when people begin to
speak the same language.
Stratford Film Festival to Include
Two Films Featuring State of Israel
STRATFORD, Ontario — Fea-
ture films from 14 countries
have been lined up for the two-
week Film Festival of the Strat-
ford Shakespearean Festival
this summer, and other nations
also expected to participate.
With the cooperation. of em-
bassies, producers and distribu-
tors, the program has been ar-
ranged under the direction of
Leonid Kipnis of Oedipus Rex
Productions Ltd., assisted by
John Hayes, production mana-
ger of the Stratford Festival.
Film programmes will be pre-
sented at the Vogue Theatre
during the two-week period,
July 8 to 20. The programmes
will differ daily, with the ma-
jor films repeated during the
second week The aim of the
Film Festival is "to present
films of the highest artistic
quality on an international
basis."
Oppose Egypt's Suez Plan
Israeli Ambassador Abba Eban (left) and French envoy
Guillaume Georges-Picot are shown as the United Nations
Security Council convened in New York to discuss Egypt's
plan for operating the Suez Canal. The United States -an-
nounced "provisional" acceptance of the plan and urged that
it be given a trial. Georges-Picot called on the Council not
to accept the plan and attacked the long-standing Egyptian
"discrimination" against Israeli shipping. He said Egypt's
declaration gave no assurance that the practice would end.
The Film Festival runs in
conjunction with the fifth an-
nual season of drama at Strat-
ford, opening July 1. The season
features two Shakespearean
productions, "Hamlet" with
Christopher Plummer, directed
by -Michael Langham, and
"Twelfth Night" with Siobhan
McKenna, directed by Tyrone TORONTO, (JTA)—The Union
Guthrie.
of American Hebrew Congrega-
The Film Festival will fea- tions cast aside the last faint
traces of anti-Zionism at its 44th
ture films from--Israel.
General Assembly with a ring-
A special Israeli revival pro-
ing affirmation of. support for
gram, presented by popular de-
Israel and one of the most se-
mand, will feature "Hill 24 Does
vere denunciations ever made
Not Answer", and a short, "The
Book and the Idol." The first publicly against the anti-Zionist
film, directed by Thorold Dick- American Council for Judaism.
The mammoth Assembly of
enson, is the love story of an
Israeli girl and an Irish member 3;000 delegates approved a
of the former Palestine Force Wide-ranging program to ex-
against the background of the pand American Reform in a va-
closing phase of the British riety of- areas, based on a "two-
Mandatory regime in Palestine year program" for the "consoli-
and the.-Israeli struggle for in- dation of American Reform Ju-
dependence. "The Book and the daisM's recent gains."
Idol" traces the conflict be-
. The program also gave a
tween paganism and monothe-
mandate to the "UAHC, cen-
ism from the early days of civil-
tral association of Reform
ization in Israel. It is based on congregations, "not • only to
an archaelogical exhibition at further the knowledge of Re-
the Metropolitan Museum of form Judaism to its :own con-
Art in New York.
stituency but to Jewry in gen-
Reform Jews Assail
Anti-Zionists; Pledge
Aid to UJA and Bonds
eral, and particularly to the
unaffiliated." Special empha-
sis was placed by the dele-
gates on the program aimed
at the unaffiliated:
In its resolution attacking the
American Council for Judaism,
the convention said that the
Council has "wantonly impugned
the national loyalties" of all
those American Jews "who dis-
agree with it" and "has fur-
nished material for professional
anti-Semites." The denunciation
of the anti-Zionist group, which
claims to represent "classical
Reform Judaism," included a
charge that in a number of
American Jekvish communities
representatives of the group,
which claims to represent "clas-.
sical Reform Judaism," have
"employed morally reprehensi-
ble methods to undermine exist-
ing congregations and to intro-
duce division and discord." •
Asserting that the anti-
Zionist Council for Judaism
"misrepresents historical Ju-
daism as well as what it calls
classical Reform Judaism,"
(Direct JTA TeletyPe Wire
call for the arrival of 100,000
the delegates said "there is no
to The Jewish News)
immigrants during 1958.
anti thesis between Judaism
JERUSALEM — There are
as a religion and Jews as a
200,000 Jews throughout the Mrs.- FDR Aids Youth Aliyah
people." They emphasized
Work in England and Scotland
that the "view of Judaism
world willing to emigrate to Is-
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
held by the American Council
to The Jewish News)
rael this year, and Israel plans
for Judaisni is at variance
to take in 100,000 of them dur-
LONDON.—A total of 53,000
with the view of the over-
children
have
been
brought
into
, ing 1957, Zalman Shragai, chair-
whelming majority of Reform
Israel
by
Youth
Aliyah
during
man of the Jewish Agency's im-
Jews in the United States and
nine years of statehood, Moshe
migration department, said Kol, world director of Youth Canada."
The delegates also oharged
Tuesday. -
Aliyah, reported at a dinner
that the Council for Judaism
He said the fact that Jews here Mronday night.
has "repeatedly slandered" the
were coming from countries
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt told UAHC, misrepresenting the lat-
where there has been no Zionist
or Jewish education for more the 700 Youth Aliyah dinner ter's positions and cast asper-
than 30 years represented the guests that although the absorp- sions on the American loyalty
greatest victory for the Zionist tion of the many children who of our adherents." Also that the
will seek a home in Israel this anti-Zionist group "has played
idea.
Reporting that 12,000 Jews year presented a tremendous directly into the hands of Arab
have come from Egypt, he said problem, -she did not doubt for propagandists."
In their resolution on Israel,
15,000 more are due this year. a moment that it could and
the delegates saluted the people
He disclosed that among the would be done.
The Youth Aliyah dinner here of Israel "for their heroic sense
European immigrants 300 cou-
and a previous one Sunday of freedom and right and for
ples were mixed marriages.
night in Manchester have raised. standing fast against the threat
2,600 Immigrants Land
13,500 pounds of the 20,000 of aggression by Arab nations
in Israel in a Single Day
pounds sought by Youth Aliyah and the Soviet Union. We af-
HAIFA, (JTA) —A total of during Mrs. Roosevelt's stay in firm in the strongest possible
—International Photo
Maestro JACK BENNY hits a "serious" note as he performs
2,600 immigrants — the largest Britain which ended with a terms our sense of solidarity
with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in Los Angeles, number to arrive in Israel in visit to Glasgow Wednesday.
with our beleaguered fellow
as conductor ALFRED WALLENSTEIN directs the orchestra one day since 1951 — disem-
Kol also disclosed that in the Jews wherever they may
in the background. The comedian and sometimes violinist barked May 5 from four vessels. first 14 years of Youth Aliyah dwell," the resolutibn says.
packqd the Philharmonic Auditorium at $100 a ticket down to Four hundred of them came 29,000 children had been
The resolution appealing to
$10 for a special benefit for Cedars of Lebanon Hospital. While
from Egypt.
brought in for a total of 82,000 President Eisenhower to admit
,
critics had fun commenting on Benny's playing, they had a
.Their arrival brought to 71,- during the 23 years of Youth Jewish refugees from Egypt ex-
magnificent time, too. One Los Angeles critic commented, "Mr.
400 the number to arrive since
presses "deep disappointment"
Benny has a small, but offensive tone" and "apparently uses
last Independence Day, a jump Aliyah. More than 60,000 have with the U. S. failure to offer
(4,44,,w41-1,34,.,oja,44..14ite_r_ed,1349 . the normal . life of 4_sybgxopilis„ ,4wiaLyiaikag....2140,
,goose grease instead of resin on his bow." Another critic said,
-
Benny Packs Concert Hall
as Soloist with Philharmonic
200,000 Jews Reported Seeking
to Emigrate to Israel This Year