Editors. Publishers Honor 40th Anniversary of JTA

Friday, June 21, 1957 — THE DETR OIT JEWISH

z

Urge Repudiation of Council for
Judaism; Hear Eban's Evaluation
of Growing Pro-Israel Sentiment

unexcelled news-gathering and Arab leaders in destroying Is- ized society, the Council for
news-disseminating agency since rael was "perhaps more dis- Judaism besmirches the good
its inception in London 40 years astrous" to the chances of a name and impugns the patriotic
ago, Janner said he was in a Middle East settlement, he as- character of American Jews and
position to appraise it properly serted, than the effect of the holds them up to scorn and mis-
as an agency that has kept the Soviet weapons in battle. "If trust. It creates an outrageous
world Jewish communities from there will not be peace, can ghetto climate for some four or
Special to The Jewish News
formation quickly available remaining in the dark on many there at least not be a relation- five million Jews and leads men
NEW YORK—The American and noted that Jewish leaders vital aspects of Jewish life.
ship of leaving us alone, an of other faiths to doubt their
Association of English-Jewish here and abroad look to the
Mr. Slomovitz emphasized abstention by our neighbors loyalty to America. It deliber-
Newspapers, at their 15th an- JTA for objective, accurate , that the Jewish newspaper- from active policies of anta- ately undermines and threatens
nual convention here, at the - and speedy information. The
the fine community spirit—the
man of today is the chronicler gonism?" he added.
Park Sheraton Hotel, issued a UJA leader, who described
Jacques Back (The Observer, happy relationship—the treas-
of contemporary Jewish his-
the
JTA
system
as
a
unifying
statement of principles evaluat-
tory. "It is an act of historic Nashville, Tenn.) was chairman ured brotherhood that. united
ing the responsibilities of the force in the community,
men of earnest good-will in their
justice," he said, "that the of the luncheon meeting.
stressed
the
role
of
the
press
Jewish press, and called upon
The statement of principles common search for security and
convention banquet should be
in
the
challenge
facing
the
the members of the Council for
devoted to the JTA, in rec- issued by the editors and pub- happiness.
Judaism to repudiate their lead- Jewish people today. He de-
"In the light of these prem-
ognition of the great contri- lishers, taking to task the Coun-
ers who were accused of speak- scribed the UJA's National
ises, it is the hope of the Eng-
bution it has made towards , cil for Judaism, declared:
Rescue
Conference
last
week-
"It is the considered opinion lish-Jewish publishers that the
ing "in terms of blind hatred."
keeping alive Jewish kinship.
end and called on the as-
Without JTA—he pointed out of the publishers of English- membership of the American
The two major events of the
sembled
publishers
to
give
—there might have been no Jewish Newspapers that the Council for Judaism repudiate
convention sessions were the
UJA their maximum co-
links between us and the rest American Council for Judaism the program initiated and pur-
dinner given in honor of the the
operation.
of world Jewry, between us cannot be accepted as one of the sued by . its leadership. If that
40th anniversary of the Jewish
Rocker, speaking of the serv- and those who survived the ethically functioning organiza- leadership's major objective is
Telegraphid Agency and the
tions whose efforts are ex- to cast aspersions -upon Jews
destructive fires in the inhu-
luncheon meeting with Israel ice being rendered by the Jew-
ish Telegraphic Agency to world man decade of Nazism; be- pended constructively for the who are Zionists and other
Ambassador Abba Eban.
The dinner in honor of the Jewry, said that the JTA can tween us and our kinsmen in benefit of society. Its aims and friends of Israel and to divide
JTA, the only worldwide Jew- best be described as "a two- Europe and Asia and Africa actions have proved detri- the total Jewish community—
mental to Jewish life. Its leader- stamping it part American, part
ish news agency, was held in way bridge between Jews out- —and, of course, Israel.
the Olcott Hotel. Philip Slomo- side of Israel and Jews living in
"Without JTA there might ship speaks in terms of blind disloyal—then the men and
vitz (Detroit Jewish News) Israel. He pointed out that ever not have been that deep un- hatred. Its membership, limited women who comprise the Coun-
presided.
since the Balfour Declaration,
derstanding of the events that in numbers, is for the most part cil's membership, sensitive to
President Eisenhower, in a declaring British support for led to the rebirth of Israel. ignorant of the issues which the religious, cultural and hu-
message sent from the White the establishement of a Jewish JTA kept Jewry informed. a few pitifully confused top men man virtues they practice and
House to the dinner, congratu- National Home in Palestine, JTA continues to keep Jewry create. The Council's program prize, must have the courage
and the moral fortitude to re-
lated the JTA stating that the "the Holy Land has been a ma- informed. It is that force that is not to build, but to destroy.
"Were it not for the dan- fuse to lend themselves—or
agency has served the English- jor focus of JTA coverage. It forges an indestructible chain
Jewish press forty years "with quickly became the single ma- that makes for wholesome gerous course this small group even their names—to a cause
distinction." The message, ad- jor source of world Jewish news Jewish existence. It is a pro- pursues, an indulgent commu- that is bitterly anti-Jewish,
dressed to Abraham Slabot, for the Jews of Palestine, just cess that first was made pos- nity might grant it the charity tragically un-American."
The following were re-elected
president of the association, as it has been the major single sible by the vision of Jacob of silence. But the American
source of news from Israel, to
read:
Landau, JTA's founder, and Council for Judaism poses as a by the editors and publishers:
representative of, and spokes-
Abraham Slabot (Jewish
"I understand that . the Jews.throughout the world," he that now is given construc-
man
by mandate for, Americans Ledger, New Orleans), presi-
emphasized.
tive
continuity
by
the
edi-
American Association of Eng-
Discussing the need and role torial skill of Boris Smolar of the Jewish faith. Its slogan- dent; J. I. Fishbein (Chicago
lish - Jewish Newspapers is
honoring the fortieth anniver- of such a specialized news and his associates and the ized references to religion, to Sentinel), Morris Janoff .(Jer-
education, to philanthropy, pres- sey City Standard) and Arthus
sary of the Jewish Tele- ageny, Rocker said that "much good management of Victor
ent it as an entity in Jewish life Weyne (Atlantic City Record),
graphic Agency at a dinner to- of what concerns us as Jews is Bienstock."
to the millions of Americans
night, and I would like to not necessarily of sufficient gen-
Slomovitz paid tribute to the who appreciate these • qualities vice-presidents; James Wisch
eral
interest
to
merit
coverage
add my own personal con-
memory of Jacob Landau who in their neighbors. They accept, (Fort Worth, Tex., Post), sec-
retary; Adolph Rosenberg
gratulations. For 40 years the by the general press systems. If founded the JTA in 1919. He
the various member commu- said that Landau's vision and or, at any rate, give unthinking (Southern Israelite, Atlanta),
agency has served your pa-
credence to the Council's con- treasurer. Members of the ex-
pers with distinction. May I nities of the great worldwide his determination to provide a
stantly repeated implication
also extend my best wishes to Jewish family are to be kept thorough news-gathering agency that Jews who are members of ecutive committee, Leo H.
Frisch, Minneapolis, Albert W.
informed about developments filled a vacuum in Jewish life.
the members of the American
the Zionist Organization of
Association of Englishjewish vital to them as Jews, then it
Abba S. Eban, Israeli Am- America are not—by their rea- Golomb, Pittsburgh, Elias R.
Newspapers who are attend- must be done as Jewish enter- bassador to the United States, soning, cannot be—loyal Ameri- Jacobs, Buffalo, Meyer Kele-
man, Los Angeles, Jules Miller,
prise," he asserted. He re- asserted that Israel has the right
ing the dinner."
cans. What, coming from a Philadelphia, and Joseph Weis-
counted
the
achievements
of
the
to
expect
Arab
leaders
to
fol-
Principal speakers at the din-
Chritian source would be berg, Boston, Philip Slomovitz,
ner included Semach Hyman, JTA in covering the struggle at low a policy of "leaving us promptly stamped as anti-Semi-
Versailles
over
minority
rights
alone," if they don't want to tic—both by Jews and by well- Detroit, Fred Shochet, Miami,
Israel Consul General in New
and Jacques Back, Nashville,
York; Rabbi Herbert A. Fried- in postwar Europe in 1919, the conclude peace with the Jewish meaning Christians—t h u s is past presidents, were elected
man, executive vice-president of rise and fall of Hitler, the cov- State.
taken as a self-indictment.
ex-officio members of the exe-
the United Jewish Appeal; erage of the liberation of the
Addressing the annual con-
"Claiming a place in organ- cutive committee.
Nazi
death
camps
and
other
Louis P. Rocker, president of
vention of the American As
the Jewish Telegraphic Agency; major Jewish news events.
sociation of English-Jewish
Miller reminisced about ex- Newspapers, the Ambassador
William J. Miller, an editor of
Life Magazine; Barnett Janner, periences in the last war. He expressed a sense of pessim-
of London, Labor M. P., presi- told of the heroic efforts of ism about the prospects of
dent of the Board of Deputies of many non-Jews to rescue Jews achieving an Arab -I sr a e
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
British Jewry, and Victor Bien- from Nazism.
'Danish-Norwegian battalion saw
peace. "The best we can hope
to The Jewish News)
stock, manager director of JTA.
a group of six men moving in
Paying tribute to the JTA, for is steady progress in
UNITED
NATIONS
—
Two
Hyman who was introduced to Bienstock and to JTA's edi- responsible Arab minds of
the direction of the demarcation
Arabs
were
shot
and
killed
and
as a man who had earned dis- tor, Boris Smolar, Miller urged Israel as an immutable fact,"
a third was arrested by a United line: The patrol challenged the
tinction in the field of Jour- that the editors using JTA serv- he stated.
Nations
Emergency Force patrol Arabs, whereupon the six men
nalism before becoming a suc- ice should use every means to
Describing some of the ef- which was attacked by an Arab moved toward the UrNEF troops.
cessful advocate of his country's acquaint themselves with com- fects of the Sinai operation of
One Arab threw a knife at the
cause as a diplomat, recalled his munal needs and thereby to last October and the interna- group Monday night 500 yards troops and the patrol opened
from
the
armistice
demarcation
newspaper days in Jerusalem. provide the best services to tional debate which followed
fire. Two Arabs wearing khaki
line at the Gaza Strip.
He stressed the importance of their readers.
uniform jackets were killed, a
over the Israeli withdrawal
UNEF
headquarters
which
an-
the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Barnett Janner made a sur- from the Sinai peninsula, Eban nounced the action said it took third taken into custody and
as a bridge between the people prise appearance at the dinner. said that Israel had found un-
place southeast of Belt Hanun. others fled. UN military ob-
of Israel and the Jews of the
Janner emphasized the im- expected sources of support and A patrol of four men from the servers are investigating further.
Diaspora and urged the pub- portant role the English-Jewish understanding f r o in powers
lishers to do their utmost to press plays on the world scene. threatened by the policies of
ensure that their newspaper "We Jews need the Jewish President Nasser of Egypt. He
readers obtain an understand- press," Janner said.
also said that Israel's relations
ing of Israel.
The dynamic guest, who had with the United States had been
Rabbi Friedman paid tri- just arrived from England on a "steered through dangerous
bute to the Jewish Tele- brief visit, hailed the JTA, its tempests into a more tranquil
graphic Agency for its 40 editor s, correspondents and and trustful condition."
years of service to the Jewish management. As one who had
As a result of the Sinai op-
people. He stressed the im- wratched the growth and de- eration and the statement of
portance of having factual in- velopment of this unique and Israel's cause in the debate in
the United Nations, there was
"a degree of trust and affec-
tion for Israel throughout Amer-
ica which did not exist before,"
he declared. "Faith in Israel's
permanence and future now
flows bountifully throughout
this continent among people of
all creeds," he said.
It was one of the primary
responsibilities of the major
powers, especially of the
United Nations, to help ad-
vance Arab acceptance "of
our permanence," Eban de-
clared. He said that there had
been a growing belief among
•
"responsible Arab leaders" of
—Israel Government Tourist Office Photo
Left to right: BARNETT JANNER, president, British .
becoming reconciled to the
Israel children play at the beach of the Biblical Red Sea
Board of Jewish Deputies; LOUIS P. ROCKER, president of
existence of Israel but that
at Elath, Israel's southernmost port. Elath is attracting an
the board of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency; ABRAHAM
this sentiment was shattered
ever-increasing number of tourists, whose favorite pastime is
SLABOT, president, American Association of English Jewish
by the shipments of Soviet
deep-sea fishing amidst the multi-colored coral reefs of the
Newspapers; SEMACH HYMAN, Consul General of Israel;
arms to Arab states.
Red -Sea. A short scenic trip from Elath through purple-colored
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, editor, Detroit Jewish News, and
The effect of the weapons in mountains takes the tourist to King Solomon's Pillars and

-

UNEF Patrol Attacked at Gaza;
Two Arabs Killed, One Captured

Fun at the Red Sea in. Israel

At Publishers' Banquet in New York
In Honor of JTA's 40th Anniversary

WILLIAM J. MILLER, a Life Magazine editor.

restoring the lope, of some

CoPPVr Ali4est rePQrts the Israel Government Tourist Office.