- THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-2
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
$3,000 Israel Builders Bond Sales
Boost Initial. Purchases to $300,000
Sales of Israel Bonds totalling reach. If it is to be properly told dition to Kasle as chairman of
-$300,400, announced at the an- it must be under the impetus the 1957 drive and to himself
nual Chairman's Dinner, at of the Jewish community that as one of the vice-chairmen,
American immigration policies, which many have learned to Atlas Shalom social hall, June has more reasons to see that other 1957 vice - chairmen are
look upon as lopsided, and some consider unfair and discrimi- 20, gave encouragement to local Israel does not struggle along Phillip Stollman, David Safran
nating, continue to be subject to wide discussion. The cruel leaders in their quest for a 1957 the way. By aiding Israel we and Tom Borman.
aspects of the McCarran-Walter Act, the inconsistency with goal of $2,000,000.
are doing something for our-
Cohn, in his speech of accep-
which Hungarian refugees have been welcomed, in limited
The initial sales included 10 selves and our own country tance, said that what he did was
numbers, and Egyptian Jewish refugees rejected, stir up new purchases of $10,000 Bonds by eventually to bring about the "to further the cause of democ-
interest in the. subject.
Detroiters who enrolled as preservation of freedom every - racy" in which Israel plays a
Less than half a century ago, the doors of this country still Trustees. A major portion of where."
great role side by side with the
were wide open. Then there began the enactment of a series the balance was subscribed by
In his -address, Rep. Roose- United States.
of alien acts which expanded into iron-clad restrictions, cul- enrollees in the new project of velt praised the efforts of Brig.
Lurie paid honor to Harry
minating in the newest and worst of all, the McCarran-Walter the Israel Bond Organization— Gen. S. L. A. Marshall—chief
Act which was adopted over the veto of President Truman.
the $3,000 Builders' Bonds, be- editorial writer of the Detroit Cohen, one of the leading Bond
The subject gains new interest in a strong editorial, signed ing issued in order to stimulate News who was a guest at the salesmen for his activities in
by John Steinbeck, which was published in a recent issue of the construction of homes in dinner—with whom, he said, he the present drive.
Saturday Review. Steinbeck wrote as follows under the title Israel for the tens of thousands had served in the Pacific in
A toast to Israel was given
"A Game of Hospitality":
of newcomers.
World War H.
at the dinner, with Israel
In the autumn I am planning to go to a congress of
Carmel wine, under the lead-
Rabbi Jacob E. Segal, who
The new $3,000 Builders
writers of International PEN to be held in Tokyo. I don't Bonds gained favor promptly,
ership of Mrs. Philip • Heit-
plans to take to Israel, for
know anything about congresses and I have never been to and the sales at the initial
presentation to Prime Minis-
man.
Japan and the whole idea frightens me a little bit.
ter David Ben-Gurion, a
meeting in the 195'7 sales
Kasle, in his speech of ac-
But in discussing this congress with some old PEN hands, campaign indicate that it may
scroll containing the names of
ceptance, emphasized that. De-
I was told that this was the first affair of this kind ever to become the most popular of
all who purchased Bonds that
troit's minimum goal in Bond
be held in the Far East. I asked how long it had been since the Israel Bond projects.
night, described Israel's ef-
sales for 1957 is $2,000,000.
one had been held in. the United States. "Why, never!" I was
forts
to
build
the
Negev
and
Abe Kasle, who assumed the
"This is not a charity gift,
told. "There couldn't possibly be one." "Why not?" I asked.
Elath. He spoke of the pio-
but a loan to our fellow-
"Because we could not get permits of entry to the United 1957 chairmanship of the Israel neering efforts and the obli-
Bond drive here at the June 20
Jews," he said. "The more
States for enough first-rate writers.'
gations
by
Jewry
to
let
its
we provide in investments,
This is an astonishing thought, but it is true. To come dinner meeting, made a special
actions
speak
loudly
in
Is-
the less will be needed in
into the country on a visitor's permit, a visa is required. plea for the Builders Bonds and rael's defense and its finan-
gifts to aid Israel's new-
Certain questions are asked before the visa is issued. One urged that it should become the cial assistance in the State's
comers."
need not be guilty of crime or misdeed—simply the fact that objective of every Detroiter to upbuilding.
acquire such a Bond.
one has been talked about is enough to be rejected.
Lester Blickstein, the new
John
E.
Lurie
presided
at
the
In the principal address of
In the light of this rather astonishing thought, I began to
dinner, and joined with Louis Detroit Bond director, was in-
think of the people in history who, under our law at the the evening, Congressman James Berry and Joseph Holtzman in troduced at this dinner. Buick-
present time, could not visit the United States; who would Roosevelt, eldest son of the late making appeals for Bond pur- stein saluted the gathering, at
not be able to get a visa to visit the land of the free. I began President Franklin D. Roose- chases.
the beginning of the dinner, and
to make a list. Other names will immediately occur to my velt, stated that the recent Sinai
Berry presented an illustrated introduced the guests on the
reader.
Operation was a. signal to the
Szyk Hagadah to the retiring dais.
I listed the names and the charges that would be put world by Israel that she had chairman, Irwin I. Cohn, in ap-
Cantor Nicholas Fenakel led
come
of
age
and
is
here
to
stay
against them as reasons for not issuing to them a visitor's
preciation of his efforts as 1956 in the singing of the national
permit to the United States. My tentative list of names, because she'll fight for her
Bond chairman, and introduced anthems. Rabbis Joshua Sperka
follows:
rights .
Kasle as the new chairman.
and Jacob Segal gave the iri-k
NAME
CHARGE
The
California
Congressman
ADAM
Morals
Berry announced that, in ad- vocation and benediction.
CAIN
acclaimed
the
wonderful
Israeli
Murder
NOAH
Alcoholism, cruelty to animals
■0 =.0.11111
accomplishment of inaugurating
4110.-04•1111. ■0■0
0011.4••• ■
SAUL
Assault with intent to kill
DAVID
the oil pipeline from Elath to
Revolution
SOLOMON
Morals
Beersheba to Haifa. "Thus," he
Boris Smotar's
HOMER
Blind, might become a public charge
SOCRATES
Contributing to moral delinquency of minors stated, "the blackmail of Nasser
PERICLES
Consorting with prostitutes
will no, longer be effective and
SAPPHO
Homosexuality
PLATO
Israel will, through the new
Homosexuality
CAESAR, JULIUS
Morals, civil disturbance, rebellion
pipeline, provide 25 per cent of
CAESAR, AUGUSTUS
Murder,
attack
on
republican
government
ST. PETER
the needed oil for the western
Civil disturbance, arson
EARLY CHRISTIANS
Fugitives, failure to register, refusal of oath world.
of allegiance
LEONARDO DA VINCI
Homosexuality
. Israel Bonds, he slated, will
(Copyright, 1957,
MICHELANGELO
Political
exile, subversion
CELLINI
provide opportunities to in-
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Morals
BOCCACCIO
Author of dirty book
crease Israel's exports to bal-
PETRARCH
Morals, suspected necrophilia
DANTE
ance her economy and. to American Trends . .
Subversive
GIORDANO BRUNO
Subversive, dangerous teaching
make her self - supporting.
FRANCOIS VILLON
Theft and vagrancy
When the immigration year ends next Sunday, some 60,000
ROUSSEAU
"This is the challenge we face
Morals, non-support of family
VOLTAIRE
American immigration visas will expire unused . . This huge
Subversion
in
America,"
he
added.
NAPOLEON
Prison record
number of visas has gone to waste in practically every one of
DUMAS
No charge—negro blood
"Equally important and ap- the past few years . . • This, despite the fact that there are
JEANNE D'ARC
Inciting to riot, fortune telling, psychotic
KING ARTHUR
Morals, had relations with King Lot's wife, pealing to me," Rep. Roosevelt tremendous numbers of people in various countries seeking
also with his own half-sister
said, "is the humanitarian side. entrance to the United States . . . To cite only the 5,000 Jews
LANCELOT
Morals—not proved
GUINIVERE
You have brought oppressed exiled from Egypt for whom American Jewish organizations are
Morals—not proved
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE
Piracy
people to Israel, you have re- asking visas . . . The basic immigration quota for the year is
SIR WALTER RALEIGH
Treason
MARTIN LUTHKR
united families, you have given fixed at 145,857 visas, and the 60,000 which expire annually
Troublemaker, inciting to riot
JOHN KNOX
Troublemaker, inciting to riot
them hOpe of freedom. Now you cannot be carried over . . . Immigration over and above that
MARY STUART
Treason
_TWO OF THE SIX WIVES
can put them to work in a figure must be by special legislation . . Special circumstances
Treason
OF HENRY VIII
constructive manner. You are have prompted such legislation, as in the case of some 336,000
ROBIN HOOD
Theft
RICHARD COEUR DE LION Desertion of duty
asked not to give but to invest. displaced persons admitted to this country during a four-year
WYCKLIFFE
Copyright infringement
I believe there is no more period following World War II . . . More than 200,000 also came
BEN JONSON
Brawling
ADAM SMITH
sound investment than the Is- in under the Refugee Relief Act, which expired last Decem-
Advocating overthrow of the government
AGUINALDO
Insurrection
rael Bonds that are available ber . An exception was also made this year for refugees from
BURKE
Encouraging rebellion
PITT
Encouraging rebellion
today."
Hungary . • . However, the injustice of leaving 60,000 quota
There follow a few names of Americans who, if they had
Rep. Roosevelt described a visas unused every year clearly justifies the request for a revi-
not been born in this country, could not get in on their record: changed atmosphere in Con- sion of the present irnmigra.tion laws . . . This request has long
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Insurrection
gress. "Instead of being skepti- been advanced by Jewish and other organizations in this coun-
ALL SIGNERS of the Decla- Rebellion and treason
ration of Independence
cal about Israel and the future, try . . President Truman insisted on it, and so does President
EUGENE DEBS
Advocating insurrection
men
in Congress are fighting Eisenhower . . . One of President Eisenhower's recommendations
LOVEJOY
Libelous attack on head of state
JEFFERSON
that in any foreign aid pro- to Congress is the creation of a pool of unused quota visas to be
Teaching violent revolution
JOHN BROWN
Armed revolt, theft of government property gram Israel will get all that she distributed "on a first-come, first-served basis" ... Such a change
ROBERT E. LEE
Rebellion
This is not a joke. These people could not get into the United needs to meet her responsibi•i- would be very helpful for many Jews and non-Jews who wish
States under our existing laws. Perhaps the figure who would ties," he said. "It has come to emigrate from countries like Poland, Romania and other lands
be least likely to be given a visa—the least likely of all— about out of the efforts of that for which a very small American immigration quota was fixed
would be Jesus Christ. And the charge against Him would be heroic State that has welded a in 1924 when•the quota system was established . . . Congress has
inciting to riot, causing civil commotion, disturbing the peace, unity among peoples of diverse shown no inclination to do President Eisenhower's bidding and
taken from jail by mob. However, sheriff's deputies prevented backgrounds. It matches the is, in fact, opposed to it . . • Under President Eisenhower's pro-
pioneering spirit of our own posals, regular quota immigration would be increased to between
destruction of property by mob.
400,000 and 500,000 a year . . . But Congress is reluctant to
This is an interesting and horrifying game. A great ma- country."
He added: "It is the dawning revise immigration patterns and policies no matter how obsolete
jority of the desirable and creative men of all ages would not
be welcome, or permitted, in our country under our present of the realization that Israel they are .. . This is a great pity, especially when immigrants
plays an important role in our from all countries who entered the U. S. during and after World
laws. I invite my readers to make their own lists.
There is another game that can be played also. Who is defense against Communism. War II have proven themselves so useful to the economic inter-
welcome in this country? I don't think that I want to go into Israel did not waver and stood ests of the country.
•
that. I do not know whether it is our intention to welcome to firm against Communist threats.
Jewish
Sentiments
.
our country only the second-rate, but surely that is the effect As Americans we owe to Israel
The great majority of American Jews feel warmly toward
of our laws. The effect is that the United States is one of the the greatest debt of gratitude. I
few countries in the world where the great, the informed, the tell it to every group I can Israel, a study conducted by the American Jewish Committee
among Jewish adults and teen-agers on their sentiments toward
eminent, and the effective are not welcome.
Both the analysis and the conclusion are deserving of more member of our community who Israel concludes . . . The study established that almost all Jews
than passing interest. Perhaps Steinbeck's excoriation will lead took a deep interest in all our —even those completely indifferent to Zionism—feel favorably
to a better understanding of the issue, and, possibly, to re- local affairs and dedicated him- disposed toward the Jewish State . . . They see it, at the least,
evaluation, review and ultimate revision of the existing acts. self to serving all Jewish causes. as a place of refuge for homeless Jews, and they recognize
their responsibility to help the development of the country .. •
But this is being a bit too optimistic. The attitudes displayed by
He was an ardent Zionist and
members of both Houses of Congress in the past two decades a strong supporter of Mizrachi. Traditional Judaism and interest in the Zionist movement are
also responsible for the strong pro-Israel sentiment, but the
point to nothing more than determined and firm anti-immi-
Primarily, he was a scholar. deepest involvement of Jews in the United States with the State
gration convictions from which very few have been shaken. As He was steeped in learning. His
it stands, therefore, the torch of freedom of which Emma major desire was to see a well- of Israel is due more to "peoplehood," or group feeling, the
Lazarus spoke in the poem enshrined on the base of the Statue informed Jewry as the best de- study asserts . . . When asked "How do you feel about the State
of Israel?" both the adults and "teen-agers" overwhelmingly
of Liberty has been virtually extinguished.
fense against attacks from the reported affirmative feelings .. Among the parents, 94 percent
*
*
outside and dangers from inner and among the children 87 percent . . The indifferent, the
In Memory of Rabbi Fischer
Noted Scholar .
declines.
negative and those with mixed feelings formed only five per-
The memorial meeting planned for the late Rabbi Moses
Blessed be the memory of this cent of the parents and nine percent of the children . . . Seven
Fischer is more than a congregational project. While Rabbi distinguished scholar and teach- percent of the parents and ten percent of the children said they
Fischer had served the Bnai Moshe here, he was a revered er in Israel.
would like to live in Israel.
`A Game of Hospitality'—Steinbeck Views
Lopsided American Attitude on Immigration
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_
411•.1
'Between You
... and Me'
1