July 4—Birthday of Freedom for All

THE JEWISH NEWS

Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951

Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial
Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich.,
•
VE. 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year. Foreign N.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1952 at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Editor and Publisher

SIDNEY SHMARAK

Advertising Manager

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ

Circulation Manager

FRANK SIMONS

City Editor .

Sabbath Script ural Selections
- This Sabbath, the seventh day of Tammuz, 5717, the following Scriptural selections will
be :read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Balak, Numbers 22:2-25:9. Prophetical portion, Micah 5:6-6:8.

Licht Benshen, Friday, July 5, 7:52 p.m.

Page Four

VOL. XXXI No. 18

July 5, 1957

Is There a Resurging German Anti-Semitism?

An earnest debate is currently revolv-
ing around the disturbing issue of whether
or not the Nazi - type of anti - Semitism
once again is making itself felt in
Germany.
On one point there seems to be gen-
eral agreement: officially, the West Ger-
man Government of Chancellor Konrad
Adenauer not only is opposed to Nazism
and its ramifications but is ready to exert
all its influence and to use all its forces
against it.
Nevertheless, from time to time there
are evidences of reoccurring Nazi prac-
tices, and especially of anti-Semitism
within the very sight of the Bonn Gov-
ernment's headquarters. But when the of-
ficials of the Bonn Government are asked
whether the desecration of cemeteries is
not an indication of a resurgent anti-
Semitism. they explair, a.; one of the mem-
bers of that government did, when the
question was posed to him by The Jew-
ish News several weeks ago during his
visit here to clarify reparations problems,
that it is the work of hoodlums who have
destroyed tombstones not only in Jewish
cemeteries but also in Protestant and
Catholic burial grounds.
Nevertheless, cemetery desecrations
have become a serious problem in Ger-
many—so much so that a Reuters report
from Bonn stated:

"Cemetery raids have been blamed on
children. Saar police recently identified cul-
prits who overturned 26 gravestones in a
cemetery at Tholey as two eight-year-old
boys.
"Police said the stones were old and di-
lapidated—a view the Jewish community
does not share. The Jewish weekly news-
paper Allgemeine Wochenzeitung der Juden
commented that it was extremely doubtful
whether the boys were just playing, or
whether more sinister forces were involved.
"Acting Saar Premier Hubert Ney ordered
the gravestones to be repaired at state
expense.
"Karl Marx, editor of the Jewish Weekly,
rejected as "highly exaggerated" a report by
the Communist East German news agency
ADN that 2,000 raids on Jewish cemeteries
had been committed since the war. He placed
the number at 250.
"Many," he said, were not politically
inspired.
It is clear, therefore, that there are

differences of opinion over the extent of
the instigations and the forces that may
lurk behind the incitements to vandalism.
When, however, Reuters, one of the
world's most responsible news agencies,
reports from Bonn that: "Church and civic
leaders are expressing alarm at the out-

New Arab-Israel Ratio

Levi Eshkol, Israel's Finance Minister,
pointed out during his current visit in this
country that Israel will have a population
of 2,000,000 by the end of this year. He
also gave these additional interesting ra-
tio figures:
Israel was surrounded nine years ago
"by some 40,000,000 hostile Arabs, a ratio
of 60 to 1." Now, he said, the _ratio is 20
to 1, and in 10 years Israel expects to
have a population of 3,000,000 and the ratio
thus again will be reduced.
Israel's Finance Minister overlooks an
important factor: the rise of new Arab
states. When Israel came into being, there
were seven Arab states. Now there are 12.
Nevertheless, when Israel reaches the
3,000,000 population mark, she will have
become the second largest Jewish com-
munity in the world and the ratio of
Arabs to Jews will automatically reduce.
What is hoped, primarily, is that the hos-
tility that existed nine years ago will
similarly be reduced. An amicable neigh-
borliness between Jews and Arabs will

olirno+

orani-s.a of

rymoress.

burst of anti - Semitic feeling and Nazi
Flag-waving recently displayed in various
parts of Germany;" that: "Bishop Otto
Dibelius, head of the German Evangelical
Church, warned that recent desecration
of Jewish cemeteries in West Germany
indicates a 'regrowth of anti-Semitic ten-
dencies,"—then it is time to take stock
anew.
Perhaps stock-taking will serve to
strengthen the hands of Chancellor Ade-
nauer and his associates and will prevent
a more advanced "regrowth" of anti-
Semitism. The Reuters report revealed: Highlight in OS Bookmaking

"Posters offering rewards for information
leading to the arrest of culprits who devas-
tated a cemetery on Hitler's birthday, April
-20, still hang in the town of Salzgitter.
"The Salzgitter raiders overturned about
80 gravestones and even a 20-ton memorial.
"They left behind a straw dummy bearing
a swastika and a sign with the note: 'Ger-
many awake — Israel perish.' The slogan
was invented by Hitler's No. 1 Jew-baiter,
Julius Streicher, who subsequently was
hanged in Nuremberg.
"Nuremberg was the scene of another April
20 birthday party for Hitler when swastika
flags were raised on the field where the Feuh-
rer used to address Nazi rallies."

Without in any sense impugning the
earnestness of Dr. Adenauer and his gov-
ernment, the raising of questions rela-
tive to a resurging Nazi anti-Semitism
must result in strengthened vigilance that
should lead to the strengthening of the
hands of those who aim to stem the tide
of neo-Nazism. Dr. Adenauer has been
firm in his determination to live up to
his pledges for indemnification to Israel,
and he has, indeed, honored his pledges.
But a contender for the post of Chancellor
of the West German Government, to suc-
ceed 81-year-old Konrad Adenauer, Fi-
nance Minister Fritz Schaeffer, sees fit to
say that indemnification and reparations
payments will be slashed after the Sep-
tember elections. There must be a more
careful evaluation of the conditions which
had led to negotiations between Jews and
the successors to the Nazis in Germany.
Actually, there is less cause for anxi-
ety than appears on the surface. But there
is no denying that there are manifesta-
tions of a resurging anti-Semitism, and
it is heartening to know that protests
against it come bfrom German Evangelical
Church leaders; that West German Gov-
ernment officials affirm and reaffirm their
desires for friendly relations with Israel
and with Jewry. Knowing these facts, and
being on guard against the recurrence of
Hitlerism, libertarians should be in posi-
tion, together with the duly elected Ger-
man officials, to encourage the growth of
democratic ideals in Germany as the best
means of counteracting any possible blos-
soming of the Nazi germs.

Upholding Separation

'Book of Ruth Art Edition

One of the year's highlights in bookmaking is the new
Jewish Publication Society edition. of "The Book of Ruth," in a
highly artistic layout, in Hebrew and in the English translation.
It is a large, 10x131/2 volume. Fascinatingly attractive wood-
cuts are by Jacob Steinhardt and the fine calligraphy is by
Franzisca Baruch.
Born in Germany, the artist, Steinhardt, now is an Israeli
citizen. He studied art in Berlin, Paris and Italy and participated
in "the Berliner Secession" art movement.
Formerly head of the Bezalel Art School in Jerusalem,
Steinhardt gained worldwide. fame as a printmaker. He is
represented in the leading European and American museums
and in private collections.
His woodcuts in the JPS art edition of "The Book of Ruth*
adds immeasurably to his reputation.
Born in Germany, the calligrapher, Franzisca Baruch, also
has become an Israeli citizen. She acquired her training in indus-
trial design from noted masters of type and the many prizes
and honors accorded her attest to her distinguished career in
her field. She has been one of the designers of the paper cur-
rency of the State of Israel.
The new JPS volume will be treasured by all who possess
it. It can be obtained as a JPS membership book and it will
make an excellent -gift.
"The Book of Ruth" is a companion volume to JPS's earlier
book, "The Book of Jonah," which was- published in 1953 in
similar format, with the same type of calligraphy and wood
Cuts, also by the Steinhardt-Baruch team.

The Great Hebrew Theater

Ben-Ari s History of Habima '

'

One of the best qualified persons has provided the facts
about the great Russian Hebrew theatrical group in the interest-
ing book, "Habima," published by Thomas Yoseloff, 11 E. 36h,
N.Y. 16. The author, Raikin Ben-Ari, was himself among the
pioneers in that great theater organization.
The drama director of Brandeis Institute in California since
1949, Ben-Ari, since coming to the United States, has made
many appearances in leading communities, including Detroit.
His "Habima," translated from the Yiddish by A. H. Gross
and I. Soref, reviews the history of the organization from its
very inception, and describes the author's experiences with out-
standing theatrical personalities, including the Armenian teacher
Vachtangov, Stanislaysky, Reinhardt, Meyerhold, Nahum Zemach,
the Vardis and many others.
In his introduction to the book, Harold Clurman points out
quite properly that Ben-Ar-i's book "embodies the burning ardor,
the naive and irrepressible enthusiasm" of those who struggled
to establish the Habima; the demonstration of faith that was
needed to achieve the theatrical goal.
Habima began in Russia in 1919, under the leadership of
Nahum Zemach. The dream took shape, with the encouragement
of Vachtangov and other Russians. Important productions were
staged, commencing with Pinski's "The Eternal Jew." Maxim
Gorki was among the_ notables in the audience.
Then came "The Dybbuk" and the other great dramatic
results of Habima's stagecraft which acquired worldwide fame.
Vachtangov helped to shape "The Dybbuk" which became an
instantaneous success. Later, it won acclaim in this country and
in Israel, and it continues to draw interest whenever it is re-
peated by others who are imitating the Habima precedent.
Ben-Ari describes how Habima became a Russian state
theater. The visit to the theater, in Moscow, of Chaim Nachman
Bialik is described in an interesting chapter in this book.
"The Eternal Jew," "The Golem," "Jacob's Dream," and
other productions were staged. Then Habima went on a Euro-
pean tour and to America.
"The last act of the drama, `Habima Collective," took place
in New York City in the summer of 1927," Ben-Ari states in a
sad chapter "The Breakup." One group wanted rule by a council,
and another desired the leadership of Zemach. The Neighborhood
Playhouse on Grand Street in New York became the laboratory
of the group under Zemach. It lasted through a few plays and
collapsed with the failure of "Princess Turandot." Then the
actors scattered. The name and the idea still flourishes in
Israel.
Appendices in the book include a tribute to the genius of
Zemach, and articles praising Habima by Gorki, Bialik, Con-
stantin Stanislaysky and Max Reinhardt.
Ben-Ari's book also contains an interesting analysis of this

The American Jewish Congress has
rendered a great service to an important
American principle by inaugurating oppo-
sition to inclusion of questions regarding
religious affiliations in the 1960 U.S. cen-
sus questionnaire. .
"Religious affiliations or beliefs of peo-
ple are not the legitimate concern of a
democratic government committee to the
principle of separation of church and
state," Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of
the Congress, stated, explaining his or-
ganization's stand.
While the question posed may appear
harmless on the face of it, it would never-
theless serve as a wedge into the separa-
tion principle. Therefore its injection
must be fought by all Americans who are
concerned that church and state should
be kept apart as one of the most basic
theatrical theories propounded by Habima.
ideals of our way of life.

