Friday, July. 19,
— THE DETROIT JEWISH
Purely Commentary
Lenin's Caustic Remark: 'They Say We Are Yids'
When Trotsky said he was afraid to accept the chairmanship
of the Council of People's Commissars because he was a Jew,
Lenin laughingly said (as reported in the Litvinov memoirs):
"They say in any case that we are all Yids . ." (See Editorial
in this issue.)
Yet, there is constant talk about Jews in government
positions in Russia and about Jewish influence.
Arab propagandists resorted to old tricks of dragging such
red herrings during their Cairo broadcasts last week.
Apparently there is no end to fantasy, especially when it
arises as an Arabian tale!
But the new propaganda line is particularly amusing—
we would consider it funny indeed if it were not so tragic—
in view of the brutal functions of Soviet anti-Semitism.
In spite of it, there may still be some people who believe
that Jews have a semblance of influence in the Kremlin. For
their benefit, we wish to quote from "The Jews in the Soviet
Union," by Dr. Solomon M. Schwartz, who, in 1917, was chief
of the department of social insurance in the Ministry of Labor
of the democratic Provisional Government of Russia. This
book was published in 1951 by the University of Syracuse
Press. Since then, anti-Semitism has increased. Dr. Schwartz
wrote that "since the middle of 1949 anti-Semitism in the
USSR has shunned making any open display. But the stealthy
variety of anti-Semitism, which has been gaining ground since
the late 1930's, continues to exert its undeniable influence on
Soviet society." He presented the following facts to prove the
"stealthy advance of discrimination"•
"As time goes by, Jews are eliminated from more and
more fields. The latest Supreme Soviet elections are a case
in point. As noted 'before, the proportion of Jewish repre-
sentatives in both chambers of the Supreme Soviet had
already been substantially reduced in the first postwar
election in 1946. The process has advanced still farther, and
the elections held on March 12, 1950 resulted in the almost
complete elimination of Jews from membership in the
Supreme Soviet.
"Of the 678 new members of the Soviet of the Union, only
one—Lazar M. Kaganovich, from one of the Tashkent con-
stituencies (Central Asia)—is known to be a Jew, and
another—Mark S. Spivak, from Stalino—is presumably Jewish.
At best 2 out of 678, or less than one-third of one percent
(as against 5.6 percent in 1937) ! In the Soviet of Nationalities,
which has 638 members, there are two known Jewish members
and one who is presumably Jewish, or less than one•half of
one percent (as against 2.6 percent in 1937). The Jewish
representatives elected were Ilya Ehrenburg the writer, from
Riga (Latvia), and Dr. Rozaliya Goldenberg, from the city
of Birobidzhan, the only Jewish meniber elected from the
Jewish Autonomous Province, which has five seats in the
Soviet Nationalities; the member presumed to be Jewish was
Anna E. Kaluger from Bessarabia.
"In the Supreme Soviet as a whole, the proportion of
Jews is less than .4 percent (as against 4.1 percent in 1937).
Prominent Jewish members of the elite whose high position in
the government hierarchy seemed fairly well established —
such as Solomon A. Lozovskii and Maksim M. Litvinov in
foreign affairs, the Minister of State Controls, Lev Z.
Mekhlis, and the Minister of Industrial Construction, Semen
Z. Ginzburg—all of whom still held office in the Supreme
Soviet in 1946, are no longer members, A. Bakhmutskii, the
secretary of the provincial committee of the Communist Party
for the Jewish Autonomous Province, who represented
Birobidzhan in the Soviet of Nationalities in 1946, was not
re-elected, and his name has not been mentioned in the
central Soviet press for quite some time."
These are the facts, already repeated ad nauseam, so that
Jews should not be misled by falsified propaganda. We doubt
whether we shall ever be able to convince anti-Semites of the
truth of the existing situation. Even when Jews are in great
danger, as we believe • them to be in Russia, the prejudiced
refuse to be convinced of the true state of affairs. But since
history knows how to deal with the Hamans, Torquemadas,
Pobedonostzevs and Khrushchevs, we shall patiently await
the day of reckoning,
The Late 'Chia' Weizmann
The elders in the Weizmann family are all but gone.
A sister and two brothers of the late Dr. Chaim Weizmarm died
in Israel within three weeks of each other's passing. The last
to die, Dr. Yehiel Weizmann, was only 65. Only one other
brother of the Weizmanns may still be alive in Russia.
Every member of the Weizmann family was noted for
some special achievement. They were all college-bred, all
specialists in their fields.
Dr. Yehiel Weizmann was known affectionately, among all
Israelis, as "Chilik." He was a friendly man, like his brothers
a rood story-teller, and greatly devoted to Israel.
Only about two years ago, he visited Detroit in behalf
of the new Israel pecan project he was promoting, in the hope
of having pecan groves dot all of the Negev. He won the
hearts of the Detroiters he had met and he made new friends
here for Israel.
Sholem Asch--Controversial Figure
The columns of obituary announcements of very dis-
tinguished people is growing—all too rapidly.
A very distinguished name was included in the list of
the dead recorded last week—that of Sholem Asch.
It would take a full column to list the names of his great
novels. This becomes almost unnecessary in the instance of this
•
•
Days of Reckoning in Russia
By Philip
Tributes to Weizmanns, Asch,
Hoofien, Abbe and Klausner .)10/7101fitZ
distinguished novelist. He had risen to the top of the literary
ladder and had gained acclaim from non-Jews as well as Jews.
But many Jews recently chided him for his christological
approaches. A Yiddish writer published a full-length book
condemning him for what he termed were "flirtations" with
an alien faith. He was accused of having wandered too closely
to Christianity. It is our belief that he may be vindicated in
great measure by time and hiStory. • In any event, Asch had
denied either embracing Christianity or even coming very
close to an affectation with the faith. '
The truth is that 'Mr. and Mrs. Asch had made their home
in Israel, that they found happiness there, that Asch had
planned a new novel about Israel, that he became an ardent
and staunch defender and supporter of the Jewish State.
Much will be said about Asch, his attitudes on religion,
his devotions and prejudices, in the months to come. Of special
interest at this time, in view of the religious issue that has
marked the controversies over his views, are the impressions
he had of the so-called religious problem in Israel. Upon his
arrival in London, where he died on July , 10, he said to a
London Jewish Chronicle reporter that he did not believe
there was a religious problem in Israel and added: "I wish
that the Sabbath in the Diaspora had one-tenth of the warmth
of the Sabbath in Israel."
He ridiculed the pork issue in Israel and said: "Why any
Jew should want to eat pork, especially in Israel, I do not
understand. There is so much better and healthier food. But
I do not think this is much of a problem."
In his interview, Asch resented complaints against
Europeans by Oriental newcomers in Israel. He charged clever
Oriental politicians with storing up trouble unnecessarily for
their own political ends.
It is interesting to note that Asch believed that the
Yiddish language and literature "has a future in Israel," but
he was critical of the standards of Yiddish i theatrical groups
visiting Israel. He said government and ' Histadrut leaders
assured him that financial aid would be given for a visit "of
a really first-rate Yiddish theater group."
Asch's attitudes may be debated for a long time, and there
will be many critics of him and his works. But he will never-
theless be remembered as a very great novelist and one of
the pillars among the Yiddish writers of this century.
The Late Eliezer Siegfried Hoofien
The passing of Eliezer Siegfried Hoofien, in Tel Aviv,
deserves more than the ordinary obituary notice. He was an
outstanding authority on banking and was an Israeli pioneer
in every sense of the word.
At the time of his death, Hoofien was head of the General
Mortgage Bank of Palestine, Ltd., and chairman of the
Agricultural Trust, Ltd.; as well as an economic coordinator for
Israel and the honorary president of the Tel Aviv-Jaffa
Chamber of Commerce.
Of special interest in his career, however, is the fact that
he came to Palestine in 1912, when he became assistant general
manager of the Anglo-Palestine Bank, Ltd., which was the
forerunner of the National Bank Letnni, presently the major
private commercial banking enterprise in Israel. He became
general manager of the bank in 1924 and chairman in 1947.
In this connection Hoofien recalled an interesting experience.
During his early years in the banking business in Palestine, the
Turkish Governor General of Palestine ordered his bank closed
in 1915. He pleaded for an entire year to be permitted to
liquidate the bank's assets to be able to repay his creditors.
Then began the long liquidation process which Hoofien dragged
out until the British entered Jerusalem in December of 1917.
From that point on, he was back in the banking business
without restrictions.
Hoofien was entrusted with serious Israeli responsibilities.
As early as February of 1948, he came' to New York and
ordered the printing of $100,000,000 worth of currency, in
anticipation of the establishment of the Jewish State. They
were Anglo-Palestine Bank currency notes, since the name
Israel was yet to be chosen. When Israel was created, May 14,
1948, this currency became available for immediate use.
Hoofien was looked to for advice in economic matters.
He was one of Israel's outstanding pioneers, and many of the
established industries point to him as the guide who helped
them get a start and encouragement in their enterprises,
Maxwell Abbell and Gustav Klausner
- This was not intended to be an obituary column. But we
are losing so many distinguished leaders that it becomes
necessary to take note of their passing.
Two distinguished American Jews were taken from us
in the last weeks.
Dr. Maxwell Abbell, whose devotion to Israel and to
American cultural movements have elevated him to a position
of leadership, was a most interesting man. He was devoted to
the objectives of Conservative Judaism, was a leader in
Zionism and gave generously to the Jewish National Fund.
He was a friend of President Eisenhower and an ardent worker
for his election and re-election in 1952 and 1956.
Prof. Gustav Klausner, a noted mathematician and professor
of accounting at St. Louis University, was one of the most
devoted Jewish National Fund leaders in this country. At
national JNF conferences, including those held in Detroit, he
played inspiring roles. He was an effective advocate of the
cause of Jewish national rebirth and his name will long be
remembered for his notable contributions to Jewry and to
Israel.
May the memories of these righteous people be retained as
blessings for generations to come.
Between
You & Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1957, JTA, Inc.)
Washington Views
A long look at Israel's sources
of finance—particularly foreign
currency—has just been com-
pleted in Washington . . . The
evaluation reached the conclu-
sion that Israel will continue to
need "for the foreseeable fu-
ture" at least $200,000,000 a year
to cover its foreign exchange
deficit . . . This conclusion is
based on the fact that Israel's
major sources of foreign ex-
change at present include the
German reparations, the sale of
Israel bonds, contributions from
American Jewry, and U.S. gov-
ernmental financial assistance
. .. With regard to German re-
parations, it is noted that Israel
is receiving from Germany more
than $80,000,000 a year and that
at the present rate, the payment
of the reparations will cease by
1962 . . . As to the sales of Israel
bonds, Washington asserts that
the net income from the bonds is
already diminishing because of
the necessity to pay interest and
principal on earlier bond sales
. . . Washington also takes the
view that "in all probability"
contributions from American
Jewry for Israel cannot be ex-
pected to increase, but on the
contrary will most likely dimin-
ish, especially if there should
be any slackening of economic
expansion and prosperity in this
country . . . Thus Israel's annual
economic deficit of about $250,-
000,000 a year is being met at
present from sources either def-
initely scheduled for early ter-
mination or cannot be relied
upon for an indefinite future
period.
Mission in Israel
Under such circumstances,
will U.S. governmental aid to
Israel increase as the other
sources of foreign exchange de-
crease? ... The answer which
Washington officials give to this
question is that the U.S. Gov-
ernment is trying its best to help
Israel achieve economic inde-
pendence through the U.S. Op-
erations Mission in Israel . . .
They reveal that the Mission
had administered up to July 1
of this year a total of $364,800,-
000 in financial assistance to
Israel; and that these funds
have been used to improve
Israel's economic viability . . .
They are of the opinion that the
economic destiny of Israel de-
pends upon factors beyond its
borders . . . These, they say,
include an agreed solution
of the Arab refugee problem;
an agreed program for the - de-
velopment and use of the Jordan
waters; the relaxation of ten-
sions in the Middle East to per-
mit a reduction in defense ex-
penditures . In their opinions
these are the objectives, if Is-
rael's place among the nations
is to be secured permanently
In the meantime, the United
States is interested in helping
reinforce the independence and
sovereignty of any free nation
. . . However, Washington offi-
cials go out of their way to em-
phasize that any country receiv-
ing temporary economic aid
from the United States must
anticipate within a reasonable
time to achieve its economic in-
dependence from the U.S. . .
They argue that economic aid,
to be successful, must be so
conducted as to render such aid
unnecessary within a reasonable
period of time.
Sholem- Asch's Literary Pitfall He Accepted Christian Dogma
BY NATHAN ZIPRIN
(Copyright, 1951, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate)
These columns have often spoken bitterly of
Sholem Asch's Christological path, though never
disparagingly of his art, for he was a literary master
of incomparable stature, with an idiom of expression
that was approached by few in his native tongue —
Yiddish.
We quarreled with Asch not because he wrote on
Christian themes nor even because of tile inferior
literary quality of his Christological writings, but
because he accepted Christian dogma wtith discon-
certing results.
• Hundreds of thousands of Jews who read his
works fell under the influence of his thesis, erron-
eously believing that his synthesizing of the • two
great faiths — Christianity and Judaism — . was
basic to Jewish thinking. The test rests in the fact
that the churches of America and the missionaries •
of the world found his Christological novels most
potent and effective weapons- in spreading their
faith, .Sholem Asch consistently denied that his
novels were Christian preachment, but - in his utter- ,
ances and published credos he made his position
so crystal clear as to set off rumors of his conversion
to Christianity.
It was his glorification of Christianity and not
the theme, as he often claimed, that created the
chasm between the great writer and thinking Jews.
Sholem Asch was a • unique artist. But his claim
.
to fame will not rest on his-Christological works but
on the earlier creations, such as "Kiddush Ilashem"
and "Salvation."