Educational Exchange
JERUSALEM—An effective interchange of stu-
dents between Michigan and the United States was
pointed out here by a representative of the Ministry
of Education.
A number of Detroiters are here for a year's
study at Israel's special seminars arranged for those
who desire to perfect a knowledge of the Hebrew
language and to study agricultural methods here.
At the Jewish Agency Institute, at the Katamon,
in Jerusalem, three Detroiters have enrolled for a _
13-month program they started last week. Ora Kut-
nick, Susan Feuer and Zvi Snitz are part of a group
of 150 American youths studying here.
At Kfar Blum, in northern Galilee, liss than
three miles from the Syrian border, Marshall
Rubin, Lionel Maslowski and Norman Shiffman
have enrolled with 10 other Americans for an
11-month work-and-study program here. They are
getting training in agriculture, are learning _He-
brew and they share the colony's labors in a col-
lective fashion. Their chief hope is to acquire
training in group leadership in behalf of Habo-
nim, the. Labor Zionist youth movement that spon-
sored-their training course here. •
In the exchange program, 35 Israeli students now
are at Michigan colleges and universities, and in
studies in various specialized fields. There are 15
Israel students at the University of Michigan, 12 at
Wayne State University, five at Michigan State Uni-
versity in East Lansing, two nurses at Blodget and
Ford Hospitals and one at the - Chrysler Corporation.
- The Israeli students are specializing in the fol-
lowing - fields: engineering, 18; economics and admin-
istration, five; medicine and psychology, three each;
science, education and agriculture, two each.
.
At Weizmann Institute
, REHOVOT — • Dr. Chaim Weizmann, in his day,
and those who carry on his work in Israel today
had a vision of peace, of a scientific future for the
small state, of -great cultural attainments that
should serve as elements in a powerful renaissance
in the entire Middle East.
The center which began with the Sieff Institute
at Rehovot more than 12 years ago and has since
expanded into the. impressive Weizmann Institute of
Science is justifying the hopes of the eminent
founder of the great scientific research institution.
A vast variety of activities is in evidence here.
There is the valuable work in the field of cancer
research conducted by one of the world's great
scientists, Dr. Isaac Berenblum. Important miner-
alogical surveys of the department of isotope re-
search, headed by Dr. Israel Dostrovsky, are prov-
ing of great value to Israel's industrialists.
• The Weizrnann Institute's -research in behalf of
the oil prospecting of the past two years is believed
to have provided Israel with 'major ftsistance in
striking wells and in drilling for new ones.
An electrolytic process has enabled Israel to
produce "heavy water" inexpensively. This, toot is
the work of the isotope research department.--'
Another department that has attracted the at-
tention of scientists in many countries is that of
the nuclear physics staff which is headed by a very
distinguished young, scientist, Dr. Amos de Shalit.
Wide interest is being shown in the electric
computer at the Weizmann Institute. In charge
of a strict religious observer, Dr. P. Rabinowitz,
a man with a full beard, payoth and always Wear-
ing a yarmulke, this computer evaluates many
trigonometric functions and • is one of the marvels
of the institute.
So significant is the collective achievement of
the noted scientists at the Weizniann Institute that
it would be impossible fully to evaluate its merits in
less than a full-sized volume. But it is easy to rec-
ognize the source of the achievements—the directive
genius of Meyer W: Weisgal, who serves as chairman
of the institute's executive council. it is thanks to
devotion, which began with his friendship for
and cooperation with Dr. Weizmann, that the insti-
tute has grown to its present great proportions.
Weisgal has helped bring some of the very great
world scientists to Israel. He has labored to raise
funds to cover the research center's budget which
now exceeds $2,500,000 a year. He also was respon-
sible for the establishment of Yad Weizmann which
he explained as follows:
"There has beeit a good deal of speculation
among our friends regarding the future of Yad
Weizmann, which is at present the 'umbrella,' as
it were, for the entire area comprised _ - by the
Weizmann Institute and its adjuncts. -
"Yad Weizmann was set up by the Government
of Israel and the Jewish Agency a week after the
first President's passing in November, .1952, to
• • . The Holy Landl
become a center of scientific and cultural insti-
tutions in the spirit of Chaim Weizmann's life-
long ideals. The Government and Agency en-
dowed it with separate budget, and there has
been created what may be regarded as the final
form of the outer physical framework. Certain
ideas originally envisaged as part of the general
plan have had to be postponed—among them those
relating to an art center and to a museum of
Jewish contribution on world science."
The Weizmann grave is at the Yad Weizmann,
and it is a great tribute to the wisdom of the first
President of Israel that, in deference to his wishes,
the tombstone over his grave carries merely the
great leader's name—without title.
It is. to Weisgal that chief credit goes for a great
accomplishment. But he does not shirk other respon-
sibilities. He accepts whatever duties Israel may im-
pose upon him: When Prime Minister David Ben-
Gurion asked him to become the chairman of the
committee to plan the 10th Israel anniversary cele-
bration, he accepted. He is not too well, but he
labors for Israel as dynamically today as he has done
in. many Zionist endeaVars for more than 40 years.
He is Israel's most- dynamic personality.
Industry. in Abundance
BEERSHEBA — This report could have been
written either from Sdom or from the new cities of
Dimona or Ashkelon. It is from these areas that
there emanate now industrial developments that
are so impressive that one emerges aghast from
witnessing the results of the sweat of a nation that
was only a short time ago called "a people of ped-
dlers"- but which now is competing with the world's
most civilized nations in striving for scientific, me-
chanical and electrical perfections. •
There is a shoe factory here, nearby are the
Lapidot oil drilling operations and there is great
fascination in a visit to Charsa, which is the Hebrew'
name for .the Israel Ceramical Works. It manufac-
tures sanitary wares, wall tiles and art works.
A sole Boneh project, it has benefited from Israel .
Bond investments, which have enabled it to expand
its facilities.
Girls with skill are at work here painting cups
and saucers and vases and flower pots and a score
of other items. They have absolute freedom to
use their imagination, and the results have justi-
fied the liberty granted them to resort to their
moods.
A Yemenite who has worked here since the plant
was established less than five years ago, David
Suliman, showed us how models and molds are made
out of plaster of Paris, how the ovens bake the
works, how material for which a large market is
available now is produced in what was only a short
while back a desolute desert. At Charsa, Sarah Par-
tush, one of the skilled workers, displayed for us
the art objects.
Having made Beersheba our headquarters for a
short whilooluring our stay in Israel, we were able
to visit other plants, and to get an idea of what
is happening at AShdot Yam, the area where Bnai
Brith president Philip Klutznick, together with
Nathanyah's Mayor Oved Ben-Ami, are planning the
building of a great harbor town, on an area of
10,000 acres. .•
It is at Ashdot Yam that Israel Rogosin is be-
ginning, this month, the construction of his $10,-
000,000 rayon plant.
The major development here is the Palestine
Electrical Company, whose administrative manager,
Eliahu Levitan, is one of the ablest industrial mana-
gers we have met. The plant he manages is right on
the Mediterranean. It utilizes the Mediterranean's
salt water for its power needs, and its future should
be watched: it will probably become one of Israel's
most important power-giving sources. -
This is the area where the new city of Ashkelon
has been built. It is difficult to believe that in this
desert it was possible to establish, almost over -
night, so modern a city.
In the Kiryat Gat section here there are begin-
ning to develop many industries. There is a scotch
tape factory here and other plants are rising up,
many applications pending for new plants soon to
be moved into this spot.
Near Ashkelon is Kfar Silver, the settlement
established in honor of Dr.. Abba Hillel Silver;
The southernmost future city in Israel, in the
Negev is Dimona. It is on the 84-kilometer road
from Beersheba to Sdom—a road built with funds
advanced by the Israel Bond Organization. This is
_Where the chemical plant of Machtishim already
functions - in- full force. ,
The Dead Sea Works, at Sdoin, hold special
fascination for visitors to Israel. Here, overlook-
ing the Pillar of Salt the salt mountain which
often is .called Lot's Wife from the Biblical leg-
end -that the wife of Lot, having looked back-
wards contrary to warnings, turned into a pillar
of salt)," bromines are manufactured. Eliezer
Aberfeld- is the plant's construction manager and
Eli Kemlot is the maintenance mechanic. The
- highest -concentration of bromines in the world
is at this -spot.
At this plant, Dr. Feibel Yaron, its director, has
perfected a cold process of producing the bromines.
While the hot process used everywhere else also
is used- here, the cold process predominates. This is
the only place in the world where this process,
which- is found superior to the old warm method, is
in use. Some of the bottles used as the bromine
containers already are made in Israel and all of the
packing cases are made at Sdom, at the bromine
plant. Much of the manufactured product here is
exported, and both the bottles and cases are re-
turned, for reuse.
One other plant in this- area, the Oron Phos-
_ -
phate mines, deserve special mention. This four-
year-old plant is managed by a very able mechani-
cal engineer, Jacob Weiss. Half of the phosphates
mined here this year were exported. The 22,000
acres which contain phosphate are expected to
bring. large yields. The development of new ports,
at Ashkelon and at Eilat, are expected to ease ship-
ments so radically as to, vastly increase the Oran
ac 'es.
Weiss indicated to us that Florida has the major
phosphate operation in the world, and the advantage
that plant has is in possessing much water. But 'the
Israeli manager hopes to solve the water problem
eventually, when the establishment of more settle-
ments in the area will increase the water lines • in
the Negev. Weiss expects to increase his produc-
tion to a million tons a year. The- Oron works
already are exporting 160,000 tons a year.
There is an interesting sign in Hebrew at the
Oron plant. It reads: "Phosphet Hu Lechem"—
"Phosphate Is- Bread." It • is one of the mottos
that inspires worker and visitor and emphasizes
the value of a new industry in Israel.
Wherever one travels in Israel, there is evidence
of the great role played by the Bond dollars invested
by- American Jews. Many new orange groves are
being planted with the aid of Israel Bond dollars.
As you travel 'southward, you pass the Orthodox
settlement of Yavneh whence chicks are exported
to European countries. Bond dollars assist settle-
ments in such efforts. Industries that have begun
to flourish a _ s a result of American Jewry's Bond
investments include Adereth Spinning Mills in Herz-
Ata Textile Works at Kfar Ata, Dagon Silo in
Haifa, the Copper Refinery in Timha off of Elath,
The Bedek Aircraft Overhaul Base at Lydda and
the expanding cotton growing industry. -
The list of enterprises assisted by Bonds is
growing so long that it is difficult to enumerate even
a fraction of it. But the cotton industry deserves
special mention. There are many cotton fields, there
is a cotton gin and a weaving plant about which
more will be said. Suffice it to point out that with-
out Bond dollars it might have been -impossible to
build Israel as rapidly as she is being built today.
The Maiben Story
TEL AVIV — Americans who tour Israel with
their eyes and ears open soon learn how inadequate
is the overall public relations program of apprising
our people of the accomplishments by U. S. agen-
cies.
Malben is a typical example. The name of the
service, one of the chief Joint Distribution Com-
mittee activities, stems from the first Hebrew let-
ters of the organization's Hebrew -name — Mosdot
Letipul Beolim Nachshalim. It is a movement whose
installations dot nearly all of Israel. It is a 'system
of hospitals and workshops in which physically -han-
dicapped, who would have become a burden to •Is-
rael, are being taught trades, in defiance of their
crippled conditions. They are taught the language
of the land. They are provided - with specially pre.
pared instruments to be able to use their hands
even in instances of the maimed; to walk with the
assistance of wheel chairs or special equipment;
to weave, to draw. to knit.
The morale of these people is being restored by
means of warm interest shown in their plight by
the friendly and well trained staffs of Malben. There
is a powerful psychological factor that enters into
the activities of this very important movement.
Unfortunate people who would have been com-
pletely abandoned since they are without family
or friends—many of them have lost their entire
families as a result of the Nazi holocaust—are
given the 'encouragement of knowing that there
are people who sincerely desire to see them re-
stored to their former status of normal living;
that there is a- movement that aims to give them
a right to full existence as free citizens in a free
land.
Malben is mentioned on occasions in publicity
material about the United Jewish Appeal—about the
Allied Jewish Campaign in Detroit and similar fund-
raising efforts throughout the country. But the Word
Malben is seldom spoken of. If its activities were to
be made known it might become one of the strong-
est factors in increasing gifts to our fund-raising
agencies.
There are Malben hospitals for the chronically ill
and one, at Beer-Yaakov, for chest diseases. There
are 15 sheltered workshops, a youth rehabilitation
center, a dental clinic and a chain of centers to aid
the aged: two villages for the, old folks, four infirm-
aries for the aged and 13 homes for the aged.
It would take a lot of space to describe Malben
adequately. A. visit to one of its centers, at Lydda,
convinced this observer. of the great merits of Mal-
ben. Yemenite women wove striking designs on
blouses which become much-sought-after items in
Israeli stores. Other women are trained to make
attractive dresses for girls. Fine baskets are woven
and an artist with marked ability paints exception-
ally fine art works.
Above all, these people are taught to feel :and
to know that they are useful, that they are wanted,
that they can produce and that there is hope for
them in life.
For instance; a forme-r Polish Jewish opera
star, who was maimed and bedridden, is now be-
ing taught to walk again. She is beginning- to sing
again. She has her pride again. .
This is true of many others in JDC's Malben
institutions; yet this -activity is little known. A bet-
ter acquaintance with it will give much added
status to American JeWry's efforts for the UJA
which provides the means with which Malben
functions.
ETROIT JEWISH NEWS—Frid ay, November 1, 1957
the eonstruction of the Nusbaum Lecture Hall. Ott .
the spacious grounds of Bar-Ilan University, ground
was broken this week for another dormitory, to be
known as the Detroit Dormitory, to be erected with
the $150,000 fund pledged by Detroit Mizrachi lead-
ers to this school, which combines in its curriculum
religious studies with courses in modern sciences.
- The second largest gift to an Israeli university
was made by Sam Brody, Detroit builder, to the
Technion of Haifa, the Israel Institute of Tech-
nology. Brody's $120,000 gift was earmarked for
a laboratory for the Technion's Department of Agri- ,
cultural Engineering. In addition, the Detroit Chap-
ter of the American Society for the Technion, has
pledged an additional $200,000 towards the Tech-
nion's program for a new $10,000,000 campus, in
order to enable the hundreds of applicants for
admission to this engineering college—the largest
technical school in the entire Middle East—to gain
admission.
The largest of Israel's universities, the Hebrew
University, which now is building an impressive new
campus on the outskirts of Jerusalem, is enlisting
the aid of Detroiters through a committee headed by
Charles Feinberg.