Purely Commentary
- (Continued from Page I)
as an oasis in the desert: wherever there are green spots
they are indications that Jews had built new settlements.
The typical newcomers' residences are everywhere: as
proof that new areas are being reclaimed by new immi-
grants. Often they are right on the border—that's where
they become more valuable than guns. The vision of
Israel's defenders is in full view: where there is an es-
tablished settlement there is the best defense. This is the
J'Nrs important role today; it not only reclaims ne-
glected land, prepares the ground for new settlers, plants
many forests: it also defends the land with its border
settlements.
The JNF's•defense role is in evidence also in the
south: the Negev is dotted with new rows of trees: the
JNF beautifies the land; reclaims it, defends, it.
You get to the Negev, and at Kiryat Gat you are
witness to the rise of a great new industry in Israel
—cotton. It orows•well here, and the Israelis have a
vision of producing
- the best product in the world.
b
Machon La'avod Kutna b'Darom is a plant that capti-
vates you. It is only two years old, but it already
produces marvelously. Nahum Gershenowitz, one of -
the men in charge, spoke with admiration of the con-
tribution made to the Israel cotton industry by Sam
Halburger of California, who insisted Israel had cotton
potentials, who defied obstacles to establish' the in-
-
dustry here, who helped fight the boll weevil.
Next to the cotton gin is the Israel cotton weaving
plant established by investors from Cleveland. A Chris-
tian from Lancashire, England, John Briscoe, is the
expert who was brought here to supervise the weaving
and to bring to Israel the knowledge he had acquired
through the years in English weaving plants.
And so, as you enter the Shaar Hanegev the gates
to the Negev—you discover that next to the Heletz Oil
Fields there also are many new industries as well as
vast orange groves. There also are diamond polishing
plants and there are applications from many new in-
dustries to be permitted to become established in the
Negev. What a combination: oil and oranges and dia-
monds and cotton!
*
*
*
The schools of higher learning in Israel require
special notice and commendation. Technion's role is
very great. Bar Ilan is gaining an important spot for
itself within Israel. The Hebrew University remains the
outstanding example of scholarship, comparable to the
best schools in the world.
Among the attractions on the new Hebrew Univer-
sity campus is the Israel Goldstein Synagogue; built by
Dr. Goldstein's Bnai Jeshurun Synagogue in New York
in honor of this eminent rabbi. It has the appearance
of half an egg. Under the huge dome is the synagogue
itself—a most attractive place for worship—and a house
of study. As it was explained, there can not be a beth
haknesset without a beth hamidrash — and our finest
traditions are being amply perpetuated.
- Mrs. Esther Reifenberg, dean of women at the
Hebrew University, is one of the most charming guides
we had on our entire trip.
*
*
*
The-.story will never be complete without the nu-
merous interesting sidelights. For, instance, in Beershe-
ba, where the agricultural experiments are being con-
ducted, former Detroiter Gershon Segelman is trying to
solve another problem that of the shnat shmitah--the
jubilee year handicap. He is experimenting with crops
that should not need replanting. He believes that he is
perfecting methods for planting peppers, tomatoes, egg-
plant, potatoes, lettuce and cabbage, that will grow auto-
matically into a second crop without replanting: that
would solve the shnat shmitah problem for the very
orthodox, since it would eliminate the need for planting
just at the time when Biblical law called for the land
to lie fallow for a season.
Segelman is experimenting with many new things,
including peanuts (botnim) and citrus fruits. He believes
Israel already has the best peanuts grown anywhere.
*
*
*
The Israel story will remain incomplete as long
as new cities are being excavated, so long as new
findings are .being made. At the Hebrew University
you are shown- the- Dead Sea Scrolls and the jars in
which they were found. At Razor, you see Yigal Yadin
at work, excavating buried cities. ,
A Roman grave was found at Ashkelon, where
excavations continue. The findings at Beth Shearim of
the graves of second century Jewish scholars, in the era
of Hellenization, are -among the major attractions for
visitors and natives alike.
*
*
*
Among the wonders of. Israel are the copper mines
at Timnah. You go first to Elath, then you turn back,
going northward toward' the Negev, to see a modern
mining wonder in the midst of desolation.
The road from Beersheba to Elath is nearing com-
pletion. Another 20 miles need to be paved, then the
road will be clear and comfortable, by bus, all the way
from Beersheba to Elath.
*
* *
The story of a traveler's observations in this land of
many wonders remains incomplete —7 because Israel's
—
—
—
-
—
On from Israel
By Philip
to the Communities
Siomovitz
of Basel and Berne
tasks can never be complete until all the devastated
areas will have been rebuilt, until new sources for
redemption will have been tapped.
Here is advice for those who retrace our steps in
..srael: don't bother taking notes. Inevitably, one takes
so many that they become worthless. The best notebook
is the Bible. Take the Holy Book with you, study the
history of your people, retrace the treks of our ances-
tors, and you'll find a repetition of history, a renewal
of dedication to high spiritual values, historic values
redeemed and rededicated.
* * *
BASEL, Switzerland — The very mention of the
name of this historic, 2002 year old city, arouses high
powered emotions. Here, the Zionist movement was
founded. Here, Theodor Herzl covered the first World
Zionist Congress and thereby established "the first Jew-
ish Parliament" in modern times.
Herzl would have said: "Here I created the Jewish
State."
Here, on one of the balconies of the Hotel des Trois
Rois, Bale — the Three Kings Hotel of Basle — Drei
Koenige Hotel—Herzl's historic photograph, showing
him dreaming of the Jewish State—was snapped. It is
still the most widely used and best known photograph
of Israel's modern prophet.
When he came here to convene the Zionist Congress,
he was a guest at the Trois Rois. Perhaps we even occu-
pied the bed that Herzl slept in!
So—we visited the Stoat Casino where the Zionist
movement was created by Herzl at that historic August,
1897 session. The. respect with which the Herzl name
and the Zionist Movement are mentioned here attest to
the glory of Israel's achievements and to the Herzlian
vision.
Basel provided the most heartening experience of
an inspiring tour—next to the visit in Israel. After see-
ing evidences of decline in the old and historic Italian
Jewish communities (only Milan Jewry in Italy appar-
ently continues to show signs of strength), it was heart-
ening to be here. Next to Zurich, where about 6,000 of
the 18,000 - 20,000 Swiss Jews reside, Basel is the largest
Jewish community in Switzerland. There are 5,000 Jews
here—and they are a proud people. We visited them in
their synagogue and school, both parts of the Israeliti-
sche Gemeinde, and we were witnesses to the joy they
displayed in their heritage, in their Zionist background,
in their interest in Israel.
We also visited the synagogue in Berne. But there
the minyanim are small. The synagogue is beautiful,
but the observance is not as widespread as in Basel.
At the Basel synagogue we were greeted by happy
children who took pride in the bits of Hebrew in which
they were able to converse with us. They spoke affec-
tionately of their rabbi, Rabbiner Leo Adler, a former
New Yorker. They took us with joy to the Aron Kodesh,
the Holy Ark, to show us their many Sifre Torah.
The Yarmulke came in handy in many places we
visited, and the reason for relating these personal ex-
periences is to encourage other travelers, when they are
away from home, to look for their kinsmen's houses of
worship, to study the ways of their fellow Jews in other
lands, to become acquainted with Jewry. They'll learn
a great deal from such approaches,---and they'll meet
many interesting people.
In Basel, we met with a confrere, Adrien Blum the
editor of Juedische Rundschau Maccabi, Switzerland's
leading JeWish newspaper — a weekly published in
French and German, with lessons in Hebrew. The Blums
have two sons in Israel. One is with the Air Force. The
other Andre, is an instructor at the Ben Shemen Chil-
dren's Village near Lod. Ben Shemen is one of the most
interesting children's centers in Israel. It is- directed by
a very dedicated man, Dr. Siegfried Lehmann, who had
befriended Albert Einstein and who has gained fame as
an educator. Andre Blum has become a valuable asset
to Ben Shemen.
Adrien Blum explained that Basel Jewry's dedica-
tion to. Jewish causes stems from the pride the commu-
nity takes in its having served as the home of the First
Zionist Congress. The people rejoice in the fact that
their community was host to Herzl. Blum said: "We are
all Zionists: note the fact that some of our children are
settling in Israel." He said there were very few inter-
marriages here—a heartening experience compared with
the conditions we found in Italy.
There is much that can be said about Swiss Jewry.
There are many distinguished leaders who had done
much for escapees from Nazism, who now are doing a
great deal for Israel.
At the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot
it was our pleasure to be with Mr. and Mrs. Walter Baer,
of Zurich. The Baers established a laboratory at the
Weizmann Institute; now they are heading a campaign
for the construction of a new science building at Rehovot.
We met eminent Swiss non-Jews as well as Jews
who settled in Israel and are assisting in the country's
upbuilding. There are, indeed, strong Swiss Israelites.
We were enchanted with Basel, pleased with its
proud Jewish community, heartened by the spirit of its
youth who showed a love for Israel, a devotion to Jew-
ish traditions --- many are Sabbath observers — and a
knowledge of their people's language and traditions.
•
•
-
•
BAS-RELIEF
By Arieh Merzer
* * *
Modern Sated
an Artists' Colony
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
SAFED — This city became
famous as the home of the best
known Jewish mystics. In mod-
ern Israel, it also is known for
its artists.
There is an artists' colony
here, and many tourists who
love art make it a point to
visit the numerous exhibits.
The best known artist here,
Moshe Cartel, has had exhibi-
tions in the United States.
A local sculptor, Sonia Sachs,
is now visiting in the United
States. Her niece, Alice, is
married to Marty Green, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Julius Green a
Detroit.
Mrs: Sachs also paints on
enamel, ceramics, wood and
marble.
An artist whose works have
attracted very wide attention is
Arieh Merzer. He has perfected
the art of metal - hammering
I and his copper and silver re-
liefs fascinate the observers.
T h e accompanying photo-
graph of one of his works indi-
cates the power of his ham-
mered metal bas reliefs. This
one was presented to the Inter-
national Labor Office by the Is-
rael government. It portrays
the prophecy of Isaiah—"And
they shall beat their swords
into plowshares."
Hias Hostel Helps
Build Beersheba
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
BEERSHEBA—Retracing our
steps in this historic spot, we
wish t9 report on a fine con-
tribution made to this rising
community by United Hias
Service.
The impressive Hias Hostel
was established here to help
solve the inadequate hotel
services for experts who come
here from nearly every part of
the globe to participate in re-
search and industrial planning.
The Jewish Agency and the
Israel government urged Hias
to establish a-hostel, and Beer-
sheba now has this imposing
building.
Menahem. Kraucer is the di-
rector of United Hias services
in Israel, where the popular
American agency. operates a
chain of shelters for people
who have no other acccommo-
dations.
Hias gets its aid from the
Allied Jewish Campaign. Our
dollars serve us well in Israel
in many ways — including the
Hias services.
Relatives Hear
from Doron Crew
JERUSALEM (JTA)—For
the first time since the de-
tention Sept. 25 of six crew-
men aboard the Israeli fish-
ing trawler Doron, letters
from the men have been re-
ceived by their relatives. The
letters say only that the men
are well.
The Egyptian authorities
continue to resist all repre-
sentations by the Interna-
tional Red Cross Committee
to permit one of its delegates
to visit the men.