No Real Armistice Here
THE JEWISH NEWS
•
Incorporating the Detroit j elvish 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 $6.
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 Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the fifteenth day of Heshvan, 5718, the following Scriptural selec-
tions will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Vayera, Gen. 18:1-22:24. Prophetical portion, II Kings
4:1-37.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Nov. 8, 4:25 p.m.
VOL. XXXII. No. 10
Page Four
November 8, 195'1
Anti-Semitic Tendencies in Germany
A conference of 70 German intellec-
tuals, who met at Locum, near Hanover,
to discuss the problems of "Anti-Semi-
tism and German History," was in-
formed by Dr. Carl Christoph Schweit-
zer, a high German official, that there
were evidences of anti-Semitic tenden-
cies among a third of the people polled
recently in West Germany.
Dr. Schweitzer stated, however, that
neo-Nazi strength is declining.
Nevertheless, there is cause for con-
cern. It is quite clear that the Hitler
spirit has not subsided, that the ideology
of Nazism had taken so strong a hold
of the German people that it will be
difficult to eradicate it.
This is equally true among neo-Fas-
cists in Italy. Basically unprejudiced, the
Italian people is not Fascistic. But many
of them retain an affection for Musso-
lini's memory. They believe that he had
rendered great services to his people
and that he would have emerged a great
man if he had not yielded to Hitler.
The German people and the demo-
cratic elements outside of Germany
have reason to be grateful for Dr. Kon-
rad Adenauer's successful retention of
power. This is the best encouragement
that democratic ideas will gain ground
in Germany.
Insofar as the Jewish position is con-
cerned, there is evidence that under the
influence of Dr. Adenauer there may be
a return to decency. In defiance of Hit-
lerite sentiments, the West German gov-
ernment has recognized the contribu-
tions made by Jewish scientists and
scholars. In the past few weeks; stamps
were issued in honor of Dr. Leo Baeck,
former Chief Rabbi of Berlin, and Dr.
Fritz Haber, who had made some of the
greatest contributions to medicine. Oth-
er Jews also had been similarly hon-
ored, indicating a sincere desire on the
part of the new regime that followed
Hitler to atone for the worst crimes in
history that were peiTetrated by the
Nazis.
Not to be forgotten is the reparations
agreement. Many plants established in
Israel operate with machinery that came
through the reparations. Israel's mer-
chant fleet came in part from German
reparations.
While there is partial atonement,
there also is evidence of the continuing
anti-Semitic sentiments. This calls for
caution—and such caution is in no way
a slur on the well-meaning sentiments of
the Adenauer government. On the con-
trary, if vigilance on the part of Jewry
and the democratic forces in the world
will serve to counteract the spread of
Nazism, it will be a boon to Germany
herself and to the cause of democracy.
Interesting View of Anti-Semitism
Writing in the National Review,
Whittaker Chambers expressed this in-
teresting view on anti-Semitism:
A filthy anti-Semitism afflicts many
minds in the West. Nothing is gained by
denying it. So let us say flatly: in Christen-
dom, no mind can claim to be civilized and,
at the same time be anti-Semitic, any more
than an American mind can claim to be
civilized and be anti-Negro. For all Chris-
tians, regardless of creed, the Vatican has
defined the position once and for all: "Spir-
itually, we are Semites." Moreover, an im-
mense compassion—mere good will is too
genderless a term—before the spectacle of
of the Jewish tragedy in our century must
move our hourly understanding of what the
State of Israel means in terms of a hope
fired by such suffering.
It is an interesting opinion that tal-
lies with the thinking of rational people.
Unfortunately, such views have become
theories that have had difficulty in at-
taining reality in practice. But as long as
such views are expressed, there is hope
for better understanding.
When these opinions are uttered and
quoted, there is a good chance_ that they
will strike roots and that prejudices
eventually will be destroyed.
Proffered Solution to he Arab-Israel Problem
Don Cook, chief of the London Bu-
reau of the New York Herald Tribune,
in his series of articles on the Middle
East situation, expresses the view that
there can be no solution to the Com-
munist issue in that area without a solu-
tion of the Israel-Arab question.
While he believes that Israel is • the
major sore in the issue, he has come to
the conclusion that the possibility for
peace is greater today than at any other
time in the past three years, based on
these three of his observations:
First, the Arabs are genuinely and deep-
ly afraid of Israel. Behind all of this absurd
military posturing and this utterly useless
arming of impoverished peoples in under-
developed lands lies nothing but fear. And
while the Arab mind is not likely to carry
this forward logically, nevertheless the clear
logic is to remove the fear by making peace.
Second, in the year since the Suez war,
the Arabs have come to know in their hearts
that the idea of "driving Israel into the
sea" is hopeless. It takes a long time for
people to come to accept simple facts, but
it is nevertheless a great and fundamental
change that the Arab world is now basically
thinking in terms of a settlement rather
than the wiping out of the Jewish state.
Three, the United States has now ac-
cepted paramountcy in the Middle East for
the interests and fortunes of the Western
world, and the United States is the only
power which can do the hard job of requir-
ing Israel to giie up territory and surrender
emotional and political positions in order to
gain the great and overwhelming and bene-
ficial achievement of peace.
These are in themselves interesting.
But he bases his views on the belief that
Israel should offer to welcome back all
of the Arab refugees. He maintains that
it would not represent an economic dan-
ger to Israel because he believes that
less than 10,000 of the refugees actually
would want to go back to Israel.
Nevertheless, to offer to take back
800,000 refugees, who become a serious
fifth column menace, might carry with
it serious repercussions. 'Knowing the
venomous attitude of the Arab chief-
tains, it would be a serious risk to make
such an offer, since the Arab rulers
might utilize it to force the unfortunate
homeless Arabs upon Israel by compul-
sion.
But, while Don Cook's plan sounds
menacing, it is well worth studying—in
the interests of, the peace Israel is so
anxious to attain.
'Churchill on Jewish Problems'
Dr. Oskar K. Rabinowicz, the distinguished European Jewish
scholar, filled a gap in the story of the life of Winston Churchill in
his "Winston Churchill on Jewish Problems, A Half Century Sur-
vey," which was published by Lincoln-Prager (London) for the
World Jewish Congress.
Dr. Rabinowicz, who now makes his home at 10 Wheelock Rd.,
Scarsdale, N. Y., has made a thorough study of the subject and
has compiled the most important data, and the most significant
of the Churchillian statements, for this interesting book.
At the outset, he deals with Churchill's attitude on Judaism,
on the Jewish community and individual Jews. In the latter sec-
tion, there are expressions on Lord Beaconsfield, Sir Ernest Cassel,
Solomon de Medina, Leon Blum, Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Pierre
Mendes-France, Bernard Baruch, Nathan and Harold Laski, Lord
Reading and Leon Trotsky.
Churchill is quoted on the Aliens Acts and on immigration
problems. There are condemnations of anti-Semitism—in Czarist and
Soviet Russia and in Great Britain as well as in Germany.
It is the chapter entitled "The Solution" that is of particular
interest. Here Churchill emerges as the Zionist, as the man who
declared, on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, in 1951: "Personally my
heart has throbbed with Zionism since twelve years ago,. when I
made the acquaintance of Manchester Jewry." Dr. Rabinowicz com-
ments that "he has remained true to the Zionist cause ever since
1908, unshaken in his resolve to assist its implementation, and
faithful to the noble ideal which inspires it."
There is much merit in Dr. Rabinowicz's book, and the
accompanying volume that is promised to it should greatly enhance
the ,fine study made by this able scholar.
Wolf Mankowitz's Fine Stories
Wolf Mankowitz is a remarkable story-teller. In his latest
book, he proves his skill in a novelette, "The Mendelian Fire,"
which also is the title of his collection, published by Little,
Brown & Co. (34 Beacon St., Boston 6), in association with the
Atlantic Monthly Press, and in 1'7 brief stories.
This able narrator shows skill in many areas. He knows_ the
Jewish trader and his traits, and he describes him and his ways
in a fashion that holds the interest of the reader and compels
him to go On from story to story.
In the main narrative, he deals with a manufacturer who is
ready to sacrifice his business for his daughter's artistic talent.
Then'he learns of • a greater sacrifice, the young lady's love affair
with a non-Jew. There is pathos in this tale, but, as in all of
the_ -Mankowitz stories; it is mixed with a great deal of humor.
Mankowitz knows the Jewish pugilist, he understands the
whims of children, he evaluates the shrewdness of traders.
Born in the East End of London in 1924, Mankowitz studied
at Cambridge University. In addition to being a novelist, he is
an art and antique dealer. His novels have won wide acclaim—
deservedly. His stories will be read with keen interest and fas-
cination. Israel Zangwill would have claimed hiin as one of his
ablest successors.
'Teach Me to Pray
"Teach Me to Pray," prepared by Rabbi David I. - Cedarbaum
and Libbie L.- Braverman, is an interesting guide for the study; of
prayers.
Covering all the holidays and the Sabbath, this book for
children, published by the Board of Jewish Education of Chi-
cago (72 E. 11th St.), explains the prayers and helps the young
student to understand the prayers.
Starting with Rosh Hashanah, this book explains the Shofar's
significance and the words associated with the sounding of the
ram's horn.
In this and the other sections of the book, dealing with Yom
Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, Shavuot, Hanukah, the Sabbath kid-
dush, etc., the relevant terms are incorporated in questions and
-answers, and provisions are made for written exercises.
"Teach Me to Pray" should be used as a textbook in our
schools. It has great merit and deserves acceptance by our edu-
cational systems throughout the land.