Twin Goals for 1958

THE JEWISH NEWS

Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicl e 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 M.
of March 3, 1879.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1952 at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act .

SIDNEY SHMARAK

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Advertising Manager

Editor and Publisher

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ

Circulation Manager

FRANK SIMONS

City Editor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
of
Tebet, 5718, the following: Scriptural' selections will be
day
This Sabbath, the fifth
read in our synagogues: Vayiggash, Gen. 44:18-47:27. Prophetical portion, Ezekiel 37:15-28.
Pentateuchal portion,
Fast of Tebet will be observed on Thursday.

Licht Benshen, Friday, Dec. 27, 4:27 p.

Page Four

VOL. XXXII, No. 17

December 27, 1957

The Mirage in the Sands of Arabia

Having failed in their . efforts to nation. Now these two former backers of
destroy Israel, realizing that the reality Israel are encouraging Israel's enemies:
of Israel's existence must be acknowl- the Arab nations who threaten Israel's
edged, Arab politicians have hit on an- existence. Russia is supporting one group
other fantastic scheme, in a frantic effort of Arab nations, the pro-Russian bloc;
to attain their hope of driving Israel into while our Government encourages the
the sea: by means of a n o t- h e r inter- other group of Arabs who are being kept
national campaign to reduce the Jewish within the Western orbit. But both ele-
State to the boundaries that were origin- ments among the Arabs are anti-Israel,
ally outlined for Israel in the 1947 United and nothing is being done to offset their
Nations Palestine Partition Decision. destructive aims. *
*
*
Sensible geographers, realistic his-
- After World War I, men with vision
torians and statesmen with common sense
have recognized at once the utter stupid- p ointed out that one of the most construe-
ity of such a campaign, of this mirage in tive results of that destructive war was
the sands of the Arab deserts. Israel's the issuance of the Balfour Declaration
population has increased three-fold since favoring the establishment of a Jewish
1947 and the -'1,300,000 new settlers who National Home. Perhaps the only truly
came to Israel in the first decade of her constructive accomplishment in the world
existence are settled in the main on the . since World War II is the rise of the
State of Israel which has put an end to
borders of the original partition areas or Jewish homelessness and has restored Dr. Minkin's New Scholarly Book
within the newly-acquired areas in the
State that is now Israel. To oust these faith to a downtrodden p e o p 1 e. The
people would create chaos; their resettle- United Nations' members should not only
Jacob S. Minkin, rabbi, author, distinguished scholar,
ment would be nigh impossible-,---for, un- feel proud of this attainment, but should has Dr.
helped to enrich Jewish literature with many historical
like the Arab refugee situation, there are battle for its perpetuation and protection.
volumes and with biographies of important figures. He adds to
not available the millions of acres of Arab Instead, hypocrisy raises its ugly head on his record of scholarly works with his latest volume, "The
lands upon which to resettle people; the the international arena and there is too World of Moses Maimonides," which has just been published
financial needs would be unattainable; little effort made to disparage talks like by Thomas Yoseloff (11 E. 36th, N. Y. 16).
This is both an evaluation of Maimonides' life and work
and if ever there was the danger of blood- the newest scheme to destroy Israel
shed it would arise if the new settlers through an effort to reduce her territory. and an anthology of his writings, and the compiler's ability to
Added to the international hypocrisy select the most suitable portions of the great philosopher's
in. Israel ever were told to move out of also is the shocking stupidity of people works for the lay reader is in evidence throughout this book.
A third of the volume contains Rabbi Minkin's evaluation
their last ramparts of freedom.
who do not realize that genuine libertar- of "The
World of Moses Maimonides." In it, he describes his
* *
*
ians can not be destroyed. The Israelis years of wandering, his commentaries and philosophic works,
At the outset, it is necessary that the are the only true libertarians in the en-
At
en- his famous "Letter to Yemen," "the great controversy" over
background of the entire Palestinian sit- tire Middle East. They have won their his teachings, "The Guide for the Perplexed" and his life at
uation should be understood. The United freedom at a heavy price. They won't the Court of Saladin.
There is an interesting comment on Maimonides' views on
Nations decided on a partition plan, but abandon it. If the nations of the world
boundaries decided upon then were most will recognize it—and we hope that our charity. Dr. Minkin points out that Maimonides believed that
man is impoverished, nor will any evil befall him" because
unrealistic, yet Israel accepted the verdict own Government will be among the first "no
of zedakah. Maimonides believed that poor Jews could turn
of the world organization. The Arabs felt to adopt a realistic approach to the sit- only to Jewish communities for help, and the Maimonides
differently, rejected partition, refused to uation—then they may undertake sin- view is thus expressed by this book's editor: "Shall they (the
accept- the existence of Israel and de- cerely to establish the peace I s r a e 1 poor Jews) turn to the nations of the earth who hate and
Glared that they would fight until "the craves for M. the Middle East. Then inter- despise us and rejoice in our misfortune?"
Dr. Minkin adds: "Maimonides was not contented with merely
Jews are driven into the sea." They ad- national honor will be saved and peace
urging the need of giving zedakah but was deeply concerned
vised their kinsmen in Israel, who could. asured for all.
with the manner of its execution. He regarded benevolence as
have shared a glorious life with their
.
a virtue, ennobling both the giver and the recipient, when it is
Jewish cousins, to leave -Palestine, on the
practiced with a glad hand' and joyous spirit." The principle
promise that they will return to regain
advocated is that taught by the Rabbis, that "it is better to give
Community-minded Detroiters a r e nothing at all than to cause a blush to the recipient."
their own possessions and to acquire the
Maimonides' philosophy, we learn, was a social theory of
showing a deep interest in Israel's major
properties of the Jews.
Naturally, the Jews who had by educational institutions. A group of life, "the collective good." a jurist, philosopher, theologian and
Maimonides, being
this time acquired the status of Israelis - leaders is organizing to assist the Hebrew scientist,
and an interpreter of the laws and ordinances of the
fought for their freedom. In that fight— University, the major educational agency Bible and Talmud, "did not hesitate in obedience to a higher
in the war that was declared by, the in Israel. A group that has been active plan to introduce into his Code philosophical and scientific
Arabs—they gained _new stretches of land for many years is advancing the needs of discussions which, in the opinion of his critics, have little rela-
which made Israel's geographic position the Technion—Israel's Institute of Tech- tion to the formulation of the rabbinic law."
The teachings of Maimonides, incorporated in Dr. Minkin's
just a little bit more realistic. Now, the nology at Haifa. More recently, Mizrachi volume,
include many subjects—on government, judges and
Arabs, having lost the war they started, leaders here have interested themselves courts, idolatry
and superstition, God and Torah, repentance,
resort to the trick of demanding adher- in the activities of the Bar-Ilan Univer- education, prophecy, labor and charity, Israel and Palestine,
ence to the very plan they opposed. sity.
health and hygiene, the Messianic idea, the purpose of life,
*
*
*
It is primarily thanks to Detroit and many others.
Appended to this volume are, in addition to valuable notes,
The facts that must be understood Mizrachists that Bar-Ilan has made its
fully are: when the partition plan first advances in Israel. Now, a local Mizrachi Maimonides' Ethical Testament and a chronology of Maimonides'
was acted upon, the British UN delegates committee is working on a project to life and works.
opposed it and abstained from voting in establish another dormitory at the uni- Memorial to Paul Goodman
the final balloting. Now Great Britain is versity to bear the Detroit name.
Under the leadership of Dr. Pinkhos
among the leaders in the effort to reduce
Israel's t e r r i t o r y. Such hypocrisy de- Churgin, whose pasing a month ago has
Twenty-three authoritative writers have combined their skills
s e r v e s exposing. The British, having taken from Bar-Ilan its founding pres-
in effect been ousted from Palestine ident, Bar-Ilan adopted high standards. in preparation of "The Rebirth of Israel," an important volume
because of their colonial officials' mis- At the official opening of Bar-Ilan's cur- sponsored by the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland
management, now dare' to propose the rent scholastic year, Dr. Churgin outlined and published by Edward Goldston & Son, 36 Upper Berkeley .St.,
W. 1, England.
virtual destruction of Israel. It adds to the school's objectives. He warned against London,
The volume was published as a memorial to the Jewish
Great Britain's disgraces in the unsavory superficiality and pointed to the dangers historian, Paul Goodman.
roles her inefficient officials played in it brings in the fields of faith, philosophy
Edited by the eminent Zionist leader, Israel. Cohen, with a
and research and in the relationship foreword by Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie, the volume, authorized
the Middle East.
six years ago, carries an introduction by the late Prof. Selig
Russia and the United States were between Israel and the Diaspora.
It is this type of idealism that has Brodetsky.
among the major supporters of the Pales-.
A memoir on Israel Cohen pays tribute to Paul Goodman.
tine partition plan with the aim of estab- helped Bar-Ilan to rise to important There are excerpts from Goodman's writings and a bibliography
lishing a small Jewish State. Neither had heights in Israel. It is this type of ideal- of his works.
dreamed that a nation of merchants and ism that has earned for it important
The special articles in the volume deal with the Zionist
peddlers, a people that was often de- status in Israel. These attainments should Movement and with the State of Israel. They contain remi-
prived of the right to work and was re- give Detroiters great satisfaction in know- niscences on the Zionist movement, and evaluations of important
duced to a few menial callings, would ing they have a share in building of this aspects of Israel's relationships with the world at large and
with Jewry.
emerge as a great and very c r e a t i v e university.

World of Moses Maimonides

,

Bar- Il an Universi ty

'The Rebirth of Israel'