Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Early American Interest in a Jewish Palestine
liaminarskjold Criticized by Mrs. Meir
for Failure to Secure Doron Release
Direct JTA , Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News
JERUSALEM — Israel's dis-
satisfaction with the unsuc-
cessful efforts of United Na-
tions Secretary General Dag
Hammarskjold to obtain re-
lease of the Israel fishing
trawler, the Dorori, and its
six-man crew from Egyptian
detention was expressed
Wednesday by Mrs. Golda Meir,
Israel's Foreign Minister, in a
statement in the Knesset.
Mrs. Meir specifically criti-
cized the UN secretariat for
having failed to publish an
account of the Doron seizure
last Sept. 22 and for not con-
demning Egypt for the "pirati-
cal act" of seizing the vessel
in the Mediterranean Sea.
She said she "regretted" the
fact that the fishermen, in-
cluding the ship's Italian cap-
tain and the 70-ton trawler
remained in Egyptian custody
despite repeated representations
to the Egyptian government.
She cited the refusal of Egypt
to permit visits to the fisher-
men by International Red
Cross representatives until six
weeks after the seizure and
then only in the presence of
Egyptian officials. She said
both conditions were in Viola-
tion of the Geneva Convention.
tion.
Mrs. Meir recalled a personal
talk with Hammarskjold during
her visit to the United States
for the General Assembly last
October, Hammarskjold's talks
with Prime Minister Ben-Gurion
and herself in December in
Israel and Hammarskj old's ex-
pressed hope that release would
take place before last Christ-
mas.
She said that Hammarskjold
The leading editorial in this issue deals with the altogether
unjust treatment of the term Zionism by a former United
States Ambassador to Lebanon.
It is a source of deep regret that men in public positions,
who have been sent by our Government to the Middle East,
and who should have acquainted themselves with the back-
ground of historic efforts to redeem the Holy Land from the
neglect which turned an area that was "the land of milk and
honey" into wasted and arid territory, should emerge so totally
ignorant of the true facts in a humanitarian effort.
Israel, the struggling new nation, is only partly rehabilitated.
The major tasks still lie ahead for the Israelis who,are redeem-
ing the soil and turning it once again • into the garden spot of
the Middle East. The antagonistic former "diplomats" who now
are fronting for the Arab nations and for the oil interests
begrudge the reborn new nation the triumphs they are win-
ning by the sweat of their brows. These _ so-called diplomats
apparently are totally uninformed . about the background of
Zionist endeavors.
Jews were not alone in their devotion to the ideal for a
redeemed Jewish Palestine. They had the support of leading
Christians everywhere. A long list of eminent American
theologians and statesmen, educators and scientists, who were
aligned with the Zionist idea–Lbecause they recognized its im-
portance as a great world-wide humanitarian movement—attests
to the uninterrupted American interest in the work for Jewish
national redemption. Part of the record will be found in an
important volume, "Early History of Zionism in America,"
published jointly by the American Jewish Historical Society and
the Theodor Herzl Foundation.
We recommend this volume for those who would be better
informed about the true facts in Zionigt history. Perhaps the
former U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Mr. Harold B. Minor, will
consent to reading the papers incorporated in this book the
addresses that were delivered in New York recently at a con-
ference of the two groups that published this book.
There is a valuable paper in this book on "The Zionism
of Warder Cresson," an eminent American Christian who ac-
cepted Judaism as his faith out of his recognition of the merits
of the Zionist cause; and another essay, "Palestine in the Litera-
ture of the United States to 186'7," in which many facts will be
found to substantiate that what Mr. Minor has swallowed as
a danger in "international" Zionism was traditionally — as it
. remains today—a movement that sought justice for the down-
trodden and a home for the homelf;;;;.
a vast literature on the subject of Christian Zion-
There,
ism. That, too, was "international" in scope, because Christians
everywhere, who possessed a knowledge of the Bible and of his-
tory, believed in the need for the redemption of the Jewish
Name Zuckerman
nation.
That prophecy has come true. Unfortunately, there are
bigots who do not like the idea of prophecy fulfilled. They un- to High AJC Post
doubtedly go to churches on Sundays and recite from the
Paul Zuckerman will be pre-
Prophets about Israel's redemption. But on Mondays they hate
campaign chairman of the 1958
an international bogey. What a pity that such biased views should
have survived two world wars, the Nazi holocaust—and genera- Allied Jewish Campaign, an-
nounces Max M. Fisher, cam-
tions that practiced hatred and sought the destruction of Jewry!
paign chairman. This phase of
* * *
Saul Raskin—Eminent Octogenarian
Art lovers in our community will have an opportunity, on
Feb. 2, to extend deserving honors to a great artist—to Saul
Raskin, whose paintings and illustrations have won world-wide
recognition.
The exhibition of his works, to be displayed here from
Feb. 2 to 22 at the Garelick Gallery, will honor him on his
80th birthday. His personal appearance at a reception on the
opening day of the exhibit will add to the festivities and will
bring the artist closer to his admirers.
Indeed, there are many Raskin admirers. Wherever there
are Jews, Raskin's art works hold a place of prominence. His
paintings are seen everywhere, in homes and in museums. His
Hagadah is popular at Sedorim. All his illustrated works make
the best gifts.
Saul Raskin retains marked vitality at the age of 80. He is
to be admired as much as he is loved.
It is a joy to greet and to acclaim him on the occasion of
his 80th birthday and his return visit to our community.
*
*
*
Abe Tuvim—His Notable Service's to the JNF
The Jewish National Fund has lost a most devoted worker,
in the death last week of Abe Tuvim, who since 1951 directed
the JNF Foundation.
Tuvim was well known in our community. He had visited
here several times in the interests of the JNF Foundation,
which encourages the naming of the JNF as beneficiary in wills.
The earnestness with which he approached his tasks had
won for Tuvim the respect and admiration' of all who worked
with him in the JNF's behalf. The JNF Foundation now possesses
high status in Jewish life, thanks to the pioneering work of
Abe Tuvim.
He did not limit his appeals, however, to the JNF Founda-
tion. All of the functions of the land-redeeming agency - in Israel
had his interest and devotion.
He has attained some fame as the father of Judy Holliday
•---the distinguished actress having translated the name Tuvim
—meaning' good and used as part of the salutation yom tov-
good day or good holiday—into Holliday. But he will best be
remembered for his services to the JNF and to Israel. Blessed
be his memory.
* * *
Another 'Magic Carpet'
Entire communities have been evacuated and their -res-
idents settled in Israel. Bulgarian Jewry now resides in Israel.
Yemenite Jews are all in Israel.
Now 15,000 Iranian Jews are awaiting flight, "on the wings
of an eagle," to Israel.
That is how the Galut is being destroyed and dignity
restored to oppressed Jews.
PAUL ZUCKERMAN
the campaign last year raised
73 per cent of the entire drive's
pledges.
Last year, 849 pre-campaign
contributors donated a total of
more than $4,250,000 for Fed-
eration's 12 member agencies
in Detroit, the United Jewish
Appeal rescue programs and
the other national and overseas
needs.
Since the Allied Jewish Cam-
paign was inaugurated in 1926,
a total of $43,800,000 has been
raised through the pre-cam-
paign divisions.
Zuckerman is a member of
the board of the Jewish Welfare
Federation and of the National
Food Industry Committee. He is
a member of the Probus, Hun-
dred and Standard Clubs.
ZOA Executive To Meet
NEW YORK, (AJP) — The
National Executive Council of
the ZOA will meet Saturday eve-
ning and Sunday, to discuss is-
sues to be considered at the
forthcoming meeting of the
World Zionist Actions Commit-
tee.
Asking "how long will. Egypt
had promised direct personal
intervention if the fishermen be permitted to defy United
were not released but that Nations agencies and disregard
since then another month had humanitarian rights," Mrs. "heir
passed without results, despite assured the families of the
the fact that there was "com- fishermen as well as the Knes-
plete identity" of views be- set that the Israel government
tween the UN official and would continue maximum ef-
Israel 'on the injustice of the forts for the early release of
arrests. the men.
V1, OM. 0 MM. 41=11•0.11MOMIN.1.1110 0111 ■ 45••••••11•111•MNIMIN),”141iO4•11111.0.111111111....tHINIMINHEIMMI.0111.41111101-001=14
Boris Smolar's
'Between You
... and Me'
(Copyright, 1958,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Partition Echoes
United Nations experts are not inclined to take seriously
the reports that Moscow may seek Israel's retreat to the 1947
borders laid down in the UN partition resolution . . . They
point out that the historic resolution partitioned Palestine into
two independent states: one—Israel, and the other of Palestine
Arabs . . . The Palestine Arab state never came into being
because Jordan annexed the territory which the UN partition
resolution assigned to the projected Arab state . . . Will Jordan
now retreat to its 1947 borders and give up the annexed Pales-
tine territory? . . . The partition resolution also provided for
an economic union between Israel and the Palestine Arab state
. . . Would Jordan be willing now—if the partition resolution
is revived—to establish an economic union with Israel? . .
United Nations experts do not doubt that Jordan would benefit
greatly from such a union, since the country is the poorest
among all the Arab countries . . . The same experts' believe
that it would be to Israeli's economic disadvantage to enter an
economic union now with either Jordan or with a recreated
Palestine Arab state . . . Nevertheless, there is no doubt in
United Nations circles that Israel would gladly agree to an
economic understanding with Jordan, because this would bring
about peace with at least one of the Arab countries . . . There
is also no doubt in UN circles that nobody in !Jordan would
dare raise his voice for economic union with Israel . . . Thus,
all the major provisions of the UN partition resolution of 1947
are dead and buried, for all practical purposes . . . To insist on
their revival—by Russia or any other member state of the United
Nations—would mean to meet head on not only with Israel
opposition, but also Jordan's . .. Not to speak of the fact that
neither Israel nor Jordan will agree to the internationalization
of Jerusalem which is another provision of the partition resolu-
tion that has lost its meaning now, ten years after the division
of Jerusalem between them.
U.S. Guarantees
I have received quite a number of letters from readers
interested in more information about how the United States
Government guarantees investments in Israel . . . American
investments in Israel can be insured against the risk of loss
from expropriation, possible inconvertibility of profits and prin-
cipal into dollars—and war damage—under terms of an agree-
ment concluded between the U.S. Government and Israel in
August 1952 and recently enlarged . . . These guarantees are
granted within the framework of the U.S. Mutual Security Act,
and are intended to stimulate private American investments
abroad . . . Only American investors are eligible for such guar-
antees which, in respect to Israel, require the prior approval
of the Investment Center in Jerusalem . . . A prospective
investor, after having received approval of his investment from
the Investment Center, may negotiate a -guarantee contract with
the Mutual Security Agency in Washington . . . If, through some
unforeseeable circumstances, he should be unable to convert
his profit or investment as provided under the Israel Law for
the - Encouragement of Capital Investment, the U.S. Govern-
ment would acquire the investor's currency in Israel pounds
and reimburse him in dollars . . . If the expropriation guaranty
is invoked, the U.S. would similarly take over claims for com-
pensation made by an investor against the Israel Government
and would receive any compensation awarded the investor .. .
The war risk guaranty covers losses resulting from damage or
destruction of plant, equipment, and facilities caused by war or
enemy attack . . This includes preventive or defensive action
taken against an actual or expected attack . . . The maximum
amount of guarantee is limited to 90 percent of the value of
the property . . . In order to discourage the filling of minor
claims, only those which exceed the $10,000 or one percent of
the face amount of the guarantee will be eligible . . . The pre-
mium for a war risk guarantee is 0.5 percent of the dollar
amount of protection . . . In general; claims under the Invest-
ment Guaranty Program may be handled on a diplomatic level
rather than litigated through national, judicial or adminis-
trative tribunals . . . Provision is made for international arbi-
tration or adjudication if necessary.
Cultural Notes
--Americans who continually complain that Yiddish is being
"suppressed" in Israel, in preference to Hebrew, will be inter-
ested in seeing a monumental five-volume work in Yiddish pub-
lished in Israel and just received in this country . . . It is an
encyclopedia of gems of Jewish thinking gathered and edited
by the late famed Jewish author B. Yeuszohn, under the title
"Fun Unzer Altn Oitzer" ( -From Our Old Treasury") . . .
Published by the Modlin Publishing House in Tel Aviv, the
five volumes really constitute a treasury of the best sayings
and comments of Jewish scholars of all ages . . . Anyone who
has a sincere interest in what is popularly referred to as the
Jewish cultural heritage will find here the key to this heritage
... It must take a lifetime—in addition to great erudition and
fundamental Jewish scholarship—to gather and select all the
material which the five volumes contain.