$37.50 CONCERT
Philip Slomovitz, editor of the. Detroit Jewish News, is in
Israel to attend the opening of the new Cultural Center at
Tel Aviv. Here are some of his impressions, written specially
for the Free Press. 1
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor, the Detroit Jewish News
TEL AVIV—Michigan had better than a front seat
at the formal dedication of the Tel Aviv Cultural Center.
It had all of them in the new Frederic R. Mann Audi-
torium, which is to serve as headquarters for the Israel
Philharmonic Orchestra.
The 2,560 chairs for the
audience were provided by the
American Seating Co. of Grand
Rapids, on specifications sub-
mitted by Yaakov Rechter,
architect of the Center.
These self-rising seats are of
black twisted loop, with arm
rests of 'nat-
ural finish
wood. The
cast-iron stan-
dards are
orange col-
ored, present-
ing a bright
a n d pleasing
effect.
Israel's
Prime Minis-
Slomovitz
ter David Ben-
Gurion, President Itzhak Ben-
Zvi, members of the Israeli
Cabinet and Knesset, United
States Charge d'Affaires Wil-
liam 0. Baxter and ambassa-
dors from a score of other
countries were present. United
States Ambassador Edward B.
Lawson is on holiday in the
United States.
* * *
THE CONCERT, despite the
$37.50 admission charge, played
to a packed house. Included
were a number of Israeli serv-
icemen, who saved for months
from their slim earnings to
buy a ticket.
In many cases, couples
bought one ticket for both,
one attending the first half
of the program and the other
taking over after the inter-
mission.
Loenard Bernstein conducted
and the orchestra played a spe-
cial dedication number he had
written for the occasion.
There were three noted
American soloists at the con-
cert: Isaac Stern, violinist;
Artur Rubinstein, pianist, and
Paul Tortelier, cellist.
* * *
STERN HAD occasioned
some excitement two months
(From The Jewish News of Dec. 2, 1949)
Flashback to An Earlier Visit
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Israel's Hospitality
How does Israel manage to take in tens of thousands of new-
comers and to provide for them in spite of the meager funds that
have been provided by the United Jewish Appeal?
The touching hospitality of the people explains the riddle.
Wherever one visits in Israel, he is certain to receive a hearty
welcome.
When a visitor brings regards to an Israeli from relatives or
friends from America, he is at once invited to tea, or a dinner, or to
share his host's honie.
It is not uncommon to hear the rebuke: "What do you mean,
staying at a hotel? Our home is open for you. We have a room for
you. We are moving out so that you can move in. What we have is
yours:---for as long as you wish."
This repeated so often that the tourist soon becomes aware that
this is the country's natural sentiment.
In the kibutz, the guest is treated to a meal, some one moves out
of a cottage to provide lodging for the visitor, and there are no
charges. If the tourist desires to compensate his hosts, he is handed
the most popular object of the most popular fund—the Blue and White
Box of the Jewish National Fund, to make a contribution not to the
settlement but to the popular land-redemption fund.
The hospitality of the people of Israel explains how 300,000 people
could come to the new-born land, how a small settlement like Givat
Brenner could add 450 newcomers to its 700 settlers, all kibutzim and
moshavot having acted in a similar spirit.
We shall never forget the story of one boy who, at the age of 10,
lost his parents and his entire family and roamed the forests and un-
derground routes of Eastern Europe during the war years. After fight-
ing with the partisans he finally landed in a DP camp, from there was
taken with other orphans to Italy and at last found haven in Israel.
He fought with the Haganah and while in Jerusalem found that there
were namesakes of his in Ramataim. He went there and told them his
name. He was embraced and was told that he was a nephew, and now
he has a family.
This boy's namesake told us: "We haven't the slightest idea who
the boy is. All we know is that he considers us his namesakes, that he
has been orphaned by Nazi brutality, that he needs a home. Now,
our home is his, and for all practical and human purposes I am his
uncle, my wife is his aunt, he is our nephew."
Where else do you find such humaneness, such hospitality?
Your Commentator could multiply similar examples a thousand-
fold. Suffice it for him to say that we have been so deeply moved by
the hearty hospitableness of the people of Israel that we still are
working under its spell.
1957-THE DETROIT FREE PRESS
Cultural Center
Opens in Israel
before the concert when he
tested the hall for acoustics.
The following morning one
paper headlined "Isaac Stern
Plays to Empty House."
Copies of the edition are
now among Stern's most
treasured souvenirs and the '
most unusual report ever
published in his long career.
The Tel Aviv Cultural Cen-
ter will be built at a cost of
$2,300,000. Jewish leaders in
Michigan played a large part
in financing the building.
Max Osnos, president of
Sams, Inc., headed the special
Michigan committee in gather-
ing funds. Another Detroiter,
Morris Schaver, is a member
of the board of the American-
I s r a el Cultural Foundation
which made the Tel Aviv Cen-
ter one of its major projects.