Friday, October 18. 1957
—
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-
8
Purely Commentary
By Philip Slomovitz
JERUSALEM — The wonders of Israel
never cease. New housing projects and in-
dustries are in evidence of construction. The
young state's universities are expanding.
Art, literature, science and music have able
and keen creative leaders.
While Jerusalem is a quiet city com-
pared with bustling Tel Aviv, even here there
is a dynamism that excites the imagination.
Here you see the Jordanian border at
nearly every step. Yet, not unlike Tel Aviv,
there is a confidence in Israel's ability to
defend herself that seems to overlook what
might appear to an outsider as a constant
danger from hostile neighbors. There is a
fearlessness that seems to account for most
of the achievements of the small but very
vigorous State.
The Yom Kippur experience was a moving
one. In the Yeshurun synagogue, which is
the nearest approach here to a Conservative
congregation, there was decorum, and the
services were most impressive. Hazzan Meiz-
lish adhered strictly to an established con-
gregational rule of not repeating words in
chanting the prayers. American cantors might
collapse under such a strain—of not repeat-
ing. But Meizlish's voice was under perfect
control.
At our services were a number of dis-
tinguished personalities — former Prime
Minister Moshe Sharett, the present Minis-
ter of Posts Joseph Burg, the former Mayor
of Jerusalem, Shlomo Zalman Shragai,
Detroit's Rabbi Isaac Stollman who is the
president of Mizrachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi
of America, Congressman Farbstein of
New York, Dr. Reuben Katznelson, one of
Israel's distinguished pioneer leaders whose
wife, Bathsheba, served as a member of
the first Israel Parliament (Knesset), and
many others.
President Itzhak Ben-Zvi was at the
Rehaviah Synagogue where he attends serv-
ices fairly regularly.
There is an interesting story related by
Cantor Meizlish. He was cantor in Manches-
ter, England, when he was invited to come to
Yeshurun. His congregation offered him
double the salary to stay, but he indicated
a desire to go to the-then-Palestine. Then
the War of Liberation and the battle of
Jerusalem broke out. He was advised by
cable not to come, and he replied by cable
that he was coming. He arrived in 1948 and
became an ikar — a peasant — in Gedera.
That's where he is now with his family,
throughout the year, arriving for shabbatim
and Yom Tovim in Jerusalem to be Hazzan
at Yeshurun.
Stories like this are heard here wherever
Taking a part in the wonders of
•
•
Israel: Many fascinating experi-
ences await the tourist during the
Tenth Anniversary Year !
TEL AVIV
Prime Minister David Ben-
Gurion, meeting here at the Kirya (City Hall)
with Mr. and Mrs. Philip Slomovitz, wel-
comed greetings from Detroit friends who
have worked with him for many years, first
in the Zionist movement and since Israel's
establishment in the Israel Bond drive and
in behalf of the United Jewish Appeal. He
spoke with gratitude of American Jewry's
cooperation with Israel and of the aid given
to Israel by the Morris Schavers, - Max Osnos,
Abe Kasle, Phillip Stollman and other Bond
and Allied Jewish Campaign leaders.
you turn. This is the type of human clay out
of which has been cemented a wholesome
nation.
Next to your Commentator at Yeshurun
was Shimon Diskin, grandson of the brother
of Moshe Yeshayahu Diskin, who was the
founder of the Diskin Orphanage in Jerusa-
lem more than 100 years ago.
Shimon believes that the present New
Jerusalem in the Israel sector is a mutilated
city without the Old City, its ancient sites,
its Wailing Wall.
Meanwhile, there is quiet on the border.
There are guards on both sides of the dividing
line between Israel and Jordan, and while
there always is the danger of an outbreak
of trouble, there probably won't be any as
long as Israel is recognized for the courage
she has to defend her position. And no one
questions Israel's courage.
*
Dr. Reuben Katznelson, father of the
well known advocate, Shmuel Tamir, who
figures prominently in the Kastner Case, and
of Shulamith Katznelson, head of the Ulam,