— 9

By Philip Slomovitx

the school for the teaching of Hebrew to
adults in special classes that have proven
highly satisfactory, devotes most of his
energies to the anti-tuberculosis campaign.
He was in Detroit two years ago and was
promised medical equipment. He hopes to
receive it as an aid to his great efforts and
as a boon to Israel's health efforts.
Dr. Katznelson reports to us that 96 per
cent of Israel's children have been injected
with the Salk vaccine and that polio has
been reduced to a minimum, but the fight
against the manifestations of polio go on and
there are plans for an Israeli equivalent of
the "March of Dimes" further to eradicate
the disease.

*

*

Shulamith Katznelson's Ulpan Akiva
in • Nathanya • deserves special mention.
Shulamith, who studied last year _at the
University of Michigan and at Wayne State
University, has 100 students in her Hebrew
classes for adults—tourists and immigrants.
She has a staff of five teachers and the
results of her work have been widely
acclaimed.
No lesser a person than Benjamin Fine,
education editor of the New York Times, has
commended Shulamith for .her efforts.

*

*

Eight years ago, when we. were here,
there was one traffic light in Haifa. There are
several there now. The first traffic light was
then being installed in Tel Aviv, and it was
then not yet in operation in Israel's bustling
city. Now there are many traffic lights in
Tel Aviv.
But the only traffic light in Jerusalem
was abandoned. Apparently the city does not
lend itself to traffic jams that were oc-
casioned by changing lights. It has been
found that drivers and pedestriansf can get
along better in the Holy City by wending
and trekking their ways independently.

*

In addition to the very beautiful Tel
Aviv Cultural Center, Tel Aviv has another
wonderful building that was opened a few
months ago — Beth Sokolow, the clubhouse
of the Israeli journalists. Its numerous facili-
ties for meetings, concerts, balls, etc., make
it a valuable addition to the cultural life of
the country. Like the Tel Aviv Cultural
Center, with its Mann Auditorium for the
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Beth Soko-
low's existence was made possible by the
American-Israel. Cultural Foundation. Reuven
Dafni, former . Israel Consul in New York, is
the Foundation's able director.
We were treated to a delightful concert

at Beth Sokolow, and to a pleasant reception
by the Israeli journalists' association;

Charming hosts also were the American
Charge d'Affairs and Mrs. William 0. Baxter.
They and their staff at the American Embassy
in Tel Aviv were wonderful hosts.
The Baxters and their staff joined us
also at a fascinating party at the Theater
Club in Tel Aviv. Especially thrilling at that
party, at which the Frederic Manns of Phila-
delphia (donors of the Mann Auditorium)
were the hosts, was the performance of a
group from Nachal, former servicemen, which
operates under the name of Batzel Yarok-
The Green Onion. The imitation of Prime
Minister David Ben-Gurion by one of the
group was excellent. Then there was a charm-
ing Tel Avivian, Ruthie, whose improvisa-
tions, with her fingers and palms, on two
drums, were the most unusual we had ever
witnessed. Leonard Bernstein, who conducted
the Israel Philharmonic dedication concerts
at the Mann Hall, was as fascinated with
Ruthie as we were.
These were among the many fascina-
tions that welcomed us to Israel. There are
many more — and they await all who will
come here during Israel's Tenth Anniversary
Year in 1958.
The World Series made the front pages
of Israel's newspapers, and the only English
language daily newspaper published in the
Middle East, the Jerusalem Post, featured all
details of the Braves-Yankees battle for the
world baseball championship.
The Post reported the games in con-
siderable detail. There are many American
visitors here who crave for American sports
news. Then there are the scores of exchange
students from the United States who
anxiously await news from the home sports
fields.
While soccer is Israel's major sport,
basketball is gaining ground, the appearance
in Israel two years ago of the Harlem Globe-
trotters for exhibition games having stimu-
lated greater interest in the sport.
Americans who are studying in Israeli
universities and who are getting training on
farms in agriCultural settlements have in-
dicated a desire for the introduction of base-
ball in this country. There is a lack of equip-
ment, and a number of American visitors
have undertaken to provide gloves, balls
and bats to some of the settlements. The
primary interest is in softball and an attempt
is being made to create a softball league be-.
tween Americans residing in several of the
Israeli settlements.

Friday, October 18. 1957 —THE DETROIT JEW ISH NEWS-

Purely Commentary:

Taking a part in the wonders of
Israel: Many fascinating experi-
ences await the tourist during the
Tenth Anniversary Year