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Purely Commentary

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By Philip Slomovitz

British items. Mr. and Mrs. Ben Morganroth,
who were in the Sealy Mattress Co. entourage,
brought back with them to Detroit a minia-
ture -French white poodle. What a thoughtful
gift for their son!
A charming incident was told to us by
Charles Lichtenfeld, brother of Walter Field.
Mr. and Mrs. Lichtenfeld sailed for home
from New York only three weeks ago on the
SS United States. At the same time, their
niece and nephew, newlyweds Mr. and Mrs.
Irwin Field (children of Mr. and Mrs. Walter
Field), took off from England on the SS
Queen Elizabeth. As they literally met, mid-
way on their ocean trip, they exchanged radio
wireless messages of greetings.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Solovich, who were
in the Sealy Mattress Co. group, utilized their
Israeli and European tour to visit with dis-
tinguished relatives. They were guests in Is-
rael of their cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Sigmund
(Leah) Ambach, the parents of Mrs. Abba
Ebari. In Haifa, they were the guests of an-
other cousin, David Har-Even, brother of Mrs.
Ambach. Har-Even is the chief engineer for
telephone operations in the northern district
of Israel. Another cousin, Har-Even's brother
Harry, with whom they met in Tel Aviv, is
the secretary to the WA in South Africa.
The Soloviches did not have a chance to
meet with their other cousin, Sir Hersch Lau-
terpaucht, Great Britain's representative at
the World Court at The Hague. Sir Hersch
has been acclaimed as Great Britain's most
distinguished legal authority.
The Ambachs—the parents of Mrs. Eban
—have two other daughters. One is the wife
of Colonel Herzog, son of the Israel Chief
Rabbi and Military Attache of the Israel Em-
bassy in Washington. Another daughter is
married to M. Hasketh, Israel's representative
at the International Labor Organization (ILO)
at Geneva.
In London, we were greeted by the ap-
pearance of the first issue of "The American
Abroad," an impressive new periodical. The
first issue reveals excellent editorial judg-
ment and good make-up. Americans who
travel abroad will find a good link between
them, in the various countries of Europe, and
with 'America, through the fine periodical.

Addenda to Israel Reports

To cover everything in Israel would require
writing an entire history of a great human experi-
ment.
You can't overlook Histadrut and its allied
efforts, the Mortazot Hapoalot, Solel Boneh and
other aspects of an impressive program.
The Sachnut—the Jewish Agency.---is, of course,
• , a major factor in Israel's upbulding. Israel Bonds
do a great job. Malben, of JDC, is vital. So are
the efforts of ORT and other movements. One
would have to write volumes about the work of
Hadassah in Israel.
Since it is impossible to continue to write

The Jewries of Italy and Great Brit-

•

ain . . .Israel's indestructibility in
Evidence Everywhere . .. Addenda
to Reports on Israel

volumes, it becomes necessary to describe one's
impressions in paragraphs.
A task of great merit is that of the America-
Israel Cultural Foundation. Reuven Dafni, former
General Consul of Israel in New York, now is the
Foundation's director in Israel. The Foundation's
most recent outstanding achievement was the
completion of the Tel Aviv Cultural Center. It also
was responsible for the Sokolow Center, the im-
pressive headquarters of the Israel journalists—a
building where important concerts and lectures are
given periodically.
The America-Israel Cultural Foundation has
enlisted the interest and support of outstanding
personalities not only in the United States but also
in Israel. On important occasions, charming Israeli
ladies guide visitors through important installations.
The charms of Israel are enhanced by the ability
and courtesy of those who guide and welcome you.
Histadrut is inseparable from the most ad-
vanced Israel activities: One hears criticisms of this
dominating force in Israel. Histadrut's role as an
employer as well as the organization of employees
is unlike that of any other labor union movement
anywhere in the world. Histadrut protects the
status of the workers. It provides socialized .
medical facilities for its members' through Kupat
Holim. But it also employs workers. It controls
Solel Boneh. Tnuvah and other industrial and co-
operative projects. It is because it is so dominant
in so many fields that it invites criticism. Yet,
history must, as it will, acknowledge the basic good
it has done for Israel.
From north to south, from' the Emek to the
.Negev down to Eilat, from east to west, scores of
'factories whose rise is attributable to the ingenuity
of Histadrut, attest to the great good this amazing
movement has done and continues to do for Israel.
It is impossible to study the economic develop-
ment of Israel, the great contributions of Kupat
Holim to Israel's health efforts the defense mechan-
isms, without admiring Histadrut. Therefore this
labor federation has earned the support American
Jews give it in annual campaigns such as the one
now being launched in Detroit.
Hadassah's story is well known, yet it can
never he completely told. The women of Detroit
Can he justly proud of all the attainments of this
great movement. It does more than protect the
health of new settlers: it assists in the establish-
ment of new medical centers, in advancing the
dental schools . and laboratories, in promoting a
child welfare program.
There are many important names associated
with Israel. Hamburg, the California desert farmer
who introduced cotton into Israel. The undertaking
met with many crises, and their defiance is due
primarily to the vision of this interesting and tough
man. Israelis were lukewarm at first to his pro-
posals. But Sam Hamburg virtually commuted from
his home in Los Banos, Calif., to Israel for a num-
ber of years to press his ideas, to insist upon the
fulfillment of his dreams. They have come true.
The cotton plantations, the cotton (Kutna) plants,
the new market which promises to elevate Israel
cotton to a standard above the best in the world
are tributes to the vision of this Californian. It is
no wonder that his name has become a ,byword in
the south of Israel. The fantastic story of Sam
Hamburg was told a short time ago by Ruth Gruber
in the Denver Post. Her article was reprinted in
the Reader's Digest. It was an excellent account
about a truly great farmer whose name will always
be linked with a new, great industry in Israel.