Friday, February 14, 1958—THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-40
Around the World...
A Digest of World Jewish Happenings, from Dis-
patches of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Other
News Gathering Media.
Europe
ROME—Italian Foreign Minister Giuseppe Pella, comment-
ing in Parliament on the Syrian-Egyptian merger, said "Italy
will not abandon its policy of understanding towards the Arab
people" . . .
VIENNA—Ex-Nazis in Austria who still claim German
nationality will gain equal exemption from property confiscation
as a result of their Hitlerite activities, in accordance with the
draft of a bill submitted to the Cabinet by Finance Minister
Reinhard Kamitz .
PARIS—Observers here believe France is particularly con-
cerned with implications for security of Israel and Lebanon
as a result of the Egyptian Syrian merger . . It was stated
in French governMent circles that there would be no opposition
to a Jordan-Iraq union to counteract the Syrian-Egyptian
Merger, and it is said that a Jordan-Iraq merger would assure
the security of Israel and Lebanon . . . New forms of French-
Israel economic cooperation are expected to increase Israel
exports to France by 300 per cent this year . . . It is reported
here that Tunisian authorities have banned the sale of the
Paris-published Herut newspaper Notre Drapau on the grounds
that it incited Jewish youth to emigrate from Tunisia . . .
BRUSSELS—An independent General Zionist party has
been set up here, similar to that of the Progressives in Israel,
with Darkenu Club members as the core of the organization.
GENEVA—Ernest Gunther Mohr, German diplomat nomi-
nated by Bonn as Ambassador to Switerland, has come under
fire here as the man who was responsible for the deportation
and death of thousands of Dutch Jews. National Zeitung of
Basle sparked the demand for Mohr's rejection as "absolutely
undesirable." . . . In Bonn there was consternation over these
charges and many denials . . . M. A. Braude, director general
of the World ORT Union, announced that within six weeks of
starting ORT operations in Poland, vocational assistance among
10,000 Jewish repatriates from Russia has been set up in seven
POlish
LONDON—An agreement has been entered here between
Abel Shaban of South Africa and Joseph Marshak of Israel,
both representing overseas interests, for the establishment of
a cotton spinning mill and a sewing thread mill in Israel, it
was announced here.
BONN—It is expected that the Bundestag will adopt a
measure being .framed by the West German Social Democratic
Party extending the deadline for filing individual claims for
compensation under the indemnification law . .
LONDON—Czech authorities have arrested 35 former
members of the anti-Semitic Fascist Hlinka guards on charges
of murdering 400 people during the Nazi occupation .
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- Asia
ANKARA—Danger to Israel in the Egyptian-Syrian merger
is seen here and Turkish political circles freely express concern
over the possibility of an early conflict . .
IZMIR, Turkey—The post of Chief Rabbi of Izmir, vacant
for many years, has been filled with the appointment of Rabbi
Rahamim Moreno Sigura, 72. Izmir, Turkey's second largest
center of Jewish population, now has only 6,000 Jews, .Many
having emigrated to Israel.
Israel
TEL AVIV—Waldo E. Tibbets, CARE's director in Israel,
reported that during 1957 the American non-profit cooperative
broke all previous records by delivering to beneficiaries in
Israel 83,000 packages valued at $1,100,000 . .
SDEH BOKER—David Ben-Gurion, the Negev's most promi-
nent resident, inaugurated a new radio-telephone network de-
signed to strengthen the security links of the scattered Israeli
settlements in the far-flung desert.
JERUSALEM—The Ministry of Transport is discussing
plans for the establishment of another automobile assembly plant
in Israel . . . A pledge was made in the Knesset by Finance
Minister Levi Eshkol that no foreign currency would be trans-
ferred outside the country for the acquisition of Shell Oil
interests in Israel . . The food poisoning which affected 700
youngsters in Jerusalem schools was blamed on a cocoa drink
prepared in the central kitchen serving the schools. Researchers
for the Health Ministry isolated microorganisms which appar-
ently had gotten into the drink after it was mixed and before
it was distributed in school lunch rooms . . •
United States
NEW YORK—The Central Conference of American Rabbis
issued a statement condemning racial discrimination in housing
and in schools . .
SAN FRANCISCO—The local chapter of American Civil
Liberties Union has given support to a protest by .a Jewish mother
against presentation of a nativity play at Ross; a small town
north of here, during the last Christmas season. Attorney Gem
eral Edmund Brown's office has notified the Ross school board
that it has no jurisdiction over the action of local boards and
has avoided ruling on Mrs. Ann Diamond's protest that the play's
religious orientation was not that of her children and "confused
them." ..
ALBANY—Republican legislative leaders have assured a
rabbinical delegation that they will clear for a vote a measure
to exempt Sabbath-observers from Sunday blue laws ..
Canada
MONTREAL—The Canadian Jewish Congress' central region
participated in a joint delegation to provincial. Premier Leslie
M. Frost of Ontario which asked for an amendment to the FEPC
law to cover discrimination in housing and to promote an edu-
cational program designed to publicize the FEPC purposes.
India
NEW DELHI—The Times of India, commenting on Ghana's
foreign policy, said that "in relation to Israel both countries are
moving close together, and it is doubtful if any other country
has closer relations with Ghana today than Israel. The Israeli
mission in Accra is said to be so influential as to be the envy
of the entire diplomatic corps in the capital."
WSU'S Daily Collegian Apologizes for
Misquotations' Which Stirred Up Issue
Over MHO Lecture by Dr. Abram Spiro
An unfortunate, "inflamma- that was aroused by the Feb.
"Thus American Jewry is no
tory" headline that appeared 7 article. The Collegian pub- longer able to invite scholars
over a report quoting an ad- lished two other letters by Dr. in this field from Europe. If
dress before the Wayne State Spiro — On Feb. 11 and 12. this field of scholarship is to
University's Hillel Foundation
Tuesday's le t t e r carried survive here, I emphasized, it
by Dr. Abram Spiro, LaMed
this
editorial note: "The must be created here. Turning
Professor of Semitic Studies
to the undergraduate level, I
Daily
Collegian story 'Spiro
at WSU, and what were later
pointed out that students who
Indicts
Attitude
of
U.
S.
declared to be "misquotations"
take these studies are mostly
Jews' in Friday's issue con-
from Dr. Spiro's address,
tained a number of mis- interested in the language
brought an apology from the
quotations. In order to set courses in Semitics because,
editors of the Daily Collegian
the matter straight, a re- out of practical market-value
that printed the original article
considerations, language courses
buttal
is printed herewith
last Friday.
can be utilized either to meet
and the Collegian apologizes
The five-column streamer for the unfortunate way in language requirements or for
headline read: "Spiro Indicts
use later in life in travels
in which his talk was sum-
Attitude of U. S. Jews." The
abroad, etc.
marized."
article stated that Dr. Spiro,
"The non-language courses,
In Tuesday's letter to the
head of the new WSU Semitics
such as Biblical studies or
department, said: "American Collegian, Dr. Spiro stated:
Jewish philosophy, draw smaller
Jews are like leeches . . . who
"I am reported to have said numbers. Furthermore, in spite
live on the survival of Jewish that the American . ,Jew was
learning imported from abroad `doomed to imitation.' In an- of their native intelligence,
Jewish students of Jewish sub-
. .. even in studying the back- other paragraph I am reported
ground of their own people to have said that 'the Jewish jects are not necessarily the
they are too market-minded people have always been one best in the classrooms. This, I
pointed out, is due to the fact
and have lost the idea of learn- step ahead of society, but they
ing for self-understanding . . . are the reflective weathervane that many of these students
I have yet to find bright Jew- of society.' Aside from the have a certain degree of fa-
ish students in my classes; clumsy and meaningless com- miliarity with these subjects
non Jews are much brighter bination of the words 'reflec- from home, school, and syna-
and apply themselves more." tive weathervane,' how could gogue. But believing them-
selves to know these subjects
a man 'doomed to - imitation' to a much higher degree than
The article at this point
quoted Dr. Max KapuStin, be 'a weathervane' and 'one they in reality do, they do not
step ahead' of those whom he apply themselves with the hu-
director of the Bnai Brith
is supposed to be imitating?
Hillel Foundation at WSU,
mility and self-discipline requis-
who introduced Dr. Spiro at
"Or did the reporter mean ite for the mastering of a field
the lecture on Feb. 6, as to imply that I said that for of learning.
ha v i n g interrupted the
the present the Jew was a
"In- my further analysis of
speaker with the statement:
`weathervane' and 'one step the Jewish population here, I
"Not at Wayne State, of ahead' but that in the future
drew upon the study made on
course."
he would begin to imitate?"
the Scandinavian immigrants. I
Declaring that he was "dis-
Proceeding to state that pointed out that just as the sec-
tressed" by the, article in the several of the quotes "are the ond generation of Swedes in
Collegian and that it "misrep- words of the reporter ascribed this country. In their eager-
resented the spirit" of his talk, to me in direct quotes," Dr. ness to acclimate themselves to
and charging that "in several Spiro stated that the reporter the American scene, neglected
instances, direct quotes were Wrote "that in speaking of the heritage and culture of
used for words which were not `America's lacking intellectual- their fathers, so, to a large ex-
mine," Dr. Spiro wrote to the ism,' I said 'that this applies tent, behaved the second -gen-
student publication the follow- especially to American Jews.' eration of Jews here. Likewise,
ing letter which appeared in But this is manifestly' untrue, just as the third generation of
the Collegian on Feb. 10:
as can be seen from an exam- Swedes here are looking back
"My talk was a construc- ination of the roster of very romantically and wistfully upon
tive one and, as a result of distinguished Jewish scholars the cultural value of their
grandfathers, so third genera-
r e cent manifestations, I in this country.
tion Jews are doing. For the
looked forward to a revival
"As a matter of fact, in draw- present, however, it does not
of learning for its own sake ing analogies and making con-
yet manifest itself fully in mat-
in this country. With it I
trasts between the British and
envisioned a renaissance of the American scenes, I stated ters . of the mind, but rather
in matters of the spirit, cere-
Jewish culture and a rebirth
that the largest number of monials, and rituals.
of the age-old tradition of
Jewish scholars in America
learning among the Jews.
were- either born or educated "Another point I made was
here, whereas a majority of the that the Jewish population was
"In the course of my 40-
minute talk, I severely criti- Jewish scholars in Britain are overwhelmingly an urban popu-
cized several negative aspects relative newcomers, who . fled lation. Because of historical
of the present-day American
to Britain from the Hitler per- factors not of their making, the
scene as they affect Jews secutions. My talk was devoted Jews 'have - been city dwellers
and non-Jews, and indicated to the problem of Judaic and for many centuries now. Their
the remedies.
Hebraic studies in this country, neighbors have only relatively
or, briefly, to Jewish culture recently become city dwellers.
"The burden of my talk
was that the Jews, as a here. I used various illustra- Less than a century ago the
tions to make my point. I American population was still
minority, reflect the society in
spoke for about 40 minutes largely rural.
which they live. In the coun-
and answered questions for an-
tries where learning and in-
"Now a-n urban civilization
tellectual pursuits were given other 30 or 40 minutes. As an has a character of its own, it has
introduction I surveyed the its virtues and its defects. I
.primacy,.Jewish culture flour-
British scene. I stated that in quoted Maclver, Page and
ished. Conversely, in a climate
the past learning and intellec- other sociologists to the effect
which is oriented towards
tual pursuits were not in vogue that many patterns of Jewish
market values, true scholar-
there. Few people went into life, which are popularly re-
ship cannot flourish. And as a
the academic profession and garded as 'Jewish character-
result, Jewish learning de-
only small numbers received a istics,' are in reality the char-
clines.
college education. This un- acteristics of an urban civiliza-
"Looking into the future I
intellectual attitude to life was tion. Therefore, since in our
expressed confidence that we
are going to see • a trans- also prevalent in the Jewish days the city culture sets the
formation of values and a community there, which there- tone and draws the pattern of
gradual departure from mar- by abandoned an age-old tradi- society, it follows that the
Jews, the city dwellers par ex-
ket value considerations. The tion of learning."
element of curiosity planted
Pursuing his analysis of his cellence, are in many respects
in us will . make us try to
position, as he stated it in his ahead of their neighbors.
solve the puzzles and riddles Hillel address, Dr. Spiro's let-
"Finally, I should like to re-
of man's life, and will cause
ter, which was concluded in mark that had I spoken to a
us to .pursue learning for its Wednesday's Collegian, stated: general student, group on the
own sake. In its wake we
"As regards the field of He- subject of 'market-value con-
shall see an accentuation of
braic and Judaic studies • the sideratiolls' I should not have
matters of spirit and mind
situation here is not different had to change my thesis but
in America. This process will from that of Britain. The over- my illustrations. I should have
bring forth a new awareness
whelming majority of scholars pointed to the sad neglect of
among the Jews of the role
in this not very marketable philosophical studies, classical
and goal of their collective
field are foreign born. In a studies, and other non-market-
living. They will want to
sense, I said, this means that able studies which had shaped
know what their Jewish heri- Judaic studies here are leech- man through the ages and has
tage is and what contribution
ing on the Judaic studies which produced western civilization.
it has to make to society at
had been cultivated on the
"But I spoke to a Jewish
large. This • intellectual cli-
European continent. Things are
mate will be conducive to
still worse. I continued, for the group at Hillel House and on
the growth of Jewish studies
centers of Judaic studies in that occasion I chose as my
as an end in itself."
Europe have been destroyed subject the non-marketable Ju-
This did not end the issue by Hitler.
daic studies."
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