Dangerous Change of Power

THE JEWISH NEWS

20, 1951
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July

Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association. National
Editorial
Association.
Published
every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 3 ,5,

•c-..f. - 7-1. - .?"c"

Mich., VE 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year. Foreign $6.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Editor and Publisher

SIDNEY SHMARAK CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ

Advertising Manager

Circulation Manager

FRANK SIMONS

City Editor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-ninth day of Nisan, 5718, the following Scriptural selections
wit/ be read in our synagogues:
portion, I Samuel
Pentateuchal portion, Shemini, Leviticus 9:1-11:47. Prophetical
20:18-42.
Licht Benshen, Friday, April 8, 6:30 p.m.

Page Four

VOL. XXXIII. No. 7

April 18, 1958

i'
Peace Mission
Israel s Anniversary and
This is a positive approach, and Israel

Israel's approaching tenth anniver-
sary, which will be celebrated worldwide and her friends have earned the respect
next Friday, and which will be marked that will be accorded the Jewish State
by an entitre year's festivities in Israel, and its supporters during the forthcoming
assumes major significance at the present celebrations. *
*
*
time, in defiance of whatever tensions
Regrettably,
Israel's
neighbors are
may be in evidence anywhere on earth.
The celebrations are the result of a kept in the dark regarding the progress
triumph of a liberty-loving people that attained by the smallest nation in their
is striving to guarantee the security of area. If their leaders had stopped playing
democratic ideals in the Middle East. All the game aimed at power control and
lovers of freedom and students of world domination over their impoverished popu-
affairs know that when the ideals of lations, the entire Middle East would
demoOracy are rooted in the Middle East have benefited from Israel's successes.
It is not too late to aspire to the
they will spread everywhere.
With hopes for peace in that area, . friendliest relationships among all nations
we also entertain the hope that peace in the Middle East. Israel's leaders know
will arrive for all humanity. that in building up flourishing industries,
*
a healthy environment and a literate
*
*
Interpreting the purposes of the cele- people, they also are creating a better
brations of Israel's tenth anniversary, foundation for good government and good
as chairman of the American Committee living for all peoples
* in * that area.
*
for Israel"s Tenth Anniversary Celebra-
Israel's tenth anniversary is aimed
tion, former U. S. Senator Herbert H.
Lehman underscored the theme of the primarily at achieving amity. Let all the
festivities to be the attainment of peace peoples in that area benefit from the
and the development of the Middle East, Israeli accomplishments. "Israel's mission
and emphasized that Israel has held con- is peace"—and the peace sought is for
sistently to these three objectives: all, not merely for Israelis.
This is the objective of Israel's tenth
1. The open door policy for all Jews
anniversary. This is the hope of all
needing and wishing haven in Israel;
Israel's friends. This is our prayer, as
2. The development of the country
we greet Israel on the tenth Yom Ha-
for the good of all its inhabitants;
Atzmaut, the anniversary of her procla-
3. Peaceful relations with its Arab
mation of Statehood.
neighbors, as with the rest of the world.

)

Dr. Moshe Avidor Reports on—

Educational Progress, Spread
of Hebrew Language in Israel

The Youth and Hechalutz Department of the World Zionist
Organization, which has been publishing literary works on a
variety of subjects, has just published, in Jerusalem, a most il-
luminating book on "Education in Israel," by Dr. Moshe Avidor.
All the basic facts about the development of Israel's educa-
tional structure and its present status are described in this study.
The author believes that Israel's three outstanding accom-
plishments in the last 10 years are: "the absorption of immigrant
children into the school network, the spread of Hebrew, and
the cultural absorption of newcomers to the country."
Out of a total of 650,000 Jews in Israel, the pupils num-
bered 100,000. In 1957, out of a total population approximating
1,900,000, the student body numbered 450,000.
Dr. Avidor faces facts—no matter how challenging—and
describes the difficulties encountered as well as the achieve-
ments. He states that "at the peak of immigration, there were
times when children in the transition camps studied. in the open
air for weeks on end," for lack of proper facilities. But the sit-
uation has improved in the last two or three years.
Describing the spread of the Hebrew language, by new-
comers who came from 60 different countries, Dr. Avidor
that children especially turned "quickly and willingly
Let it not be said that serious efforts his life; he should always make definite writes
a common language—Hebrew—in order to communicate
are not being made to advance the cause provision for study. He should find a to
with each other."
of Jewish education and to encourage teacher and a companion to be an incen-
The scholarly author of "Education in Israel" reviews the
aid
toward
his
study.
When
one
and
tive
adult education programs. The third an-
progress
of educational efforts in Israel in the last 50 years, the
nual issue of YUDAE (Yeshiva University studies alone, a subject is not as pleasant struggles that were encountered, the dedicated efforts of com-
as
when
it
is
studied
together
with
others.
Department of Adult Education) Re-
munities and- teachers to provide an adequate education for the
porter, edited by Dr. Sidney B. Hoenig, Jewish students have always displayed a children, the measures that were taken to provide courses for
the director of this adult education de- characteristic of pursuing learning at any adults.
Prior to evaluating the present educational set-up under
partment, is excellent proof of an under- cost—even undergoing all means of priva-
taking in one area of Jewish activities. tion. No one should think he has reached the Israel Ministry of Education and Culture, Dr. Avidor re-
the "Jewish National School System-19184948," and
Similar programs are sponsored by other his goal. Even the learned scholar can views
describes the difficulties that caused teachers' strikes and
elements in American Jewish life. add to his fount of knowledge.
called for recommendations for improvements by commissions
The responses to such adult education
Reports show that the number of con- from the Palestine Mandatory Government. Then came Israel
projects are not too gratifying, and the gregations that have set up adult educa- and the radical changes.
problem of creating an interest in and tion courses has doubled. This, too, is a
It is believed, we learn that all expenditures for educational
a desire for advanced learning remains sign of a growing interest in the ac- efforts in 1956-57 by government agencies, local authorities, Jew-
ish Agency and voluntary organizations totalled more than
serious. But the opportunities are here. quisition of knowledge.
100,000,000 Israeli pounds.
There are many adult education pro-
As long as the heads of our religious
The first compulsory State Education Law of 1949 caused
grams, and their sponsors continue pa-
tiently to prod our communities into movements persist in offering courses much trouble, because of Trends that were exploited by polit-
accepting the advantages offered them of study to our communities, there is ical parties. The recognition of the Trend system "obliged par-
hope that they will be utilized and that ents registering their children to declare their choice." Dr.
to acquire Jewish knowledge.
adds, however, that this law, in spite of the Trends,
YUDAE Reporter resorts to this state- the educational aims will be attained. Avidor
had a beneficial effect in hastening the end of the sys-
ment by Rabbi Israel Al-Nakawa, 14th The more difficult job ahead is to interest "also
tem and bringing about its supersession by State Education."
century martyr of Toledo, Spain, who our people to take advantage of the
The complete text of the State Education Law is appended
urged group studies, even for the learned: courses that are available. When that to this book. It is still not the total success that was hoped for
obstacle
is
hurdled,
an
important
objec-
"A man should never allow his busi-
it. Some children still drop out of school, the secondary educa-
tion still is limited, there is a problem of teachers and teachers'
ness activity to crowd the Torah out of tive will have been achieved.
training. Dr. Avidor points out—and this is applicable to Jewish
school systems in this country:
"A school system is as good as its schools, and schools are
as good as their teachers. Good educational qualifications,
Communities everywhere are prepar- the continued influx of immigrants and sound training, adequate in-service training, and high propor-
tional morale—all these go towards making good teachers.
ing to acclaim Israel on her tenth anni- their integration into the country.
This explains the great attention devoted by the education
versary next Friday. Non-Jewish groups Therefore,
while
we
plan
celebrations,
let us primarily devote ourselves to mak- authorities in Israel to the basic and advanced training of
have joined with Jewish representatives ing a success of the great undertaking teachers and to their condition of service."
Interesting chapters in Dr. Avidor's study are devoted to
in planning impressive celebrations. to support Israel: the fulfillment of our
Our community will have its major obligations to the United Jewish Appeal, the progress made by Israel to Arab education. Arab teachers
to the general Teachers' Association, and Arabs trained
celebration on April 27, and individual the major beneficiary of the Allied Jew- belong
in the Hebrew University soon will implement the ranks of
groups are arranging special events. ish Campaign. .
teachers.
Our annual campaign is nearing its Arab The
Israelis surely will be heartened by
author also discusses adult education and, describes the
messages
that
already
have
begun
to
close,
but
it
is
far
behind
the
minimum
higher educational systems—the Hebrew University, Technion,
the
pour in on the Jewish State, congratulat- goal necessary to assure proper income Bar-Ilan.
While "difficulties and dangers abound," the author believes:
ing it on its tenth birthday. for Israel's upbuilding.
Let us make the Allied Jewish Cam- "When one takes stock of the cultural and educational situation
There is one special way, however, of
indicating to the Israelis that we-stand-by paign our chief concern in the coming in Israel today, there seems to be every prospect for the emer-
them in their difficult struggles to defend few clays. Let us make sure that all pros- gence of a democratic and culture-loving people with high edu-
and scientific standards, which will benefit not only
the land and to build it up. It is by pro- pects are reached and that the entire cational
themselves, but the neighboring countries and the world at large."

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Adult Education: Objectives and Obstacles

Allied Jewish Campaign: Our Major Concern

viding she means With which to assure minimum goal—$6,200,000—is secured.

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