By
Philip
Purely Commentary:

Slomovitz

Israel Emblem and Statue of Liberty

Significance of Page 1 Photos

Tourists to Israel will be able- to see the history of this

The Proudest 'Happy Birthday' Greeting on Record: Hearty Shalom
ancient nation at a glance by studying the sculptures on this
bronze Menorah, which stands in Jerusalem. An ancient
and there never was -a direct meeting between symbol
One need not be a Jew to feel elated in this
of freedom and independence, the Menorah was given
historic hour which marks the beginning of the . Israel and the Arab states. But privately, as a gift to the people of Israel by the British House of
sought
representatives
of
every
Arab
state
second decade of Israel's existence. Catholics
Commons, and is commonly known as Israel's "Statue of
and Protestants, and many realistically-minded meetings with the Jewish representatives. Liberty." More than 100,000 tourists are expected to see
Eytan,
Moslems and Hindus, have expressed their "Almost the only relief," we learn from
this, Israel's first Festival Year.
"was afforded by the efforts of each Arab Jerusalem's Menorah during
respect for Israel and their sense of satisfac-
According, to the Israel Government Tourist Office, the Festival
of
delegation
to
make
secret
contact
with
that
tion over the triumph of fighters for liberty
through May 11, 1959, and will
Israel. Each was determined to meet the Year will last from . April 23
and for autonomy.
mark Israel's 10 years of statehood. More than 150 events have
the
others
only
on
condition
that
Israelis, but
Israel's first ten years were very difficult
been scheduled thus far. There will be pageants, dance and
should not know about it."
ones. An uphill trek marked the economic and
music festivals, masquerades, exhibitions, pilgrimages to Holy
That
is
how
it
has
been
going
on
ever
since
social struggles involved in welcoming a mil-
Sites, Biblical Quiz • contests, concerts, country fairs, flower
Israel was re-established as a sovereign state._ shows and other celebrations to lure and entertain tourists
lion new settlers and fusing them into a
King Abdullah was assassinated because he throughout the 12 months of the Festival Year.
single, Hebrew-speaking society. While the
builders of Medinat Yisrael constantly marched planned to make peace with Israel. Every Arab
The . emblem above the Statue of Liberty on Page One
politician who dared to encourage peace with is the official Israel Exhibition symbol. It was designed by
forward, they nevertheless were compelled, as
Israel
merely
risked
his
life.
Every
time
the
their ancestors were in the days of Ezra and
Abram Games, the well-known Jewish - artist. It is based on
Nehemiah, to manipulate the plow with one news leaked out that Arabs were negotiating the quotation: "And I will plant them on their own soil and
peace talks, the reports were -repudiated be- they shall not be uprooted anymore from out of their land".
hand while holding on to weapons of defense
cause the pacifists only risked their lives. It (Amos 9:15), which is taken from the Haftara (reading from ‘
in the other.
may well be that Naguib's elimination from the Prophets) of the Sabbath following Israel Independence
power in Egypt was his conciliatory attitude Day. Planting is represented by the young -stem. The sturdy .
It was a struggle for life against great odds—
towards Israel.
hand holding the Menorah suggests security and guardianship
and the battle goes on. The Israelis are, indeed,
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against uprooting; the vigorous leaf motifs in the Menorah
creating new industries. They are keeping their
Illustratively, Israel's three major officers— symbolize the creative accomplishments of the State, whilst
gates open for new settlers — every Jew who
President Itzhak Ben-Zvi, Prime Minister David the leaf-shaped "Yood" at the top is the triumphant symbol of
desires to join them has the opportunity of
immediate acquirement of citizenship. They Ben-Gurion and Foreign Minister Golda Meir- the results of the ten years' effort and growth. The prescribed
emphasized their craving for peace, in their color-scheme is light brown at the base shading into light green
are creating universities and are opening new
messages just released on Israel's tenth anni- at the top, with the emblem outline itself in dark green,
cultural and scientific vistas. They are build-
suggestive of freshness and youth.
versary.
ing new roads and are opening new theaters.
(Israeli photographs used in this issue were secured through the
President Ben-Zvi prays to the Almighty courtesy of the Israel Government Tourist Bureau.)
They are preparing for a very full life for
"that real peace may reign in this country and
themselves and their children.
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Their most sacred hopes and aspirations are - in our relations with all peoples, near and far."
Premier Ben-Gurion says "we look to the
being fulfilled. Yet, their neighbors remain
Boris Smolar's
antagonistic. War threats continue to plague future with confidence in the Rock of Israel,
them. Their salutation is shalom — they vir- depending on our strength, and on the justice
and purity of our cause, believing in the
tually beg for peace — but their pleadings
brotherhood of world Jewry, and hoping for
meet only with hatred.
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the goodwill of all nations who seek peace and
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justice and freedom."
It 'need not be so. Long ago, it could have
(Copyright, 1958,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Mrs. Meir makes this emphatic assertion:.
been otherwise, all battles between the Semitic
our
second
decade,
hope
that
in
cousins could have been averted, for. the simple
"We fervently
The American Scene
reason that the masses among the Arab
our Arab neighbors will abandon their futile
A fresh look at anti-Semitism in the United States will be
peoples are kept in ignorance, else they would
efforts at our destruction, and peace will come taken by the American Jewish Committee at its three-day annual
have sitpported every peace move made by
to our tormented region. But be that as it meeting which starts on April 25. . . A confidential report on
may, we shall persist in our work of recon- how Christian communal leaders feel about accepting Jews as
Israel. There are many Arab leaders who pray
for the day of peace for their people and for
struction and development, in the rebuilding business associates, in their clubs and in their homes will be dis-
of our /and and in the ingathering of our cussed . . . The report culminates a study conducted by the
Israel, but they fear the assassins' threats that
people."
emanate from the ranks of a handful among
American Jewish Committee to determine the attitudes of influ-
the ruling elements who desire to dominate
That is how Israelis have been speaking ential Gentiles in this country towards Jews . . . Christian bank-
and to continue to ride in their medieval, throughout the ten years of the State's exist- ers, industrialists, real estate operators and top Gentiles in busi-;
tyrannical fashion.
ence. Unfortunately, the Arab not only shunned ness and social life were interviewed in a city with a population
Indeed, there is recurring evidence that many peace but even averted talking about it. The under 500,000 where the Jews constitute 10 percent . . . The
Arabs, like nearly all the Israelis, desire peace only word on their lips in relation to Israel question about their attitude toward Jews was approached very
and Would like to negotiate it through direct has been "war," and their chieftains truly casually amidst other questions posed. . . From the replies it
sought it. But they have never been able to was established that their attitude towards Jews in general is
talks with Israel. Only a week ago, the JTA
prove that their people desired it. That is why rather friendly. . . . Even the most hostile among them consider
reported an Arab refugee leader's statement,
at a press conference in Istanbul, of his readi- they have failed and must continue to fail. the Jews "very able people" and "very strong family people" ...
Therein lies the solution for the rest of the Many of them were especially impressed with the fact that Jews
ness to meet with Israel's Prime Minister David
Ben-Gurion to discuss a permanent solution of world: in the best interests of the Arab peoples, are "very. liberal for their own people" and raise large sums for
they must. demand direct negotiations between Jewish philanthropy ... Despite the general aura of friendliness,
the refugee problem.
Israel and her neighbors for peace. Then we some of the leading Christians made pretty disagreeable remarks
about Jews during the interview . . . Virtually all of them stressed
shall surely have peace.
In his most informative book, "The First Ten
that Protestants, Catholics and Jews work together magnificently
*
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Years," Walter Eytan, director-general of the
for common causes, but go their separate ways in socializing. . . .
In spite of the militant pressures from Arab This was explained by "first family socialites" . with_the fact that
Israel Ministry for Foreign Affairs, offers
quarters,
there
is
good
reason
to
believe
that
many examples of Arab peace overtures to
at parties one "cannot mix" everyone with Jews, therefore, they
they could never have grown to their present are not invited into homes. . . . As to not admitting them to cer-
Israel. A typical example was his experience
at the armistice conference in Rhodes. While grotesque proportions if it were not for the tain clubs, the mildest explanation was that • "this is inOre of a
Israelis then met in one room with the Egyp- tacit encouragement the Arab militarists and tradition than anything" . . .
feudalists were given by the Western powers.
tians, the latter at first addressed their re-
marks only .to the mediator, Dr. Ralph Bunche, It is such encouragement that lends strength
as if the Israelis never existed. But the atmos- to Nasser, the defeated general who has be-
come a triumphant statesman.
phere improved and the delegations soon
argued directly. During the six weeks at Hotel
We are dealing with realities on Israel's
des Roses, Eytan writes, "we became quite tenth birthday, only to indicate that there is
Seventy years of service to of the Jews," Ginzberg's "Leg-
friendly with the Egyptians. Their earlier atti-
much hope for peace, that the current celebra- the
cultural life of English- ends of the Bible," and many
tude may have been due to insecurity and
tion is by .no means clothed in fears stemming speaking
Jewry will be reviewed other titles of interest and
shyness, or to instructions; I am certain. it was
from threats from Israel's neighbors. Even if at the anniversary
dinner of the value.
not caused by any deep-seated hostility. We
there should be a partial renewal of hostilities, Jewish Publication
Founded in 1888 for the pur-
Society of
did not meet socially much, but when Abdul
it will not prove the emergence of serious America, April 27, in the War- pose of preserving and enhanc-
Moneim Mustafa, the chief political adviser on
dangers.
wick Hotel, Philadelphia. Edwin ing the • Jewish religion and
the Egyptian delegation, fell ill, we sat at his
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Wolf, 2 n d, heritage through the publica-
bedside and comforted him. . . ."
Israel is here to stay. The eternity of Israel
president of tion and dissemination of books
There was more socializing later on, and the has been determined long ago, and has been
the society, of Jewish content, the society
Israelis thought, after the party arranged by reaffirmed by the will to live of the People
will speak on has published in excess of 400
Dr. Bunche, upon the signing of the armistice, Israel.
the theme titles and has distributed near-
"that we had not only brought the fighting
"The JPS: ly five million Bibles and other
This
is
the
dominant
note
in
the
Israel
cele-
phase to a formal end, but had laid the foun-
Promise a n d books to every part of the world.
bration.
It
is
the
heartening
element
in
the
dations at least of normal relations between
Fulfillment." In 1958, the program calls for
life
of
the
Jewish
people.
our two countries."
In the after- the publication of twelve new
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Israel has reason to be proud, her people can
noon of the books in the fields of history,
Yet, the very Abdul Moneim Mustafa whom hold their heads high. They are building and
same day, religion, fiction and juvenile
creating well. They are making friends. They
the Israelis had comforted in Rhodes "became
scholars a n d literature. New projects planned
have formed an indestructible partnership with
Minister of Egypt at Berne and an assistant
educators from for the year include a series of
the Jewish people. They have established warm
secretary-general of the Arab League. Early in
all parts of the paperback reprints and a new
1957 he turned up in a new part, as a member friendships with great nations, notably the
country w i 11 group of inspirational biogra-
of King Saud's entourage on the state visit to United States, France and others.
participate in phies for children aged eleven
All these developments have led to a glorious
Washington."
t h e society's to fifteen. These projects, to-
anniversary. Never before has the "Happy
semi - annual gether with the regular publica-
How are we to account for it? Very simply:
Birthday" greeting meant as much as it does Edwin Wolf II pub lication tion program, are intended to
the lack of encouragement to : Israel's peace
now, in the joyous state in which we acclaim committee meeting. Reports on provide good literature for
efforts by the world's great powers, notably
the growing child of ten among the nations of manuscripts will be reviewed adults and children.
the men in our State Department who have
Detroit officers and members
the world whose creative spirit has elevated it and projects for future years
become so blinded to the actual Middle East-
to the status of more than a prodigy—rather to will be planned. Included in of the board of JPS
Philip
ern situation. Walter Eytan's story of the
that of the administrator of Altneuland (as these projects will be the com- Slomovitz, an honorary vice-.
conciliation efforts at Lausanne proves it.
Theodor Herzl termed it) — the oldest land missioning of books which, it is president, Judge Theodore Levin
The Arabs might have met face to face with
clothed in the newest and youngest attire. A hoped, will give reading pleas-
the Israelis, had they been seriously urged to
young and enthusiastic spirit rules an ancient ure and knowledge similar to and Leonard N. Simons—plan .
do so. But, by that time, unlike the actions
nation. All who desire to see the survival of that derived from such earlier to attend the April 27 events in
Bunche
at
Rhodes,
the
great
powers
of Dr.
justice and peace on earth must wish it well. publications as Graetz's "History Philadelphia.
already had begun to appease the oil interests,

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'Between You
... and Me'

Jewish Publication Society Marks
70th Anniversary at Events April 27

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