Friday, April 25, 1958—THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS- 32
Israel s Tenth Anniversary Inspires Publication of
Novels, Histories, At/asses and Many Brochures
'The First Ten Years' by Walter Eytan, 'Israel Today' by Ruth Gruber, 'The State of
Levelling Wind." Published by tier, a new land and a new peo-
Israel' by Prof. L. F. Rushbrook Williams, 'Israel in 14 Pictorial Maps,' Tenth Anniver- Pantheon Books (333 6th, N. Y. ple."
14), this book describes the
It is important to know the
sary Committee Publications, 'The Levelling Wind' novel by Margaret Benaya, Theodor
gruesome life of career soldiers authors. Margalit, a "sabra,"
Herzl Foundation Publications, 'Israel—Photographs by Izis,' Kilometer 95' novel by who become involved in family who was born in Palestine in
complications as a result of the 1928, was a secret-document
Herbert Russcol and Margalot Banai, 'Teaching Hebrew' by Aharon Rosen.
tenseness of their existence.
courier in Israel's defense ac-
This exciting period of cele- is partly historical—it gives an and proceeds to describe the
There is a primarily psychol- tions in 1947, was an entertain-
bration, in honor of Israel's account of the rise of Israel to present conditions.
ogical factor in this novel — er in a group theater during
tenth anniversary, has brought Statehood; and in large measure
Out of his work emerges a about the wife of a camp com- the 1948 War of Liberation and
forth an equally exciting activ- it may be called a sociological fine study of the manner in mander who has lost his love, an announcer for Voice of
ity in the literary sphere.
study. It delVes into many as- which unity has been created with whom two other men in America in the United States
A number of novels, several pects of the Israeli adventure, out of the diversity of the peo- the camp fall in love, who is in 1950.
histories, scores of brochures, dealing with the types of im- ples who have settled in Israel, unable to make a change in her
She married the co-author of
geographic atlasses and other migrants who have settled. in the growing Hebrew literature existence and accepts her own "Kilometer 95" in 1954, when
publications have made their the land, their ways of life and that has been created—"there tragedy without treating it as they wrote their book in their
Israel's way of merging them is a Hebrew drama," he writes such.
appearance.
Tel Aviv apartment. Herbert
Ruth's husband, Uri, is him- Russcol settled in Boston in
Ranking highest on the list into a single entity, "Hebrew — and how the confusion of
self a problem. He is hard on 1921, served in the U.S. Army,
of books for which the Israel As She Is Spoke" with all the tongues has been stilled.
anniversary days—April 24 and new foreignisms that are be-
He describes the balancing his men, takes to drink, is ir- 1940-44, played the French horn
coming
a
part
of
the
language,
of Israel' economy and the reconcilable to his lot—until, for the Pittsburgh Symphony,
. 25—were chosen as publication
dates, is "The First Ten Years: the people who have come there emergence of the welfare state. as we learn at the end of the 1944-48, left for Israel at the
A Diplomatic History of Israel," from Yemen "on eagle's wings,"
Especially interesting is his tale,—he remarries after Ruth outbreak of the War of Libera-
by Walter Eytan, director-gen- the Israel army and a score of chapter on the Arabs in Israel dies of cancer. Trace is lost of tion, played with the Israel
Philharmonic Orchestra until
eral of the Israel Foreign Min- other points about the new in which he shows the benefits their two children.
istry-. Its publisher is Simon and Israel.
It is a sad tale, but it has 1950 and organized the "Long
of the Israeli procedures for
There is an interesting analy- the Arabs and concludes:
Schuster.
its justification within the set- Play Record Library" in Israeli
cities.
ting of army life.
This volume acquires special sis of Israel's relationships with
"A real feeling of common
Kibbutz Tel Shamir is the
status because its author was the Arabs and she emphasizes citizenship, based on equal op-
The author, married to an
the man who was chosen to that "Israel is doing for her portunities, on democratic in- Israeli lieutenant colonel, ap- center of activities for "Kilo-
head the committee that for- Arab population what few Arab stitutions, and on shared social parently knows the Israeli army meter 95." It relates how Arabs
mulated the Israel Foreign .states are doing for their own services, seems to be growing set-up. Margaret Benaya was raided this settlement next to
Ministry. He has remained with citizens, or for the Arabs who up between Jew and Arab. If born in 1927 in Brewton, Ala., the Gaza strip, how a former
the Ministry during the entire are refugees inside their bor- this could happen during a peri- studied at the University of Stern Gang member, Nachum,
decade of Israel's existence. He ders."
Missouri and the Hebrew Uni- went to the area to help defend
The victory at Sinai is given od when there has been so versity and came to Israel in the settlement. There, he falls
headed the Israel delegation
that negotiated the armistice an interesting analysis, and Miss much hostility to Israel from 1948. She has five children, two in love with Tamar, whom he
had previously met as the
with the Arabs in 1948. He was Gruber incorporates in her ac- the Arabs' outside her borders, girls and three boys.
Haganah courier. They hail
Israel's spokesman at Lausanne. count a story related by De- it may be that a reasonable set-
*
*
*
'
from two differing philosophi-
He may be called "the creator" troit's General S. L. A. Marsh- tlement, under United Nations
Theodor Herzl Foundation, cal viewpoints in Israel, yet
aegis, of the disputes between
all.
of Israel's diplomatic service.
which has been sponsoring im-
their mutual concern over the
An important chapter deals Israel and her neighbors will
While Eytan recounts many
in years to come render the portant lectures and incorpo-
of the occurrences involving with the Dead Sea Scrolls, as outlook of her Arab citizens as rating their texts in pamphlets, country's security leads them
Israel that are generally well a pattern of "homecoming." little open to doubt as the out- has just issued two new book- to understanding and to com-
mon effort.
known, he reveals for the first Miss Gruber accounts also for look of the majority commun- lets.
They literally find themselves
time many of the behind-the- many American and other musi- ity."
Hillel
Bavli's
"Some
Aspects
in the new environment, in
scenes episodes which have not cians and artists who continue
Pointing out that the United of Modern Hebrew Poetry" in- their common effort to defend
been publicized. He shows how to visit Israel and to contribute
Nations "has been given a su- corporates two of his lectures their country. An American
Arabs were anxious to negotiate to her vast growth..
—"Biblical Vision in Modern captain, George Wakefield, en-
peace with Israel; how, when
Told for the first time is preme .opportunity to lay the Hebrew
Poetry" and "The Voice ters the scene. He seeks peace-
foundations
of
a
comprehensive
the
story
of
the
Jews
of
Djerba,
they are unhindered by pres-
of
Tradition
in Modern Hebrew ful solution under the United
and
equitable
settlement
be-
sures. Arabs fraternize with in North Africa, who have
settled in Israel. It is an tween Israel and her neigh- Poetry." These are valuable Nations. Even the extremists
Israelis.
bors," he emphasizes: "That studies by one of Jewry's out- yield, in the best interests of
Eytan writes factually, with- account based on personal ex- Israel is ready to play her full standing scholars.
possible peace. The father of
periences
of
the
author
in
that
out venom, stating the Israel
part in such a settlement has
Another Theodor Herzl Foun- one of the slain kibbutznicks
case with historical accuracy. area and her meetings with the been made clear . . ."
dation pamphlet is a non-Jew- desires to revive the Ihud move-
Yet one senses a deep hurt in people from that far-off land.
* * *
ess' account of het experiences ment for peace with the Arabs.
If
it
were
only
for
that
story,
many of the injustices that
To the Israel Government in Israel. In "Israel and Prob- Even in dreams the pioneers in
were imposed on Israel, as they Miss Gruber's book would be
Tourist Bureau we are indebted lems of Identity" Dr. Margaret Israel emerge as lovers of jus-
are recounted by this able dip- worth its price.
There are excellent photog- for an interesting set of Israeli Mead views Israel as "the most tice and peace.
lomat. He tells, for instance ,of
"Kilometer 95" is a splendid
the hypocrisy involved in the raphs in her book. They are far pictorial maps distributed by valuable laboratory in the world
today." She pays tribute to Isra- story about Israel and Israelis.
issuance of double passports to superior to many of the pic- the . Keren Hayesod in Jeru-
el for having succeeded in solv- It will surely lead to a better
salem.
those who desire to go to both tures that have appeared in re-
"Israel in 14 Pictorial Maps" ing many of her people's prob- understanding of the people
Israel and the Arab states. In cent books about Israel.
lems and especially many of and their problems. It is a good
some instances, he shows,
And appended to this hook is is a publication of Lion the the problems of youth.
story, well worth reading.
Printer
of
Tel
Aviv.
travelers have to acquire three a "Go See for Yourself" guide
*
*
Today, also, Orion Press will
passports.
The index to the maps offers
for tourists to Israel. It livens
Many
important
publications
publish
"Israel
—
Photographs
"The passport story," he de- up the book and adds to its excellent descriptions of the by Izis," with a preface by have been issued by the Youth
merit.
most
important
places
in
Israel.
clares, "would perhaps hardly
Andre Mairaux, who says re- and Hechalutz Department of
* * *
* * *
be worth telling if it were not
garding
Izis that the world re- the World Zionist Organization,
To the credit of a non-Jew,
a particularly bizarre illustra-
Thanks to the American Com-
from the Jerusalem headquar-
tion of the readiness with which Prof. L. F. Rushbrook Williams, mittee for Israel's Tenth Anni- nowned photographer has ap- ters. A constructive addition to
foreign governments have ac- for many years a member of versary Celebration, of which plied his art "to a people who, the WZO literature is the new-
cmitmodated themselves to Arab the editorial staff of the Lon- former U.S. Senator Herbert H. though often to all appearance est brochure, "Teaching Hebrew
don Times and a former fellow Lehman is the general c h a i r- annihilated, still gaze out
measures against Israel."
—A Method for Teaching the
of
All Souls College at Oxford, man, two valuable brochures through the oldest .eyes in the Language to Youth and Adult
Then there are the shocking
world."
goes
another
very
fine
book,
have
become
available.
Western acquiescences to the
Scores of pamphlets no doubt Groups," by Aharon Rosen. It
Arab boycott. Eytan's expose of "The State of Israel," published
"Israel—Ten Years of Prog-
will
appear, in tribute to Israel's is composed of a series of arti-
it is one of the most effective by Macmillan.
ress" is a valuable collection of
cles that originally appeared in
Prof. Williams had been to facts and figures. It will aid re- first decade, in the coming the magazine Israeli Youth Hor-
that has appeared recently.
months,
and
the
photographic
Viewing Israel . among her Palestine when it was under searchers for many years to angles are expected to play im- izon.
hostile neighbors, Eytan asserts Turkish rule and under the come as the background of the portant roles in these publica-
These essays suggest the first
that Israel always prefers peace British Mond a t e, • and has major Israeli developments.
steps in teaching Hebrew, the
tions.
studied
the
situation
there
un-
"and she would do almost any-
"Highlights in the Life of
* 1' *
first ten lessons, teaching grain-
thing to attain it—short of do- der Jewish rule.
Israel" is a chronology of "Isra-
Another novel of great merit, mar, the art of reading, spell-
After the Sinai Operation, he el's Struggle to be Born, Sur- "Kilometer 95," by Herbert ing and composition.
ing away with herself."
In his preface to this 88-page
His description of the rise felt the need of describing his vive and Advance."
Russcol and Margalit Banal,
* * •
and development of Israel's For- impressions, and they are well
published by Houghton Mifflin book, Dr. Chaim Rabin, asso-
eign Service is an especially worth reading.
A most interesting novel Co., offers interesting reading ciate professor of the Hebrew
In his book, just out, he about life in the Israeli army that will keep the reader glued language at the Hebrew Uni-
interesting chapter.
* *
glances backwards to describe has been written by Margaret to the book from beginning to versity in Jerusalem, declares
One of the most popular Jew- the rise and shaping of Israel, Benaya under the title "The end. It deals with "a new fron- that "learning Hebrew is an
act of faith . . . the concrete
ish lecturers and writers, Ruth
expression of one's belief in the
Gr u b er (M r s. Philip H.
We Stretch Out Our Hands in Friendship
continued existence of the Jew-
Michaels), is enriching the
ish people as • a group with a
to Israel on the State's 10th Anniversary
library shelves devoted to books
purpose and an idea . . ."
on the Jewish State with her
The Jewish community of Detroit stretches out its hands in friendship and
Paying tribute to Aharon
newest work, out today: "Israel
Rosen as being best qualified
salutation to the State of Israel on its Tenth Anniversary . . . The heroic people
Today, Land of Many Nations,"
to accomplish the task he had
of Israel will be formally greeted on this important birthday at the celebration
published by Hill and Wang,
undertaken in "Teaching He-
Inc. (104 5th, N. Y. 11). It is a
at the Ford Auditorium Sunday evening . . and our generosity will be expressed
brew," he .states that his pres-
very human account . of Israel,
through good giving to the Allied Jewish Campaign . . Plan to be at the
ent work "sets out to teach
and it covers many aspects of
celebration Sunday evening . . • and help our community attain its goal in the
those who volunteer in the bat-
the Israel situation.
tle for Jewish revival the tac-
Allied Jewish Campaign.
Miss Gruber's "Israel Today"
tics of their task."
P.S.
—