Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
A Non-Jew's Tribute: 'Israel Knows What It Is Doing'
Scores of articles have been written about Israel on the
›; State's tenth anniversary. Many books have been published. In
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17s the main, the compliments showered upon Israel's pioneers
were heartening experiences for the Israelis and their kinsmen
4, everywhere.
One of the most interesting impressions of Israel was rec-
ct orded in an article by a non-Jew, Colin IL Coote
the London
Telegraph. Coote begins by asking "what sor 2 .2f a person is
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a Jew?", and he answers: "in the mass, they look like any
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other people."
UM Conference in Jerusalem Hears
Rabbi Friedman's Call for Understanding
Direct JTA Teletype Wire
Th e Jewish News
JERUSALEM — A bridge of
understanding between Israel's
people and American Jewry is
"indispensable" to the continued
development of Israel and the
continued emigration of those
who need haven in Israel, Rabbi
Herbert A. Friedman, executive
vice-chairman of the United
Jewish Appeal, declared at the
opening session of the UJA an-
niversary conference here Tues-
day night. He urged an intensi-
fied educational program to
meet this vital problem.
A growing apart of the Israeli
public and the American Jewish
community "may very well oc-
cur unless growing together is
deliberately fostered," Rabbi
Friedman warned in his address
before more than 700 Americans
and noted Israelis attending the
inaugral session of three-day
conference.
This first UJA assemblage
ever held overseas heard Rabbi
Friedman stress that while
Israel has made tremendous pro-
gress in its first decade, two
major problems remain.
"Our fellow Jews, wherever
they are dispersed and dis-
tressed, must continue to be
rescued and the land of Israel
must be strengthened economic-
ally so it can absorb these
people," he emphasized.
In welcoming the visitors,
President Ben Zvi said, the
achievements of Israel's people
in their first decade of inde-
pendence "are not ours alone—
they are as well the achieve-
ments and victories of the Jews
who live beyond our borders and
democracy-loving people every-
where."
He said that Israel would
never forget that the United
States was the first nation to
recognize the birth of Israel and
would never forget the moral
support and material help given
by the American people during
the past decade.
Declaring that Israel's great-
est achievement of the past de-
cade was the taking in of nearly
1.000,000 immigrants, President
Ben-Zvi added, "in this historic
achievement American Jewry
has, through the UJA, played an
unforgettable role." He called
the UJA aid "our greatest asset
—the greatest source of our
strength."
In greeting his countrymen,
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Ed-
ward B. Lawson said, "concern
for others" was fundamental to
America's way of thinking and
to American governmental
policy. "As American citizens,"
he declared, "we can be proud
that our country has done so
much to assist in the establish-
ment of this state in its upbuild-
ing and toward the eventual
solution of its problems."
-
He proceeds to describe the variety of elements that goes
into the making of an Israeli. He recalls that the United. States
W.; • was referred to as the "melting pot," and he declares that
"compared with them Israel is a catalyst,"--and he adds that
the differences among the numerous elements who have settled
in Israel in this generation "will probably have almost dis-
w appeared in the next."
Coote picks up the "vague ideas" about the Holy Land as
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a place "flowing with milk and honey," and makes the corn-
tz7 ment: "it is a land flowing with sweat." He explains how the
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E-4 land, with its abundance of beauty, nevertheless "is parched,"
and he explains how "it is being won" by the courageous people
of Israel. "Here," he declares, "whether you like it _or not,
is a land a people whom it would take an earthquake to uproot."
The United Hebrew Schools I having difficulty with class
He describes Israel as calm, and "the over-riding reason" will begin its summer program
he ascribes to it is "psychological": "if you believe that you this Monday, with the four-part work during the year or who
are fulfilling ar ambition cherished for 2,000 years, you have session scheduled to run have passed on probation be-
a sense of exhilaration which casts out fear."
cause of excessive absence due
through July 25. The regular to
illness.
Coote shows how the Arabs in Israel are benefiting from summer curriculum will be
Israel's progress. "It is quite untrue that the whole Arab augmented by an accelerated
Under the Bar Mitzvah pro-
population (of Israel) became refugees in 1948," he states. "Over program for advanced students, gram, boys who will become
a hundred thousand remained, and some tens of thousands of a special help program and a Bar Mitzvah at the beginning
their relatives have been allowed to return. Materially, 'they Bar Mitzvah program.
of the next school year will
have never had it so good."
"A Visit to Israel on the be able to study intensively
But—"man does not live by bread alone and it would be Occasion of the 10th Anniver- for two hours a day, one hour
unnatural if they were not a natural Fifth Column." Thus goes sary of the State of Israel" is on Judaic studies and another
a warning of an internal danger facing Israel. The Druses are, to be the theme of the entire hour on Bar Mitzvah require-
of course, an exception. as he indicates.
summer session. The "visit" ments.
Both the danger from Nasser and the glorious position will be inaugurated Monday,
The summer sessions will be
acquired by Israel are described by Coot& in these concluding and will continue along the concentrated in the Esther Ber-
paragraphs:
lines of the events in Israel man Branch, 18977 - Schaefer,
"On the Gaza front, the United Nations forces are, of
as outlined by the World Com- and at Adas Shaloin Syna-
course, all on the Egyptian side of the hill. The Israeli fron-
mittee for Israel's 10th Anni- gogue. Buses will take students
versary.
tiersmen have no confidence in them as a protection. If there
from all parts of the city.
have been few incidents since Suez, that is only because it
During each of the four
suits Nasser at the moment to keep quiet in this area. lie can
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weeks, youngsters will tour
point to the U.N. forces as an excuse for not following up
different regions of the Jewish
the 'victory' which his propaganda claims the Sinai cam-
state, including Jerusalem, the I
Boris Smolar's
paign to have been.
Valley of Jesreel, the Galilee I
"I find babies, whether human or national, fascinating
and the Negev.
so long as they neither squawk nor a'e sick. Israel is cer-
Children will learn g eog-
tainly not a moaner, nor is she anything but extremely robust.
She is putting up a gallant show, something which stirs raphy, song:: zad stories, and
each youngster will receive a
the heart in this age of cynicism.
dictionary containing a vocabu- i
(Copyright, 1958,
- "No comparable effort to make a wilderness blossom like
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
a rose has been seen in our time, nor, perhaps, in any other lary, published by Daniel
Jewish
Moods:
Persky, prominent Hebrew
time. Israel is not just a large-scale ghetto, not a kennel for
writer, to be used for reference.
Jewish "self-segregation" is the subject that is currently
pariahs. From the shimmering sapphire of Galilee to the dune
attracting the interest of the American Jewish Committee . . .
Each
day's
program
will
open
furrows of the Negev she is the home of a nation which knows
with a service, followed by an The subject was discussed by top leaders and examples were
what it is doing and loves what it knows."
hour
and a half of class study cited of Jewish "clannishness" . in housing and general social
This is a remarkable tribute to Israel—and a deserving
and
an
hour in indoor or out- activities . . . AJC leaders expressed the opinion that in some
one, as anyone who has been in Israel—whether he is Jew or
door sports activities. Every instances patterns of "self-segragation" shared equal responsi-
non-Jew—will attest.
Wednesday, there- will be an bility for social discrimination with prejudice against Jews . . .
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outing, either swimming or a It was the consensus of opinion that Jewish "self-segregation"
'Unfavorable Circumstances' and 'Depressing Choice'
for the most part expresses itself in a reluctance to take advan-
visit to points of interest.
A disturbing note is struck in the New Republic's editorial
On Friday, children will con- tage of opportunities for association with non-Jews . . . This
"Unquiet Middle East." "It begins to look," this editorial stated, duct a Sabbath service, and situation, the American Jewish Commitee believes, is particularly
"as if a choice may soon be forced upon -
us in the most unfavor- the week will conclude with a harmful because it has a great effect on children's attitude .
able circumstances—either to support Nasser and the mainstream dramatic presentation covering "Jewish" fraternities and sororities were considered symptomatic
of Arab nationalism at the expense of France, Israel, and even the material covered in the of this pattern . . . On the other hand, AJC leader's established
Turkey, or to risk the loss of Middle Eastern oil in all-out conflict classrooms.
that "tremendous gains" have been made in social clubs for
with the Arab world, with all the disasters this would bring in
Under the accelerated pro- youngsters, such as fraternities and cotillions, in combating bias
the rest of Asia. Unfortunately the key to a decision may no gram for above-average stu- against Jews ... They also established that adult country clubs,
longer lie in Western hands: it may hang on what was said in dents, an intensive program as well as "prestige" clubs, continue to maintain discriminatory
Moscow between Khrushchev and Colonel Nasser."
will be conducted which will quotas . . . However, businessmen's and luncheon clubs have
This may be too pessimistic a view of what is happening, but result in the double promotion shown a marked improvement, especially in the South and Far
there is much ground for believing the worst about the situation of students who pass. There West . . . AJC leaders are concerned over the fact that large _
in the Middle East. Thanks to the bungling by Secretary of State will be three hours of study corporations are not accepting Jews in executive positions . .
Dulles and the appeasing of the oil interests over a period of per day, and students will not The relative absence of Jews in executive positions in large
many years (State Department attitudes under the Democrats participate in the regular sum- industries is commanding very serious attention on the part of the
were no better), the peace of the entire world now is endangered. mer schedule.
American Jewish Committee .. . In some cities—notably Cin-
Remember this: what is involved is not merely the security
The special help program is cinnati and Syracuse, N.Y., — a steady diminution of discrimina-
of France, Israel and Turkey, but the entire world. When the for children who have been tion has been noticed, and indications point to a readiness on
Western Powers, under our leadership, begin to act firmly
the part of top management to change their attitudes and prac-
tices towards Jews.
against dictatorships and against oil-soaked Arab pressure
groups, there will be hope for mankind. When there is hope arrived in Washington from
and peace for the entire world, Israel, France, Turkey and all New York in buses, carried Controversial Issues:
other nations will share in their bounties. Right now, the signs attacking the Israel gov-
Is the status of relationships among Protestants and Jews,
and accused Israeli po-
truly democratic forces—including Israel—are fighting for ernment
lice - of brutality against re- Catholic and Jews in this country improving, deteriorating, or
sensible approaches that will avert war and lead to a sound ligious demonstrators.
remaining stable? The question was raised at the National
peace.
Community Relations Advisory Council Plenum . . . Although
These pickets were ignored Jewish-Christian relations in general are very good in the United
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and their spokesmen were de- States, there are certain issues on which there is a decisive
The Fanatic Religious Extremists' Demonstrations
nied admission to the White
As if Israel didn't have enough troubles on her borders: House. They should be denied difference of opinion between Jewish and Catholic groups, and
to a lesser extent between Jewish and Protestant groups .
she must concern herself also with internal problems and with admission to any responsible The
attempt to introduce religion in , the public schools, which
frequent shocking demonstrations of irresponsibility by Jewish society. The United
Jews
oppose, is one of these issues . . . The compulsory Sunday
fanatics in her midst.
Synagogue of America has al-
This has been the case in Jerusalem, where the Neturei ready "deplored" the demon- closing laws, which affect religious Jews, is another of these
Karta have, ever since the rebirth of Israel, obstructed the stration in Washington, char- issues . . . Child adoption across religious lines remains a major
State's progress and have caused an untold amount of trouble. acterizing it as "irresponsible issue . . . There is also the issue of Israel, which some Catholie
organs in this country are handling in a way upsetting to Jews ...
But these fanatics are not content with obstructionism behavior"; and prominent Orth- Are these differences susceptible of reconciliation, or will they—
odox
rabbis
have
condemned
within Israel: they have now invaded the United States with
their insane tactics.
these disgraceful acts. Such as some are inclined to think--develop into causes of inter-
religious tensions and conflict? ... NCR.AC will soon come out
Last Thursday, approximately 280 religious fanatics condemnations are not enough with a public statement throwing light on the views of Jewish
picketed the White House and addressed themselves to in repudiating the shameful groups in regard to this question . . . The statement, now in
President Eisenhower to intercede against what they called acts of shameless fanatics. They preparation, will make it clear that Jews in the United States
"religious persecution" in Israel. They demonstrated in support should be ostracized from parti- see no need for the public schools to teach religious doctrines,
or
of the Jerusalem Neturei Karta's position against mixed cipatiov in all Jewish affairs— to teach about religion . . . Also, that Jews in this country will
bathing in an open-air swimming pool. The pickets reportedly until they end their disgusting maintain their opposition to governmental aid to schools of any
tactics.
religious denomination.
c/)
Hebrew Schools' Summer Session
Theme Is Israel's Anniversary
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'Between You
... and Me'