Purely Commentary
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEW S -- Friday,
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Few Western Jewish Settlers in Israel
Out of a total of more than 900,000 new settlers in Israel,
from the Jewries of the world, in figures compiled from May
1948 to October 1957, there were 9,676 from all of North and
South America — approximately 1 per cent of all the immigrants
to Israel.
This figure disproves the fallacious contention of some
frightened Jews that the establishment of the State of Israel
might have induced either double allegiance or an urge among
American Jews to settle in the new State.
Except for a handful of misguided people, all Jews are
interested in Israel's upbuilding, but few, except those in lands
of oppression, are interested in settling in the Jewish State. It
is a regrettable attitude, because western know-how is so
urgently needed in the Middle East. But it is a fact that Jews
in democratic countries have no intention of abandoning their
present citizenships in order to assist a struggling country in its
uphill effort to attain self-sustainment.
An interesting comment by Dr. Abba Hillel Silver is told
in a report from Tel Aviv to the Southern African Jewish Times.
It reveals that the last British High Commissioner to Palestine,
Gen. Sir Alan Cunningham, now 71 and living in retirement in
England, gave an interview to a correspondent of the Hebrew
daily Yedioth Achranoth, and told of a meeting he had with the
eminent American Zionist leader.
"If you become an independent State and open the doors
of Palestine to free Jewish immigration, how many American
Jews do you think will go and settle there?" the British Gen-
eral asked the American Zionist leaders.
Rabbi Silver smiled, and with a wry "We-e-ell," replied:
"I think eight, or maybe twelve American Jews will go and
settle there."
Dr. Silver was not altogether right. Perhaps 4,000 to 5,000
American Jews did settle in Israel. But they represent one of
the smallest factions in Israel. Israel would be benefitted by
having more of them.
Cunningham's Plea to Golda Meyerson
The Yedioth Achranot correspondent reported another in-
teresting episode that was revealed to him by Gen. Cunningham.
The last High Commissioner advised Mrs. Golda Meyerson (now
Israel's Foreign Minister Golda Meir), then head of the Jewish
Agency's political department, to "save her daughter" from what
he believed would be inevitable death if the young girl remained
in the Jewish outpost in the Negev. The Southern African
Jewish Times correspondent describes their meeting:
General Cunningham had summoned Mrs. Meir to his
house on official business. Before their talk ended, he said to
her: "Mrs. Meyerson, I know you have a daughter on a settle-
ment in the Negev. As a military expert, I must tell you that
the Jews will not be able to hold the Negev. Take my advice,
and save your daughter before it is too late."
Mrs. Meir expressed her appreciation of the General's
gesture, but replied: "I believe we will hold the Negev. Even
if we won't, I could' not ask my daughter to run away in the
face of danger."
The story goes that Gen. Cunningham "bowed, paying silent
tribute to a brave woman." He did not realize at the time that
he was bowing to the courage of an entire people. Now, an
entire world bows in honor of the brave Golda Meir and all
who, with her, shared in the triumph of Israel's rebirth.
The Hebrew Poems of Avraham Ben ltzhak
The Youth and Hechalutz Department of the World Zionist
Organization has made concrete contributions to Jewish literature
with its bilingual—Hebrew with English translation—publications
containing the works of Israeli writers. From the Jerusalem
headquarters of the department have come outstanding anthol-
ogies, novels and poems.
Its latest work deserves commendation. In an attractive 50-
page book, in a fine tranlation by I. M. Lask, who is distinguish-
ing himself as a translator from the Hebrew, appear the poems—
in Hebrew and in English translation—by the able poet, the late
Avraham Ben-Itzhak.
The poems themselves are meritorious enough to warrant
commendation for the hook. In addition to them, however, there
is a splendid essay, evaluating the poet's work, by another well
known Israeli writer, Benzion Benshalom.
Ben Itzhak died in 1950, and due recognition was given his
works two years later in a specially published volume. But as
early as 1918 his ability was recognized by Chaim Nachman
Bialik who gave him great encouragement.
A biographical sketch of the poet, which preceded the poems,
enumerates the magazines where his works appeared.
In Ben Itzhak's "Psalm" we read these concluding lines:
". . . when the morning comes
You find yourself hovering over the face of the abyss
To hammer out your depth upon it
While the vast sun is in your hands
Until the evening."
There is great power in this and in his other poems. As in
"Bright Winter":
.. my blood sings within me
With a ringing in my ears:
The world is pure."
The great strength is in the Hebre'v of these poems. And
even in their translations, ably done by Lask, they show the
power of Eretz Israel and the Hebrew tongue.
"
Interesting Commentary on Strange Bed-Fellows
What an interesting commentary is contained in the report
from Jerusalem that while Jewish youth, representing 200 or-
ganizations from the right to the left will be present in the Holy
City at the first World Jewish Youth Congress, starting on July
28, only the Neturei Karta and the Communists will be absent !
Insofar as the youth congress is concerned, it is just as well
that the representatives of Jewish youth from world communities
will not have to rub shoulders with the fanatics, but it is a pity
that the youth from the Soviet Union can not meet with their
fellow Jews from free countries to learn the meaning of democ-
racy. It is part of the tragedy of Russia's refusing to permit
Jews—and others—to travel to free conventions.
World Jewish Congress Survey Reports
No Anti-Semitic Bias in 72 Counties
GENEVA, Switzerland: —
Seventy-two of the 115 countries,
in which the world's total Jewish
population of about 11,827,000
lives, are free from overt anti-
Semitism, according to a survey
conducted by the World Jewish
Congress. In the remainder anti-
Jewish feeling ranges from
social bias to restrictive govern-
mental measures. The survey
actually lists 117 countries but
reports that Jews are completely
barred from two: Jordan and
Saudi Arabia.
The study has been specially
prepared for World Jewish Con-
gress discussion here Wednes-
day on issues affecting Jewry
through the world.
About 90 Jewish leaders from
more than 20 countries are
gathered for the five-day ses-
sions of the World Jewish Con-
gress Executive in the Maison
Juive, 10 rue St. Leger.
In establishing the world's
Jewish population at 11,827,-
000, the study reports that
75% are located . in three
countries, the United States
(5,200,000), Russia (2,000,000)
and Israel (1,760,000). More
than half — 5,987,000 — live
on the American continent;
3,214,000 in Europe; 1,959,000
in Asia; 603,000 in Africa and
64,000 in Australia.
Figures for some of the other
major communities are: Algeria,
130,000; Argentina, 400,000; Bra-
zil, 110,000; Canada, 241,000;
France, 250,000; Great Britain,
450,000; Morocco, 200,000; Ro-
mania, 200,000 and the Union
of South Africa, 110,000.
Giving statistics and commu-
nity organization data, the sur-
vey is, because of the number
of geograEhic units covered,
the most comprehensive demo-
graphic and organizational study
of the Jews in the world ever
published.
Dr. Nehemiah Robinson, di-
rector of the WJC's Institute
of Jewish Affairs, which issued
the study, "The Jewish Com-
munities of the World", said
that his figures were based on
population census, expert esti-
mate, and on reports received
from central Jewish community
organizations all over the world.
The volume contains details
about migration trends, the po-
litical situation of the different
communities, their communal
and welfare institutions, and
their press. Details are also
given of the religious and cul-
tural structure of communities—
the number of synagogues, rab-
bis, Hebrew schools and their
enrollment.
Nations, lands and terri-
tories listed by the WJC as
being free from overt anti-
Semitism include: Peru, Ven-
ezuela, Denmark, Finland,
Ireland, Ethiopia and New
Zealand.
The Jewish population of the
72 bias-free lands is only 16%
of the Jews in the world. The
remainder live in countries
where anti-Jewish sentiments
or anti-Semitism are still mani-
fest to a greater or lesser de-
gree.
While classifying Jordan and
Saudi Arabia as lands closed
to Jews, the survey reports anti-
Jewish discrimination in a num-
ber of other Moslem lands, both
in Asia and Africa.
In Afghanistan, where a one-
time community of 5,000 has
dropped to about 400 in a dec-
ade, the report states: "there
has always been severe dis-
crimination against Jews, who
have been regarded as infidels
and therefore second-rate sub-
jects of the Shah". Iraq is re-
ported as preventing Jews from
going abroad; Egypt's remaining
15,000 Jews-24,000 were ex-
pelled in 1956-57—live in an
atmosphere of "tension and
animosity." Libya's 4,300 Jews
"exerience considerable difficul-
ties in obtaining passports for
travelling abroad" and in the
Sudan, "the Jews do not main-
tain relations with foreign Jew-
ish organizations."
In the United States, the
survey finds„ "anti-Semitic
organizations and publications
have declined since the war
but there still are a number
of both. Anti-Jewish bias on
the social level is still extant;
in the economic field it is
diminishing, although not in
all areas." There is also "social
bias against Jews" in Britain.
Although "anti-Semitism has
traditionally been weak . . .
there . . . exist some anti-
Jewish organizations and pub-
lications."
Anti-Semitic tendencies per-
sist, the report states, in almost
all the Jewish communities be-
hind the Iron Curtain. Czecho-
slovkia's community of 15,000
Jews suffers repressive meas-
ures: pro-Israel elements were
arrested in 1957; all Zionist and
political activity has been
stopped and Jewish participa-
tion in the government and the
Communist Party has been
whoLj eliminated".
In both Hungary (80,000
Jews) and Poland (25,000) anti-
Semitism is punishable by law,
but, in both countries it persists,
as it does in Romania. In Soviet
Russia, there has been "a let-up"
in the anti-Semitic actions that
marked the 1948-53 period of
Stalin's regime but "arrests
were reported in 1957, and at
least a certain amount of offi-
cial discrimination continues to
exist". Albania (200 Jews) alone
of the Communist states in
Europe is given a clean bill of
health as far as anti-Semitism
is concerned: "No discrimina-
tion or political persecution ap-
pears to have taken place since
the end of the war."
British MP Reports on. Bias in Southern U.S.
LONDON (JTA)—Sir Leslie
Plummer, member of the
British Parliament, reporting
on a recent visit to the United
States, told a meeting of Labor
Zionists here that during his
visit to the South in the
United States, he was disturbed
to find "many active signs" of
anti-Semitism.
He added that while such
activities were being corn-
batted, he felt it was not wise
to underestimate the "menace"
which this condition repre-
sented.
Sir Leslie said he was
greatly impressed by the "par-
ticularly generous way" in
which American Jewry has
helped Israel. He reported he
found that leaders in all
phases of life in the United
States were favorably disposed
towad Israel and that Israel's
representatives there were do-
ing "a magnificent job" in
forming public opinion toward
the Jewish State.
Boris Smolar's
'Between You
I
Bond Achievements
(Copyright, 1958,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
The Israel Bond Organization completed the first six months
of its 1958 campaign with a total sale of $20,000,000 in Israel
bonds. This is quite an achievement, considering that the ec-
onomic recession has affected, to a certain extent, all other Jew-
ish fund-raising drives in this country. The Bond campaign will
go on the year 'round under the direction of Dr. Joseph J.
Schwartz, its highly esteemed executive vice president. Dr.
Schwartz has a busy summer, being sought by Jewish commu-
nities throughout the country to speak to them on the bond cam-
paign. He is also busy preparing an international conference for
Israel bonds which will be held at the end of August in Jerusa-
lern. The large majority of the delegates will be composed of
Jewish community leaders from the United States and Canada,
but there will also be delegates from other countries. The Zionist
Organization of America, which will be represented at the
Jerusalem conference by a large complement of delegates, indi-
cates that over $2,000,000 in Bond sales by ZOA regions will be
brought to the parley as a birthday gift for Israel. Designation
of delegates has been made by the ZOA on the basis of pur-
chases and sales in the amount of $25,000 each, between January
and August of this year. When the Israel Bond drive was in-
augurated seven years ago, Israel's exports amounted to less
than $35,000,000 a year. Last year Israel's exports reached the
$200,000,000 mark, and by the end of this year Israel hopes to
increase her exports to $250,000,000. The improvement in Is-
rael's foreign trade indicates the strides which the country has
made in the diversification of industry with the aid of money
received through the sale of Israel bonds. During the past seven
years, the Bond drive has provided more than $340,000,000 to
strengthen Israel's economic development.
Community Study
The picture of a small Jewish community in the United
States has been presented by the Council of Jewish Federations
and Welfare Funds. It has been drawn by Sidney Spieglman,
executive director of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Des
Moines, on the basis of studies which started two years ago. The
picture is quite a cheerful one, if Des Moines can be taken as
an example of what is going on in Jewish life in smaller com-
munities. About 50 percent of the Jews interviewed in Des
Moines—the town has a Jewish population of about 3,200—are
self-employed, five times as high as the general population.
Seventy-seven percent have their own homes. The percentage of
American-born Jews is 78, higher than any other Jewish com-
munity which has published similar data. Fully 88 percent belong
to a synagogue; over 80 percent are affiliated, with at least one
Jewish organization in addition to the synagogue. Eighty-eight
percent are happy about the existence of Israel and are inter-
ested in helping Israel. Sixty-eight percent would rather give to
Jewish than to non-sectarian charities. About 38 percent of the
Jews over 25 years of age have completed at least one year of
college; for those between 18 and 24 the percentage rises to 75.
About 85 percent of the children of elementary school attended
Jewish religious schools; of these, 85 percent were enrolled in
the first three grades and the remaining 15 percent in the more
advanced grades. The study indicated that a much larger number
of Sunday school pupils could be attracted to Hebrew school.