THE DETRO IT JEWISH NEW S -- Friday, August 1,
rureiy commentary
ptrrestect in Georgia, Ignored in D.C.—Anti-Semitic
Demonstrations Are Both Complete Failures
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Conflicting- Views on Jews' Position in Tunis
From Paris it was reported by the JTA that Tunisian Jews
were warned against "Zionist tendencies," but the World Jewish
Congress' emissary, Dr. Maurice L. Perlzweig, sent word from
Tunis that the 60,000 to 70,000 Jews in that Arab nation are
not being discriminated against and that the Tunisian government
will "give the Jews an even break."
Meanwhile, Tunisians, like the Iraquians, are resorting to
a term they are trying to convert into an opprobrium—"Zionism"
—as a method of attack on Israel and the Jews.
All indications are that Jews face troubles wherever there
are Arabs—until such time as there can be established an amity
between Jews and Arabs--an amity that will be understood by
the masses of the Arab people rather than by the politicians
alone.
Drop in Immigration to Israel
Only 8,534 Jews arrived in Israel this year as of July 1, and
if the average number of 1,200 per month continues for the
balance of the year, the total number of new settlers in the
Jewish State will be approximately 16,000. This will be the lowest
annual number of newcomers since the rebirth of Israel.
Last year, more than 72,000 newsettlers were integrated
into the Israel economy. The population figure of the Jewish
State exceeded the 2,000,000 mark this year. But the downward
trend in immigration has begun.
The drop is due primarily to the decline in United Jewish
Appeal income and to a drop in contributions to other Israeli
causes. But there is another reason for the decline in the move-
ment of Jews into Israel: the restrictions that have been imposed
against such migrations by various countries.
Russia is primarily responsible for a reduction in the move-
ment of new settlers—from all countries behind the Iron Curtain.
And so are the Moslem countries which have interfered with
an exodus of Jews from their lands into Israel.
But Israel is prepared to welcome all who desire to come
to her. The ingathering of the exiles continues—even if the pace
is slow.
WASHINGTON (JTA) — A
group of anti-Semites, carrying
anti-Jewish placards in front of
the White House, failed to at-
tract public attention Sunday.
The eight persons left the
premises after parading for an
hour, during which they were
under close observation by the
police.
The signs carried by the
group alleged that atomic spies,
and even President Eisenhower
himself, belonged to the Jewish
faith. They called for a demon-
stration against the Israel Em-
bassy, but the public ignored
the pickets. On Saturday the
anti-Semites distributed propa-
ganda on downtown streets in
Washington and in nearby sub-
urbs.
Lt. Charles Murphy of the
Metropolitan Police said the
eight pickets were the only evi-
dence of what had been widely
advertised in Washington on
Saturday as a mass demonstra-
tion under the sponsorship of
a so-called "National Commit-
tee to Free America from Jew-
ish Domination."
Police questioned the pickets
who were later described as
organized by a new lunatic
fringe group of little import-
ance.
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Ga.,
police arrested five agitators
from the same organization who
tried to create an anti-Semitic
demonstration there.
The five Atlantans were held
by police on a .charge of "sus-
picion_ of inciting a riot." The
men appeared in front of a
building housing the Atlanta
daily newspapers with placards
proclaiming "Jewish-Controlled
Press Lies About the Middle
East," and other inciting slo-
gans.
11■ 0411111•0011iD1 ■ 41 ■ 11
Boris Smolar's
'Between You
... and Me'
(Copyright, 1958,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Summit Speculations
Is the projected "summit conference" on the Middle East
good for Israel under the present circumstances? . . . Opinion
in United Nations circles and among diplomats in Washington
varies . . . It is believed that the "summit" conference would
not limit itself to the situation in Lebanon and Jordan . .
It would seek to reach an East-West understanding on all
aspects of the Middle East situation, including the Arab-Israel
conflict . . . The possibility is, therefore, not excluded that
an imposed Arab-Israel peace may emerge out of the "summit"
conference . . . Israel has, of course, long sought peace with
the Arabs, but a peace by direct negotiations and not an
imposed peace . . . With the composition of the "summit"
parley as suggested by Soviet Premier Khrushchev—or even
of the UN Council—an imposed peace holds quite a number of
dangers for Israel . . . First, there is the danger of seeking the
Jewish Teachers
internationalization of Jerusalem . . . Khrushchev favors inter-
Told of Education's
nationalization, as do the Catholic countries and Britain . . .
Even the United States still formally sticks by the old United
Responsibilities
Nations decision to put Jerusalem under an international admin-
JERUSALEM (JTA) — A istration, and does not permit the American Embassy in Israel
world congress of Jewish to move to Jerusalem . . The second danger for Israel in an
The Saga of the Goldfines
teachers, sponsored by the
Many of our people were annoyed and irritable during the Jewish Agency and attended imposed peace emanating from possible "summit" decisions is
hearings in the Adams Case, when Bernard Goldfine was the by 350 teachers from Israel a change in Israel's borders . . . Such a change is openly
star witness before a Congressional committee. They were and countries abroad, was told advocated by Britain under the pretext of having Israel return
relieved when the Middle East crisis took the Goldfines off the here by Zalman Aranne, Israel to the borders set by the UN partition resolution and it may
be suggested at the "summit" parley by Russia in order to
front page.
Minister of Education, that the
please the Arabs . . • Such a change would reduce Israel's
People were especially annoyed when Goldfine arrogantly principal content of youth edu- territory and take from Israel land on which a good deal of
told the Congresmen that "it remains to be seen" whether he is cation in Israel is "Jewish- development work has been done . . . Similarly, a "summit"
Israeli consciousness." Aranne
subject to the same laws as all other Americans.
conference, at which France will probably be the only real
Then came another shock—the private matter of a Goldfine added that Israeli youth were friend of Israel, may also adopt a decision on the Palestine
attempting suicide. The two cases were not related, but every also taught of the respon- Arab refugees forcing some of them on Israel . . . On the other
time a Goldfine became notorious in the newspaper headlines, sibility of Israel for the exis- hand, the outcome of the "summit" conference—if only Moscow
tence of the Jewish people.
people squirmed.
Zalman Shazar, acting chair- and the West come to terms—may make it clear to the Arabs
The major affront came when Goldfine declared himself man of the Jewish Agency that Israel has come to stay - and that they must make peace
above the law. It was then that we thought of him as a Jew. executive, spoke of Jewish with Israel . . . Whatever the outcome of the "summit" con-
Had he been an informed Jew, he would have known that diva education in the age of the ference, it is obvious that Israel and all friends of Israel—
d'malkuta dina—that the law of the land is everyone's law, and Ingathering of the Exiles. He including American Jewry—will have to be on guard during
there are no exemptions due either to ability to reach an stressed the relationship of this conference, lest its results bring Israel more harm than good.
intimate friend at the White House or to wave a fat bankroll.
* . *
*
the Zionist movement abroad
*
*
*
The
Goldfine
Affair
and the development of Jewish
The Popular Novel 'Seidman and Son'
schools.
The Arab propaganda machine is making the utmost of the
Rabbi Zwvi Tabory, director Bernard Goldfine affair in Washington presenting Goldfine as
"Seidman and Son" has been on the best seller list for a
number of weeks. Your Commentator has just gotten around of the Jewish Agency Torah a "Zionist" . . . The Nasser radio stations keep on repeating
to reading it and to the realization that not many good, whole- education department in the that "American public opinion is angry over the scandalous
some, simply-told stories have a chance to reach the largest United States, called for "spiri- briberies committed by Zionist industrialist Goldfine" . . . A
number of readers.
tual pioneers" to devote them- special broadcast on this theme was beamed in Hebrew to
G. P. Putnam's Sons (121 6th Ave., N.Y. 13) deserve com- selves to education. He said Israel by the Nasser Government . . In this broadcast the
mendations and success for having chosen this fine work; and its the Israel pioneers transformed Israelis were told that the "new Zionist scandal brings shame
author, Elick Moll, has earned the high place accorded his story. the physical wastes but that to the Jewish public and Jewish religion" . . The interesting
Morris Seidman tells the story about himself, his son, his Jewish educators abroad had thing is the stress which the Arab broadcast lays on the dif-
wife, his partner, his family. It is the story of a dress manufac- yet to defeat "the jungle of ference between Judaism and Zionism . . . The Israelis are told
turer, and it begins with the little dog he introduces to a writer ignorance and darkness pre- in the broadcast that "Judaism prohibits its followers from
engaging in acts of corruption, but atheistic Zionism permits
he met on a park bench. From that point on, the story flows, in vailing in their midst."
At other sessions, the dele- its followers everything forbidden by religion" . . . Obviously
good style, with a warm spirit, in typical New Yorkese.
But while there are a few Yiddishisms, Yiddish is not gates heard Bet Aryeh, di- trying to sow dissension within Israel Jewry, the broadcast
abused, there are no stage characteristics to cheapen the rector of the Agency culture utilizes the Goldfine affair to assert that "Zionism besmirches
narrative, no sickening idioms. There is a wholesomeness about and education department, the honor of Judaism and the Jewish people" . . • It goes out
the tale that merits highest commendations for the able assert that the "need of the of its way to laud Jewish tradition but at the same time to
hour" was the effecting of attack the "reckless Zionist conduct" of the Israel Government
novelist.
The episodes about the partner are deeply moving. So is the unity between the people of . . . It is interesting to note that the broadcast refers to the
relationship between Seidman and his son. AlthOugh they differ, Israel and the Jews abroad. Israel government as "the Tel Aviv Government" and not as
upon the latter's return from Korea and his attempt to convert Dr. Noah Nardi, an official of the government in Jerusalem.
*
*
all about him to his humanitarian ideas, Morris always yields; the Ministry of Education, urged
establishment of more Hebrew Timely Topic
he is always the kind-hearted fellow.
He even yields to his wife in the matter of a Christmas day schools abroad and said that
An outstanding contribution to liberalism has
made by
tree, and except for this episode and for the ease with which he traditional Jewish education Prof. J. Selwyn Schapiro, one of America's foremost historians
maneuvers his son's marriage to the non-Jewish model in his should be coordinated with pio- . .. At the present time, when Moscow is challenging the free
shop, this could be called a Jewish novel. From a Jewish point neering values.
world on many fronts, Prof. Schapiro's "Liberalism: Its Meaning
of view, these are the two weaknesses in the entire story.
and History," provides an understanding of the fundamental
Moll's portrayal of Jewish characters is splendid and
principles of the liberal world which are challenged by Com-
heartening. He veers away from the policies of other novelists
Fadhil Jam-
munist totalitarianism . . . The book traces the mainstreams of
who had sunk to the gutter in dealing with Jewish life.
liberal thought as they developed in Western Europe and the
ali, former
Moll has written many short stories, and the present book Iraqi premier
United States . . . It is up-to-date, including even the U.S.
elevates him to the top of he ladder of our best narrators. About and once his
Supreme Court decision which declared the segregation of
"Seidman and Son" he said: "I expect to be asked when I was country's UN
Negroes in public schools unconstitutional . • . In tracing the
in the dress business. Actually, I was never in the dress business delegate, was
liberal movement in France, Prof. Schapiro dwells upon the
but my father was, when I was a boy, and my father-in-law was under guard in
Dreyfus case, the outcome of which involved the very existence
a contractor for many years, with a shop on Seventh Avenue. a Baghdad
of the French Republic . . . He relates how the forces of
When I think of 'The Shop' I see my father-in-law, a benevolent prison. He was
reaction, royalism, militarism and clericalism combined to
tyrant whose English diction sometimes wavered but whose believed dead
uphold the verdict against the Jewish captain accused of
ethics never did. Or my own father, who wandered among the until he show-
treason, and how all the forces of liberalism in France combined
racks of dresses and bolts of piece goods like a lost rabbinical ed up in a
to demand a different verdict . . The liberal forces, who
student looking for his glasses."
prison TV in-
believed that Captain Dreyfus was innocent and had been
This helps understand how Moll acquired knowledge about terview. T h e
condemned by anti-Semitism, won . . . With the vindication
the fine heroes in his book. But, why did he have to mar his new regime ac-
of Dreyfus by a civil tribunal, liberalism achieved a great
story a bit with the Christmas tree and the intermarriage, when cuses him of
victory and reactionary forces became so discredited that they
Morris Seidman is painted as so warm a Jew, so benevolent a stealing a n d
ceased to be important . . . American Jewish readers who are
fellow, so concerned with his people's welfare? Otherwise—in helping for -
interested in the fight for civil liberties and human rights will
its entirety—"Seidman and Son" is truly a best-seller novel. It eigners to ex-
be especially interested in Dr. Schapiro's book which is avail-
belongs in that category for a long time.
ploit Iraq.
able in a pocket book edition . .
Jamali Is Still Alive
.. . .