THE JEWISH NEWS
Going My Way?
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National
Editorial Association
Published every Friday by The Jewish NeWs Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35,
Mich., VE 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year. Foreign $6.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act, of Congress of
March 3, 1879.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
FRANK SIMONS
Circulation Manager
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath. the thirtieth day of A b, Rosh Hodesh Elul, the following Scriptural selec-
tions will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Reeh, Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17, Numbers 28:9-15. Prophetical por-
tion, Isaiah 66:1-24.
Licht Benshen, Friday, August 15, 6:46 p. m.
VOL. XXXIII. No. 24
August 15, 1958
Page Four
Need for Sportsmanship in World Relations
In spite of the troubles in which "Big
(?) Powers" occasionally find themselves,
some of their misguided statesmen (?)
invariably seek to take advantage of the
little fellows. This seems still to be the
case with Great Britain.
The British are in strong positions
only when the United States comes to
their aid. Yet, some of the Don Quixotes
try to bully the smaller nations. This was
the case last week with Tory backbenchers
in the House of Commons, who spoke of
"getting tough" with little Israel; and
with a former British official—Anthony
Nutting, Britain's . ex-Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs — who spoke of "a get
tough policy towards Israel."
*
*
*
To such policies can be traced most of
the troubles in the world. Instead of deal-
ing reasonably with the little fellows;
instead of conferring with the smaller
nations and of treating them humanely,
bullies threaten and attempt to make use
of the struggling nations to advance their
needs. That is why there have been so
many rebellions accompanied by the sabo-
taging of nations in power.
If it were not for such blunders, the
entire Middle East problems would have . ,
been averted a generation ago. Israel and
some of the newly-emerged Arab nations
might have been members of a British
Commonwealth. But such a Common-
wealth would have had to strive for just
relationships among nations. The British
have definitely failed in this task.
*
*
*
When Israel was scoring triumphs
against Gamal Abdel Nasser, the British,
while aiming at the same results, were
threatening the Israelis from Downing
Street. At the time when the Israelis and
the French were approaching success in
an effort to eliminate the threat of
authoritarian dictatorships, the British
played a destructive game which was
responsible for the mess the United Na-
tions, at the urging of the United States,
is currently trying to clean up.
Indeed, the British, who always boast
of sportsmanship, are far removed from
it now. "It's not cricket, John," is the
admonition to the British from her
friends. Jewry and - Israel have a tradi-
tional affection for the English people.
They are steeped in the Bible, they have
been influenced by Prophetic auguries of
the rebirth of Israel, but their mediocre
statesmen of the past generation have led
them to paths of injustice.
The British, more than any others,
should have known all along that those
who seek the destruction of Israel usually
meet with the fate they would impose on
Israel. The Psalmist warns that "he who
digs a ditch for others shall himself fall
therein." Reasonable Englishmen will; we
are certain, repudiate all who advocate
"getting tough" with Israel.
*
*
*
Also regrettable in the present Middle
Eastern crisis is the unwarranted amount of
editorializing and commentating in the free
press of the world's democratic countries, in
which attempts are made to prove that Israel
is the chief target of the "united" Arab peoples.
It is understandable why the puppet King
Hussein of JOrdan should constantly be mouth-
ing anti-Israel declarations: few people believe
that he will long endure as a monarch, and
his actions and assertions are aimed at an at-
tempt to covince his people—if that term can
be applied correctly—that he still hates Israel.
Were it not for Israel, he would long ago have
disappeared from the scene. Israel's existence
has prevented Nasser from taking over control
of Jordan. But it is too much to expect that
Hussein would appreciate this fact.
But why do our commentators and feature
writers place so much emphasis on the status
of Israel, when the internecine • Arab strife is
so traditional with Moslems fighting for control
of power?
_Additionally amazing is the continued em-
phasis placed by some statesmen on the pos-
sibility of an Arab-Israel war if their forces
should abandon the positions they have just
taken over in Lebanon and in Jordan. This
was the viewpoint expressed to Secretary of
State Dulles by Britain's Prime Minister Mac-
millan, in defense of the retention of British
troops in Jordan. Wasn't that the argument of
former 'Prime Minister Anthony Eden, used
as an excuse for the abortive British troop
movement in the Suez area in 1956? A firmer
and more honorable cooperation with Israel
and with France at that time might have
achieved the solution that was sought then.
Yet, Israel even now is accused of "collusion"
in 1956 with Great Britain, whose friendship
she seeks, but. from whom she can expect
nothing but brickbats!
*
*
*
Another warning that Nasserism must be
stopped because it will lead to an Arab-Israel
war which "would probably expand into a
world war" was made last week in an article
in U.S. News and World Reports by Dr. Robert
Strausz-Hupe, director of the Foreign Policy
Research Institute of the University of Penn-
sylvania.
Why is there so much harping on this point,
with an unfortunate involvement of Israel,
while those who forment such ideas regrettably
ignore the fact of Israel's sincere craving for
peace?
*
*
*
There is a lack of realism in international
relations today. Accompanied by unwarranted
fears—motivated by oil and power politics—
the crisis has taken on unprecedented propor-
tions. It is still soluble, provided fears are
dispelled and sportsmanship, based on humani-
tarianism, is practiced with sincerity.
We pray that our own Government should
undertake such a policy. The United States is
still the major world power. It has played
many roles in efforts to lead the world toward
paths of justice. Now is the time to renew our
admonitions to the entire world that we still
stand and strive for such ideals.
*
*
*
The shocking anti-Israel sentiments
of Senator Flanders, of Vermont, ex-
pressed in a series of speeches in which
he threatened to challenge the tax-free
status of the United Jewish Appeal, adds
to our concern over the prejudiced atti-
tudes of some people in prominent
official positions.
In this instance, fortunately, Senator
Flanders seems to stand alone. The
eloquent response to his biased views
by Senator Javitz and the defense of
Israel's position by a number of other
Senators provide hope that justice is not
being guillotined in the Senate.
*
*
*
There is a lack of realism in inter-
national relations today. Accompanied by
unwarranted fears—motivated by oil and
power politics—the crisis has taken on
unprecedented proportions. It is still
soluble, provided fears are dispelled and
sportsmanship, based on humanitarian-
ism, is practiced with sincerity.
We pray that our own Government
should undertake such a policy. The
United States is still the major world
power. It has played many roles in
efforts to lead the world towards pathS
of justice. Now is the time to renew our
admonitions to the entire world that we
still stand and strive for such ideals.
Splendid Narratives
L\
Isaac Bashevis Singer's ‘Gimpel
the Fool' and Other Short Stories
The works of Isaac Bashevis Singer are among the best
known in Yiddish literature. They have become equally popular
in English translations.
His strong novel, "The Family Moskat," is a well known
work, and his essays and stories in the Forward have made him
popular.
Now, his latest work to appear in an English translation,
a series of stories published by Noonday Press (80 E. 11th St.,
N.Y. 3), deserves special attention.
It appears under the title of the first story in the book,
"Gimpel the Fool." Ably translated by Saul Bellow, this story
reflects life in the old world and the tragedy of a persoi who
was taken advantage of. An excellent narrative, it introduces
equally fine stories in the book translated by a list of able men
and women into English.
Norbert . Gutterman and Elaine Gottlieb translated •"The
Gentleman from Cracow."
A folk tale, "The Wife Killer," was translated by Shlomo
Katz.
The Gutterman-Gottlieb team also translated the very fine
tales, "BY the Light of Memorial Candles,". "Joy," and "The
Old Man."
Gutterman alone translated the stirring stories, "The Mirror"
and "Fire."
One of the longest and most impressive stories in the volume
is "The Little Shoemaker." It was translated by Isaac Rosenfeld.
Nancy Gross did a commendable job with her translation of
"From the Diary of One Not Born."
Gutterman and Gottlieb did the translating for..the last and
longest—and perhaps most interesting—story in he book; "The
Unseen."
There are many human interest aspects in these stories.
For instance, in "Fire," one of the characters, while at first
motivated by vengeance, is moved to compassion and seeks
to aid a kinsman.
Similarly, in the other stories, there is deep understanding
by the author of the human motivations of his heroes.
As a collection of narratives. "Gimpel the Fool" matches the
best acclaimed. It is worth reading and having.
Religious Meditations
Runes' 'Letters to My God'
Touches Upon Life's Problems
Dr. Dagobert D. Runes, as author of "Letters to My Son"
and "Letters to My Daughter," has attracted considerable
interest to views which are shared by many of his readers—
views that he imparts to his children but actually means to
pass on to the community as a philosophy of life.
His follow-up book in this series, the attractively-published
"Letters to My God," just published by Philosophical Library
(15 E. 40th, N. Y. 16), adds to the merits of his series.
The new book is a collection of religious meditations. It is
a soul-searching appeal to the Almighty for the highest values
in life, for man's aspirations for justice and peace, for a
communion with the Highest Power.
In one of these letters, Dr. Runes addresses his God: "You
are Shechinah, . . . you are the Endless and the Ever, the
Ain. So-ph and Elohim . . . you are Shalom, my Lord—Shalom
everlasting."
In another it is "Zedekiah, You are justice, or You are
not with us, my Lord."
All the problems in life seem to be covered in these
letters, these supplications, which will surely hold the interest
of the reader.
N