THE DETROIT JEW ISH NEWS—Friday, November 7, 1958-2
Pasternak Tragedy:
Father-Son Contrasts . .•
• The Two Judges Kaufman
Purely Commentary•
Boris Pasternak and the Jewish Survival Issue
JTA's Washington correspondent this week made the inter-
esting observation that Boris Pasternak's novel, "Doctor Zhivago,"
actually argues against the survival of the Jewish people.
The JTA report from Washington states:
In "Doctor Zhivago," Pasternak refers to anti-Semit-
ism. He asks, "For what purpose are these innocent old
men and women aid children, all the subtle, kind, hu-
mane people, mocked and beaten up throughout the
centuries?"
But instead of rebuking the anti-Semites, Pasternak .
goes on to ask why the intellectual leaders of Jewry
have not "disbanded this army which keeps fighting
and being massacred nobody knows what for."
It is concluded from this that Pasternak does not
see a purpose in the sacrifice of Jews for survival and
feels that Jewry should surrender to anti-Semitism and
disapear.
Pasternak's assertion that "nobody knows" why Jews
strive to survive is seen by many readers to reflect an
attempt to repudiate Judaism and Jewish values.
This may or may not be a correct evaluation of Pasternak's
true attitudes. But it certainly mirrors the state of affairs in
Russia and of Russian .Jewry. They advocate total assimilation
and the disappearance of the Jewish folk. Then comes the Com-
munist purge, and those who are compelled to seek haven any-
Where else must suffer pangs of conscience.
Indeed, we hope they suffer such pangs. There have been
instances in which former Communists and escapees from Soviet
persecutions continued to ridicule Zionism (out of habit?) and
Jewish traditions.
If Pasternak's Jewish views are truly anti-survivalist, as the
JTA correspondent maintains, then the able author, who was
chosen. for the greatest literary honor, has met with rebuke not
from his Jewish kinsmen but from his Comthunist compatriots.
He is now being told "to leave the Soviet Union forever." The
chief of the Young Communist League, in the presence of Premier
Nikita S. Khrushchev and other Communist leaders, advised
Pasternak to emigrate to "his capitalist paradise," and described
the literary genius as a "pig," "dirtying" the place in which he
eats and lives by doing what "even pigs do not do."
The Pasternak appeal for clemency, to be permitted to
remain in Russia, is pathetic. His father was a voluntary exile
from Russia. But his father was an able painter who could
function anywhere, as he did in England and in Palestine. The
son, although a Nobel Prize winner, is a Russian writer who
probably feels that his skill is limited to his native soil.
There is no doubt about the service Pasternak has rendered
to the democratic form Of thinking and living with his daring
novel. But by arousing Russian anger for nonconformism, he has
endangered his life.
For long run results, his novel undoubtedly also will be of
great service to the future of Russia, but it is possible that his
"nonconformism" may be interpreted as a Jewish trait for which
not he alone but all Russian Jews may suffer.
In truth, it is the nonconformism of the Jew that irks his
antagonists, whether they be the dictator type in Russia or in
Egypt, or the bigot in the South in our own great land, It is
the adherence of the Jew to social justice principles that bothers
his enemies. It is the Prophet that irritates and the inheritors
of Prophecy, especially if they adhere to it, who make enemies
because they support the labor movement, advocate desegrega-
tion where there is discrimination, and assist the downtrodden.
But the Communist Jew—and he is in such a minority—is
unable to detect the enmity—until it strikes at his own door.
The battle goes on, between the noble-spirited and the poi-
soned minds.
How are we to account for the Pasternakian anti-Zionism?
What is the cause of his anti-Zionist attitude? He is no doubt
aware of the libertarian principles of Jewish self-liberation. But
apparently there is the seed of "selbst-hass," the poison of self-
hatred, that is the result of fear inspired by Russian anti-
Semitism.
Khruschev can say all he wants to Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt
or to Adlai Stevenson that anti-Semitism is despised in the
Soviet Union: the facts belie his assertions.
Pasternak may suffer equally as much from Communist bias
as from anti-Semitism. But he has shown greater courage in
exposing the former than he has in subduing the fear of Zionism
by the latter.
Wouldn't it be the height of irony if Boris Pasternak were
to find haven eventually in Israel.
In the living room of his simple home, 15 miles from
Moscow, Boris Pasternak is shown here as he read to his wife
the original cable from the Swedish Academy awarding him
the Nobel Prize for Literature for his novel "Dr. Zhivago."
By Phili p
JtOMOViti
Pasternak's Father
New and very interesting facts now come to light about
Leonid Pasternak, the father of Boris Pasternak.
The Nobel Prize winner's father, who was a distinguished
painter, was a friend of Count Leo Tolstoi.
Leonid Pasternak,• the friend of Dr. Chaim Weizmann and
Dr. Nahum Sokolow, painted their portraits as • well as those
of other eminent Zionist leaders, including the eminent late
Chief Rabbi Maze, Menahem Ussishkin and others.
Leonid Pasternak visited Palestine in 1924. He died in exile
in London in 1945.
Germans under the Nazi, and Russians under Communism
have been known to fear reprisals against members of their
families in the event they spoke up in opposition to the regimes
of their respective countries, even after escaping from their
homelands.
Is it possible that Leonid's self-imposed exile was one of
the sins for which the son, Boris, now is paying so costly a price?
The Two Judges Kaufman
Ira G. Kaufman has earned his community's heartiest con-
gratulations on the excellent showing he made at the polls on
Tuesday and on his success as a candidate.
He has been a devoted member of the community—as presi-
dent of Adas Shalom, as an officer in the United Hebrew Schools,
as a member of several boards of communal agencies, as a
devoted Zionist and as a good worker in Allied Jewish Campaigns.
There is no doubt that the new Judge Kaufman had benefited
from the popularity of the name Kaufman, established by Judge
Nathan Kaufman. The latter, in a very short time, proved by his
keen devotion to duty and his understanding of the problems
of children how a dedicated person can win the admiration of
his constituents. He has made the name Kaufman so popular in
Wayne County that it was possible for another Kaufman to win
an important election, also in the Probate Court.
Fortunately, the new Judge Kaufman is equally honorable.
Both Judges Kaufman are participants in traditional congre-
gational activities and are devoted to their respective Conserva-
tive synagogues. Both take a deep interest in community life.
Just as Judge Nathan Kaufman had already earned the esteem
held for him, we are confident that Judge Ira G. Kaufman will
strive to lend glory to the office to which he has just been
elected.
All honor to the Kaufman name—and congratulations to the
Judges who carry it with dignity and respect.
*
The Late Dr. Joseph Klausner
In the death of Prof. Joseph Klausner, the eminent historian
who passed away last week in Tel Aviv, at the age of 84, the
world loses a brilliant scholar and Jewry is bereaved of a great
thinker and leader.
He was a fearless man. He did not hesitate to be a candidate
for the Presidency of Israel, in opposition to Dr. Chaim Weiz-
mann, on the extreme rightists' Herut platform, and received
15 votes to Dr. Weizmann's 83.
He was the last surviving delegate to the First World
Zionist Congress, which, in 1897, in Basle, Switzerland,
framed the Zionist political program and the Basle
Platform.
It was as a result of the pronouncement of Dr. Klausner
that the Herem—the excommunicating ban on Baruch Spinoza—
was lifted in 1927, 271 years after the Amsterdam Jewish com-
munity had imposed the ban upon him. In lifting the Herem,
Prof. Klausner, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of
Spinoza's death, declared: "Baruch Spinoza, our brother art thou;
I declare thee free!"
Dr. Klausner was one of the architects of the Zionist move-
ment, and therefore also of the Jewish State. He earned a great
place for himself in Jewish history.
GEN. S. L. A. MARSHALL
* *
GeneralMarshall
to Address Book
Fair Men's Night
Gen. S. L. A. Marshall, author
and military affairs authority,
will be the principal speaker on
the Men's Night program of the
seventh annual Jewish Book
Fair, Nov. 22, 23 and 24, at the
Davison Jewish Center. He will
speak on Nov. 24.
Gen. Marshall's new book,
"Sinai Victory," examines com-
mand decisions in history's
shortest war, Israel's 100-hour
conquest of Egypt east of Suez,
two years ago. He is the author
of 10 other major literary works,
one of which, "Pork Chop Hill,"
was made into successful mo-
tion picture.
Recognized as an outstanding
authority on military affairs
and as a military historian, Gen.
Marshall has participated in
numerous battles and campaigns
in World Wars I and II. He es-
tablished the Army News Serv-
ice, developed the plan for in-
doctrination of enemy prisoners
of war, was an expert consult-
ant to the Secretary of War and
was chief of orientation, Army
of the United States. He was
chief historian of the European
theater of war.
He has contributed to numer-
ous magazines and has been a
lecturer at the National War
college, Army War college,
C & GS College, Air university,
Armed Service information
school, infantry school and ar-
mored school.
The Annual Jewish Book Fair
again will be featured by many
exhibits of outstanding Jewish
books.
Catholic Donates $1,000 to Bombed Ga. Synagogue
A contribution of $1,000 to-
ward the rebuilding fund of the
bombed-out Hebrew Benevolent
Congregation in Atlanta, Ga.,
has been made by James Geri-
ty Jr., vice-chairman of the
Sponsors Committee of Religion
In American Life, Inc.
Gerity, a Roman Catholic, is
president of the Gerity Broad-
casting Company of Flint, Mich.,
which operates the NBC-affili-
ated Channel 5 in Bay City, Sag-
inaw, Midland and Flint, Mich.
Gerity also is president of Ger-
ity Gifts, Inc., Toledo.
In making the gift, Gerity
said he felt strongly that the re-
cent bombings of synagogues
were an "outrage" against the
American sense of civic de-
cency.
"I hope this expression of
good will may help to bring
about better human relations
and will enccourage others to
contribute and assist in the re-
building of the Atlanta temple
and other synagogues similarly
stricken," he said.
"If more Americans followed
the urging of the Religion In
American Life movement to go
to church and synagogue regu-
larly and to respect one an-
other's faith," he added, "I am
sure that such intolerable oc-
currences as these bombings
would not happen."
He said that. in its tenth an-
nual national campaign during
November, Religion In Amer-
ican Life would once again em-
phasize the vital importance of
religious faith in personal, fam-
ily and community life.
"Our message of 'Find the
strength for your life ... wor-
ship together this week' points
out how regular worship attend-
ance helps make us better cit-
izens, how to be more tolerant
toward others, especially those
of other faiths, and how to ap-
preciate the benefits of living
together in a brotherly way with
others of different creeds and
races," Gerity added.
Contest Winners Accept Awards
Checks for $100 each were presented to the three winners
of the Directors' Council religious school projects contest.
Happy recipients of the awards were RUTH PESSELNICK,
JOSEPH EDELMAN and Jack Zwick (not shown here). Judges
of the contest were ALLEN WALLER, ALLEN WARSEN,
HELEN KASS, Council chairman WALTER FARBER and
Theodore Baruch (not shown). In photo, (left to right) are
Farber, making the presentation, Waller, Miss Pesselnick,
DAVIS SAFRAN, donor of the awards, Edelman, Helen Kass
and Warsen.