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.