Fascinating
Story of an
Eminent
Jewish Leader
and a
Distinguished
Painter
Commentary
Page 2
THE JEWISH NEWS
A Weekly Review
of .Jewish Events
Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper—Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle
VOLUME XXXIV—No. 24
ijrnor;n st.?op 17100 W. 7 Mile Rd.—VE 8-9364—Detroit 35, February 13, 1959 $5 Per Year; Single Copy 15c
Emigration of Jews from Behind
Iron Curtain Appears Certain;
USSR Anti-Semitism Confirmed
Predictions made on numerous occasions by Israel's Prime
Minister David Ben-Gurion and by Dr. Nahum Golcimann, president
of the World Zionist Organization, that large-scale emigration of Jews
from behind the Iron Curtain, including Soviet Russia, may be ex-
pected soon, appear to be nearing realization.
The large exodus of Romanian Jews appears to be only the begin-
ning. Now there emerges the possibility that Russian Jews who are
viewed as former Polish citizens will be given exit permits to re-enter
Poland and may soon proceed from there into Israel.
Official Opening of First
New Center Wing Sunday
An invitation has been extended to the entire
community to inspect the new Jewish Community
Center at Meyers and Curtis, during the open house,
from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. Sunday.
The physical education wing will be the first part
of the building to be put into operation, starting on
Monday,.
A specially-arranged all-star sports program will
mark the opening of the Max M. and Marjorie S.
Fisher gymnasiums. Many events are planned for the
Sunday open house, with sports and gymnastic stars
participating. Members of the Center board and staff
members will guide visitors through the building.
Detailed Stories on Pages 5, 16, 17
Editorial on Page 4
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency on Tuesday reported from
Jerusalem that the repatriation treaty between the Soviet Union and
Poland, under which tens of thousands of Jews were returned from
the USSR together with many non-Jews, has been extended.
Originally the pact should have expired last Dec. 31, JTA reports,
but arrangements have been made to continue the flow of returnees
until the end of March. A large proportion of the Jews who returned
to Poland moved on to Israel with hardly a stopover. Last year the
(Continued on Page 3)
Sixty Detroiters Play Major Hole in
Launching 1959 United Jewish Appeal
MIAMI BEACH. Fla. — Sixty Detroiters, led by Irwin I. Cohn. chairman of the 1959
Detroit Allied Jewish Campaign, were among the participants in the convocation of 1,600
communal leaders who launched the 1959 Uni ted Jewish Appeal here Saturday night to
aid 100,000 immigrants expected to pour into Israel this year from Romania and Eastern
Europe.
Armed with a sense of solid achievement as the result of advance efforts at a pace-
setters' meeting in Detroit at the home of C. William Sucher, on Jan. 27, and a Detroiters'
advance huddle at a cocktail party at Hotel Martinique in Miami Beach some 48 hours
before the formal opening of the national conference. the Detroit contingent, in partnership
with leaders from all over the United States and Canada, were inspired by a message from
Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, a scholarly and moving address by Ambassador Abba Eban,
a stirring plea by Morris W. Berinstein, general chairman of UJA and an eye-witness
acco t of the new exodus of Jews from Romania by Rabbi Herbert A. Friedman, UJA
-execu ve vice chairman.
Throughout the meeting ran the insistent refrain that American Jews must provide
maximum funds in the shortest possible time to meet a vast immigration crisis confronting
Israel and at the same time give continuing aid to the regular, on-going program of the
United Israel Appeal and the Joint Distribution Commitee. Budgeted needs call for a minimum
of 5205,000,000 including $100,000,000 for the emergency immigration requirements.
By the time the big opening session of the conference was called to order in the grand
ballroom of the Fontainebleau. the Detroiters already had held a special briefing session
the Thursday before. HoSts were Louis Berry, F red Binder, Nathan Fishman, Abe Green. Harry
Rott and George Seyburn. This session, in the form of an annual cocktail party, was a balanced
mixture of sociability and rededication, with Rabbi Friedman providing the serious note of
reminder that the Jews of America and their kinsmen abroad are faced with the greatest
economic and spiritual challenge of a decade.
Berinstein announced that each local community was being entrusted with the reporting
of increased totals. In keeping with this new method of decentralized reporting there was no
over-all total announced at this time, but the Detroiters, with a record $1,913,000 secured
at the Sucher meeting and additional substanti ally increased gifts advanced at the cocktail
party and at the big meeting itself, were proud of the fact that the Detroit Allied Jewish
Campaign had gotten off to a brilliant start. with more than 40 per cent of last year's
final figure already in. more than a month before the formally scheduled opening of the
drive in Detroit on Monday evening, March 23.
One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of special awards to Ambassa-
dor Eban and to Jack Benny, the noted comedian, both of them guests of honor at the gath-
ering. They were cited for their humanitarian services to the people of Israel and Jews in
need overseas. Departing his usual routine, B enny deliverect a moving, sentimental talk about
his relationship to Jewish affairs, interspersing his personal account with characteristically
appropriate incidents that brought approving applause from the audience.
A message from Ben-Gurion expressed the hopes that American Jews would "share
with us both the opportunity and the challenge posed by this fateful immigration trend."
The Prime Minister, in his message, declared, "Immigration has soared in the, last few
months and will go even higher. We want and need these newcomers, who have special talents
and skills to contribute to building our land."
An immediate response to Ben-Gurion's message and to the speakers of the evening
came from leaders in attendance at the dinner who announced their own 1959 contributions
(Continued on Page 32)
Detroitel -s Foie Clore Bonds of 13) -othci -hood Among . .2111 Faiths
By LEE H I LLS, Vice President and Executive Editor of the Detroit Free Press; Brotherhood Week Press Chairman for 1959
Few people have the opportimity to know a community—and its people
Relations Commissions. It was Detroit which brought together all elements
—as intimately as does a newspaper editor. The tribulations, the joys, the
of the community for the first major United Foundations effort. It has been
prejudices. and the triumphs—all of these are soon revealed to an editor
in Detroit that religious groups have worked closely together an these and
who listens and observes.
countless other projects.
No one can say that prejudices have been eliminated in this community.
But an editor is basically a reporter. so this brief statement will take
Perfection is not the trademark of human beings.
the form of a report on brotherhood in the great Metropolitan area of Detroit.
But it: can be said that Detroiters have in many ways made their
Rarely is it mentioned that Detroit, in its drive to leadership as a
contributions to a closer band between peoples—regardless of race, color or
producer of goods for the world. has also made great contributions toward
creed.
solving many social problems. And in the solutions that have developed
Brotherhood Week is a good time to assess some of the things that we
here others have found inspiration for bringing closer to reality a full
have done. It is also a good time to remind ourselves that the Metropolitan
measure of brotherhood.
Detroit community must keep moving near the vanguard of those who
It was Detroit which came up with one of the first Community
understand ther full meaning of brotherhood.