The Book and the Bell
THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National
•ditorial 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 Offic..., Detroit, Mich. under act of Congress of March
167L-
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Circulation Manager
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-eighth day of Sivan, 5719, the following Scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Joshua 2:1-24.
Pentateuehal portion. Shelah Lekha, NUM. 13:1-15:41. Prophetical portion,
Licht Benshen, Friday, July 3. 7:52 p.m.
VOL. XXXV. No. 18
July 3, 1959
Page Four
Significance of World Refugee Year
Observance of World Refugee Year,
just launched as an international effort
to encourage the solution of the problems
of refugees in all lands, is being co-spon-
sored by the leading humanitarian move-
ments and by the most important Jewish
organizations throughout the world.
When the idea was first broached, em-
phasis was placed on clarifying the issues,
throwing the limelight on the sufferers
in the hope that they would be resettled
and that they would soon become self-
supporting.
The needs of the Arab refugees were
included as part of the problem. Since,
during the course of the year's observ-
ance, the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency, which functions in behalf
of the Arab refugees, was to be dissolved,
it was hoped that a way would be found
to rehabilitate the refugees, to settle them
in various countries where they can be
integrated into wholesome economic sys-
tems.
In the meantime, United Nations Sec-
retary General Dag Hammarskjold has
thesis that repatriation to Israel is not feas-
ible, though he does say that 'reintegration'
in the Arab states should be voluntary, the
result of a free choice. Israel has refused to
give the refugees this choice.
"The Secretary-General also mentions the
theoretical possibility of reintegration in
Israel. But the clear implication of his 10-
year plan is that reintegration will take place,
if it takes place at all, in the Arab states.
"This implication is likely to stir protests
among the Arabs. There already are hints of
an impending outburst. Arab diplomats are
understood to have met privately, before the
report was made public, to voice their indig-
nation.
"If the Arab states want UNRWA to con-
tinue, however — and they obviously want
this very much — the price they almost cer-
tainly will have to pay is cooperation along
the broad lines of the Hammarskjold plan.
Under no other circumstances are the donor
states, notably the United States, likely to go
on providing necessary funds.
"This necessity is being referred to here
as 'the stick' in the plan. The 'carrot' held
before the eyes is the prospect of large-scale
capital investment to improve their standards
of living.'
'The Jew in American Sports
Described in Ribalow's Book
Harold U. Ribalow, able book reviewer. editor of several
anthologies and sports writer for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency,
who has become very popular as an authority on sports and as the
author of "The Jew in American Sports," has revised and enlarged
his latter work, and it has just been issued in the very attractive
new edition by Bloch Publishing Co.
The preface to "The Jew in American Sports" is by the
former lightweight champ, Barney Ross, who commends the fine
reading about American athletes prepared by Ribalow. Many
important illustrations add to the book's value. In his intro-
duction, the author explains the difficulty he first encountered
in securing material for a collection of facts about Jewish
athletes. But he did not give up the task and he gathered much
valuable data for a comprehensive story.
All fields of sports are covered in this volume. There is a
chapter about Dick Davitt, Wimbledon king. The basketball
giant, Harry Boykoff, is included; and so are Adolph Schayes,
the great basketball star; Herman Barron, the all-American
golfer: Emanuel Lasker, the master of the chessboard; the
chess genius, Samuel Reshefsky. a former Detroiter; and Bobby
Fischer, "The Mozart of Chess." who was an international champ
at 15.
It is the over-all covering that is so highly commendable
in Ribalow's book. The able author of this interesting book
explains "the importance of being sports-minded." shows what
a deep interest is being taken in sports by many Jews and tries
to make his compilation of Jewish athletes as complete and as
thorough as it is possible to attain, with the difficulties en-
countered in securing all available facts.
The greats of all time—in baseball and in other sports—
are included in the book. Among them are Hank Greenberg,
Al Rosen. Benny Leonard, Johnny Kling. Andy Cohen. Harry
Danning, "Buddy" Myer, Saul Rogovin, Al Schacht, Benny Fried-
man, Marshall Goldberg, Sid Luckman and many others.
offered a new 10-year plan — for the con-
The question now arises: if the
tinuation of the UNRWA, for the raising UNRWA is a "bargaining" instrument, if
of a large international fund that would
the Arab refugee problem is to continue
amount to $5,100,000,000—most of it to as a weapon against Israel, then it may
come from the United States — and to
be doubtful whether the retention of the
"reintegrate" the refugees into Middle old system is practicable and desirable
Eastern life.
and whether it can continue to be truly
Many similar plans have been offered helpful to the refugees.
in the past. The late Secretary of State
It is an irrefutable fact that the Arab
John Foster Dulles at one time made a refugee problem was nurtured as a means
proposal for Arab reintegration with the of keeping alive a hatred of Israel. Con-
aid of a large 'international fund, and it tinuation of such animosity does not help
was implied at the time that this country the poor refugees and does not contribute
would be prepared to provide much of the to the peace of the area. The Arab states
needed sums. apparently continue to refuse to partici-
The major question that arises at this pate in large-scale rehabilitation plans.
time is whether the retention of the Thereby they destroy whatever prospects
UNRWA as a vital UN instrument is the there are to end the refugee problem.
degirable act. In an analysis of the new
That is why it is doubtful whether con-
Hammarskjold plan, in the Christian tinuation of the UNRWA is practical. A
Science Monitor, William R. Frye wrote:
new plan must be devised, and if the
"As a political device to win Arab friend.
Hammarskjold proposals are to be put
ship and cooperation — as distinct from a
into force they must be on the basis of
humanitarian undertaking — American-fin-
Arab cooperation. -Arab assistance im-
anced ,refugee relief, administered through
plies a change in attitude toward Israel.
the UN, has been virtually a total failure, it
Such a reversal would mean peace and an
is generally agreed.
immediate end to the refugee issue whose
"Politically, UNRWA's effect has been
solution Israel is as anxious to effect.
to keep intact an element of Arab bargaining
power vis-a-vis Israel. The Arab demand that
This is the major issue to be consid-
Israel take back the refugees is regarded by
ered during World Refugee Year. If
many observers as, in part at least, a tactic
those who are guiding the activities of
to extract maximum compensation for lost
World Refugee Year will not formulate
refugee property. Few believe that Israel
plans for humanitarian solutions of refu-
will ever take back a sizable number, or in-
A remarkably impressive and most artistic reproduction of
gee problems, based on pragmatic ap-
deed that many would wish to go — and
proaches, then the entire observance may 12 stained glass windows, which were designed for Har Zion
stay — if they were given the opportunity.
turn into a farce that should be avoided. Temple in Philadelphia, form the text of a beautiful book,
"Hammarskjold appears to accept the
by
'Light From Our Past: Art
Combined with Literature
Fiftieth Anniversary of Mizrachi in U. S.
Another mark of strength to this
Mizrachi organization
of America
currently is marking the fiftieth
anni- important movement was the founding
of Bar-Ilan University, named in memory
versary of its existence.
Since the formation of the American of the late world president of Mizrachi,
Mizrachi movement, other orthodox Zion- Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan (Berlin).
Mizrachi's services have been most
ist activities have been instituted, and
significant in rallying the observant Jews
through the
Hapoel Zionist
Hamizrachi,
the in behalf of the Zionist cause. Founded
movement,
workers'
orthodox
many effective projects have been intro- by Rabbi Itzhak Yaacov Reines, Mizrachi
duced in Israel.
emerged as one of the very vital factors
in Zionism. Unlike other orthodox move-
As a matter
of fact,
many
important
sponsored
by ments, which often obstructed efforts in
settlements
in Israel
were
the Hapoel Hamizrachi, and a number of behalf of Jewish national redemption,
the most heroic groups of young Jews Mizrachi supported the Zionist cause with
who defended Israel in 1948 and fought dignity and with devotion.
in the Sinai Campaign in 1956 stemmed
We join in congratulating Mizrachi-
from Hapoel Hamizrachi settlements.
Hapoel Hamizrachi of America on the
The merger of these two movements movement's fiftieth anniversary in this
three years ago strengthened
the ortho-
country.
dox Zionist movement.
.
under the title, "Light from Our Past." It was published
Shengold, New York.
Several elements combine to make this an outstanding work
of art. and also a fine literary product. The spiritual history
of the Jewish people, so represented in the stained glass win-
dows. is contained in the well prepared text, written by Rose B.
Goldstein.
The stained glass windows were designed by Louis D.
Kayser. The introduction to the book was written by Stephen
S. Kayser, Curator of the Jewish Museum of the Jewish Theo-
logical Seminary in New York. There is a foreword by Rabbi
David A. Goldstein of the Har Zion Temple.
The titles for the 12 windows are: The Torah, The Prophets,
The Talmud, The 'Middle Ages, Spanish Jewry: The Golden
Age, A Memorial to East European Jewry, Main Currents of
East European Thought, The Emancipation of West European
Jewry, America: Three Hundred Years, Israel, One World in
Brotherhood.
Woven into these subjects is virtually a resume of world
Jewish history. The spiritual values of our people emerge from
the Biblical texts quoted in the essays about the windows.
World history is inevitably part of the story, with Israel,
America, Eastern and Western European eras included in the
texts.
"Light from Our Past" is a work of art. It also is a In*
literary product. It will be treasured by all book lovers.
-