THE DETROIT; JEWISH NEWS—Friday, October 16, 1959- 2
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Plebiscites on Virtue, Justice, Tradition, Charity?
During the coming few days. an amicable solution should
be found to the problem that has arisen over the issue of the
opening of Jewish Center facilities on Saturdays. It is the hope
of all of us who have labored to establish excellent community
relations that strife will be averted and that a reasonable com-
promise will be reached. -
One approach, however, that of a vote by the Center mem-
bers, should be abandoned at once as objectionable. It is not
only because the Center belongs to the entire community, not
to Center members alone. But even if the entire community
could vote on the issue, it is an approach that should be rejected—
for an obvious reason.
Just as we do not conduct plebiscites on whether we should
contribute to the United Jewish Appeal, so it would be humiliat-
ing to. Jewish sensibilities if we were to put to a vote the
question whether the Sabbath should be observed traditionally.
We do not vote on questions of virtue, charity, justice,
kindness and the right of people to observe their faith. The
Sabbath is our established primary institution and the obligation
to respect it is as deep-rooted as the duty to all human and
spiritual - values.
Since the injunction to honor and observe the Sabbath is
contained in one of the Ten Commandments, would the question,
if a vote were taken, be worded: "Resolved that we adhere
to– the Ten Commandments?"
That leads us to .another issue: the delusion of some who
believe that opposition to opening the Center on the Sabbath is
a battle for Orthodox control. That, of course, is sheer nonsense.
Sanctification of the Sabbath is the concern of Jewry, not a
handful in Jewry. We are yet to hear it claimed that there are
TEN Commandments for Orthodox and ONLY NINE for Reform.
Will Duplication of Activities Cease in Jewish Ranks?
Israeli Schools
Favoring French
JERUSALEM, (JTA) —
The Israel Ministry of Edu-
cation disclosed plans to
make French the first for-
eign language in grades six
to eight of elementary
schools. At the present time,
English is the first foreign
language in most of Israel's
public schools.
1-
ii
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — Israel
and Jordan promised each
other at a meeting of the
Israel-Jordan Mixed Armistice
Commission to make efforts to
maintain tranquility an the
Israel - Jordan border and to
avoid incidents.
The meeting was convened to
discuss border incident com-
plaints of both countries. Israel
U. S. Move for M. E. Peace
Revealed by Ben-Gurion
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—Prime
Minister David Ben-Gurion re-
vealed that the United States
Government "recently initiated
an attempt to bring about peace
talks" between Israel and the
United Arab Republic.
The Prime Minister made the
disclosure in a lengthy article
in the Government Year Book.
He wrote that "the initiative"
in the effort "came from the
supreme authority in the United
States" and that it failed be-
cause of "obdurate opposition
from the Egyptian dictator,"
President Nasser of the UAR.
He also disclosed that in the
summer of 1950, Israel asked
the Soviet Union to invite rep-
resentatives of Israel and Egypt
to peace talks. He added that
the Soviets never replied to the
requests.
Ben-Gurion, in a discussion of
the background and conse-
quences of the .1956 Sinai cam-
paign, warned against the "fal-
lacy" of believing that the 1956
operation solved Israel's secur-
ity problems. He said "basical-
ly, the problem is not solved."
He indicated a belief that the
"wall. of Arab hostility" would
eventually be breached but that
this would come, not, by direct
Israel action, but by strength-
ening of Israel's ties with the
peoples of Asia and Africa on
whom. the Arab governments
tried to rely for support.
Ben-Gurion revealed that on
Nov. 7, 1956, the late John
Foster Dulles as Secretary of
State had warned Israel that the
world was on the brink of a
general war because of Israel's
refusal to withdraw from the
Sinai peninsula. Dulles also
warned Israel that not only
would all United States aid to
Israel end, but also that Israel
might be expelled from the
United Nations, the Prime Min-
ister added.
The two principal points of
The annual avalanche of New Year greetings from heads
Of national Jewish organizations represents a. great waste of
money and energy. Few of these 'greetings ever appear in print,
and the efforts exerted by presidents of all our leading move-
ments in writing them and their stenographers and mimeograph--
ers in preparing the copy are an unnecessary extravagance.
. Out of the numerous messages of greetings we have, never 7
tiieless, retained one that carries with it a most interesting re-
flection on organizational . Jewish activities in this country. It
is the holiday statement of Herbert B. Ehrmann, president of
the American Jewish Committee, who, as part of a very long
statement — perhaps the longest of its kind ever to reach us—
Sets forth the following "program of action developed on the
basis of four main principles":
. 1 4. Equality of rights - for JeWS in Eastern 'EnrOpe and the
Soviet Union in - law and in fact within. the framework of
il
the existing social and economic system, although "equality
under this system, is. not consonant with the American
.,
..
-
concept of Irecidom;" : •
11 .2. The right of Jews to emigrate- freely to places of their
J:,... choice with all their possessions.
3. In accordance with its paramount- concern for the indi-
vidual human being . and - its conviction that emigration
should be -completely voluntary, the AJC continues to
oppose all compulsion on the individual to uproot himself.
-4. The AJC will join- with other organizations, Jewish and
non-Jewish, in seeking private, governmental, and inter-
governmental aid for the assistance of emigrants from
Eastern Europe - and the Soviet Union and influence the
promotion of liberalized immigration opportunities in the
U. S. and other countries.
Ehrmann's statement proceeds to say that "the coming year
Will bring. with it .a continuing task of -reconstructing Jewish life
in Europe"; that "here at home we must work for the preserva-
tion of a national climate which favors the effective protection
of civil and religimis rights"; that "beyond guarding against
si3e-cific violations of civil and religious rights, we must apply
ourselves in our daily lives to the continuing task of promotion Charge German Minister
of improved human relations among all groups." He calls for as Ex-Nazi Youth Leader
BONN, (JTA)—Charges that
"the achievement of peace and stability in the Middle East" and
makes this assertion with regard the situation in West Germany: Theodor Oberlander, West Ger-
---- "In West Germany particularly there have been a number many's Minister of Expellees
developments involving sporadic neo-Nazi out- and War Victims, was a Nazi
'emitic incidents, but more seriously a general collaborator and apologist for
'-ut almost completely the recent past as if Nazi racist theories during the
er period had never happened. Committee war, were made today by a
led Germany this year found agreement leftist organization of victims
an educators, social scientists, political of Nazism, which quoted the
hat a concerted program of action must East German Communist press
the German people with a pro-per sense for its allegations.
Oberlander denied one of the
past and to give them a true historical
be made on many levels to help the charges — that he had partici-
nfuse into their curricula the principles pated in mass executions during
World War II at Lemberg —
ience of human relations."
..
ate in Point 4 of Mr. Ehrmann's state- stating that it was the Russians,
c) agrees to work with other movements and not the Germans, who mur-
/ants from behind the Iron Curtain. Yet dered Polish citizens at Lem-
/difference of opinion when an issue was berg. However, the leftists also
/ Jewish representation that was to meet accused him of having been a
,:d
iime Minister on his recent American visit, leader of Hitler's Storm Troops,
, .wish Committee was specifically mentioned and of having written several
g from an overall representative committee Nazi publications, one of which
', he Committee previously having acted en- allege di y referred to Com-
' arranging a meeting with another Russian munism as "Jewish material-
ism."
,States.
1 -sums up our reaction to all of the basic
—
1
)37 the president of the American Jewish failed to present a united front
happens to be agreement on these ideas when some of the matters
national organizations. Therefore the touched upon in Mr. Ehrmann's
ain: why so much duplication in Jewish statement came up for action.
all of us? Why so much overlapping?
Must each group act on its
own?
n basic issues?
the Bnai Brith also sub-scribe to the
Will we ever get together in
Committee's president. Yet the Bnai calling a halt to duplication of
twin from cooperative activities with efforts and therefore to a waste
lations Advisory Council and have , of energy?
-
t.
Pledges by Israel (did Joraan
to Maintain Border Tranquility
the lengthy review were that
the Sinai campaign had limited
objectives which were achieved
and that withdrawal had been
planned before the campaign
was launched; and that the re-
cent sale of Israel arms to the
West Germany Army was neces-
sary for Israel's security.
He described as the two speci-
fic objectives of the Sinai op-
eration that of destroying ma-
rauders' bases in the Gaza Strip
and safeguarding freedom of
navigation in the Gulf of Aqaba.
He quoted himself as telling the
Cabinet meeting which decided
on the Sinai campaign that
"Gaza is an embarrassing objec-
tive, .a burden."
He also cited a statement to
the Cabinet meeting that "there
will be forces which will com-
pel us to evacuate—there is
America, Russia, the United Na-
tion-s, India—I am more con-
cerned about America than
about the rest. America will
compel us to leave."
The Premier on three sepa-
rate occasions in his article
strongly criticized India's Prime
Minister Nehru for his "double
stand" attitude in relations with
Israel and the Arab countries.
listed the murder on Rosh
Hashanah of an Israel shepherd
by Jordanians and subsequent
shooting which prevented re-
moval of the victim's body until
Israel armored vehicles were
moved into the area. Jordan
complained that Israel had fired.
on Jordanian armored vehicles.
After both sides expressed in-
tentions of goodwill and Jordan
promised to deal with the shep-
herd's killers, both sides with
drew their form-al complaints.
Israel officials declined to
c o m e n t on a resolution
adopted by the Israel-Egyptian
Mixed Armistice - Commission—
in Israel's absence—condemn-
ing Israel - for allegedly forcing
some 350 Beduin across the bor-
der into the United Arab Re,
public from the Negev. They
emphasized that Israel does not
participate in meetings of the
Israel-Egyptian MAC and that
all resolutions of the MAC are
adopted on the basis of Egyp-
tian testimony only and with an
Egyptian vote to make a ma-
jority.
It was recalled here that sev-.
eral weeks ago the Israel Army
spokesman declared that during
the investigation by an Israel
patrol of the murder of an
Israel Army officer in the area,
the patrol was fired on by Be-
duin. The spokesman said that.
a number of the Beduin fled
across the border after an ex-
change of .fire. ,
Israel had demanCed that the
Beduin tribe turn over the kill-
ers of the officer, after the
killer's identity was learned.
One accomplice was handed
over to Israel Army authori-
ties but the real murderers
escaped and the tribe failed to
capture them, it was pointed
out.
Boris Smolar's
Between You
... and Me'
(Copyright, 1959
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Behind the Scene:
American Jewry will be highly pleased to learn that Presi-
dent Eisenhower has personally raised with Soviet Premier
Khrushchev the question of the treatment of Jews in the Soviet
Union . . . When the heads of the two governments met at Camp
David, Eisenhower drew Khrushchev's attention to concern felt in
this country over the present status of Soviet Jewry . . . Khrush-
chev's response was like his other statements made on this
subject . . . That there was no Jewish problem in the Soviet
Union . . . However, the fact that Eisenhower deemed it neces-
sary to raise this question must have made an impression
on the Soviet Premier . . . High circles in Washington believe
that Khrushchev will now give more consideration to the treat-
ment of Jews in his country because of the inquiry and. interest
by President Eisenhower . . . It can be disclosed that the White
House has a clear and comprehensive picture of the discrimina-
tions practiced against Jews in the Soviet Union . . . There are
plenty of memoranda and data in the White House on this
subject . . . It is believed in Washington that Khrushchev, al-
though he does not admit it, realizes that there is such a thing
in Russia today as a "Jewish problem" . . . The opinion prevail-
ing in Washington is that Khrushchev feels considerably em-
barrassed by the existence of this problem, since he cannot
explain to the outside world why Jewish cultural institutions
have been liquidated and why Jews have been eliminated from
diplomatic and high military posts in his country . . . It is
obvious that the questions on this subject posed to him during
his visit in the United States—topped by Eisenhower's interest
in it—will increase Khrushchev's sensitivity to it, and that he will
realize that something must be done about it.
The Domestic Front:
Jewish communities throughout the country are now urged
by the National Community Relations Advisory Council to pay
attention to the preliminary phases of the 1960 elections .. .
Particularly to nominating campaign, political party conventions
and the beginning of the election campaign . . . Of special im-
portance to the NCRAC is Jewish stimulation of and participa-
tion in citizens organizations for fair campaign practices, as a
means of forestalling • appeals to racial and religious prejudice
. . . The Jewish communities are advised to make educational
efforts in the pre-election period to secure favorable stands by
candidates and in party platforms on civil right, civil liberties,
the Middle East, immigration and other issues of Jewish concern
. . . The NCRAC stresses that overt appeals to religious pre-
judice are diminishing in American political campaigns . . .
However, it points out that religion continues an "operative in-
fluence" in American politics, though in a much lower key than
in earlier periods.