THE DETRO IT JEWISH NEWS—Friday, December 11, 195 9-2
Purely Commentary
`Fewer Places to Which to Run,'
`Escapists' Warned by Rabbi Gordon
By PHILIP SLOMOV1TZ
A Victory for Liberalism
By forbidding the fun-making 40 & 8 Society to use its name
as long as it continues to remain an all-white organization, the
American Legion has rendered a valuable service to the cause
of freedom and equality in this country.
The American Legion has refrained from setting up racial
bars in its membership regulations. It could not, therefore,
permit a fraction of the movement to be segregationist. Further-
more, the Legion is an American movement and therefore can
not discriminate against a dark-skinned element in our popula-
tion that fought side-by-side with the majority in the movement
that happens to be white-skinned.
Once again, the American principle of justice and equality
has triumphed.
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'New Agony for Russian Jews'—Desecration of
the Dead Continues with Threat to the Living
In her revelation of Russian Jewry's tragedies, in her article
entitled "New Agony for Russian Jews," Patricia Blake, Life
Magazine correspondent, tells the bleak story of Babi Yar
("Grandmother's Ravine") where 96,000 Jews were shot at the
edge of the ravine in three days by the Germans during the
last war. A memorial was to have been erected there by Soviet
Russia in tribute to the martyrs, on promise that Khrushchev
himself. Instead, the graves have been desecrated. -
"German and Ukrainian collaborators" were responsible for
that massacre. Now even the memory of the dead is being
obliterated and disgraced. Miss Blake states in her article:
- "I learned what the trouble was: a mob of Ukrainians had
desecrated the cemetery last year, knocking down tombstones
and chalking messages such as 'We are starting with the dead
and we will continue with the living.' The day they picked
for this desecration was Sept. 29, the anniversary of the
massacre- of Babi Yar."
Yet we are asked to have faith in Russian justice, and some
even urge that the murders of the Ukrainians should be for-
gotten! Is it any wonder that the worst symptoms of anti-Semitism
in Russia comes from Ukrainian areas?
They caused the mass murder, now they desecrate the graves
of their victims and they issue warnings to the living that they
had just begunthe new massacre — with grave desecrations!
What a tragic augury for the future!
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'Off With Their Heads' =Yemen Imam's Policy
When the Imam Ahmed of Yemen was in Rome, he was in
the limelight over the status of his harem. Meanwhile, there
were plots against him in his home territory, and even his sons
were involved in court schemes against him.
Upon hii return from Rome, the Imam delivered a speech
to a large gathering of his people who assembled at his palace
courtyard, and he told them:
"It was God's will that your Imam should go abroad for
medical treatment and recuperation. And here I am, returned
to you in good health and excellent condition (cheers). I greet
my brave Yemeni people, who have remained faithful,. loyal
and calm, and avoided the Christians and their agents. I greet
my dear people from whom I received many cables (cheers)
inquiring about my health (cheers).
"There have been some incidents involving deceived, dis-
contented and conceited persons. They killed and ransacked.
But God humiliated and routed them (jeers). I am now going
to apply the judgment of God against the leaders of the
insurrection fcheer,§).
"There will be some whose heads will be cut off, according
to the will of God and his Prophet (cheers) and there will be
others whose heads and legs will be cut off in accordance with
the law of Muhammad Bin Abdullah revealed to us by Islam
,
,
(cheers).
"I swear by God and I take an unflinching oath, that I
will cut off with the sword the head of anyone, be he white or
black, who seeks to disturb security, terrorizes the peaceful
people, contravenes orders and breaks the laws of God (cheers).
"Have you not realized that the Christians, their catspaws
and the agents of the infidels are ceaselessly and tirelessly
striving with all - their might to divide the ranks and induce
the people to oppose the Imam and countervene the laws of
God? (jeers) Gold has been found in the possession of some
of the deceived culprits (jeers). Would you approve of this?
(shouts of "No!").
"Brothers and sons! I invoke on you the blessings of God.
Rest - assured and live in peace. Do not be afraid. I am very
much concerned for your security and comfort (cheers). Peace
be upon you."
Then, heads began to roll, and the Imam showed his people
who is their ruler.
That's one of the chaps with whom Israel has to deal in
the council of the nations of the world!
But if a kinsman of the Imam, Egypt's Nasser, can sit
with impunity in the same council of nations and tell them
that he still considers himself at war with a fellow-member
in that United Nations assembly, what are we to expect from
compromises in civilization?
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Mercury Takes Over Anti-Semitic Leadership
Faint-hearted people might easily become panicky over a
resurgence of literary anti-Semitism now in evidence in the col-
umns of American Mercury, which was at one time a liberal
magazine. This periodical has now taken over where the old-time
Dearborn Independent of Henry Ford's days and Coughlin's
Social Justice left off.
In a most fantastically muddled series of articles, Mercury
likens Zionism to Communism as a world plot to destroy mankind.
It resorts to religious and racial prejudices, and its appeals are
to hatreds that could not possibly be tolerated among thinking
people:
.
However, only the unknowing might fall prey to this new
campaign to muster up the bigoted against fellow-Americans who
are disliked by Russell Maguire, chairman of the Mercury board,
and his associates.
Wbr1e we •would admonish our
not to become too
faint,110#441.*WAle : emergence of
`another vehicle for le
Semitism: it is vital that we should be on guard against this and
NEW YORK, (JTA) — Dr, meeting, said that discrimina- among the 3.6 percent of Jews
Albert L. Gordon, Boston rabbi tion in employment is still the employed in company home of-
and sociologist, took sharp is- most basic and crucial problem fices, two-thirds were "cluster-
sue with charges that Jews were faced by minority groups in the ed" in jobs as 'actuaries, doe-
moving to the suburbs to "es- United States. He urged volun- tors, lawyers, or accountants,
cape" their non white city teer agencies in the civil rights "hence could not be considered
neighbors. The author of the field to place "greater empha- as administrative, front-office,
sociological study, "Jews in sis" on equality of opportunity or policy-making employees."
Suburbia," addressed the 46th in employment.
It noted that branch offices
annual meeting of the Anti-
"Some perceptible decrease" were most apt to hire Jews
Defamation League of Bnai in discrimination against em- where sales are to be made in
Brith.
ployment of Jews by the life cities with large Jewish popu-
"Far more important" chang- insurance industry was re- lations. Five of the seven com-
ing social and economic factors ported. However, the report panies studied have both home
account for the move to the emphasized that "the ancient offices and sales branches in
suburbs of both Jews and Chris- habit still persists."
Greater New York. "In the New
tions, Dr. Gordon said. He pre-
The ADL report revealed that York sales branches of these
dicted that the "escapists" the liberalization in employ- five companies, the report said,
among those moving out of the ment of Jewish executives has 10 percent of executive person-
cities will find within the next taken place primarily in sales nel are Jews; in the home of-
decade that "there are fewer functions, but that there still fices, only 4.1 percent."
places to which to run." Dr. appears to be a "clear pattern
The present government of
Gordon spoke in opposition to of discrimination against Jews" West Germany is "entitled to
the criticism voiced last month in home office positions. "In the understanding and intelligent
at the General Assembly of the branch offices, primarily con- aid of all pro-democratic
Union of American Hebrew' cerned with selling insurance, forces," Philip M. Klutznick,
Congregations by Marvin Brai- 6.2 percent of all executive em- chairman of the International
terman, a Baltimore attorney. ployees are Jewish," the report Council of Bnai Brith, told the
Declaring that the "escapist" said. "But in home offices, only Anti-Defamation League. The
four-day meeting concluded
charge levied against Jews is 3.6 percent are Jewish."
The ADL report, based on a with the presentation by the
unwarranted, Rabbi Gordon
said: "Although it is true that study of seven major life insur- ADL of its annual award to the
the move to suburbs may con- ance companies which are a American theater for its "con-
stitute escapism for some peo- principal factor in the industry, tributions to the enrichment of
ple, there are many other far found significant that, even democracy."
more important reasons why
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Jews began moving to suburbs, 17
not the least of which are the
Boris Smolar's
factors associated with the in-
creasing number of marriages,
larger families, changing hous-
ing needs, improved economic
income, better transportation
and the desire for improved
(Copyright, 1959
status."
Jewish Telegraphic. Agency, Inc.)
He added that "it is proper,
however, to advise the minority
who 'escape' to the suburbs in
The three-day national conference of the United Jewish
order to avoid contact with non- Appeal which will take place in New York this week-end will
whites that the invasion of erst- be different from all previous UJA annual gatherings . . . This
while white neighborhoods by time the more than 100 members of the UJA Study Mission ,
non-whites is only just begin- will bring to the conference a report not only of needs in Israel
ning." The improvement in op- which American -Jewry must meet, but also of -an Israel . which
portunities for non-whites to is flourishing, orderly, and marked by productive activity . .
acquire better education, tech- It will be a report of two Israels—one of progress and accom-
nical skills, better jobs and plishment, the other of a "gray" Israel which exists for at least
higher status, "makes inevitable one out of every three of the nearly 1,000,000 newcomers who
their desire for better housing have entered the Jewish State ... The "gray" Israel is .a land in
and living conditions,". he • as- which every third immigrant finds himself ill-housed, or with-
serted.
out special social or welfare care, or without a full opportunity
Dr. Gordon noted that there to earn his living, and with only a bleak future for his children
are some people,. "Jews and non- who grow up with a restricted chance to secure a higher educa-
Jews alike, who will attempt to tion . . The UJA Study Mission found the two Israelis co-
run from it all for awhile." He existing, and came to the conclusion that their contrast makes
then predicted that within an- it even more imperative for American Jewry to come to the
other decade there will be fewer aid of the immigrants in "gray" Israel through the UJA . .
places to which "escapists" can The unanimous opinion of the members of the Mission was that
run. "What I have said," he the moment had not come as yet for American Jews to relax
added, "with respect to non- their philanthropic efforts on behalf of Israel . . • This is why
whites applies equally to those the UJA conference will proclaim that the principle of extra
who are seeking to flee from giving, over and above the regular campaign, must be retained
communities into which Jews in the UJA 1960 drive.
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are moving. We will have to ac-
cept the basic fact that we shall Jewish Agency Facts
have to come to terms with
The UJA Study Mission has, naturally, conferred with the
reality."
top leaders of the Jewish Agency in Israel regarding the "gray"
Irving Ferman, executive side of Israel's life . . The facts obtained from these leaders
vice-chairman of the President's gave the following picture of unsolved fundamental problems
Committee on Government con- and the needs which must be met . . . Since 1948, the Jewish
tracts, addressing the ADL Agency received in contributions and in loans about $1,040,000,-
000 but it had spent $1,181,000,000 . . . To have really ab-
other manifestations of hatred sorbed all the immigrants who arrived since 1948, the Jewish
that recur even in our demotra-_ Agency, should have had an additional $400,000,000 .
About 32,000 immigrants have been settled as farmers on land,
tic environment..
Mercury's articles are reprints but through no fault of theirs, most of them are still unable
of similar diatribes that have to support themselves .. . This is a matter which must be put
appeared in anti-Semitic maga- right and for which the Jewish Agency needs the proper
zines time and again. They are financial aid from American Jewry .. . Furthermore, the aver-
a revival of the filth that ap- age farmer makes only $20 a week from his labor, while
peared in the old Dearborn the industrial worker makes twice and three times as much
Independent, in Coughlin' s . • . Thus a disparity develops which tends to draw newcomerS,
Social Justice and in periodicals who have already learned their trade as farmers, away from
in many lands. The lies have the farms . . . Then there are also the 60,000 immigrants who
been disputed by non-Jews as have been living for several years—some of them as long as
vehemently as by Jews, and seven years—in the ma'abarot, the immigrant camps, that have
Christians have felt a sense of deteriorated into slums . . . And there are, of course, many
shame over the distortions of thousands of immigrants that require specialized health care
truth that have crept into the and rehabilitative aid ... Of the 940,000 immigrants who haVe
entered Israel since 1948, about 132,000 have been social 'eases,
American press.
The revived anti-Semitic ac' and thousands of them still rely on the Jewish Agency for
tivities provide additional assistance.
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proof' that the sources of old
canards must never be for- Personality Portrait
The first two volumes of an unauthorized biography of
gotten. By knowing them we
can all the better battle Dr. Nahum Goldmann have now made their appearance in
German language, published by the Europaeische Verlaganstalt
against them.
We foresee a speedy repudia- in Frankfurt-Main . . Two more volumes are to followall
tion of Mercury's appeals to four of them under the title "Nahum Goldmann—A Life for .
hatred. Meanwhile it is essen , Israel" . . . A French edition has also appeared in Paris, and
an English edition will be published shortly in the United,
tial, that. Jewry should - )De,
,guard:..against the spread:Alf States . The author, Jacob Draenger, paints a colorful 'Por-,.
trait of the President of the world - Zionist mOvement.-
the vile diatribes.
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