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PurelyCommentary
U. S. Condones Pakistan's Bigotry Policy
Immediate compliance cameexecutive department circles.
By MILTON FRIEDMAN I from
the Pakistani desks of the !The Administration was giving
'
(Copyright, 1960, JTA, Inc.)
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
State Department and Interna- !in to Moslem attempts to dis-
About the tional Cooperation Administra-lcourage even transit visas for
WASHINGTON
Israel's Status
Physician Shortage
_ time of President. Eisenhower's tion in Washington. It leaked i U. S. officials of Jewish faith.
A warning has been issued by medical educators and admin
istrators of a serious shortage of physicians and dentists in this December visit, Pakistan infor- out to employees, Jewish and ;Such officials needed to transit
country. mally urged American diplo, • non-Jewish, who resented the 1 various Arab airports if they
Current records show that there were 143.4 physicians for mats to assign no more Ameri- new policy. !were to perform their duties.
each 100,000 persons in this country, the ratio being 140.7 today. ' can Jews to I.T. S. diplomatic I They considered it outright Sometimes the duties included
By 1975, at the present rate of training of medical men, the and economic aid missions in anti-Semitism and an affront the implementation of technical
ratio. we are told, will be only'133. that Moslem nation. A few Jews to the dignity of U. S. person- and economic aid for the very
ten years ago, it is 56 already in Pakistan could re- . nel, including officials of Jew• nations that practiced such fla-
Ratio of dentists per 100,000 was 59
, main for the time being, offi- ish faith. American compliance grant bigotry.
now and it will be 50 by 19'75.
The problem is an international one. Several weeks ago, a cials agreed, passing - the word" was seen as translation of
Officials used a rationaliza-
New York Times correspondent reported from Cairo that two- by subtle means. The informal foreign bias into an American
The
thirds of Egypt's children have bad teeth, and that four out of but strict order went out: Elim- "Gentleman's Agreement" af- tion
long familiar
to Jews.
concession
was made
to Paki-
citizens.
S.
disease.
inate
Jews
from
among
assig-
fecting
U.
ten of these children suffer from the trachoma eye -
spread within stan for the Jews' "own bene-
Nose, ear, throat and skin diseases, heart ailments and malnu- nees to Pakistan.
. fit and comfort " and to promote
trition prevail in Egypt, it was reported.
'"a. better social climate and to
The Cairo report showed that there are only 372 physicians
avoid embarrassment." Wouldn't
in Egypt—one for every 7.200 pupils.
1
:the Jewish employee be hap-
By comparison, figures reported from Israel show the
in Bangkok or Rangoon?
; By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX i It is claimed by some author- pier
following:
For public consumption, Gov-
(Copyright, i960, JTA, Inc.)
ities that this procedure is f."1- ernment spokesmen vigorously
There are 4.323 physicians in the country—one for every !
Why is the Megilla scroll, lowed because the festival of de inied existence of the new
500 inhabitants, and 989 dentists, although there are additional I
Purim called for "sending gifts
dental practitioners so that the 1,402 who practice dentistry i which is read on Purim, com-
from one to another" (Esther policy. Behind the scenes there
represent One dentist for each 1,000 in the" population—the
pletely unrolled and folded
learn
a frantic scramble to
highest figure in the world.
i over in a number of folds in- 9:19, 22) and gifts to the poor was
how it all leaked out.
Infant mortality in Israel is 32 per 1,000—the second lowest 1 stead of being read in its
(9:22.) It was therefore the in-
t -
tention of the rabbis to see to - One official asked not to be
in the world.
i scroll form?
These figures indicate another element of progress in Israeli The Book of Esther makes it that the populace didn't en- named because he was a career
-progress that can continue only if the hands of the Israelis are reference to what is called a . gage in the main feast of the man. He said the Pakistan de-
upheld by us in their' struggle for existence. j"letter of Purim" (Esther 9:29)..holiday until the gifts had been velopment was "utter expedi-
.
' It was thus declared by the distributed to their friends and ency." He found it reminiscent
,of. real estate operators who
'Rabbinic authorities that the to the poor.
A Poet Debates with an Imaginary 'Rabbi'
.. * * *
ijustify restricted neighbor-
Howard Nemerov has gained distinction as a poet and as !Scroll of the Book of Esther I
Why is the Day after Purim hoods. He blamed Administra-
an educator. We are mystified, however, as to his ability to de- should be folded to resemble a-1
i "letter," or a "dispatch." This I celebrated as Shushan pur- tion indifference to the spirit
hate Jewish issues.
I !of the Morse-Javits Amend-
In verses entitled "Debate with the Rabbi." published in 'reminds us of the fact that the
im?
e
the Nation, he chooses to be contrary on matters h introduces edicts against and later in favor : The Book of Esther tells us ment. That amendment called
in the debate, thus: of the Jewish people were read that while the other Jews ' on. the President to use discre-
as letters or dis 13 atches to the b a t t 1 e d on the 13th and tion in giving economic aid to
You've lost your religion. the Rabbi said.
populace in the market place achieved their victory on the nations that practice religious
It wasn't much to keep. said I.
as a message sent from the 14th of Adar (our Day of Pur- bigotry against Americans. In
You should affirm the spirit, said hR,
Royal palace. Thus the reader, im), the Jews of the capital Pakistan, the amendment was
And the communal solidarity.
who reads the scroll to the pub-! city of Shushan continued their ignored. Jewish employees of
I don't feel so solid, I said.
lic in the synagogue, appears fight against the enemies on the U. S. agency actually chan-
We are the people of the Book. the Rabbi
like the old time messenger of the 14th of Adar and achieved neling aid to Pakistan were in-
stilted with impunity.
the king sent to proclaim the their victory on the 15th.
said.
Not of the phone hook. said I.
word of the ruler throughout
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the king's domain.
Ours: is a great tradition. said he.
And a- wonderfta history.
*
Boris Smolar's
But history's aver. I said.
Why is the most festive
meal of the Purim holiday
We Jews are creative people, the Rabbi said.
held on the afternoon of the
Make something, then, said I.
day of Purim?
In science and in art. said he,
Violinists and physicists have we.
Fiddle and physic indeed. I said.
Jewish community! How vulgar
(Copyright, 1960,
can it be! Of course, this mis-
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Stubborn and stiff-necked man! the Rabbi cried.
adventure will be explained
The pain you give me. said I
-away by the rejoinder that the U.S. Jewish Representation
Instead of bowing down, said he,
American Jewry, today the largest Jewish community in
ads cannot be censored and that
Vail go an in your obstinacy.
money is hard to come by these the world, with more than 5,000,000 members, represents a color-
We Jews are that way. I replied.
days. Well, we shall forgive ful variety of rich and poor, young and old, American-born and
• Indeed. we are mystified and puzzled: is the able poet quali- them for they know not what , immigrants, industrialists and workers,• businessmen and em-
fied to tackle the issue of "the people of the book," "tradi- they do, but we trust that this ployees, bankers and farmers, composed of all religious and
tion - and "history." when he holds to the view that "history's lapse of good taste will keep the non-religious elements. Who speaks on behalf of this many-sided
over." If all that is acknowledged in Jewish creativeness is advertising agents forever after American Jewry? Efforts have been made at various times to
"fiddle and physic." what's to be expected from Nemerov? Not on their toes. Let us not bargain create one representative body authorized to speak in the name
to speak of his qualification to speak on religion, the spirit away Jewish dignity with the of all elements in American Jewry. None of these efforts was
and communal solidarity, when he tells us outright: "I don't `payola' of a Ben-Hur ad. Even successful. The most recent was the establishment several years
feel so solid."
the Israeli slave girl should not ago of the "American Jewish Conference" in which a substantial
It is on the final point that he makes sense, when he entice us away from the 'Rock ! number of the existing American Jewish groups were repre-
replies to the Rabbi's charge of being obstinate that "we Jews of Israel.' For if we continue to sented . . . But the Conference died when it failed to attract
are that way." Ile -should have added that the negative Jews,
there
tolerate such lapses in good the American Jewish Committee into its ranks .. . Today
who refuse to be creative--we take him at his own word—are
judgment, this Rock which has is not a single organization in the U. S. that can claim it ex-
especially stiff-necked.
presses the views of all Jews in this country . . . However,
The only truly disturbing element in his Credo is that he supplied our people with the there are central Jewish bodies that can fully make such claims
should have bothered with us at all. If he doesn't "feel so living foundations of faith will in certain fields . . . The United Jewish Appeal can justifiably
solid," and if "history's over" for him, why doesn't he forget run dry no matter which Moses claim that it represents the entire American Jewry in aid to
strikes."
about all Rabbis and their teachings, and leave us alone?
Jews in overseas countries . . . The Joint Distribution Committee
• •
Our we
comments
film, can similarly claim that all elements are represented in its
after
had seen on
it, the
clearly
ranks • . . The Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare
Honors for Ida and Archibald Silverman
Honors planned in Providence, R. I., for Ida and Archibald stated that it is christo logical, Funds represents all the Jewish communities in the United
and
that
the
advertiseme
nts
in
States in their philanthropic planning . . . The Synagogue Coun-
Silverman, in recognition of their 50 years of service to Ameri-
can and world Jewries. and in honor of Mr. Silverman's 80th the Jewish newspapers had cil of America, to a certain extent, represents all religious de-
birthday, are deserving of the attention of all American Jews. failed to indicate that the movie nominations in American Jewry . . . The American Association
This distinguished couple has well earned the encomia was the story of Christ. There for Jewish Education does the same in the field of education.
thlit are pouring in from all parts of the world, on the occasion was no way of judging the ad- . . . Similarly the American Zionist Council speaks on behalf
vertising without seeing the of all Zionist organizations in this country.
of the testimonial to be tendered them on March 13.
*
*
*
Mrs. Silverman is especially well known for her dedicated film, and the advance publicity,
work in- behalf of the Zionist movement. She has spoken in with an outright endorsement of Confusion in Names
Detroit, as well as in scores of communities throughout the the "historical facts" by an Is-
Each of the above-mentioned central bodies has little, or
United States and Latin American countries. in support of the raeli scholar, served to confuse nothing to do one with the other . . . As a matter of fact, it is
the
Jewish
press.
bring
Jewish National Fund and other movements. In order to
Dr. Essrig is correct in his estimated that there are today more than 100 central Jewish
her mess,2ege to the JNF, she perfected her Yiddish and spoke
bodies--active in various fields of Jewish life—in New York
well in that language.
main evaluations. A film that alone . . . This multitude of organizations, no matter how useful
We are happy to join with their many friends in extending extols conversion of ancient each of them is in its field of work, is creating much confusion
warmest greetings to the Silvermans. Scores of Detroiters will Jews to Christianity is damaging in the mind of the average American . . . Few, for instance,
surely join with us in wishing them many more good years in to Jewish viewers, and it will be could define the difference between the Jewish Welfare Board
- especially difficult to explain it and the Jewish Welfare Fund, despite the fact that the functions
which to serve our people.
S
*
*
to the youth. "Ben-Hur" gives of these two are fundamentally different . . . Nor could the
the erroneous impression of average intelligent American Jew indicate the . difference be-
Rabbi Essrig's Justified Comments on 'Ben Hur'
early Jewish conversions. It is tween the Synagogue Council of America and the United Syna-
Dr. Harry Essrig, the distinguished rabbi of Temple Eman-
gogue of America . . . How many know the difference between
uel of Grand Rapids. takes exception to the advertisements in
Jewish newspapers applauding the film "Ben-Hur" as an "heroic spoke as a Jew, and that his the Rabbinical Council of America and the Rabbinical Assembly
Apostles—all
Jews—who
found-
of America? . . . Or would the average American Jew know the
chapter in Jewish life."
Rabbi Essrig points out, justifiably, that the acclaim of ed the new religion, did not difference between Young Judea and Young Israel? . . Cer-
"Ben-Hur," in an attempt to indicate that it is "a chapter" in propagate it as such until long thinly few know the difference between the Consultative Council
Jewish life, fails to state that the hero of the film was con- after his death. of Jewish Organizations and the Coordinating Board of Jewish
We agree with Dr. Essrig that Organizations—and both represent Jewish interests at the United
verted to Christianity. He objects to the invitations to organize
theater parties to raise funds for favorite charities and he adds: we should not encourage the Nations . . . The time may come when Jewish organizations in
"Why, of course the road to conversion now leads through filling of "soft theater seats" in the United States will find a way to function under a United
the soft theater seats where money can be raised at the same the process of propagation of leadership in an overall body . . . But the road to this achieve-
time for worthy. Jewish causes. How fallen is the American conversions. meat is still distant.
—
Purim Quiz
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