March 18, 1968-2

Purely Cornmentary

Ben-Gurion's Diploma-
tic Skill ... Fascinating
LaGuardia Story

By Philip Four Lectures

.WO ►

OVitZ

by

Israeli"Poet Set •
by Pinah Ivrith

used the language for political addresses. He made many Jewish
David Ben-Gurion is rightfully accepted as one of the great friends, among them Joey Adams the actor, Fannie Hurst, Mrs.
The first of four lectures to
statesmen of the world. He proved his genius during his visit Rebekah Kohut and others.
He labored in behalf of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers. be given by noted Israeli poet
in this country in the past week.
Michael Deshe, currently in De-
His diplomatic negotiations, at the White House and the He fought the big interests, opposed the Prohibition law, exposed
as an exchange teacher on
State Department, before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations dishonesty in politics. While in Congress, he battled against im- troit
the staff of the Midrasha, will
restrictions.
He
was
a
World
War
I
hero.
He
was
an
c ,"t‘ Committee with German Chancellor Adenauer and at the United migration
all-around interesting character who attracted nationwide at-
Nations were marked by wisdom and great tact.
In his address at the Brandeis University convocation, upon tention.
Yet, he often had difficulty being elected or re-elected. He
his acceptance of the honorary Doctor of Laws degree, he
revealed -his knowledge of the history of the nations whose had an especially tough fight when he was charged, when op-
spiritual leadership continues to guide mankind along paths posed for Congress by Henry. Frank, that he was an anti-Semite.
of humanism. He spoke with authority and understanding of the Frank, a Jew, did not know Yiddish, but LaGuardia stormed into
gifts to mankind by India (through Buddha), Greece and Israel. districts populated by Jews, delivered Yiddish addresses and re-
There was a note of extra-curricular wisdom in his remark, pudiated the charge. There was a recount, LaGuardia won by 11
aimed to dispel the exaggeration and chauvinism that has been votes, and he was seated by a vote of the House of Representa-
applied to the "chosen people" phrase, by his assertion that tives
"every people, to some extent, is a chosen people — in its
These are just a few of the episodes in the career of the
own eyes." • -
"half Jewish, half-Italian, Yiddish-Italian-speaking politician."
While prejudiced minds continue to accuse Israel of seek- Arthur Mann's biography is chuck full of stories about "The
ing territorial aggrandizement, Ben-Gurion refuted the charge Little Flower," the man of action who defied many rules and
—successfully, we believe—in his constant pleading, during his became a champion of the people's rights, although his policies
numerous appearances here, for the guaranteeing of the sanctity at the outset were opportunistically to be all things to all men,
of the borders of all the nations in the Middle East. But when as long as he attained his goal. It becomes clear that he kept
he spoke of "expansion," it was of an economic nature—one growing to high stature, that he was honest in his public deal-
that would be certain to benefit the entire area. He said in ings, that he was concerned with the people's needs and was
his speech at Brandeis University:
ready to fight for the right. •
"We are few, and few we shall remain; our country is
Detroiter James I. Ellmann - is mentioned in the book. As
small and small it . shall always be, though I hope we shall
LaGuardia's classmate in law school, Ellmann is quoted as
succeed in expanding our economic capacity."
saying that LaGuardia "had the capacity of dealing intellect.
We hope Ben-Gurion will prove successful in his delicate ually with any question which came up."
mission here. It is' our hope also that the libels that haye been
In this era, when a Rockefeller and a Romney forge to the be presented at 8 'p.m., Satur-
circulated about Israel will be dispelled as a result of the frank front in politics, Miller's comments on patricians in politics is day, in the Jewish Community
speaking by the Prime Minister of that little nation.
interesting. He writes: "Fiorello had the advantage of not start- Center, 18100 - Meyers.
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Deshe's lecture on "The Spir-,
ing at the top. In the 20th century, when the patrician in pol-
•
The Fascinating LaGuardia Story
itics was suspect because he was a patrician, only a rare Roose- it of the Age and Its Poetry" is•
- Especially in this year of anticipated tense political activities, velt survived.the advantages that led from Hyde Park to Groton sponsored by the Kvutzah Iv-
the --career of so picturesque a political figure as Fiorello La- to Harvard to marriage with a niece of the President of the rith, in cooperation with the
Guardiaommends itself to special attention. He was a stormy United States. It was more helpful to a New York politician to Center, as part of a regular Sat-
petrel throughout his years of struggle- to acquire public offices. be born in a tenement house of obscure parents; to be denied urday evening Pinah Ivrith pro-
He was a liberal . Republican who often defied his own party. a formal education; to know as an insider the hurt of racial pre- gram.
Michael Michlin- is chairman -
He• was a Franklin D Roosevelt supporter. He fought Tammany. judice; to want public recognition and success desperately; to
Every time he mounted a-public platform or entered upon a -belong to an ethnic group that cast a large vote; to live- among of the Pinah series; and Morris
new political venture, he created - some sort of storin. - He left the 'huddled masses' yearning for a place in the sun; to have a Nobel is chairman of the He-
his mark upon the American scene, and the lessons of his life _ law degree, yes—but earned at great sacrifice at night college. brew cultural committee of the
are -often applicable to the generation that follows - him. - 7
Such were the advantages that Fiorello derived from being the Kvutzah.
His story is told with great charm by Ar-• son of an immigrant LaGuardia and an immigrant Coen."
Subsequentlectures•by Deshe
thur Mann, whose first volume,. "LaGuardia
Now we are in a new era—when patricians are beginning on consecutive 'Saturday eve- -
—A Fighter Against His Times-1882-1933", to succeed in politics. Yet, the immigrant's story, as told in the nings will be "The Essence of
published by J. B. Lippincott Co. (E. Washing- LaGuardia biography, is a part of an undying American tradi- Poetry and Its Mission," "Worn--
ton Sq., Philadelphia), is to be followed by a tion. Americans of all shades of opinion will love Arthur Mann's en Poets in Israel" and. "Chil-
second volume devoted to the years when _La-- book.
dren's Poetry in' Israel."
. .
Ott ard ia was Mayor_ of New York.,, • 2
.
1 A factual book, replete witli 4itata about
usrov.;.4 ■ 43......4 ■4,■n■so . ....o4.moi ■ omwro ■u■n !arram:on
11.1.0i0i.ma
litioa_Lxcianeuvers of the first quarter of the
•
I
entury,• Mann's work reads like :, novel
Boris Smokes
it is evident from its first to last baies that:-
/ •
it is an important- contribution to American!
political studies. • •
I L
His biographer describes him as: "Half
Cornelia Otis Skinner, famous
Jewish, half- Italian, born in Greenwich Village,
LaGuardia
raised in Arizona, married first to a Catholic actress and author, will address
(Copyright, 1960,'
and then to a Lutheran but himself a Mason and an Episcopalian, a civic Brotherhood luncheon
Jewish Telegraphic. Agency, Inc.) •
Fiorello LaGuardia was a Mr. Brotherhood Week all by himself." sponsored by the Detroit -Round
LaGuardia's mother, Irene Coen, is described as having be6n Table of the National Confer- Ben-Gurion's Achievements
"Austrian in citizenship, but Italian in culture, and Jewish in ence of Christians and Jews,
What did Israel's Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion achieve
religion." The biographer traces her background to a distin- -Friday, April 22, at the Pick with his visit to the/ United States? . . . Ben-Gurion did . not
For t Shelby expect any concrete results from this visit . . . He_wanted to have
guished line of scholars, including the Luzzattos. He traces her
Hotel, in coop-
ancestry in part, thus: "Irene's father,- Abramo Isacco Coen was
Eisenhower and with , the -
eration with a face-to-face talks with President
born on July 2, 1833, in Spalato, on the Dalmatian coast, one of
Secretary of State before the "summit meeting" in May . . .
large
group
of
six children of Moise Coen . . . When the Coens came to Dal-
citizens and These talks were broad and were aimed primarily at bringing
matia is forever lost to history, for in 1942 the Fascists de-
atten-
organizations. Ben-Gurion's views to President Eisenhower's personal
stroyed the archives of Spalato's Jewish community . . . The
tion, so that the latter would be aware of Israel's - stand on
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Coens were, like the Luzzattos, Mediterranean Jews who settled
certain basic problems . . . In this Ben-Gurion achieved what= he
C. Allen Har- wanted . . . His direct talks first with Eisenhower and later
in Italy either after the Spanish Inquisition or earlier. In 1854
lan are chair- with Secretary Herter also paved the way for Israeli diplomats .
Moise Coen moved with his wife and six children to Trieste,
men of the in the- United States to follow up on certain issues . . . No im-
Austria's largest port . . . He and his son, Abramo Isacco, then
luncheon, ac- mediate, definite and tangible results were expected by anyone
- 21, were small merchants . .. Three years later Isacco married
cording to in the know to come from the Ben-Gurion talks in Washington
Fiorina Luzzatto. . . . They had five children . . . Only the eldest
Miss Skinner Robert M. . . . Limited in, time, they could present no occasion for detailed
child, Irene, Fiorello's mother, achieved a measure of fame,
Frehse, executive director of discussion on concrete subjects . . . However, it is obvious that
through her son."
Irene Coen married Achille Luigi Carlo LaGuardia, who, the Detroit Round Table. Har- after his talk with Ben-Gurion that President Eisenhower has
upon coming to this country, became an army musician. Their lan is Michigan Brotherhood a concrete piCture of Israel's major requirements • . . These
daughter, Gemma, was born in 1881, and Fiorello—The Little Week chairman this year. The are: Israel's security, Israel's. stand in case the Arab-Israel
Flower—the following year. Shortly thereafter Achille was sent Harlans are enlisting many problem is raised at the forthcoming "summit" conference,
by the army to Arizona, to Whipple Barracks, near Prescott, other husband-wife couples, as and Israel's aim to 'become economically self-sustaining.
where Irene was known* as "a typical Latin mother." "It was not well as civic organizations, to Military Calculations
known that she was Jewish. She did not keep a kosher home or cooperate in planning and spon-
There has been much speculation that Premier Ben-Gurion
observe the Jewish holidays, and conformed in appearance to soring the luncheon.
went to Washington "to shop for arms" ... This speculation is
Miss Skinner is national based primarily on the fact that Moscow continues to supply
the Italian stereotype."
Of the many references to LaGuardia's Jewish background, Brotherhood Week chairman Egypt and Iraq with jet bombers of the very latest models . .
for 1960,, the first woman to It is known, for instance, that Egypt is about to acquire from
the following is especially interesting:
"In later life LaGuardia would identify himself as an lead this goodwill observance Russia squadrons• of the latest type of jet bombers that are
American Protestant of Italian descent, never as a Jew. At since it began in 1934 under the much larger and more advanced in every way than any type of
home in Prescott he spoke Italian,, ate Italian food, played NCCJ leadership.
bomber ever seen in the Middle East . . . On the other hand,
Plans for a- local civic lunch- even France- is now' reluctant to sell more arms to Israel, not
Italian music. Irene made the identification simple, for she re-
garded herself as Austrian in birth but Italian in culture eon to highlight Brotherhood to speak- of Britain . The United States Government has been
and Jewish only in religion. It is true that Achille, out of love Week, Feb. 21-28, were post- resistant to Israeli request for arms for quite a number of
for his wife and respect for her tradition, taught the children poned until April 22, to coin- years . . . Thus, Israel's air defence may soon face a consi,
Hebrew prayers, which Gemma was still able to recite at the cide with Miss Skinner's appear- derable problem in matching the growth of the Egyptian - and
age of 75. But the parents, wanting their native-born children ance in Detroit as the star of Iraqi air forces both in quantity and quality . . . Military experts
to be like others, sent them not only to the public school but the play "The Pleasure of His who are aware of this situation believe that Israel needs at
to the Episcopal Sunday School in town. They themselves, Company," with Cyril Ritehard, least a stronger anti-aircraft system, which should include
at the Shubert Theater.
however, did not go to church."
American - "Nikes" . . . ,This is especially important now when
To date, 34 community lead- the European dictator, Col. Nasser, says openly that he no longer
Gemma, who became a committed Protestant, married a
Hungarian Jew, Herman Gluck, in 1906, attended Protestant ers and their wives and 14 civic recognizeS. the Athericari-British-French agreement guaranteeing
services "but, out of respect for her husband, observed the organizations have accepted Mr. the preient Arab-Israel borders . . . This "tripartite agreement"
dietary laws and raised her children in their father's faith. In and Mrs. Harlan's invitation to gave Israel . the feeling _that Nasser would not dare to attack
the 1940's, Fiorello was to bring his sister and her family to cooperate in the sponsorship of Israel since such an act would- mean defying the Big Powers
. A firm reiteration of the "tripartite -agreement," with Mos-
America after she was liberated from a Nazi concentration camp, the Brotherhood luncheon.
Luncheon tickets may be ob- cow joining in : it, --would do much to put Nasser in his place
where her husband died." .
LaGuardia spent his youth in the Balkans - and was in the tained from the Detroit Round . . HoWever, Moscow apparently has its own calculations con-
Consular service overseas, returning to New York to study law_ Table, 150 W. Boston, TO. cerning the Arab-Israel issue, and is indicating that she is
coming with these calculations to the 'Sunni -fit confetehte."-
and to commence his career in politicS. He learned Yiddish and 9-6306.

Ben Gurion's Statesmanship

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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS—F

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Noted Actress
at 'Brotherhood
uncheon Here

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