Purely Commentary

If Eichmann is to
Hang, Let a Germa n
Do the Executing

By Philip

SIOOYitZ
M

Shavuot Quiz

By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
(Copyright, 1960,
pcsition
is
as
open
and
above
board
as
any
other
humanitarian
Jewish
Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
What Punishment for Eichmann?
cause. It began with the aim of ending the homelessness of
Why is it traditional to eat
At last, the world's worst criminal, the man whose name persecuted Jewry, and continues with the determined will to
will be linked with the most dastardly mass murders perpetrated defend the position of Jews who have gained national independ- cheese delicacies on Shavuot?
A variety of reasons are of-
against the Jewish people, is to be brought to justice.
ence as a result of the Zionist dream.
fered • for this practice. One
Adolf Eichmann was a cold-blooded murderer. He was
Similarly, the UJA has nothing to hide. It is one of the
born in the German colony of Sarona, on the outskirts of very great understakings to rescue lives and to settle those source derives this from a Mid-
rash (Numbers Rabbah 1:8)
Tel Aviv—the settlement that was turned into the Hakirya
who can be saved in Israel. We are confident that American which claims that Sinai, the
which for a time served as the seat of the Israel government—
Jewry's answer to the self-degrading tactics of the Judaism mountain upon which the Torah
and he must have been trained in bigotry from his childhood.
Council will be to provide greater assistance to the UJA, and was given, was also called "Gab-
He knows and speaks Hebrew and Yiddish, but in typical Nazi
we have sufficient confidence in the self-respect of Christians nunim," and this word is simi-
fashion he wanted the charge brought against him translated
also to believe that the council request that there should be a
into German. It is evident that he still plays the Nazi, even curtailment of free speech and freedom of action for those lar to the Hebrew word for
to the extent of his claiming innocence in the crimes charged who are affiliated with the Zionist movement will be treated cheese (Gebinah). Since Shay-
not is the occasion when we re-
to him.
with contempt.
call the revelation at Sinai,
The record is complete and in the Yad Vashem archives
The council Judaists' action is similar to another brazen
in Jerusalem there is enough evidence to send • him to the act that was recorded in Washington last week. The chiefs of cheese delicacies are eaten to
gallows. Will he be hanged? Will the gallows, which have the Arab states' mission in Washington, in a statement to the remember one of the names of
been destroyed when Israel abolished capital punishment, be press and to the State Department, charged that Israel is trying that mountain on which it was
revealed.
reconstructed for him?
to undermine Arab relations with the United States and ex-
Generally, it is considered
Under the Israeli laws, which provide the death sentence pressed the following views:
that
dairy products as a whole
for Nazi criminals and for enemies of the state, Eichmann
"Ever since the 15th of May, 1948, Israel has been a destabilizing
could be hanged. Is that what should be done to him?
factor in the Middle East area. Established through massive aggression are in order for one of the
the Arab people of Palestine, Israel has caused the forcible exile meals of the Shavuot holiday.
Opponents of capital punishment may oppose the death against
of one million innocent Arabs who are, to this day, denied their basic
sentence even for such a perverted and cruel Nazi beast as human rights. Israel's defiant and aggressive nature has kept Middle East According to one source this is
tensions alive not only through repeated acts of aggression against Arab so that two different types of
Hitler's -"expert" who master-minded the extermination pro- states,
but also through her continued rejection of all United Nations
meals be eaten during the fes-
grams for Jews.
resolutions and measures aimed at easing tension in the area.
"In like manner, Israel has consistently sought, with the active aid tival—one of meat and one of
If there were a cooperative world—and we do not have
collaboration of Zionists, to undermine the development of friendly
loaves
international codes of cooperation in areas where the Nazi ideas and
relations between the United States and the Arab world, using all direct dairy—to recall the two
still exist—they are even being mimicked in Washington, let and indirect means at their disposal. Recent events affecting U.S.-Arab of bread which were offered in
afford ample evidence of such activity and intention, confirming the Temple on this holiday. Eat-
alone some areas in post-Hitler Germany—in a world in which relations
the declared concern of the Arab chiefs of mission over such Zionist
there might be cooperation in exposing crimes, Adolf Eichmann attempts on the occasion of Mr. David Ben-Gurion's visit to the United ing one meal dairy and one
meat would require a different
could be kept alive—providing that he could, forever, be kept States.
"Motivated by their earnest desire to promote the development of
on display for all the world to study his bestialities.
friendly relations between the United States and the Arab world, and loaf for each of the meals. An-
convinced that there are no basic conflicts between American and Arab other source claims that this is
Eichmann, kept in a cage, might be taken for a tour of the interests,
the Arab chiefs of mission express the hope that, in the future,
world, for all mankind to be told that this is the beast in the such Zionist attempts will not succeed further in disrupting peace and because milk is a symbol of
image of man whose •mind could fashion such horrible crimes stability in the area, nor in endangering the promotion of friendly grace and mercy, as it repre-
American-Arab relations."
sents motherly attention. Like-
as the mass murder of millions of people!
We quote this statement in full in order to indicate the wise is the Torah a source of
But a Rockwell may see the arch-criminal in another light,
and his followers may understand the rejection of Eichmannism brazen-faced position taken by the Arabs. Seldom have foreign mercy and grace from the Al-
much better if he swings from the gallows, as did Haman in emissaries in any land undertaken so openly shameless an mighty to his people.
attack upon another government with whom the people in the
the story of Purim!
third source claims that it
land where they displayed their venom are on friendliest terms. is A
*
done
because the traditional
Such are the actions of reactionaries whose inhumanity of
of slaughter became re-
The Reactions of the Germans
man to man, whether it is brother to brother or cousin to cousin, method only
after the Revela-
quired
How many people in Germany are cringing, now that Adolf assumes an impudence that can be met only with disdain.
tion. The latter, having taken
*
*
Eichmann is being brought to justice?
place on the Sabbath, made it
West Germany's former President Theodor Heuss said he 'Ben Hur' Rides Again
impossible to slaughter new cat-
can "well understand" Israel's excitement and he expressed the
Under this heading, in the "T. R. B. from Washington" tle; yet, one could no longer
view that Eichmann will receive a just trial in Israel. And in columr_ in the New Republic, appeared this item:
consume the cattle which had
the West German foreign office, a Bonn official said Eichmann
"We were taken to see 'Ben Hur' last week by a gaggle of
will not receive legal aid, that his extradition will not be school girls. The prize Hollywood production of the year began been killed before that time,
requested and that only people "worthy of protection" are at two and lasted till six, and in this interval we learned that or use the utensils previously
used in eating them. Thus the
eligible for Bonn government aid.
Jerusalem in the 1st Century AD sported a hippodrome the only alternative was to eat dairy
We are not inclined to thank either of these Bonn spokesmen
size of Pimlico. Our man, Ben Hur, came through the chariot
for their "sense of justice." The crime was too great for race in fine style, even though his opponent had affixed foods at Sinai.
Why are the services on the
Germans to expect thanks for expressing assent to the plans rotating scythes on his hub caps which chewed right through
first night of Shavuoth tradi-
for the prosecution of Eichmann. What they should do is the spokes of his rivals' wheels. (Why the other dopes hadn't
tionally delayed until it is
offer to go to Israel to do the hanging of Eichmann—if Eichmann
of this neat trick we don't know!) If you see this
very dark?
is to hang, as Israelis believe he will. At least, it should be thought
Bible Spectacular we are sure you will be pleased at the
Seven full weeks must pass
a German who should perform the execution—and Jewish intercessionary miracle that instantly cures Ben Hur's mother
between Passover and Shavuot,
hands should not be soiled—for it was in the name of Germany
and sister of leprosy, but bothered perhaps (as we were) by as the Bible says "Seven weeks
that the criminal did the executing for which he now appears the
memory of all the less fortunate lepers whose plight the shall there be complete" (Le-
ready for the death penalty.
picture hideously emphasizes. Hollywood's happy ending just viticus 23:15). A Jewish day
*
leaves them to rot."
ends at sunset., Hence we wait
Jewish Book Council's Blundering Choice
This just about sizes up the great spectacle in its proper until it is after sunset to make
This Commentator had the unhappy task of branding Philip
sure that there are seven full
Roth's "Goodbye, Columbus" as a harmful book. When he proportions. We wonder if Christians really are delighted by weeks
that have passed.
reviewed it upon its appearance, it was his opinion that the the story as the P.R. crews would lead us to believe.
Roth stories, had they been written by a non-Jew, would have
been branded as anti-Semitic.
Roth's book has been selected as the outstanding work of
Boris Smolar's
Jewish interest of 1959 by the Jewish Book Council of America.
Your Commentator considers it a blundering choice. The judges
acted unwisely and apparently followed the trend of grabbing
Fifteen members of the Jew-
at popular works, rather than judging novels on the basis of ish Community Center's board
their positive Jewish values. We are compelled to quote of directors were elected at the
biblically for the judge or judges who made this selection annual meeting May 18.
for the Book Council: "Who made thee a prince and a judge
(Copyright, 1960,
Elected for three-year terms
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
over us?"—Ex. 2:14.
were
Dr.
Max
Gordon
Aiken,
*
*
*
Mrs. Abraham C ooper, Mrs. Campaign Trends
When Jews Turn Reactionaries
Lewis S. Grossman, Harry L.
As the Israel Bond campaign season is now starting through-
"What is a Jew?" has been a perplexing question since the Jones, George D. Keil, Mrs. out the country, indications are that this year's campaign may be
issue was raised over religious differentiations in Israel. But on Charles Lakoff, Louis Redstone the most successful in years . . . It coincides with the comple-
a wider basis, there is an accepted definition that Jews, generally, and Paul Tilds.
tion of five years of service of Dr. Joseph Schwartz as executive
are moved by a deep-rooted adherence to principles of social
Re-elected to three- year head of the Israel Bond Organization . . . During these five
justice.
were Mrs. Samuel S. years a total of $255,000,000 worth of Israel Bonds were sold in
There are exceptions to the rule — and those who know terms
Aaron,
Herman Fishman, this country . . . Since the start of the Israel Bond campaign
how to recognize the exceptions will be less inclined to be
Charles H. Gershenson, Mrs. in 1951, a total of $440,000,000 of bonds was sold . . . The cam-
aggravated by the reactionary tactics of some of our kinsmen Harry
L. Jackson, Jack Lefton, paign this year is for $75,000,000 and optimism about the out-
and coreligionists.
Leon
Lucas
and Leslie R . come is based on several factors . . . There is a tremendous
The most blatant examples of bias, bigotry and a lack of
confidence now among American Jews in Israel's growing econ-
Schmier.
humanity will be found in the ranks of the so-called American
omy which is being developed with the aid of funds from the
Twenty-two
volunteers
with
Council for Judaism that is neither American nor Jewish, and
sale of Israel bonds . . . Every Jewish tourist who is returning
whose right to call itself a council also is challenged by those over 50 hours of service to the to this country- from a visit to Israel is full of enthusiasm and
Center during the past year, helps personally to stimulate the buying of Israel bonds . . .
who know how undemocratic and reactionary the group is.
It's the business of the leaders of this council to do as they were presented with volunteer Interest paid by Israel bonds in American dollars has become
please, and the basic American principle of free speech and award certificates. They are part of the income of many Jews in this country . . . This also
freedom of preference for causes is theirs as much as ours. It Mrs. Sam Bailen, Barbara Ber- is true with regard to Jewish organizations who convert their
was their privilege — if they consider it a mark of honor — to lin, Mrs. Julian Cartier, Mrs. reserve capital into Jewish Bonds, with the proviso of having
refuse to support the United Jewish Appeal, and now to attempt Alfred Feller, Mrs. Harry M. the right to cash them whenever they are in need of funds .
Feinberg, Mrs. Maurice Glasier, The Bond campaign will reach its height early in June when
further to harm the UJA's position.
But when this council undertakes to ask our Government Arnold Goldsmith.
Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel's Foreign Minister, will arrive in the
Others were Stuart E. Hertz- United States to participate in the drive
to deny equal rights of freedom to Zionism, it plays the same
berg,
Mrs.
Max
Honeyman,
Mrs.
role as a Rockwell in Washington or a Nasser in Cairo—and it
is not too far removed from the lihrushehev anti-Semitic Sidney Katzman, Mrs. Samuel Communal Affairs
More and more Jewish communites are establishing "leader-
Levin, Lea Morris, Mrs. Sam
actions in Russia and the earlier Hitlerian pursuits in Germany.
The council Judaists were not contented with their anti- Newman, L or i Pantzer, Mrs. ship awards" to develop new leadership . . . The award consists
the winner to participate in the year's General Assem-
Israeli affirmations at their convention in Denver. They were Ben Schottenfels, Mrs. Harold of sending
of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds ...
not satisfied with their innuendos against the United Jewish Smith, Nancy Victorson, Susan bly
Intensive training programs to prepare young leaders for com-
Appeal. They went so far as to ask the United States Government Winer, Mrs. Isadore Wolf, Mrs. munal
has become one of the activities to which the
'to impose such limits upon Zionist activities as would prevent David Zellman and Mr. and CJFWF service
pays particular attention ... These activities have been
the involuntary identification of all Jews, or their institutions, Mrs. Abe Zitomer.
Reports were delivered by reflected in a series of meetings that have involved 24 commu-
with Zionism's nationalism."
president
Samuel Frankel, ex- nities in several regions . . . Representatives of the communities
If Zionism had anything to hide, the latest position of the
inter-city conferences to review their
Judaism Council could well have been described as the role of ecutive director Irwin Shaw met in four different
developing
systematic training
activities
in
ru,+
nM h i n cfto_ conceal. The movement's and committee chairmen.

Center Elects
15 to Board

'

7;n1,1;Qte

Between You
...and Me