THE JEWISH NEWS
A New Point Four Program
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English—Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National
Editorial association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co. 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35,
Mich., VE 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year. Foreign $6.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office, Detroit, Mich. under act of Congress of March
I), 1879.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Circulation Manager
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Nahamu S criptural Selections
This Sabbath, the thirteenth day of Ab, 5720, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
-Pentateuchal portion, We-ethennanan, Deut. 3:23-7:11. Prophetical portion, Is. 40:1-26.
Licht Benshen. Friday. Aug. 5. 7:28
VOL. XXXVII. No. 23
Page Four
D.M.
August 5, 1960
Party Planks and Candidates' Pledges
raised whether Jews have a right to press
the candidates on issues involving a
foreign government. The Council for
Judaism did not hesitate to plead for its
anti-Israel position before the platform
committees of both parties. In defense of
the Jewish position, John Cogley, in in
article entitled "Rules of the Game," in
the liberal Catholic weekly, Commonweal,
had this to say:
Declaring that "sectarian religious
appeals and sly racial and ethnic appeals
should be considered out of bounds, ' he
qualified his statement by adding: "This
does not mean that a candidate should
avoid questions which are of particular
interest to particular groups. It is natural
enough for a Jewish group to want to
know where a candidate stands on Israel,
for instance, or for an Eastern European
group to ask what can be done to help
captive nations."
Unbiased Americans will certainly go
along with this principle, and there is no
doubt that fair-minded people will ap-
prove of the planks that speak out against
the discriminations practiced by the Arab
states against Israel, including the abuses
of the international rules of the freedom
of the seas, and in protest against the re-
fusal of the Arab states to admit Jews
who are employed in United States civi-
lian and military posts.
*
*
*
The question that must be posed,
therefore, is whether the_ candidates for
• It so happens that the originally- office are prepared to pledge fulfillment
framed Republican plank on the Middle of the promises contained in the party
East could have rendered great harm to platforms. If these platforms are intended
the Party. While, when matters of na- to remain as mere lip service, then all
tional interest are involved, there would the debates which tens of millions of our
be lack of justification for making a major citizens heard over the television net-
issue of a political group's prejudices in works during the political conventions
issues concerning the area that includes will be viewed as shams and unnecessary
Israel, the mere fact is that the plank as it carnivals
In view of the positive nature of the
first was worded sounded as a white-
wash for the unrealistic policies of the platforms of both parties, it is to be hoped
Eisenhower administration. It was inter- that the standard bearers of the Demo-
preted as a State Department-dictated crats and the Republicans alike will have
declaration that could be interpreted as definite assurances that their pledges,
an exoneration even of the administra- whether it is against abuse of the freedom
tion's unwise actions during the Sinai of the seas principle or in favor of civil
Campaign of 1956.
rights, will be adhered to.
More rational and wiser political
At the same time, it is hoped that ap-
elements must have recognized at once peals to religious hatred will be avoided
that the references to the Middle East and that the campaign, while it may in-
were in error and that assurances to those volve personalities, will be based mainly
concerned with Israel's status were in- on the issues.
The coming three months will be poli-
adequate. The Republican platform there-
tically tense. Let us hope that bitterness
fore has emerged with a far better and will be reduced to a minimum and that a
more
pragmatic
East commitment calmly deliberating electorate will strive
than was
planned Middle
at the outset.
*
to elect the best team to govern our
The question undoubtedly will be nation for the coming four years.
Having adopted their platforms, and
having chosen their candidates for Presi-
dent and Vice President, the two political
parties soon will commence a campaign
that is certain to be accompanied by ap-
peals to sectional groups and by promises
to ethnic elements. There will no doubt
be a renewal of innuendos about "a Jew-
ish vote," "a Catholic vote," and the in-
volvement of scores of other elements in
American life.
• Some will concede that there are Cath-
olic and Jewish interests in the campaign
issues, and others may deny it. Yet, the
issues will be raised, with sincerity on
both sides.
Since, in large measure, the party
platforms differ in only minor degrees,
what actually will be the specific appeals
to the minority groups in this country?
Both the Democratic and Republican
platforms contain strong planks in de-
fense of Israel and in opposition to the
discriminations that are being practiced.
against Israel in the Suez, against the ban
on American Jewish servicemen in Saudi
Arabia and in protest against the Arab
boycott of Israel. In other words, insofar
as these planks are concerned, it's a toss-
up for any voter as to which party is com-
mitted more ernestly against the anti-
Israel elements and which candidates are
better suited to put the party program
into effect.
Nasser vs. iran: 'Whom the gods would destroy
'The Jewish People'
Jewry s Biological History
Outlined by Anthropologist
"The Jewish People: A Biological History," by Harry L.
Shapiro, chairman of the department of anthroporog,y of the
American Museum of Natural History in New - York, published
by Columbia University Press, is part of the UNESCO - series
on "The Race Question in Modern Science."
Disproving the claim that Jews are a race, that they,
possess characteristics that set them apart from other peoples;
the author contends that wavy hair, curved noses and dark
eyes in no sense indicate a Jewish stereotype.
Supporting his thesis with statistics, based upon biological
research, Shapiro shows that 14 to 20 per cent of East European
Jews have blue eyes and two per cent of Iraqi Jews have blue
eyes; that 30 -per cent of Mzab Jews were found to have. straight
hair, and the figure rose to 100 per cent for Iraqi Jews.
Pointing out that blood types have been used prominently
in recent racial studies, Shapiro reports that Jewish samples
show pretty much- the same distribution as samples- from non-
Jewish groups. For example, Type B blood is relatively rare in
Europe-10% or less—and high in Asia, running fro-in 30% to
40%. Among Jews, too, group B blood is low in Western Europe
and high in Asia..
Shapiro states: "These comparisons, typical of many more
extensive ones that could be made, prove that the fundamental
requirements for any claim that the Jews form a racial unity
cannot be met, at least by those of the traditional standards of
racial classification. The various communities differ from each
other too significantly to be grouped together as a single race."
After all, Shapiro stresses, the Jews are known to have
existed as a people for 4,000 years, making them the world's
second oldest people (the first, he says, being the Egyptians).
How could they have existed for four millenia as a people while
losing their common traits?
Here, Shapiro's biological history digs into the sands of
time which have drifted over ancient Mesopotamia, the original
home of the Jews in his opinion, and the land of Canaan. Before
coming to the Promised Land, the Jews were not isolated and
they inter-married extensively. The Bible tells of miscegenation
by Abraham, traditional founder of the Jewish line.
Not only did the Jews intermarry with the Canaanites, but
with other peoples as well. The Philistines, for example . .
in the celebrated union of Samson and Delilah.
Thus, even before- the Diaspora, which is traditionally held
to have begun with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in
70 A.D., the Jews had been intermingling genetically with other
peoples. Then came 2,000 years of wandering in which Jews
were scattered over the face of the earth, often assimilating
when conditions permitted. Shapiro states that the population
of Jewish communities in France and Italy actually dropped at
a time when the general population was rising because the Jews
were being completely assimilated.
Despite this biological dilution, the Jews maintained their
continuity as a people. Shapiro explains this apparent con-
tradiction by religious and, above cultural factors. During
the pre-Christian era, for example, Jews set themselves apart
by their monotheism. Later, this practice of religion led to
the creation of what Shapiro calls a "sub-culture" preserving
the Jews as a people.
Repression, too, thwarted its own purpose by stiffening
resistance. "Jewish communities have often dissolved under .
benign and tolerant conditions and have closed ranks when
malevolent forces were directed toward them," Shapiro notes.
The scattering of Jews helped save their identity, congrega-
Gamal Abdel Nasser, the Egyptian Near and Middle East, apparently is not
dictator, has added another mark to his bearing fruit. The United Arab Republic's
appalling record of irresponsibility by dictator may as well break friendly rela-
breaking diplomatic relations with Iran, tions with all nations that have diplomatic
relations with Israel — and these number
ancient Persia.
While the Iranians, under pressure at least three score.
As a matter of fact, the 2500th anni-
from the Arab League, had not main-
founding
of Great
the Iranian
tained direct intergovernmental relations versary
Empire of
by the
King
Cyrus the
— the tions were independent and were not endangered by the
with
Israel,
there
was
a total
lack of ruler who ended the Babylonian exile of
enmity
between
them.
Iranian
representa-
to be observed
next year
as a
tives were cordial in their dealings with Jewry—is
special celebration
by Jewish
commu-
Israel in the United Nations. Iran wel-
the in
world.
This will
comed Jewish representatives to Iran last nities
serve throughout
as another link
the friendship
year, and Dr. Israel Goldstein, speaking between Jewry and Iran.
in behalf of the World Jewish Congress,
in Stockholm, a year ago, extended a
"Whom the gods would destroy,
warm hand of friendship to Iran.
they first make mad." Perhaps Nasser
needs some truly pragmatic briefing in
Nasser's attempt to intimidate Iran, statesmanship.
as he had done to other nations in the
destruction of a central authority, and this widespread distribu-
tion, Shapiro states, served as an insurance: whenever Jews
were facing severe conditions in one country, they were usually
able to enjoy favorable ones elsewhere.
The great circle of the Diaspora has now been closed with
the appearance of the State of Israel, Shapiro points - out and
concludes:
"Although only a small part of world Jewry may ever return
to the ancestral homeland, it is representative of the whole
gamut of differentiation that has evolved since the departure
some 2,000 years ago. We may now witness in Israel the
beginnings of a new chapter in the biological history of the Jews."