Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS — Friday, Octobe r

Irrelevant Issues in Political Campaign

Mrs. Henry Wineman, Judge Levin
Head CJFWF Assembly Committee

Mrs. Henry Wineman and
Judge Theodore Levin have been
appointed co chairmen of De-
troit's committee for the 29th
General Assembly of the Coun-
cil of Jewish Federations and
Welfare Funds which will be
held in Detroit Nov. 10-13, an-
nounces Max M. Fisher, pres-
ident of the Jewish Welfare Fed-
eration.
Mrs. John C. Hopp and Mrs.
Harry L. Jones are vice-chair-
men.
The Council is an association
of 215 Jewish community orga-
nizations, with offices in New
York, that assists its members in
budgeting, fund raising and in
organizing a n d administering
various welfare and communal
programs. The Council also ena-
bles its member agencies to pool
their experience. Irving Kane of
Cleveland is Council president.
Judge Levin is immediate past-
president of the Jewish Welfare
Federation and chairman of the
Federation executive committee.
Mrs. Wineman, Mrs. Hopp and

Mrs. Jones all serve on the board
of governors of the Federation.
All are past-presidents of the
Federation's Women's Division
and past chairmen of the Wom-
en's Division of the Allied Jew-
ish Campaign.
Judge Levin, a board member
of the 'CJFWF, invited and

urged Detroiters to attend open
sessions of the General Assembly
on behalf of the Council. Judge
Levin said that the Federation
would be glad to Mail program
highlights of the Assembly to
those who request them by writ-
ing to the Federation, 163 Madi-
son, or by calling WO 5-3939.

The heat is on in the current political campaign, and the
regrettable evidences of passion revolving around racial and re-
ligious issues undoubtedly will make the coming two weeks the
most exciting in American political history.
Several manifestations of bitterness, injected in the campaign
during the past week, indicate that "the issues" are not limited to
the foreign and internal problems that affect our nation. There
are matters linked to religious affiliations, appeals to group preju-
dices, affectations towards sectional interests and many other ele-
ments that are minor _under ordinary circumstances, but which
become major when the election of a President is involved.
The blunder committed by the pro-Kennedy labor forces
in circulating an appeal under the heading "Which Do You
Choose, Liberty or Bigotry?", implying a contest that involves a
choice between bigotry and Kennedy, justifiably inspired a strong
protest by Rabbi Morris Adler. Such an appeal is as illogical as
one that was made in a house of worship where a statement
was made that if a certain candidate is defeated it would mean
"the disfranchisement of 40 million Americans." Such appeals
have no place in American politics. It is equally as wrong to
appeal to religious bias by urging Americans to cast their ballots
against a candidate because he is a Catholic, as it is to appeal
for votes for such candidate just because he is a Catholic.
Hats off, then, to Rabbi Adler for his straightforward action
against this type of appeal.
Mrs. Jones
Mrs. Hopp
Judge Levin
Then there was the blunder that involved the circulation of
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a pro-Nixon statement by an Israeli newspaper. No one can control
opinions
anywhere,
whether
it
is
in
Israel,
or
in
the
expression of
Boris Smolar's
United States. The Israeli editor couldn't have made himself more
ridiculous than he did with his editorial. But there was an equally
unwise act on the part of the office of Herbert G. Klein, Vice
President Nixon's press secretary, in circulating that statement.
Philip M. Klutznick, Irving M. Engel and Rabbi Israel Gold-
stein, prominent Jewish leaders who acted as individuals, protested
(Copyright, 1960,
that the release of the text of the Yedioth Akhronoth editorial by
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Klein (who is not Jewish) was a "shocking appeal for votes from
The United Jewish Appeal
Americans of the Jewish faith" and "an insult to our faith and needs $32,000,000 in cash by De- CJFWF Assembly
to the political integrity of American Jews Without regard to cember, to avert jeopardy to its
Fund-raising in 1961 will be the major subject of discussion
political affiliation." There was a prompt explanation from Klein programs of worldwide aid, ac- at the forthcoming General Assembly of the Council of Jewish
that the release was an act "of. an over-enthusiastic campaign cording to Morris W. Berinstein, Federations and Welfare Funds which 'opens in Detroit Nov. 9
worker issued without the knowledge of the Vice President or UJA . general chairman.
. . . Much attention will be devoted to the growing role which
myself."
"Our aid programs will grind Jewish women play in communities today . A survey con-
the
There is no earthly reason for doubting the sincerity of Klein's to a halt unless we can provide ducted by the CJFWF iri 76 communities shows that
explanation, just as it is understandable why the three Jewish the cash to keep them going," American Jewish woman is coming more and more to the fore-
front on organized Jewish communal life ... Of. the total number
leaders should have been so resentful over the release. This matter Berinstein said.
welfare fund campaigns 44 percent were
should, in fact, be considered a closed incident, since the original
Berinstein announced that of contributors to 40 and 50 percent of all campaign workers
Between
women
.
•
.
"sin" was the lack of propriety on the part of an Israeli, .as, well as Melvin Dubinsky, of St. Louis.
were women . . . Women's gifts represented 11 - percent of the
the foolishneSs of a publicity man in Washington.
chairman of the UJA national $130,000,000 raised during the year and the average gift of
The **int to be emphasized is that Israel, as an autonomous campaign cabinet, will continue women ranged from $40 in the smaller cities to $35 in the large
to serve as chairman of the 50
State, does not delve into American politics; that Israelis show
man national cash committee communities.
*
as much or as little interest in an American election as do the
for
the drive which gets under
people in England or in France, where opinions are expressed
Communal Currents
in their respective newspapers about political matters in foreign way formally on Nov. 1.
Membership in Jewish Centers continues to grow, but not
Communities throughout the in the important. group of young adults which is composed of
countries, and that whoever is elected President of the United
United
States
will
be
asked
to
States will be expected to deal fairly with ISrael in relation to
members between 18 and 24 years of age . .. This is reflected
conduct special cash drives in in the report now issued by the National Jewish Welfare Board
the events transpiring in the Middle East.
order . to raise their shares of on developments in the Jewish Community Center field . . . The
And so, the battle goes on. A "cowboy evangelist" has an-
the nationwide cash goal.
report establishes that last year there were 608,000 members
nounced that a million and a half volunteer workers will be
Cash funds raised by local in the Jewish Community Centers affiliated with the Jewish
mobilized to keep any Roman Catholic from ever being elected
had a
President of the United States. The Ku Klux Klan has announced communities will be presented Welfare Board . .. During the previous year, the Centers
that it will defy Vice President Nixon's repudiation of its support to the UJA by community lead- membership of 594,000 . .. The 14,000 increase came primarily
attending the 23rd annual in members of 25 years old and over . . . The Center member-
and will oppose the Catholic, John Kennedy. In Washington, a riot ers
national conference of UJA to ship in the 18 to 24 year group, which has been dropping con-
ensue _ d when the "storm troopers" of Lincoln Rockwell's American
Nazi Party resorted to a demOnstration with signs proclaiming be held in New York City on tinuously during the last ten years, took another drop in the a
last year . . . For the first time since 1953 there was also
"Nazis for Nixon" and "Kikes for Kennedy." Rockwell and six of Dec. 9, 10 and 11.
slight drop in the membership under 18 years of age . . The
his swastika-wearing Nazis were arrested, and while a protesting
JWB report establishes that within ten years membership in
crowd broke up a picket line in front of Democratic National
the young adults group—those between 18 and 24 years—
Headquarters, one of the signs stating that "FDR and JFK means
dropped by 64 percent and adult members 25 years and older
Jew deal," an unhealthy injection of bigotry became evident in our
increased 76 percent . . . The renott attributes the sharp drop
nation's capital.
in young adult membership to the birth rate decline in the
As time progresses, and as we get closer to the November 8 . An estimated 100,000 volun- depression years which has reduced generally the number of
Election Day of Judgment, there will be many attempts to resort teers went into action Tuesday, young adults in the nation at this time . . . Early marriages,
in an unparalleled community military service and college obligations are also cited as factors
to appeals to hatred and to prejudice.
the number M young adults in the Jewish Centers ..
There no doubt will be Jewish groups for both Nixon and effort to raise $17,990,000 dur- reducing
-
the
12th
annual
Torch of I However,
Drive
for
the 1961
budgets
it seems to me that there are alsO other reasons,
Kennedy, just as there already is a so-called pro-Nixon group. ing
one of them being the growth of synagogue centers which are
Whichever way the situation will be judged, Arabs, Jews, Pro-
195
health,
welfare
and
charge
competing
strongly for young membership especially in the
testants and Catholics, will be found in the ranks of both parties.
ter - building agencies serving suburbs . .. It is interesting to note that male Center member-
- To avert unfortunate developments in the campaign, it is im- Wayne, Oakland and Macomb
ship in the past year was 53 percent and female membership
portant that Americans should know that appeals to hatred have counties.
about 47 percent of the total, representing a slight increase
no place in American life. It is urgent that American Jews should
Tuesday saw the formalities in the proportion of female membership . . . Aggregate Center
be properly informed that there is no evidence of anti-Semitism of getting the tremendous give- expenditures reached a peak of approximately $22,500,000
against either of the candidates, that each, in his own way, has once-for-all fund raising cam-
evidenced friendship for Israel, that both are on record in defense paign started. some 500 volun- last year.-
*
of the basic American principles of fair play. It is necessary to teers lunched together at the
Reoort
refer again to this statement that has been issued by the Anti- Statler Hilton Hotel as guests Progress
No American concern doing business with Israel succumbed
Defamation League of Bnai Brith:
of the Ford Motor company.
to Arab blackmailing during this year, according to the Amer-
"An unhappy phenomenon of Presidential election campaigns in
Harvey Firestone, of Akron, ican-Israel Chamber of Commerce . . . Direct participation by
our time is the unsubstantiated rumor circulated concerning the atti-
board chairman of the tire com- American business firms in Israeli enterprises has grown . . .
tudes of the principal candidates toward one minority group or another.
The Anti-Defamation League believes it to be a major disservice to the
pany bearing his family's name, The U. S. Government continued to extend economic assistance
nation to raise false charges of bigotry against a candidate so as to
and Earl G. Ward, Ford vice- to Israel, but primarily in the form of surplus agricultural com-
gain political advantage with some minority group. This kind of
defamation has victimized both parties.
president and the 1960 Torch modities .. The corresponding payments for these commodities,
"Questions have been raised with the League, and are likely to
Drive general chairMan, were in Israeli pounds, were in turn used by the Export-Import Bank
continue to be raised, about the attitude toward Jews of Vice- Presi-
dent Nixon and Senator Kennedy. We believe both men to be wholly
of Washington as loan funds for Israeli enterprises . . . The
free of anti-Semitic bias. Nor is there any question that the two Vice • the event's keynote speakers.
Williath Day, president 'Of 'Mich- continued U. S. Government aid to Israel was also a major factor
Presidential candidates are free of such prejudice."
as the Inter-
There are vital issues in the campaign involving foreign policy igan Bell Telephone Company in the .recent decision of the World Bank—known
$27,000,000 for
and domestic needs. These are to be studied for the purpose of and of the United Foundation, national Bank for Reconstruction—to lend Israel
the development of its ports . . . American tourism alone has
proper and unbiased balloting. On . the strength of the needs presided.
In the evening, three of the now mushroomed into a $50,000,000 a year American business
that affect all Americans, let us study the issues and vote in
with Israel . . . Not to speak of various American. industrial
accordance with the principles of our preference. It is unavoidable four local television channels firms that became associated with Israeli ventures this year
carried
a
program
of
entertain-
that personality preferences also should influence our votes. But
for the first time American private investments in Israel
there must be an avoidance of bias, of racial and religious issues. ment and torch-lighting cere- increased to $23,000,000, compared with about $14,000,000 the
Let fair play be our motto, and if the results, on Election Day, are monies from the Henry and previous year . . . At the same time Israel's exports to the United
Edsel Ford Auditorium. Dave
based- on economic preferences, or on party loyalties, let it all be Garroway, NBC network star, States reached an all-time high last year with a total of over
to the good. This great land will carry on with justice for all, the was master of ceremonies for $27,000,000 worth of goods shipped . . . This is $7,000,000 more
minority yielding to the majority, once the verdict is arrived at;
than during the previous year.
the hour long variety show.
that's the American way.

UJA Cash Drive
Aimed to Raise
$32,000,000 St u n

100,000 Workers
Start TorchDrive

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`Between You

...and Me'

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