THE JEWISH NEWS
Aid to African Countries
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951 -
Member American Associatiun 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
8, 1879.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
SIDNEY SHMARAK CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ HARVEY ZUCKERBERG
Advertising Manager
Business Manager
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, twelfth day of Tebet, 5721, the following Scriptural selections will be read in
our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Vayehi, Gen. 47:28-50:26. Prophetical portion, I Kings 2:1-12.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Dec. 30, 4:52 p.m.
VOL. XXXVIII. No. 18
Page Four
December 30, 1960
Zionist Movement Faces Its Big Crisis
Out of the World Zionist Congress,
now in session in Jerusalem, there should
—and there undoubtedly will—emerge a
stronger Zionist movement.
Due primarily to the attitude of Is-
rael's Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion,
whose demands are that a Zionist must
be prepared to settle in Israel, the move-
ment that fathered the aspiration for the
rebirth of Jewish Statehood was weak-
ened because it could not meet such a
challange. Zionists stood ready to strive
for Israel's strength . and independence.
But they could not possibly demand a
wholesale transfer of the organization's
membership to Israel.
Nevertheless Halutziut is one of the
major plans in Zionism, and the tasks of
the World Zionist Organization, as they
appear to be 'formulating in Jerusalem,
will be to strengthen the efforts for an
increased, Aliyah — for a mounting immi-
gration to Israel and its speedy and prac-
tical absorption in the land; for an ex-
panded Halutziut — to encourage young
Jews to settle in Israel, and for the fos-
tering of Hebrew education in Jewish
commlinities everywhere.
The program is not a simple .one.
While Zionists, together with the non-
Zionist elements, have played, and con-
tinue to play, an important role in the
integration of immigrants in Israel, they
can do no more than inspire the youth
and some experts in specialized fields of
activity, to go to Israel and to assist in
the country's development. At best,
Halutziut will be limited, through no one's_
particular fault, but due to conditions that
prevent natives of democratic countries
from assuming pioneering — often fron-
tiersmen's_ — roles in a new land.
The aim of fostering Hebrew educa-
tion is equally difficult. It is linked with
the problem of Jewish education in this
country, of the struggle to gain more time
for Jewish studies among the young and
their parents. There are too many entice-
ments in American life in many directions
away from Jewish school activities, and
whatever gains are made in organizing
Hebrew classes and in enrolling in them
participating students are to the good.
Indeed, considerable progress has
been. attained in the advancement of He-
brew education, and the influence of. the
Zionist movement is deeply felt in this
area.
As the delegates were gathering in
Jerusalem for the sessions of the 25th
World Zionist Congress, the question was
posed by some skeptics: "Will there be
another Zionist Congress after this one?"
A realistic approach to such a query must
relegate it to the sphere of the nonsens-
ical. While Zionist organizational activi-
ties are in a critical state, they may not
be any more critical than those of many
other Jewish movements. Insofar as Zion-
ism is concerned, its basic ideas remain
as relevant today as they have ever been,
and there may be greater need for the
cause today than ever before. The root
of the idea is to be found in this important
declaration that was issued last month by
the National Assembly of American Zion-
ists:
"The Zionist idea is the oldest living his-
torical force in the Jewish people. It was born
more than 2,500 years ago when the first Jewish
state was destroyed and the people exiled. It
was then formulated in the immortal words:
"If I forget thee 0 Jerusalem, let my right
hand forget its cunning." That was the Psalm-
ist's equivalent of the modern Zionist declara-
tion.
"Ages passed, empires rose and fell, a sec-
ond Jewish Commonwealth was followed by a
second Jewish Exile. Still, the eternal link be-
tween the land and the people, the essence
of the Zionist idea, remained intact. The
people refused to forget and willed to return to
Eretz Israel. The Zionist movement, as created
by Theodor Herzl, gave expression to this urge
for self-emancipation. • On May 14, 1948, the
Jewish people, through its Zionist leaders, an-
nounced to the world their re-emergence into
history as an independent nation in a sovereign
state.
"To the Zionist, the Jewish state is the be-
ginning and not the end of the fulfillment. As
the product of centuries of human endurance
enobled by faith, the Jewish state is the instru-
ment of the unification of the Jewish people
and the ingathering of exiles. Above all, it pro-
vides an historic opportunity for the strengthen-
ing of Jewish consciousness wherever Jews live,
the fostering of the Hebrew language and cul-
ture, and the deepening and enriching of the
spiritual and cultural ties between Israel and
world Jewry. Thus, there will be set in motion
that. mutual responsibility of the Jews of Israel
and the Jewry of America for the great effort
of national renaissance which finds its best
expression in the Zionist idea.
"The State of Israel is firmly founded and
will endure. It will grow in stature and content
and will serve new and old nations with its
material skills and its spiritual 'vision. The day
will come when Israel will achieve a self-sus-
taining economy and live secure and at peace
with her neighbors.
"The Zionist movement, while it stands in
the forefront of those who are preparing that
blessed day, looks beyond it. The Zionist move-
ment keeps alive those Jewish values which
give everlasting force and significance to the
existence of the State of Israel. As the Zionist
idea echoes the Jewish millenia which are past,
so it shapes the purpose of the Jewish millenia
to come."
This was a call to renewed action by
American Jews "to meet fresh chal-
lenges with faith and courage and to make
Zionism again the great adventure that it
was for Herzl and the forerunners of the
movement."
While it is true that the answer to the
challenges will be more difficult now that
the aim of Zionism is a reality, it is
equally true that the new objectives —
especially Halutziut and the advancement
of Hebrew education — offer a platform
for productive work.
Only the most pessimistic can fail to
envision opportunities for action in the
present call for renewed services to affili-
ated Zionists. From the World. Zionist
Congress is to be awaited a plan of action
that will not only strengthen Zionism but
will once again enrich Jewish life.
'Herzl Year Book' is Valuable
Guide to Zionism, Jewish Lore
The newest "Herz]. Year Book," an "Annual of Zionist His-
tory and Thought," published by Herzl Press, edited by Dr.
Raphael Patai, is another impressive collection of essays dealing
with a variety of topics related to Zionist history, personalities
and events. •
Tracing the background of Zionist terminology, the leading
essay, by Dr. Alex Bein, deals with "The Origin of the Term
and Concept 'Zionism.' " The essayist, who had written a biog-
graphy of Theodor Herzl and a number of books and essays, tells
us that the term "Zionismus" first was used and then developed
into Zionism.
Another major essay is "The Tragedy of Ephraim Moses
Lilien," by . Alfred Werner. The story of the famous artist,
his interest in Zionism and Jewish affairs, and his life's strug-
gles, are expertly depicted. This article is illustrated by repro-
ductions of seven of Lilien's drawings.
Grete Ma\ hrer's "Herzl's Return to Judaism" adds much to
the knowledge of Herzl and to an understanding of the great
leader's Jewish interests.
A very important historical analysis of a pledge that could
have meant German support for national autonomy for Jews
is given in "The Story of the Hindenburg Declaration," by
Max I. Bodenheimer. The background of pre-Hitler German
attitudes and an account of negotiations with Hindenburg, involving
Germans, some of whom later became Nazis, are included in this
essay.
Valuable biographical data will be found in these. essays:
"Philipp Michael de Newlinski: Herzl's Diploniatic Agent,"
by N. M. Gelber; "Reconsidering Max Nordau," by Meir Ben
Horin; "Leon Kellner," by Paula Arnold; "Herzl and Sokolow,"
by JoSef Werikert; "Leo Motzkin," by Simcha Kling.
Josef Fraenkel's "The Jewish Chronicle and the Launching
of Political Zionism" and Edwin Samuel's "Immigration to
Israel: Its Causes and Consequences," also appear in this volume.
The "Herzl Year Book" must be viewed as one of the most
authoritative source books on Zionist and Jewish history. Its
contents will be referred to for many years to come by those.
seeking knowledge about Zionism, Jewry and Israel.
Glanz's Jews of California'
California had its links with Australia, Oregon and Alaska.
Its pioneers were an enterprising lot, and the Jewish settlers
played a great role in the state's history and development.
The California story is interestingly related by Dr. Rudolf
Glanz, of 620 W. 171st St., New York 32, in "The Jews of California
—From the Discovery of Gold until 1880," a research volume
that was planned and executed with the aid of the YIVO
Research _Institute.
A great deal of research was necessitated in the making
of this book, published by Waldon Press.
There. were. Jews in California in the early 1830s, before
the Gold Rush, and there was in evidence a desire for JeWish
communal activities.
. Relating the story of the California Jewish communities,
Dr. Glanz describes activities in various parts of the states.and
in a number of cities.
Included in the many achievements evaluated by Dr.
Glanz are 'a number of agricultural projects in which California
Jews had engaged.
Paying tribUte to the pioneering spirit of the Jews of
California, Dr. Glanz, states that "in the annals of Jewish history
the saga of the settlement on the Pacific will remain a living
reality as long as we elect to relive it."
He describes California as a center of 'Jewish immigration
which at one time served as a place of hope for Jews fleeing
from Russian pogroms.
Jews in mining camps as well as in the cities played their
roles in the state's history.
Dr. Glanz's story gives a full account of the life of the
Jews as a distinct community, the religious activities, the mar-
riage matches between Polish and Bavarian Jews, the conflicts
among them and the points of unity.
There are many episodes of interest which add value to
this good, albeit short, account of California Jewry.