Purely Cornmentary
K lutznick's Book_
Controversial, and
Thought-Provoking
By Philip
Slomovitz
Chicago Leader
to Address Hillel
Dinner June 28
Philip M. Klutznick, former president of Bnai Brith, who dents' Conference, composed of the heads of national Jewish
now nolds the important position
.
. as an appointee of President organizations, and he tells us in his book:
"Whatever its ultimate fate, the Presidents' Conference,
Kennedy, as a member of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations
The Hillel Day School of De-
in its modest experience, has demonstrated that voluntary co-
and as the U.S. Representative to the UN Economic and Social
troit
will observe its third an-
operation is as feasible a goal as full organic unity is an
Council, is one of American Jewry's most brilliant leaders. He
niversary at the Founders' Day
represents the new generation in Jewish leadership. He is strictly infinitely extended controversial issue."
dinner to be
These are polemics. It is in time of crisis that unity is
an American product, and his thinking on Jewish subjects may
held 6:30 pin.
well be expected to serve as a guide for young American Jews. essential, and we have seen the folly of many groups pleading
June 28, at
for
Jewish
rights
when
there
should
have
been
unified
effort.
In his book, "No Easy Answers," published by Farrar,
Holiday
Straus & Cudahy (19 Union Sq., W., N.Y. 3), Klutznick makes Must we wait for a crisis to compel it?
Manor.
* * *
some very challenging ,statements on important Jewish issues.
The princi-
Klutznick could not possibly overlook the. Jewish press.. He
He is very , critical of rabbis and he warns that the spir-
has concerned himself with the problem for a long time. Now we
p a 1 speaker
itual leaders .should not be regarded as "psychiatrists, invest-
quote from his book:
merit counselors, political scientists, public relations advisers,
will be Dr.-
"There is a Jewish press, now struggling against com-
drama coaches, • or experts on wheat parity." He insists that
Seymour J.
munity indifference and its own inadequacies. It should be
the rabbi is "a religious specialist."
Cohen, rabbi
better; and it can be, just as it can be directed to a more useful
Our rabbis would do well not to argue with him on this
and
important
place
in
Jewish
adult
and
youth
education.
We
means
Rabbi
of
the Anshe
subject.
He'll
get
the
better
of
the
argument.
• '
Emet Synago-
teacher, and it is high time that rabbis stopped being experts on need truly independent journals, free to probe, to analyze, to
reveal—above all, to raise our intellectual sights. We need not
gue of Chi-
ti everything under the sun and once again became teachers.
But this certainly is not the major factor in Klutznick's abandon the ideal of an American Jewish journalism as good
Dr. S. J. Cohen cago.
O
04
E-4 interesting book. Rabbis as well as laymen; should be grateful and better than the high quality of the London Jewish Chron-
• Anshe Emet is associated
W to him for -emphasizing that Judaism's "underlying impetus is icle. We need also to be steered away from the shallow and
A
With one of the leading day
life
the
superficial
in
what
now
is
prevalent
in
Jewish
informa-
Jewish
religious." His appeal against the secularization of
schools in the midwest.
N is one of the very positive approaches to Jewigi thinking in a tional literature and apologetics. We certainly need help in
Rabbi. Jacob E. Segal, presi-
E-1 critical work that must be recognized as positive in the main. . • immunization against the deceptive lures of sloganeering in
*
* *
Jewish life. We need to respond to Solomon Schechter's dent of the Hillel School, an-
Klutznick is a bit too charitable to the American .Council advice that 'Judaism , need not be advertised; it needs to be nounces that there will also
be a presentation of a tribute
for Judaism. He is no doubt right when he states that the anti- taught'."
There is no disputing the Klutznick view. The fault in his in memory of Leon Kay, com-
Zionist Council's "value to Jewish community life is that it -
ventilates a dissenting point of view, a'stimulus that invites the thinking, lies in his having taken as his model the London munity leader whO was one of
counterstimulant of opposition to its view." But the Council's paper, whose qualties already are being well matched by several the founders of Hillel Day
role is played by questioning the loyalty of American Jewry and American Jewish periodicals. On the whole, American Jewish School.
by undermining 4,onfidence in Israel. Must dean upon destruc- periodical literature is far superior to Great Britain's Jewish
A. brief musical program will
be presented by Arella Barley.
tive forces in orati to find the means of d'iWg the constructive literary products.
- Nevertheless, we concur that we must strive for the best in
-
elements in life?
Reservations may be made
Klutznick states: "lamone deliberately seeks out opposi- journalism, and that American Jewry must aim at producing by calling the Day School
tion. But where it exists, its ventilation tends to strengthen, the most qualitative and effective
office, DI 1-8260.
*
* literature.
*
or at least refine, the 'thinking of the majority. This is one of
Klutznick asks: "who sits 'on the dais?," and he discusses
the gifts of freedom." Thank God for our American freedoms!
realistically the problem of Jewish leadership. His emphasis is
But when a Rockwell becomes a ventilator of ideas involving
anti-Semitism, or a Hitler is the medium for : evolving humane that "a leader must have followers," and he warns that "the
ideas, it becomes saddening to accept such media. The Council profoundest challenge to Jewish leadership" is "the large, • un-
organized mass of Jews that stands disinterestedly apart from
for Judaism is one of the most evil influences in Our midst,
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire to
and even though it does not count as Much . as a tenth of one the actions of the community."
The Jewish News)
The distinguished. Jewish leader admits that he does not
per cent of American Jewry, it is sickening to know that our
observe
kashrut,
yet
he
is
ready
to
assist
those
who
desire
it-and
JERUSALEM
— Exit visas for
people, must defend themselves against the fallacious and to protect their right to shehitah, as he had when the issue arose
Israelis and for permanent resi-
destructive ideas of Prof. Toynbee who is given, a platform by
in Congress. That's the new trend in Jewish life, most Jews now dents will be abolished Oct. 15,
the Couricil for Jridaism. It might not take too much for Rock-
saying: "I don't give a tinker's dam for kashrut, and shehitah, but according to a law adopted
well also to gain a footing in this Council's assemblies. After
I'll stake all I have to protect other Jews' right to adhere to them!" Wednesday by the Knesset prior
all, both-advocate destruction of human values when they are
He views other issues with candor and frankness. He is a to Parliament's adjournment.
applied to Jewry.
practical man and he has sound views off Jewish and worldly
Other bills passed through
But we respect Klutznick's views in this matter. We merely issues.
third reading included establish-
differ with him on this,ias we also do• on one or two other issues. .
We have disagreed with him. in principle in some matters, ing an academy of arts and
*
*
*
but we did it with the fullest respect for his position and his sciences to be modeled after the
Klutznick does-not share the philosophy of political Zionism. opinions.
French academy, a law granting
He says so while applauding 'the efforts of Dr. Nahum Goldmann
His book is a, genuine contribution to Jewish thinking and
whom he praises highly in his book. That amazes' us - no end. Jewish planning in this country. "No Easy Answers" is thought- pension rights to prison guards,
a law designed to overhaul the
Klutznick has been among the most effective defenders of the provoking. We recommend it highly as a textbook for all who
Zionist and Israel's position before there was an Israel and during aspire to-Jewish leadership, and for all laymen who 'desire to be Israel Bar and technical laws
concerning the elections to be
several of the trying years when Israel's security was endangered. honorable participants in Jewish communal
held Aug. 15.
He might tell us that defending Israel is not necessarily tanta-
mount to 'defending political Zionism. Yet, many of his speeches
could not have been improved upon by political Zionists.
How else could the Zionist ideal have been attained if not
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire to
ordered a stop to its distribution. general of Histadrut and the
- by political means? Who was harmed by it, other than the
The Jewish News)
falsely self-hating Jews who become frightened by' every effort to
His reply was frequently drowned Prime Minister's subsequent
- JERUSALEM—An election at- out by shouted exchanges be-
speak up for _Jewish rights?
resignation on Jan. 31, which
mosphere emerged' suddenly in.
-Towards the end of the book, discussing Ben-Gurion's con- the Knesset; Tuesday, in a tween deputies of Mapai and made the Aug. 15 election neces-
flict, with American Jewish leaders, Klutznick states: "I don't violent debate over an Army opposition parties, who used the sary.
Ben-Gurion agreed to a general
knoW whether I'm a Zionist or not: The dilerrima is semantics, booklet on the meaning of the occasion to bring up a variety of
not ideology. My convictions in the matter have been reason- elections which opposition parties issues, = including a reference to debate, but his action was ficti-
ably 'consistent since the day, about thirty years ago, when I charged contained propaganda for Ben-Gurion's successful fight to tious since the session Tuesday
surrendered my membership card in the American Zionist Prime Minister David Ben- oust Pinhas Lavon as secretary was the last for the slimmer.
movement . . ."
■
•11111.■
•11.0■0■
■
■
Gurion's Mapai Party.
To avoid being charged with taking these phrases out of
The
booklet
was
issued
by
the
their ,'context, let us point out in advance that it is not the
Boris Smolar's
issue we are discussing but the matter of Zionist membership Israel General. Staff to brief
and the definition "semantics, not ideology." This Commentator troops on the background and
would like to say to his good friend. Philip - Klutznick that he significance of the Aug. 15 elec-
wishes he did not boast about having. given up 'Zionist member- tions. Distribution of the booklet
ship, either thirty years ago or at any time. Would that Phil was halted several days ago after
Klutznick had shared with us the belief that Zionism is an the Central Elections Colnmittee
advised the Army that even if I
ideology.
(Copyright 1961,
Had it not been for Zionism, most of-the hope that inspired the booklet did not contain any I
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc,)
Jews -to continue their life as Jews during the 'Hitler era would propaganda, the suspicion war-
Fund - Raising Trends:
have 'vanished. There would have been little - to inspire the ranted its cancelation.
The Prime Minister, in his
resistance that existed in the tragic years of the _holocaust.
Is American Jewry as generous in its contributions far
Without Zionism' there would have been little, if anything, to reply, said he had found nothing Jewish causes this year as 'it was in previous years? . . . This
sustain our people during many crises. True: our faith did sustain wrong with the booklet but had question is being asked, now that the Spring campaigns are
us. But Zionism was part of that faith.
reaching their end, giving a clue to the trends that are likely
And—Zionism always was ideology more than semantics—
to emerge in 1961 fund-raising .. . As of now, the campaigns
2
Israel
Banks
Open
always, and even now!
stand at the 78 percent mark, and show an increase of about
Klutznick is pragmatic - in dealing with the controversy
percent over the amounts raised last year . . . In the large
Offices in New York five
between Ben-Gurion and American Zionists.
cities—where the Jewish population group is 40,000 and over—
NEW YORK, (JTA)—Israel's a total of about $31,200,000 has been raised so far by 11 com-
He is right in averring that a riew brand of Zionism may now
have to be developed by the American movement. He writes: "Not- two largest banking institutions munities . . . This represents about five percent increase, as
withstanding the acute quality of Ben-Gurion's logic, it seems were given permission by the compared with 1960, but there is a substantial variation in the
imprudent to regard the machinery of the Zionist movement as New York State Banking De- results . . . The two highest communities show an increase of
having outlived any future purpose. Zionism in Jewish conscious- partment to open branches in more than 11 percent; the lowest community shows a decrease
ness did not lose its metaphysical meanings with the stroke ' of New York City.
of more than six percent.
The Department approved the
political independence. Nor has the spiritual glow of Zionism,
Progress
Report:
beckoning the Jew to his traditions, lost its. incandescence among applications . of Bank Leumi le-
While
the picture in community fund-rasing is not yet fully
Israel
to
convert
its
agency
the stay-put' Jews of America." •
What a pity that Phil Klutznick should be writing in :this vein here into a. full-fledged branch clear, the Israel Bond campaign is already 10 percent ahead
while 'looking in upon Zionism .from the outside, rather than as a operation and, of the Israel Dis- this year as compared with the' same time last year . • Last
Count Bank to open a branch year at this time about $18,000,000 worth of bonds had been sold
participant in the movement!
. . . This year, the campaign has already reached a $20,000,000
* • *
here.
Both new branches, which mark, without even touching such large cities as. Detroit, Cleve-
Philip Klutznick sticks to his point regarding the controver-,
sial issue 'of unity in Jewish life. He took his Bnai Brith people are expected to open later this land, Baltimore and others . . . The Israel bond campaign in
out of the National Community Relations Council and he defends year, will expand the scope of these ,cities is beginning now, after the United Jewish Appeal
his viewpoint. We considered his action wrong then, and we be- their international operations closed its drives there . . . Dr. Joseph Schwartz, executive vice-
lieve now as well that he should have stayed in the NCRAC. It's and will also be able to accept president of the Israel Bond Organization, tells me that there
deposits in the form of regular are indications showing that the first six months of this year's
a pity that so powerful a man saw fit to break the unity.
Now he glories in the fact that he helped create- the •Presi- • checking= and savings accounts. Icampaign will be the best in the history of the Israel bond drive.
Israel's Knesset
Ends Exit
,
•
Army Booklet Stirs Election
Fight in Knesset
F
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Between You
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