THE JEWISH NEWS
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Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, -1951
Member American Association of English—Jewish Newspaper, Michigan Press Association, National Edi-
torial 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
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
titt
SYNAGOGUE
ACTIVITIES
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the fourteenth day of Elul, 5721, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our .synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Ki Tetze, Dent. 21:10-25:19. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 54:1-10.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m.
VOL. XXXIX. No. 26
Page Four
August 25, 1961
Important Lessons in Israel's Election
A large segment of Israel's popula-
tion was disillusioned by last week's elec-
tion and apathetic to it. Many believed
it to be unnecessary, having been occa-
sioned by a shocking -scandal involving
the country's security. It had been felt
that the Lavon affair should not have
been given the notoriety it received, and
its emergence as a great Israeli issue was
attributed to the stubbornness of Israel's
leaders.
The election results did not bring
much more power than was originally
possessed by the combined forces of the
Progressives and the General Zionists,
and the loss sustained by Mapai was only
a mild rebuke to Prime Minister David
Ben-Gurion. However, it gives greater
bargaining power to the laborites and
the religious elements with which Ben-
Gurion undoubtedly again will form a
new government, and the Liberal General
Zionists, who might have been counted
upon to exert much-needed influence in
the government, remain, together with
the Herut, the critical opposition forces
upon which Ben-Gurion's opponents must
count for guidance whenever they dis-
approve of the powerful Israeli leader's
policies.
It was not at all surprising that the
Communists should have gained two seats
in Israel's Knesset. Their strength comes
from Arab ranks, and the defection of
Arab voters from Mapai towards Com-
munism should give Israel's leaders seri-
ous cause for thought regarding a threat-
ening internal problem. Resort to Commu-
nism comes from dissatisfaction, and no
amount of explaining or boasting about
alleged Arab loyalties or the immense
amount of benefits accorded them will
solve the problem.
Thus, Israel's election has brought to
the front the realities of existing issues.
A wholesome community can not possibly
continue to prosper under conditions of
constant granting of concessions to mi-
nority parties whose votes are needed to
sustain a coalition.
Israel already has made progress in
the reduction of the number of parties
from more than 25 to the 14 whose candi-
dates contested for election last week.
Perhaps there will be further reductions
in the course of time, thus bringing the
contestants down to possible working
majorities. Then it will be reasonable to
expect that unnecessary privileges will be
avoided, that it no longer will be neces-
sary to have every party represented in
international delegations and only func-
tioning emissaries will be required to rep-
resent Israel, and that hence there will
emerge a political condition that will not
tie the hands of a majority.
The Lesson of the Millionth Settler
In the midst of its stock-taking over in spite of his earlier reserved and con-
'the significance of the recent arrival of ciliatory attitude toward Israel. He may
the one-millionth settler in Israel since be bargaining for the Arab votes at the
Statehood, Israel must look ahead and United Nations on the Bizerte issue. In
continue to operate an open-door policy any event, he now emerges as an ally of
to assure a haven of refuge for the hun- the anti-Israel forces.
The conditions in Communist coun-
dreds of thousands who have yet to find
secure and permanent homes, with Israel tries are well known. In spite of denials
alone remaining as a welcoming area.
of persecution,' as a matter of Communist
In Morocco and in Algeria, in coun- policy of claiming opposition to anti-
tries behind the Iron Curtain, existing Semitism, the Jewries behind the Iron
situations are so trying, and at times Curtain live in constant fear of a repeti-
menacing, that rescuers — for that is tion of the horrors that were perpetrated
exactly- what ‘those who create homes for during the Doctors' Plot of January 1953.
the persecuted are—must be on the alert. In the analysis of existing world con-
As has been indicated in these col- ditions, at the World Jewish Congress
umns on numerous occasions in the past executive's sessions in Geneva, this week,
year, Algerian Jewry is in peril. If they the continuing "acute and difficult" posi-
accept French citizenship, they incur the tion of the Jews in Soviet Russia was
wrath of the FLN nationalists, and if they emphasized. It was indicated that "there
remain Algerians under FLN rule their is a painful absence of any improvement"
safety is, at best, temporary, in view of in the status of Russian Jews whose
the Moslem threats to Jews wherever "enforced separation from their brethren
they may reside among them. abroad" remains an element for deep
Thus, more than 130,000 Algerian concern.
Jews may, in the course of time, be corn-
Similarly, in many other parts of the
pelled to seek homes elsewhere, and only globe, the position of Jewish communi-
Israel is ready to accept them.
ties borders on despair, and the situation
If the situation in Morocco is not is growing more threatening.
worse, it is, at best, equally as serious
The flight of "a large proportion of
as that of the Jews in Algeria. Mass Cuban Jewry, once totaling 10,000,"
arrests, murders, the pillaging of Jewish adds to the global problems. While the
homes combine to make Moroccan Jewry's World Jewish Congress report stated,
status insecure.
vis-a-vis Castro, that "we are satisfied
Tunisia, too, presents a problem. that the regime in power is determined
Severance of Tunisian postal communi- to suppress any form of racial discrim-
cations with Israel adds to the tensions ination, ' the mere fact that half of Cuban
resulting from Nasserism and Arab Jewry found it necessary to emigrate
League pressures. Following Morocco's points to a serious problem that now
example in severing postal relations with directly involves American Jewry.
Israel, Tunisia has strengthened the posi-
The need for emigration therefore
tion of the United Arab Republic and the grows and will continue to grow in many
Arab League in their boycott activities lands, and millions are affected by the
against Israel. The boycott movement persecution hysteria. Only Israel can wel-
certainly continues to mount also as a come them, and only the Jews of America
result of the failure of American authori- can provide the means for resettlement.
ties to prevent discrimination against That is why Israel is constantly alerted.
American Jews. The latest Tunisian act That is why the occasion of the celebra-
is proof anew that Bourguiba—in spite tion of the arrival of the millionth settler
of the compliments paid him by World in Israel also is a time for stock-taking
Jewish Congress leaders in Geneva this and for preparation for continued haven-
week—has yielded completely to Nasser, building for unfortunate millions.
Former Detroiter a Translator
Amos Levi s Posthumous Work
Describes Israel Army Life
Amos Lev was 27 when he died at Umm al-Katef, in the
Sinai Peninsula, Nov. 2, 1956. He had been called up for active
duty with the Israeli reserves in the Sinai Campaign.
His parents came to Palestine from Russia in 1923, and
he was born in Tel Aviv, June 8, 1929. After serving in Israel's
War of Independence, he joined a kibbutz, then taught school
for two years, and in 1951 he became staff correspondent for
the Israel army magazine Bamahane.
He left a large collection Of reports and intimate accounts
which describe life in Israel's army, and these despatches now
form an excellent volume, issued under the title "With Plow-
share and Sword" by Herzl Press (515 Park, N.Y. 22), together
with Thomas Yoseloff (11 E. 36th, N. Y. 16).
This splendid collection of little essays and brief news
accounts was ably translated by Chayyim Zeldis, former De-
troiter who has lived in Israel for several years, and David
Goldberg. It has, additionally, a fine set of drawings by Feri
Rosenfeld, who has illustrated this account of army life.
The numerous incidents recorded here provide a look into
the life of Israel's young soldiers, their manner of living, their
reactions to the military developments.
Amos, in his well-written reports, shows that he had a keen
sense of observation. In spite of his youth, he understood human
nature and was able to react splendidly to the ways of his
associates.
He has much to say about the life, activities and sentiments
of the young girls serving in Israel's army.
His book, however, is not limited to the army, as the
title indicates. He wrote not only about the sword, but also
about the plowshare. He described not only the battlefield, but
also the agricultural fields in kibbutzim.
An interesting chapter is devoted to the religious kibbutz.
He relates how, in Hoftez Haim, a Poale Agudat Israel kibbutz,
the settlers "build a life of Torah and work in a cooperative
framework," how they "combine Torah and work," how even in
the year of Shmitah the Jubilee Year—the rabbinical verdict
for them, in time of crisis, was: "Plow and Plane!" And the
settlers told him: "This means when there's a need, we'll find a
solution."
Amos Lev's despatches, which form the major part of the
story incorporated in "With Plowshare and Sword," came from
all parts of Israel, from Nahal Oz, which suffered severe tests
from enemy attacks, and other strategic areas.
A deeply moving postscript is appended to the book. It is
signed by the author's father. The last message from son to
father was to wake him at 7, on Oct. 25, 1956. It begins by
quoting II Samuel 19:1:
"Would God I had died for thee,
0 Absalom, my son, my son!"
and it offers tribute not only to his own son, but to all of
Israel's heroes. "If we live, it is because of our sons," he
asserts, nevertheless repeating that he understands the lament
of David for his fallen son Absalom, "Would that I had died in
your stead . . ."
"With Plowshare and Sword" is a deeply moving story
of young Israel by a sabra who knew his land and his people.
Gunther s Report on Jewry
BY BORIS SMOLAR
Editor, Jewish Telegraphic Agency
The fact that there are today fewer Jews in Europe than
before the war has substantially changed the face of several
countries. John Gunther states in his new book, "Inside Europe
Today," published by Harper . . . Gunther, who describes what
Europe is like now as compared with the pre-war years, estab-
lished that Hitler's killing of 6,000,000 Jews has left its mark
on several countries, like Poland,. and several cities like Vienna
and Berlin . . . They are now worse than they were before the
war because of the lack of Jews, the author reports . . . A glow,
a creative spark, a friendly leavening of earthiness and humor,
have disappeared, he asserts . . . Gunther attributes the success
of Israel to the many Jews who were lucky to escape from Ger-
many to PaleStine before Hitler's mass-exterminations began
and to the others who have left Europe for Israel since . .
The losers were those countries where the Jews were killed by
the Nazis as well as the lands from where the Jews emigrated
to Israel after the fall of the Nazi regime .. . Gunther stresses
that Hitler's annihilation of the Jews affected Europe - negative-
ly . . . He believes that the young people in Germany have a
feeling of shame over what Hitler has done to the Jews.