What Next?
THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20,
1951
Member American .Association of English—Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Associations, 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
in
This Sabbath, the twenty-second day of lyar, the following scriptural selections will be read
our synagogues.
portion, Jeremiah 16:19-
Pentateuchal portion: Be-hukkotai, Leviticus 26:3-27:34. Prophetical
17:14.
Licht Itenchen,
Vol. XLI — No. 13
Friday,
May 25, 7:36 p.m.
Page Four
May 25, 1962
USSR Sensitiveness to Criticism
There is no doubt that even the ex-
tremist totalitarians are sensitive to criti-
cism. Hitler was furious over the boycott
of German-made goods that was instituted
by American Jews. Czarist Russia feared
the criticisms that were expressed in the
U.S. Congress about its anti-Semitic
measures. Soviet Russia similarly is sensi-
tive to public opinion.
This was evidenced last week when
the Soviet Embassy in Washington issued
a statement aimed at disproving the ex-
istence of anti-Semitic campaigns in Rus-
sia: The USSR apologies are, however,
totally unconvincing.
An analysis of merit was made editori-
ally in the New York Times. Under the
`heading "Jews in the Soviet Union," the
Times editorial stated:
"Stung by recent widespread charges
in the West of Soviet anti-Semitism, the
Soviet Government has attempted a refu-
tation by releasing abroad—but not at
home—some interesting data on Soviet
Je WS.
The most striking figure made avail-
able is the indication that about 20 per
cent of all Soviet Jews are professional
and semi-professional workers, as against
5 per cent of all Russians and 4 per cent
of all Ukrainians. Soviet Jews, who make
up 1.1 per cent of that country's popula-
lion. account for one-seventh of all Soviet
doctors, over one-tenth of all Soviet scien-
tists, and almost as high proportions of
Soviet lawyers. writers and artists. Even.
when account is taken of the concentra-
tion of Soviet Jews in cities.• these are
strikingly high figures. But they obviously
represent only a transitional phase of
Soviet history since the new data also
indicate that Jewish university students
make up omit 3 per cent of the total. Thus
in the long 7. 21n the ratio of Jewish pro-
fessionals is likely to diminish.
"These data, however, do not meet
the specific questions raised recently in
the West. Why are Jews not permitted
to have .matzos baked at Passover? Why
has such prominence been - given to Jewish
criminals in the Soviet press in recent
months, though no corresponding promi-
nence is given to the important role Soviet
Jews play in their country's scientific,
medical, literary and legal life? And why
are Soviet Jews treated worse than any
other major Soviet minority when it
conies to freedom to express their cul-
tural interests in the traditional language
of Soviet Jews, Yiddish? In a sense the
-
mystery surrounding the position of So-
viet Jews is actually deepened now that
we know concretely how big a part they
play in key nonpolitical areas of Soviet
life."
One important fact is overlooked in
this splendid evaluation of the position of
the Russian Jews: that in its very empha-
sis on the "domination" of Jews in the
professions, the USSR spokesmen may be
pursuing an old anti-Semitic policy of in-
furiating the Russians into believing that
Jews dominate in many fields.
The USSR Embassy's release fails to
prove many things. It does not convince
anyone that the numerous anti-Semitic
articles in many Russian periodicals,
which have been pursuing a Czarist Black
Hundreds' policy of inciting to riots
against Jews, are uninspired and merely
represent isolated instances of bigotry.
The latest Soviet statement fails to com-
ment on the anti-Yiddish, anti-Hebrew,
anti-Israel policies of the Soviet regime.
There are scores of other issues on which
there is need for clarification of the So-
viet position.
Would that it were true that there is
no anti-Semitism in Russia. But the fact
that the USSR apologetic statement is at-
tributed to Jewish scholars does not prove
a thing. Under pressure from a dictatorial
government some very great men have
compromised their views and have issued
proclamations harming even their own
kinsmen.
The Russian situation remains one of.
the most threatening to a large segment
in Jewry. There are nearly three million
Jews in Russia and , their position. con-
trary to Russian denials, is precarious.
As Jews they certainly are ghettoized by
their being branded on their identification
passports. while they are being denied
the right to Jewish studies, to read Jewish
papers, to attend Jewish theaters.
But as long as Russians are sensitive
'-to criticism, it is to be hoped that this
and other challenges to Russia eventually
will result in an easing of tensions, an
abandonment of anti-Semitic policies, the
commencement of a new program of fair-
ness to Jews who. desire to retain their
Jewish associations and their interests in
Jewish culture. It is to be hoped also
that if there is to be a change in Russian
attitudes towards its Jewish population
it will include the right of Jews to emi-
grate. Perhaps time will prove a great
healer even in Soviet Russia.
Need for Merger of All Zionist Groups
Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of
the World Zionist Organization, made a
strong appeal for the coordination of all
existing Zionist groups and for their
merger into a single Zionist movement.
While he has reiterated a position he
had already taken a few years ago when
he urged the formation of a single, over-
all Zionist movement, his appeal comes
at a proper time, when there is great
need for unified action in defense of
Israel's position amidst war-threatening
nations.
There is need for a thorough under-
standing of the right of Israelis to
sovereignty and to autonomy over the
small area of the state in which they live,
and there frequently emerges the inevita-
ble need to clarify this basic right among
the nations of the world whose vacilla-
tions in facing the issues confronting
Israel could become detrimental to Israel.
The fact to remember is that while there
is lip service in recognizing the existence
of Israel, modern warfare makes it possi-
ble for Israel's enemies to deal a death
blow to the Jewish State during a few
hours' fighting under conditions of over-
whelming Arab military superiority while
the Arab states are being armed to the
hilt by Soviet Russia. If a calamity ever
were to face Israel, any expression of
regret or extension of sympathy would
come just too late to save the situation.
That is why it is necessary to criticize
the U.S. and UN positions on the recent
Syrian incidents. That is why it is so
urgent that a strong public relations
force should be in existence to clarify
Data About Many Nations
United Nations Yearbook
For an understanding of all the functions of the United Nations
and its specialized agencies, the 14th edition of the "Yearbook of
the United Nations," published by Columbia University Press in
cooperation with the UN, is indispensable.
This voluminous work contains a complete record of the UN's
calendar year 1960 and the General Assembly's March-April 1961
session. It includes data about UN member nations, legal and
administrative facts, information about the international trusteeship
system and the numerous activities and functions of UN commissions.
In addition to numerous references to Israel and informa-
tion about Israel's participation in many UN functions, 12 pages
are devoted to "The Palestine Question", providing a record of
the issues that arose as a result of the Arab-Israel conflicts.
This chapter describes developments on the armistice demar-
cation line between Israel and Syria; the several incidents that
arose, as a result of which there were complaints by Arabs and
replies by Israel; operations of the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency and the assistance given the Arab refugees; the activities
during World Refugee Year; the list of contributions to UNRWA
by the various cooperating nations and the General Assembly's
considerations of the variety of questions that had arisen during
the period under review. The United Nations Emergency Force
and its consideration by the General Assembly form part of this re-
port. All issues are accompanied by lists of documentary references.
There is a variety of details about Israel's participation in UN
commissions, the Jewish State's contributions to the international
organization s funds, personnel of Israelis on commissions, its rep-
resentation on numerous boards, etc.
The review of the work of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, the charts, maps and the reproduction in colors of the
flags of the UN member nations add interest to this volume.
Divided into two parts, the second is devoted to the inter-
governmental agencies related to the UN — the Atomic Energy
Agency, the International Labor Organization, the Food and Agri-
culture Organization, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), the world health, monetary, meteorologi-
cal and other branches.
The chapter devoted to the International Court of Justice has
special significance, in view of some important cases referred
to within it.
In the appendices are included the text of the Charter of the
United Nations, a description of the UN's structure, the delegations
and the UN centers in various parts of the globe.
As a reference work, and as a textbook for students of world
affairs, "The 1960 Yearbook of the United Nations" is an excep-
tionally valuable work. It was meticulously prepared and it provides
facts and figures that make the book's possessors fully informed
about the world organization.
Jews in the Time of Jesus
Schuerer's Ancient Jewish History
Shocken Books (67 Park Ave., N.Y. 16) has just issued
an abridged edition of "A History of the Jewish People in the
Time of Jesus," by Emil Schuerer, edited by Dr. Nahum N.
Glatzer.
This paperback edition contains an introduction by Dr.
Glatzer as a commentary on Schuerer and his book and the
sources and literature relating to the period covered in this
history.
The reader is greatly aided by the chronological summary
of the political history of that period, the list of rulers of
Syria and the genealogy of the Hasmoneans and the House of
Herod.
This history deals with two periods—from Antiochus Epipha-
nes down to the conquest of Jerusalem by Pompey, including
the rise of tthe Maccabees and the Period of Freedom; and
from Pompey's conquest of Jerusalem to the Hadrian war and
issues and kgep the world well informed the Roman-Herodian era.
The fact that there are 100 pages of notes appended to the
on the true facts in the Middle East
300 pages of text is an indication of the high scholarship of
situation. A strong, unified Zionism can this history. Lengthy bibliography and index sections also are
accomplish this purpose.
appended.