f

MN,

Purely Commentary

The New Year does not commence
on a happy note. Turning back the
pages of history to December 1959,
we will recall how shocked Germany
was by the. swastika daubings on
the Cologne synagogue; how Outraged
Americans were by similar occur-
rences in many communities in the
United States and, how loud the
protests were throughout the world
in condemnation of the Nazi acts that
were in evidence at that time.
Since then. there have been so
many acts of vandalism and • of vio-
lence, many of them accompanied
by swastika smearings: there was such
an avalanche of anti-Semitic episodes.
that there is danger of our beginning
to accept such acts as normal develop-
ments in our modern society.
That is why we await the year
5727 with much trepidation. The
bigots have emerged in so many
quarters that one begins. to wonder
whether common decency is on the
verge of collapse.
*
*
The extensive anti-Semitic acts are
not limited to Latin America. They
are not the Avorks of neo-Nazis in
Germany alone. They are : reported
from Switzerland. from Australia,
from Great Britain. They are in our
own midst. The swastika has become
a syrnbol of hate again on public
buildings in Detroit.
Will this be the pattern for 5725?
Is it possible that the extremists who
have gained an upper hand will make
themselves felt before. during and
after the presidential campaign?
Once again we are told that the
Nazis merely followed orders. and
those who renewed that claim . main-
tained. in reply to a question by the
German Divo Institute. that "it was
best not to stir up the Nazi past."
But that past needs to be stirred
up so that the inhuman claim of
following orders should once again
be rejected without the need., for
another Eichmann trial to expose the
inhumanity of man to man.
*
*
*
Meanwhile the situation remains
grave on the former Nazi front. In
Frankfurt. where there again were
cemetery desecrations, 39 per cent
of those who were questioned in the
German poll said they were opposed

to the current trials of the Nazi
beats. Indeed, Germans would rather
that the Hitler era were forgotten
and that no more mention should be
made of the exterminations, of the
concentration camps, of the gas
chambers. And while such prefer-
ences are indicated the Nazi germs
are beginning to multiply!
Indeed. the horrors of the Nazi
era are being forgotten, and there
is a lessening of talk about "Ger-
many's moral guilt." This has its
effect on other lands. and the grow-
ing anti-Semitism in many quarters
is traceable to the propaganda that
came from Germany.
*
*
The Latin American situation is
especially disturbing. What is hap-
pening south of us is akin to the
dangers that were in evidence in
Europe prior to Hitler's assumption of
power. The pledges that have come
thus far that the virus of hatred will
be arrested have not borne fruit. The
combination of Arab agents and Nazi
propagandists is causing so much
damage in Latin America that there
is cause for serious concern.
What a pity that a new year must
be ushered in on a note of concern
bordering on despair! But this is
the situation that faces us. We are
threatened again. and our status has
become worsened because the de-
fensive forces have weakened. be-
cause our youth. unaware of what is
happening behind their backs, are ill
prepared to face- the facts and there-
fore may not be in position to resist
onslaughts.
*
*
*
-
When we say onslaughts we mean
not only physical attacks—and these
have been in evidence in Latin
America and elsewhere — or the
defacing of public buildings with lewd
symbols and indecent slogans. We
mean also the dangers that may be
faced by Jews spiritually and eco-
nomically. We are concerned about
the humiliations that may be imposed
upon our children who are today
totally uninformed about the events
that caused unspeakable tragedies for
their kinsmen only 25 years ago.
A casual survey of the series of
reports about anti-Semitism and
vandalism as reported in only a single

A New Pattern for 5725 . . . The Need for
Increased Vigilance in the Wake of the
Growing Menaces to Jewryand to Humanity

of our issues—last week's for ex-
ample—will provide pi.00f of what
we are referring to.
There were paintings of swastikas
and cemetery desecrations in several
communities . . . From Switzerland
came the sad note of anti-Semitism
in government : . . Germany was
accused of permitting Nazis to sit in
judgment over Nazis ... New demon-
strations of anti-Semitism became
known in Argentina . . . Cemetery in
Frankfurt defaced by swastikas . .
The Moslevites again were in action
in England
Of course. there were many more
items of a happy nature. But the fact
is that the bad news has spread. and
there were many more incidents in
the weeks preceding the last one to
which we have just made special
reference. And we haven't even men-
tioned the sad conditions that have
developed in Russia!

*

*

*

There is a note of hope on the
horizon when the President of the
United States excoriates the bigots
and denounces "those who pour
venom into our nation's bloodstream
. . .", as Lyndon Johnson did when
he assumed the Presidency of the
United States. As long as men of
reason are in the White House we
-have confidence, but the Lyndon
Johnsons cannot work alone: they
must have the nation's backing. That's
one of the major duties on the New
Year.

*
*
It is- neither natural nor normal
for evaluators of the Jewish position
to be pessimistic. We have survived
so many crises. we have been so
formidable when facing dangers. that
no matter how serious the threats to
our existence Israel always emerges
indestructible_
But when there are threats to our
security. we must think in terms of
our children. We cannot afford to
have the youth thrust suddenly into
menacing positions without their be-
ing properly briefed on the issues
and without being primed for action
againk bigots.
That is why. in a tense period
like the present, we must think first
in terms of proper information about
the events affecting us. We must

By Philip
Slomovitz

think in- terms of the security of our
land. Our first duty is to the nation
with which we are linked insepar-
ably. Our concern for America cau-
tions us to provide our youth with
the basic training in democratic
action. And our children must learn
anew that if Jewry will be endangered
America will be imperiled at the
same time.
*
*
That is how it has 'been through
the ages. Whenever there were on-

slaughts on Jews they were followed.
by threats to their neighbors. The
bigots and the reactionaries may
blindly and ignorantly view Jews as
their enemies. but the moment they
seek to harm fellow citizens — no
matter what their faith or racial and
national origins—they endanger the
security of all citizens and eventually
also their owri.
Therefore. the first rule is of self-
preservation. of the protection of our
rights. because they also are the
rights of all our neighbors and fellow
citizens_ And when we are properly
organized to defend ourselves we also
will be conditioned vigilantly for the
protection of the rights of all citizens.
Having established a status of
understanding which must be accom-
panied by a determination to stand
firm against indecencies, we are cer-
tain to become. together with our
fellow - Americans. imperishable in
the struggle for freedom. Then we
shall retain our optimism. Then we
become again the strong element in
the defensive mechanism for demo-
cratic living against any and all
contingencies.
*
*
That is how it has been. That is
hkw it will be: we. together with all
good Americans. are here to hold high
-the banner of true Americanism. firm
in the belief that no weapon that is
forged in venom shall ever prove
workable.
It is in this spirit thit we retain
faith in the highest ideals of the Jew-
ish and American heritage. It is thus
that we proclaim our faith in the
validity of the Hebraic tradition and
the American ideals May both be
blessed interminably as we exchange
greetings on the New Year.

Philadelphia Jewish Merchants Suffer Millions in Losses
Sustained During Rioting; Anti-Semitic Charges Denied

PHILADELPHIA (J T A 1 —
valved, the attacks being direct-
Jewish storekeepers and owners of
ed simply against white owners
other businesses suffered damages
of enterprises in the midst of
estimated at several millions of
the Negro community of shim
dollars in rioting and looting by
dwellers-
Negroes inhabiting a 125-block
. A statement issued by Rabbi
area that shook that North - Phila-
Theodore H. Gordon and Mrs.
delphia section last weekend. At
Fanny C. Goldstein, vice presi-
least 80 per cent of the businesses
dents of the Jewish Community
wrecked and robbed were owned
Relations C o u n c i 1, and Jules
by Jews.
Cohen. CRC executive director, de-
Although officials of the Jewish • clared:
Community Relations Council of •
"The Jewish Community Rela-
Greater Philadelphia made strenu- tions Council is particularly con-
ous efforts to counter such feel- cerned over the plight of store-
ings. there were widespread criti- keepers whose places of business
cisms among Jewish businessmen were wrecked and looted. Many
in this city who contended that of them are Jewish. This gives rise
many of the attacks bore a 'decid- to charges of anti-Semitism which,
edly anti-Semitic character. The even though they may be unwar-
critics pointed out • that .stores ranted. nevertheless do serious
carrying signs "This is a Negro damage to good intergroup rela-
store" were . not harmed. One large tions which are 1 essential to the
Jewish-owned department store in welfare of this city." -
the area had displayed a sign read-
Stating that the rioting had been
ing: "We employ 100 Negroes:
the work of - hoodlinns." the CRC
don't let them lose their jobs." The
officers called on the police to
store was thoroughly wrecked, and
avail themselves of the state and
much of its stock was robbed.
federal aid to put down the rioting

I

"The disturbances will prove to
be a serious setback to the civil
rights movement. Hoodlunis must
not be permitted to nullify many
years of dedicated work by city
officials and agencies: and by
private organizations. both Negro'.
and white. to achieve full equality
for all Americans. We have every

confidence that the police depart-
ment will continue to make •every
effort to control the situation. But
•police should not hesitate to avail

themselves of state and federal

mote sections of the city or in
the suburbs. had rushed to the
area and tried to erect various
types of wooden or metal guards
in front of their stores. But the
boarding did no good. All business
• properties owned or conducted by
non-Negroes were thoroughly
, destroyed, despite efforts by the

assistance if such is deemed neces-
ary. Above all, law and order
must be maintained."
Jewish owners of the businesses,
the majority of them living in re- I police.

Israel Ready to Meet Jordan Agp-ession, Eshkol Warns

TEL AVIV (JTA) — Prime ical climate. Israel, he said, has
Minister Levi Eshkol warned Jor- never given up attempts to achieve
dan that Israel was keeping a close contact with the Arab countries,
watch on the situation in that and such attempts would continue.
Declaring that present concilia-
country, and that any attempt on
the part of the Amman govern- tion efforts between Egypt and
ment to adopt a more aggressive, 'Jordan might be seen by the
nationalistic policy would result Amman authorities as a remedy
in, serious consequences—regard- to current internal difficulties,
less of any external aid sought by Eshkol stressed that such efforts
afforded Nasser a means of achiev-
Jordan.
Addressing the graduation exer- i'ng his goal of absorbing Jordan
cises of Israel's Army staff and into the Egyptian framework of
Command School, attended byi aggression.
"Hussein's visit to the United
Deputy Defense Minister Shimen1
Peres. former chiefs of staff and States has contributed to his per-
Jewish lenders. as well as city
and maintain order. Pointing out senior Army officers, Eshkol dwelt sonal prestige, but it is doubtful
authorities, including police,
that the rioting here, like the at length on the situation in the if this will help him on the fateful
pointed out that, though many; recent disturbances in other north- Middle East. He asserted that a day," Eshkol declared. King
of the businesses victimized had
ern cities, had been condemned thaw in the East-West cold war Hussein was fooling himself, he
been owned by Jews, there was
by Negro religious and civic was an essential condition to any said, with the idea that his re- , .
no anti-Semitism as such in- _ leaders, the CRC officials said: improvement in the Mideast polit- quest for Western aid for purposes

far exceeding genuine defense
needs will prevent his country's
collapse. He warned that any
change or development in Jordan

"-concerns us directly—hence we
must keep our eyes open. Israelis

plans for political and security
readiness must take this into cos.
sideration."
Turning to the situation on the

Syrian border.. the premier strewed
that Israel will not accept efforts

by Damascus to change the lviiii-
taxy situation along the border
into a political one. "Our hardens
will not be abandoned," he assert•
ed, adding that "Syria knows that
political means are not the only
measure Israel can use."

2 'Friday, September 4, 1964
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS