Purely Commentctry

Atonement by All . . . Guilt
in Racial Issues and the
Complacency of Officials

By Philip
Slomovitz

Who Are to Be the Penitent?

Arab Summit
Plan Against
Israel Vague

the unprejudiced to the prejudiced, but also how to break down the
prejudice and the bias that makes for bigotry in our midst.
. . . and the Complacent in Our Own Ranks
Then, on the other hand, there are the complacent in our own
midst. They will belittle the spread of anti - Semitism both among the
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
Negroes and among the Southern whites.
to The Jewish News)
LONDON
— Participants in the
We hold the Negro leaders responsible for what had happened
to the Jewish merchants in the cities where there has been so mucn second Arab "summit conference"
at Alexandria have approved limit-
pillaging. They owe a duty to us and to the country to educate their
ed plans for a military buildup of
masses. While all of us must strive to eradicate the evils that have
them ask whether, ever before, there has been so much tension to brought about the racial horrors in our midst, it is Negro leadership their armed forces against Israel, it
disturb the human mind and to cause fear in the hearts of men. that must teach its followership to behave and to put an end to was reported here Wednesday
from Cairo.
When this is applied to free Americans _in free America, it becomes pillaging, to plundering, to resorting to acts that are short of murder
• I The plan falls short of proposals
a more disturbing factor in life than could poSsibly be imagined
But Jews are subjected to indignities in other areas. They are by Gen. Amer of Egypt, as com-
under normal conditions. is ' ,
between the devil and the deep sea. They are blamed by the Negro mander of the unified military
A few days after the Philadelphia riots there csme the warning for being "exploiters"—and Jews have exploited them less than their
who asked authority to move
own people and other whites; and by many Southerners as being force
that "Baltimore is next."
troops of the various Arab coun-
"nigger-lovers."
We pray that this never materializes. But if it does what comes
tries around as required both in
after that? Are we next? Are our neighboiing cities due for samples
Gay Talese, giving his experiences as "A White Man in Harlem," the event of war and during peace-
of what had occurred in a number of America cities? ss.
in the current issue of Esquire Magazine, relates the following:
time. A spokesman said however
Already, a home belonging to Negroes was burned in Sterling
"In Harlem now all white men, even cops, are running that the agreement does provides
scared . . .
Township, Mich., on Detroit's outskirts, two. weeks ago!
for a united front against Israel
"The white merchants with shops along 125th Street, nearly and that the 13 Arab rulers agreed
In view of the shocking occurrences, who is to do the atoning?
all Jewish, admit to this fear. They tell me they are afraid to to spend up to $14,000,000 an-
Is it the white man who had enslaved the Negro or is it the Negro
remain in their stores alone, and they clamp metal grilles over nually to strengthen the armed
who is failing to utilize the freedoms accorded him by the legislative
their
windows at night.
forces under the unified command.
processes of our democracy?
An Arab League spokesman said
"They are no longer at ease with their Negro empioyes, and
NS'e put the issue bluntly in order to admonish our readers that
they are careful not to talk about politics or other controversial that the agreement was enough to
we have just generalized: not all white men have enslaved the Negro,
permit
the start of action on plans
topics with their Negro customers, fearing it may lead to argu-
.else there would not have been the firm step that was taken by the
to divert tributary waters from
ments, and worse.
legislative and executive departments of our Government to correct
the wrongs of *a century; and not all Negroes are vandals.
" 'Why don't you leave?' I ask one elderly Jewish merchant. the Jordan River to deny those
" 'Look, I got my whole life wrapped up in this store," he waters to Israel's massive nation-
But there is enough fault on both sides to compel us to take
says, and I wonder if there were Jews In Germany saying the al water carrier irrigation plan.
stock and to be honest and truthful in evaluating conditions that are
same thing 25 years ago"
serious not- merely because they threaten us but because they endanger
The report then describes how .Negroes always stole but now they
the security of our children and our childten's children.
just walk into this Jew's store, take merchandise and walk out without
When an overwhelming vote is cast for the ,type of homeowners'
paying.
And if this Jewish merchant could sell his store he would
BY RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
ordinance that was adopted in Detroit last week, it is time to ask and he "would
get out—fast."
(Copyright, 1964, JTA, Inc.)
whethe hite man really has entirely yielded to justice and to
Why is the Shofar blown at the
Then
there
is
the
other
side
of
the
modern
tale
of
horror.
admit that for an entire century we have bfen unjust to our fellow-
end of the Day of Atonement?
Relating "The Untold Story of the Mississippi Murders," in the current
•itize s who happen to be dark-skinned. •
There are a variety of reasons
issue of Saturday Evening Post, William Bradford Huie describes
But when there is looting and robbing. and when in cities like how the sum of $25,000 was passed on to the informers of the where- given for this practice. Some claim
Rochester and Philadelphia losses running into many millions of abouts of the bodies of Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and that the Shofar is blown at the
end
dollars are sustained by Jewish merchants, it is time to ask whether James Chaney; how the author of this article maintained that for of the Day of -Atonement as a re-
the pillaging mobs were directed toward the Jews deliberately.
greenbacks FBI can always find an informer, but, before the FBI minder of the Jubilee Year at
Nevertheless, community spokesmen are -denying that there is actually located such an informer, a Philadelphia, Miss., citizen in- which time the Shofar was blown,
an element of anti-Semitism in .the rioting! Perhaps the city councils sisted that "I don't believe a million dollars could buy these bodies." "to proclaim liberty throughout the
who are functioning with ostrich-like head-in-the-sand statements also Of course, Huie was right—that there is always an informer for green- land." Since it was blown at the
should do atoning. There is an obligation on the part of all citizens backs. In the meantime the Southerner he interviewed told him:
end of the Day of Atonement on
to strive for the speediest implementation of the provisions of the
"This is a hate lynching. To these lynchers their, victims were an the Jubilee Year it is not blown
civil rights bill. But when any element resorts to anti-Semitism, agitating nigger and two Jew-atheist-Communist-beatnk-nigger-lovers. after every Day of Atonement, since
regardless of its ultimate aims—whether it is to disrupt the community Hell, these killers think they are patriots. They think they killed to the Jubilee Year is not celebrated
or merely to do pillaging—that group should be exposed. Any one protect the Mississippi way of life. This lynching is the only act
in now as it was in ancient times due
who seeks to hide facts is harthing truth. In this respect the Phila- their crummy lives which they think becomes them. This is their to the conditions in the Diaspora.
delphia Jewish council may have failed to contribute towards just finest hour. I can't believe that a million dollars would cause one of
Others claim that it was done "to
solutions of the spreading problem by a whitewashing statement. them to squeal to the bureau or to any other representative of Lyndon confuse the Satan," probably
in the
Unless we face the facts. we will never attain anything, and facing Johnson or Bobby Kennedy or Martin Luther King."
sense of making him unaware that
facts calls for affirming truth. If there is an anti-Semitic element
And while the preparations were made for the killings, according the day of judgment had already
in the rioting, let us have the truth, else it will be impossible to to the Huie report, there were shouts of "Keep
that Red Jew nigger- passed. There are some who claim
judge the entire tragedy properly.
lover out of here, or you'll all wind up in the river," and "We're that the Shofar is blown at the end
laying
for
that
bearded
Red
Jew
Indeed, all of I16 have much to atone for, and there is no need for
agitator. We'll get him the next of the Day of Atonement to in-
time he comes in here."
w hitewashing any one group or any individual.
dicate the great festive joy with
One
can
just
about
imagine
how
secure and happy our Southern which the night after the Day
This is a time to set all our houses in order. Any one who yields
of
kinsmen
feel
in
such
an
environment
to higotry, whoever condones pillaging and vandalism, becomes an
Atonement is celebrated. Some
And as we view both sides of the coin we know how serious are claim that there is also a practical
accessory- to crimes. .
times, how challenging the issues that must be solved in order reason for blowing the Shofar on
Yom itippur of 5725 presents challenges to all mankind—to do the
to return all of America to sanity !
pt nance. to vow that the horrors that were visited Upon democratic
the evening after the Day of
*
*
*
America. as well as those elsewhere should not be repeated.
Atonement. They say it is done to
announce throughout the commun-
We pray for a good year for all—and it 'must be made a year of ' Scopus Award for Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz
Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz is so distinguished in the field of social ity to the housewives the fact that
moderation. of reason. of common decency and fair play. May we
be priviliged. a year hence, to say that these prayers were fulfilled. service that no matter how high the honors that may be accorded him they can now begin preparing the
by the Jewish community there will always. remain
additional ground meal after the fast of the Day of
for encomia to this man of great talents and high dedication to Atonement.
Our Complacent Public Officials
service in behalf of his people:
Why is it a tradition to ex-
Last week's primary election results were supplemented by
claim "next year in Jerusalem"
Nevertheless, the •announcement that Dr. Schwartz is to receive
amazing examples of complaceny on the part both of the Governor
upon hearing the Shofar blown
of our State and the Mayor of our City. Both contended that the vote the Hebrew University Scopus Award is certain to 'provide genuine
pleasure for all who know him and appreciate his work.
after the Day of Atonement?
on the homeowners' proposal was the result of a lack of information.
This will be the fourth time in the 40-year history of the Hebrew
The Talmud tells us that the
The Governor went so far as to surmise that if the two daily news-
University that the Scopus Award will be presented. and the choice Messiah will come during the month
papers hads been in operation the result would or might have been for
it of an eminent American Jew is especially gratify
upon which the Day of Atonement
different.
•
As the former European
directorgeneral of the Joint Distribution falls (Tishri). His coming is ex-
That's a lot of nonsense. The voters knew exactly what they were Committee, as the man
who headed the activities of the United Jewish pected to be heralded by a blast of
doing. They gave an overwhelming vote of confidence to the sponsor Appeal anti as the
present director of Israel Bond drives. Dr. Schwartz the Shofar. Since the people of
of the homeowners' plan. They knew exactly' what they were doing
has
occupied
major
roles
in Jewish life and continues to be in one Israel are at their purest state
when they supported the aid-to-the-DSR proposal which will cost the of the
most pivotal American Jewish positions.
after fasting and being penitent on
citizens more tlfan the schools' bond request.
An ordained rabbi, an able scholar, a man
who has become one the Day of Atonement, the moment
But the voters DID turn down the schools' bond proposal of the best informed men in Jewish life, Dr. Schwartz
has well earned after the Day of Atonement is the
while they -voted FOR the homeowners' idea. Both are linked in the new honor to be accorded him at
planned for Dec. 1 right occasion for his coming. The
the race issue: the homeowners' scheme to prevent Negroes from in New York y the American Friends a of dinner
the Hebrew University. exclamation "next year in Jeru-
buying homes where they wish in accordance with the civil rights
And it will be the pleasure of his Detroit friends to congratulate salem" is a means of expressing our
federal law which now is the law of the land, and the school Dr. Schwartz on Sunday evening, when he comes here to address an
confidence that he will come and
bond plan which would have enabled the city to construct new Israel Bond dinner at Cong. Shaarey Zedek.
is to be expected at any moment.
high schools from which Negro students would benefit. What a

This is the time for penitence. It is a crucial period during which
to . .ask: who will repent, and when will the penitence commence?
Atonement 1..\
• s never been for the Jew alone, and today more
than ever it is a ime for stock-taking. to ask for forgiveness. by the
c
entire human
ra that has become so embroiled in hatreds, in tragic
conflicts, in suspicions and in fears.
Even the most optimistic now live in uncertainty. So much has
happened on our own doorsteps in the past year that even the most
faithful must review the events that have transpired and in examioing

Yom Kippur Quiz

devilish result stemming from prejudices that are immoral, in-
human, unrealistic!
We 'know full well all the arguments: look at what Negro vandals

did in Rochester and in Harlem and in Paterson and in Philadelphia!
And the answer is that just because such things have happened and
continue to occur it is vitally urgent that there should be an end
to the conditions which have brought about these acts of terrorism
and pillaging.
There is a real menace from delinquency: does that mean that
we should yield to Goldwaterism and condemn our Government, in-
stead of asserting, through national unity, that we are determined

to uproot the causes that lead to delinquency?
What we need is such a thorough housecleaning, such a serious
effort to give the less fortunate their due rights, that we shall have
a genuine basis for equality among all citizens in this great land.
We won't accomplish it by being as complacent as Governor
Romney and Mayor Cavanagh. Indeed, our people need to be better
informed, but we will never find the right educational path to reach
those who have expressedprejudices by failing to recognize that what
has to be attained is not merely to assure proper communication from

Radio Liberty's Shofar Will Sound to Citizens in USSR

Radio Liberty's programming for
Yom Kippur and Sukkot will be
directed as much to the average
Soviet citizen as to the 3,000,000
Jews in the Soviet, Union, accord-

ing to a network spokesman.

The special holiday programs,
being broadcast in Russian by the
privately sponsored Radio Liberty
between Sept. 6 and 23, will con-
vey to millions of Soviet citizens

THE DETROIT JEWISH

NEWS
2—Friday, September 11, 1964

•

an idea of the venerable history of
the Jewish faith and its ever-living
message of brotherhood and spiri-
tual freedom.
"In this manner, perhaps we can
knock some bricks from the wall
of prejudice behind which the
Soviet government pursues its anti-
Jewish discriminatory policy," a
Radio Liberty spokesman declared.
The special programs bring a
message of hope to Jewish listen-
ers in Radio Liberty's audience,
and enable them to join their
coreligionists the world over in
listening to the sacred sound of
the Shofar, the poignant chant,

"Kol Nidre," and other traditional
prayers, as well as appropriate
literary selections.
The most powerful voice of the
free world heard inside the Soviet
Union, the privately - sponsored
Radio Liberty broadcasts around
the clock in Russian and 16 other
languages of the USSR from sta-
tions in West Germany, Spain and
Formosa. Under the honorary
chairmanship of former Presidents
Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman

and Dwight D. Eisenhower, the

freedom network recently celeb-
rated its 11th anniversary of unin-

terrupted broadcasting.