Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
World Scientists Bow to Israel's Knowledge
of Peaceful Applications of Atomic Energy
GENEVA (JTA) — Israel's of the variety of safety problems, Weizmann Institute of Science;
Political Expediency and 'The Jewish Vote'
At every election, the question is raised whether there is "a status in the world's scientific com- no general guide to the hazards Prof. G. Racah, fector 'of the
Jewish vote," and every time a candidate for office who happens munity as a country with vast ex- was available. He then outlined a Hebrew University at Jerusalem;
Dr. Y. Neeman, of the Israel Atomic
to be a Jew mentions his Jewish affiliations our community councils perience in the peaceful applica- method of safety evaluation.
One of the outstanding Israeli Energy Commission; Dr. E. Arbel,
suddenly become politically active and warn against such evil practices. tion of nuclear energy was widely
acknowledged at the third Inter- papers combined the thinking of of the Hebrew University; D. R.
Our community organizations become very busy in other matters
national Conference on the Peace- nuclear energy use for desalination Bar - On, of the Israel AEC; Dr. Ben-
that. in the long run, emerge as totally irrelevant.
ful Uses of Atomic Energy which of three scientists. They are Prof. David, AEC; Dr. R. Bloch, Weiz-
If a Jewish candidate won't mention the shul in which he wor- concluded its sessions last week.
Shimon Yiftah, of the Technion- mann Institute; Dr. A. D. Braun,
ships. how will his neighbors know whence he stems? Perhaps it's a
The conference, conducted by Israel Institute of Technology; Hebrew University; Dr. T. Gozani,
good recommendation. for. him also among the good Christians who
the United Nations and the UN's Prof. F. Aschner and P i n h a s AEC; Dr. R. Levite, Israel Electric
respect an observant Jew.
International Atomic Energy Glueckstern. The latter are on the Corp.; Dr. Y. Marcus. AEC; Dr. Y.
But that is beside the point. The major issue that can be traced Agency heard 11 papers by Israel's staff of the Israel Electric Corp.
Naot, AEC; Dr. W. Rothenstein,
to the days of Louis Marshall's leadership is whether Jews have a right
The rest of the Israeli scien- Technion; Dr. Al Seroussi, AEC;
delegation of 21 scientists and
to organize Jewish political clubs. Marshall resorted to all the power
tific delegation comprised a vir- Dr. G. Schwarzbaum, AEC; Dr.
other experts, headed by Prof.
at his command to condemn it. When Card.ozo and Brandeis and other
tual who's who in atomic science J. J. Wagschal, Hebrew University;
Ernst David Bergmann, chairman
similar groups were formed, when Jewish and Hebrew Democratic or
in Israel. Included were, in addi- .,and Dr. M. Zieger, AEC.
Republican organizations were called into being. there was a storm of the Israel Atomic Energy Com-
tion to those mentioned, the
In addition, the Israelis here had
of protest that reverberated throughout the land. The condemnations mission.
following:
the aid of the secretariat of Israel's
One of the Israeli papers pro-
bore fruit. and most of this type of Jewish clubs were abandoned. But
Prof. G. Goldring, of the depart- permanent mission to the European
it didn't influence other groups in the least. There still were and are vided a first survey of the possibili- ment of nuclear physics at the
headquarters of the United Nations.
Italian and Polish and ,Hungarian and other groups that attach them- ties of Creating atomic reactors
....■6•■•••••■.•■•,.■
having the dual function of water
selves either to the Democrats or to the Republicans.
For a while, it was believed that young Jews stayed away from desalting and electricity genera-
Boris Smolor's
politics because it was tainted by some of our lehders as anathema. tion. _
The paper noted that Israel was
The facts that Jewish clubs were shunned also seemed to contribute
in a peculiar position in regard to
towards a Jewish avoidance of political alliances.
The past few years indicated a drastic change in the attitudes utilization of the two processes. Its
of young Jews. In . our community. many young people have begun electricity needs have grown by
to play active roles in politics. some were candidates in the recent about 50 megawatts each year,
primary election in Michigan and several were successful in their ' while atomic reactors smaller than i
attemps to enter public life. That is all to the good and we May well 300-megawatt capacity appear not
(Copyright, 1964, Jewish
Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
consider the new trend a very happy and wholesome change in Jewish , to be economical. Israel therefore I I
is
hoping
for
the
earliest
possible
thinking.
Vatican Echoes
Yet. the Jewish community presently is the only ethnic element consideration of an effective corn-
Richard Cardinal Cushing of Boston will be the principal fighter
bination
of
the
two
processes,
to
that does not have a Jewish political organization. This is so in spite of
and unconditional exoneration
the fact that the Republican State Nationality Council in Michigan and justify the construction of nuclear at the Ecumenical Council for complete
large enough
nou
to be eco- of Jews from collective guilt for the crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans
similar groups stemming from Republican thinking nationally and in reactors
.
other states. are forming Italian and Polish and Arab and Hungarian nomical.
. . . The document on the attitude of the Catholic Church toward
and other groups of nationality backgrounds to assist the Republicans
The paper emphasized that the Jewish people is high on the agenda of the Ecumenical Council
Israel's
plans
and
hopes
for
de-
in their current campaign.
salting sea water had been which opened its third session this week, and the debate on it is
But they have not founded a Jewish group. Is it because Jews
"greatly stimulated" by the offer expected to start during the first week of October . . . Cardinal
are viewed as a religious group? We find it difficult to give the
of President Johnson to establish Cushing will speak for all American cardinals and bishops attending
Republican braintrust so much credit for isolating us. We appreciate
a joint United States-Israel prof- the Council session, except for the Los Angeles group which sides
the compliment. yet we note with interest the extent to which the
Republican Nationality Council has gone to rally important people
ect to determine the applicability with the conservative wing in the Vatican on the question of Catholic-
of nuclear energy for such de-
in the various groups they are organizing as nationality chapters in
Jewish relations . . . Immediately after the "revised" text of the
salting.
support of Republicanism. '
paper added that Vatican draft on the stand of the Catholic Church toward the Jews
Another
Israeli "expect to prove became public this month, Cardinal Cushing indicated that he will
The Republicans also have formed the Arab American Republican Israeli
scientists
Club which had a function recently with Governor and Mrs. George the feasibility of large reactors for oppose the revisions made in the draft . . . The two major revisions—
Romney as guests of honor. That was commendable. Governor Romney water desalting combined with elec- which provoked astonishment and sharp criticism among Jews every-
is the Governor of all the people, and he should go to the Arab
where — are considered as being far from the spirit in which the late
tricity
generation, plant
and to for
establish
functions with as much readiness as he has attended an Israel-Bond a
demonstration
other Pope John XXIII had intended to see the Catholic Church display its
dinner and with as much enthusiasm with which he advocated the erec- countries beset by the same friendship to Jews . . . The first draft, prepared by Augustin Cardinal
tion of the present Shaarey Zedek structure in behalf of which he spoke
Bea at the instructions of the late Pope, stated specifically that Jesus
before becoming•the chief executive of our state during a period when problems. died for the sins of all mankind—thus the Jews cannot be blamed for
he played an important role in the study that was being - made of
"If the growing population of the his death . . . The revised draft says that "Jews of our time- are not
Detroit's educational needs.
world is to be saved." Israel scien - to be blamed for the crucifixion of Jesus, which means that the Jews
But when the news bulletin published by the Republican State
tists declared, it will require of previous generations are still to be held guilty. by the Catholic
Nationality Council sees fif to insert, in its -most recent issue, the
much more water for irrigation Church . . . Similarly. the first draft absolved the Jews of being an
texts of resolutions on the refugee question and on the Jordan
than it has today, and much more "accused people," while the revised draft adds an "explanation" that
River issue, without looking into the facts, we must begin to
energy for fertilizer production, the removal of this stigma from the Jews is necessary because the
question the. sense of fair play and the good judgment of the once this problem is solved by nu- Catholic Church hopes that the Jews will convert to Christianity .. .
Republican geniuses who are in charge of mobilizing nationality clear energy. Israel is making a The revised draft condemns anti-Semitism and stresses that Christians
groups.
determined effort in this direc- and Jews are all the "children of Abraham," but other nuances in
the revisions in the draft are IX acceptable to the liberal wing of
The resolution appearing in the official Republican organ is
Dr. J. Tadmor, of the Israeli the Eumenical Council, no less' than to the Jews . . . In. his fight
misleading. It is' contrary to truth. It is not a sane political assertion
Atomic Energy Commission's re- from the floor against the objectionable revisions, Cardinal Cushing
and is one that tends to divide rather than unite our constituents.
We therefore pose the question: have our fellow-citizens in Mich- search staff, took part in a discus- will also have the support of cardinals and bishops from France,
However, the
igan who are Republicans been duped by an anti-Israel, group? Is a sion on the hazards of handling Germany, and certain Latin American countries . .
political bulletin the place to incite hatred against a state that is fissionable materials in chemical key to the situation obviously lies in the hands of Pope Paul VI,
the chemical sections of nuclear the present Pontiff who inherited from Pope John XXIII the will
on the friendliest terms with Israel?
of being a deicide people . . . It is assumed that
It is especially shocking that the quoted resolutions, which may industry
accidents had occurred in to absolve the Jews
from the
have been inspired by the Arab American Republican Club, were the chemical sections of nuclear Pope Paul could use his personal influence to remove
because revised draft the injected changes to which Jews take objection . . .
proposed for action by the Republican Nationality Council and were ' plants He reported that,
The original draft clearly and without any "explanations" stated that
'
•
aimed at national policy-making by the Republican convention. Is that
it is wrong and harmful to blame the Jews for the death of Jesus.
why the Republican leaders failed to give an assurance that they, sentiment that may not even exist,
•
•
too. are striving for peace in the Middle East, when they failed to since Egypt has been using the
Trends in Religions
adopt a sound Middle East plank? •
supplies she gets from the United
Wake up. ye slumberers in the Republican party ! Playing pol- States for purposes other than that
The Ecumenical Council resumes its session now at a time when
itics is one thing, but inciting to hatred is too -serious an item to play of aiding her starving people. This, the Catholic Church faces serious developments ... It is losing ground
with during' a campaign for the Presidency. And the resolutions on really. is the important issue: that in Poland, Hungary and other Catholic countries under Communist
the Jordan River water irrigation plan and on the muddied. refugee Nasser is utilizing all aid to mobil- rule . . Its influence is being undermined in the Latin American
issue do incite to hatred.
ize his forces against Israel. He and countries by pro-Castro elements . . . Its missions are being forced
•
•
•
O
his cohorts are not concerned with out of the newly proclaimed states in Africa and Asia, where Catholic
A Sad Note in Congressional Debate
the plight of their people: their missionaries have been active successfully for generations . . . It faces
A very sad note was injected in the debate in the U. S. House major aim is to strangle Israel. It a generation where science challenges religion in the minds of the
of Representatives during the discussion on the! amendment that is on this point that the issue in educated youth . . . This explains why the Vatican is new seeking
Congress was not made totally Christian unity and has established a special department for coopera-
would have ended aid to Nasser in the American "food for peace"
program. While it was stated in all sincerity, it is regrettable that clear. It is because Nasser uses tion with non-Christian religions . . However, it is important to
members of Congress should have been led to belieVe that the Nasser food supplies from this country as emphasize that the Roman Catholic Church is still the strongest
aggression could be. ended by starving the Egyptians. While the an exchange for arms that there among the religions of the world . . . it counts about 550,000,000
adherents, which constitute about 22 per cent of the entire world popu-
plea against the amendment by Secretary of State Dean Rusk was should be caution in continuing to
lation ...The second largest religion in the world is the Moslem religion
on the ground that "in the protection and advancement of U. S. provide him with ammunition
. . . It has more than 431,000,000 adherents, constituting more than 17
interests for which he is constitutionally responsible, the President against Israel.
per cent of the world's population . . . Hinduism occupies the third
requires sufficient flexibility in the conduct of foreign policy," there
Nasser has been exposed in an- place in world religions, with 332,000,000 followers, and Confucianism
may have been some who were influenced by the belief that Nasser other area this week. The World
takes fourth place with more than 301,000,000 adherents . . The
must be punished even to the extent of starving his pople.
Bank has announced that it will Protestant religion has less than 215,000,000 followers, and the
That, of course, is the farthest from any desire that is enter- make no more loans to Egypt be- Eastern Orthodox Christian Church—in Russia, Greece, Bulgaria and
tained by --any Jew, anywhere, whether in Israel or in the Diaspora. cause it expropriates foreign in-
other countries—counts 13'7,000,000 followers . Buddhism has
What all of us hope for is that the standards of living of the Egyptians vestments without fair compensa- 152,000,000 adherents; and all other known non-Jewish religions count
will be elevated to reach a par with the Israelis so that Nasser's tion. The evidence against Nasser
about 387,000,000 . . . The Jewish religion, with 12,750,000 Jews
constituents may learn the value of peace.
is mounting. Perhaps the State throughout the world, constitutes the smallest religion in the world,
Our Government aids Nasser's warlike policies by providing Department, too, will be more Jews making out only one-half of one per cent of the world popula-
him with ammunition and by the failure to discourage the arming cautious in the future lest we con- tion . . . In the United States, the Protestant religion occupies first
of all the Arab nations. But no one with a sense of compassion can tinue to build up a Frankenstein place, with 62,500.000 followers; the Roman Catholic Church holds
or ever will ask that food be withheld from starving peoples—and who threatens the peace of the second place with 41,000,000 followers; and the Jewish religion has
the peoples of most Araib,countries, including Egypt, with the possible world.
the third place with 5,500,000 members . . . All other religions have
exception of the Lebanese, are on starvation rations.
about 11,500,000 followers in the United States . . . It might be
What the injection of the starvation threat into the debate in THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
interesting to note that only 63 per cent of the 190,000,000 people
'Between You
... and Me
the House did was to transform truth into myth. It placed emphasis on a 2—Friday, September 18, 1964
in this country are affiliated with religious bodies.