Purely Commentary

Political Analyses: the Signal Augury of the
Johnson-Humphrey Triumph .. . Histadrut's
Role Anniversaries ... 'Crucifixion' Libel

By Philip
Slomovitz

American aid for Egypt and other
Arab countries under all adminis-
trations and when such aid goes to
help uplift downtrodden peoples
no self-respecting Jew either did or
could object. It is only when such
aid is diverted towards an aim to
destroy Israel that we protest.
Both Lyndon Johnson and Hubert
wrong linked with the charge of crucifixion against Jews, the Arab media Bar-Ilan's
for higher student
learning
in the
body
has Jewish
grown State.
from the original handful to Humphrey are friends of Israel
exhibit introduced another crucifixion: it was the Palestine map that
and are opposed to discrimination.
was hung on a cross, and the implication was evident: they who cruci- the It
present
1,600,
and
faculty of
now
numbers especially
more than the
200.
is to the
credit
of the
a number
Detroiters,
Stoll- We may have occasion to differ
lied Jesus also crucified Palestine.
mans, and many of their associates, that dormitories, laboratories kith the new administration, and
wl
There were other objectionable and repelling items on exhibit, an
and science halls were financed at Bar-Ilan. Now the university, which State Department policies may
but the introduction of another crucifixion theme into our peaceful is receiving recognition not only among all parties in Israel's popula- again cause us to resent policies
community raises an especially serious question:
exception to. But an
tion but also in academic circles in this country and in Great Britain,
How could an International Institute and a great university whence is able to point to the emergence of a high school to be associated outright
we take attack on Johnson and
the sponsoring group stems have permitted the presentation of such with it thanks to the generosity of the Stollmans.
Humphrey as antagonists of Israel
A dedicated group of leaders labors incessantly to assure Bar- -on the ground that they are Nas
a vile display of what hate-mongers called art?
The "Palestine refugees" were the objects on display. There is an Ilan's successes. The annual dinner here on Nov. 18 is certain once ser supporters—was uncalled for.
angle called truth here: the fact that the issue is exaggerated, that again to provide evidence of a growing interest here in Bar-Ilan Univer- Unfortunate injections of anti-
it was of the Arabs' and not of the Jews' making; there also is a sity, and the pioneering spirit of the Detroit sponsors is linked in- Semitic issues in some areas, in-
matter of historical accuracy related to the use of the term - Palestine" separably with the ardor of the Israelis who have assured the growth eluding Illinois and California, are
to be deplored. This year's battle
at a time when there is an Israel that had come into being with the of Bar-Ilan.
Another event that merits local attention is the 70th anniver-
for the basic American ideals and
aid and consent and encouragement of most of the nations in the world,
opposed extremist in-
sary of the National Council of Jewish Women. The Detroit chapter
through the United Nations.
played important roles in many of the Council's efforts.
those bly were opposing anti-Negro-
But these are not the issues under discussion at this time. The
But
The Detroit celebration of the Council of Jewish Women's anni- evita
ism. The issues revolved around
matter at stake is the abusive nature of the exhibition at the Interna-
tional Institute, the introduction of a crucifixion thpme into a modern versary assumes added importance because of the deep interest that Americanism, not ethnicism.
society. the unwitting complicity of university •representatives in this has been taken by the local group in the cultural and social needs
There was a great deal of talk
of our senior citizens. It has been and continues to be a most produc- about the Birch Society, and on
shocking experience.
A spokesman for Wayne State -University had the audacity, nay, tive effort that has earned encouragement. Made possible by Council's , one occasion an educator on a
the lack of wisdom, to suggest that Jews are "sensitive" on this issue. ' Resale Shop, income from which has assured continuation of these i
efforts, many functions retain for the Council of Jewish Women a ' local
undertook
to defend
the program
Birch group
by expressing
the
It's been a long time since we have heard such a comment involving
sensitiveness. Is it being sensitive to object to the type of medievalism place of honor in our community. Resale Shop's current 30th anniver- view that the Birchers were not
that was imposed upon our community by a group of interlopers?' sary attests to the many years of activities by the women associated , anti-Semites. It is a minor matter
, that should not disturb us. We
Would that proper authorities could investigate the entire matter with the Council.
Then there is the 40th anniversary of the Music Study Club !have differences of opinion, and
of Arab exchange students! Many of them have not come here to
which has many marked achievements to its credit.
the average American knows that
study, but to conduct an anti-Jewish campaign out of their hatred for
Music Study Club has been an important factor in the cultural while the Birch group denies it is
Israel, and some universities have become accomplices in the crime
that was in evidence at the International Institute last week. We protest life of Detroit. It has contributed much to the enrichment of the '
that many
its recurring
leaders
Wayne State
University
authorities
Institute we
repre-
t h e r of
e is
against
the local
occurrence—in
all and
our International
sensitiveness—and
hold musical art
a and it has done much more than that: through its scholar- I anti - Semitic
ship fund it has made it possible for a number of promising young I , practice what others in
' their midst
sentatives responsible for the hurt that was intended for all Jews by musicians to rise to great heights and to achieve nationwide recogni-
Study Club gave 'them first start. Thereby the women's have denied. The popular vote did
their failure to intercede against the injection of medieval bigotry in t i on . Music Study
n has served a most valuable purpose as a significant the The
trick
against vote
them.
popular
spoke volumes
music
organizatio
our midst.
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.
community -movement and has earned the greetings and good wishes ag ainst the anti-Semitic reverber-
•
ations from the G. L. K. Smith
of all. Detroiters.
Histadrut's Role and Israel's Social Patterns
.
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' headquarters. and anti-Semitism, if
Israel's changing image calls for thorough analysis of the social
ever it was under discussion in the
conditions in the Jewish State. The current struggle there for a con- Lessons Taught by the Nov. 3 Balloting
There is so much to be learned from the results of the Nov. 3 campaign, was walloped sufficient-
tinuing progressive policy to assure an uninterrupted ingathering of
that for months to come. possibly years. the 1964 campaign ly for us to be grateful that the
.
the exiles and of the fusing of the numerous elements entering the balloting
historians bigots are in the minority.
land into a single entity often is marred by the two-nation obstacle— and its aftermath will be discussed by political analysts and
This does not imply that we
by the fact that the Ashkenazic population has been overwhelmed for a long time.
should not protest whenever there
Perhaps
the
most
vital
factor.
aside
from
the
rejection
of
the
by a Sephardic majority. that the Orientals now are numerically pre-
radical right, is that so many new voters made use of the franchise .is evidence of anti-Semitism. On
dominant over the Occidentals.
the contrary, we must never be
The government. let it be said to its credit. is aware of the with which they are blessed as Americans.
The fact that millions of Negroes voted for the first time in his- silent in the face of recurring
newly developed conditions and does all it possibly can to overcome
bigotry. And bigotry does emerge
the difficulties. to raise the standards of the immigrants from Moslem tory is the most welcome development in our democratic system. Many from time to time, and is certain
countries so that their educational, social and economic status may of us were witnesses to the presence in the long lines of voters, and again to make itself felt again. To
at the voting booths, of elderly colored men and women who were
speedily match those who had come from Western countries.
fight it, however, we must not be-
But the task is not an easy one. The obstacles are being hurdled just learning how to register their votes.
need vigilance
This is the great advance in our democracy. It gives new come panicky. We
with great difficulty. Generations. nay. centuries, of oppression and
we shall surely resort to it.
power to the democratic, way of life. It restores to this land a and
the uncivilized areas whence they came have placed the Oriental im-
sense of honor that goes with equality for all.
migrants at a disadvantage.
Our own State has special reason to be proud of the role played
Fortunately for Israel, this is where the major pioneering
in defense of racial equality. Michigan emerges the only State in the
faction in Israel, which had created the Histadrut—Israel's Federa-
Union to have two Negro Congressmen—Representatives Diggs and
tion of Labor—steps in. It is through the unions and their educa-
Conyers. It is justified representation and we wish them well in their
tional media that the difficulties can best be faced and overcome.
There is no doubt that the army is the best teacher, that by
services in behalf of America and their people.
contact with all elements who make up a cross-section of the people
The 1964 election proved that vote-splitting
HAIFA—A' group of Technion
of Israel in the armed forces the Oriental Jews' come closer to the
is possible. and can be effective. Governor
scientists has developed a mathe-
Occidentals than they possibly could through other contacts. But
Romney's triumph in Michigan, in spite of the
matical equation which may be
Histadrut brings them together as fellow-workers, and that proves
overwhelming vote cast for the Johnson-
used as a tool in determining the
equally effective.
Humphrey, ticket, is an indication that our
maximum amount of water which
Histadrut now also extends its educational facilities. While the GovernoiNs well liked, that the people look
can be safely pumped from coastal
labor movement has begun to increase its scholarships, it should be to him for leadership, that there is confi
wells.
recognized that more than 25 years ago. through the, Pine School, dence in the two-party system. While Jews
The development of the formula
and for many years thereafter, Histadrut has concerned itself with the and Negroes may have voted nearly 100 per
came as a result of research
educational needs of its pioneering elements. Therefore, while con cent for the Democratic standard -bearers,
undertaken in the agriculture engi-
sidering the new education program of the United Jewish Appeal, very many of them split their ballots in ap-
neering department of the Tech-
taking into account the efforts of individuals in behalf of the second- proval of Governor Romney. It does not
Dion, Israel Institute of Technology.
ary education efforts, the Histadrut activities must not be ignored.
denote a rebuke to his able opponent: it
Dr. Nathan Buras and Dr. Jacob
Histadrut's Cultural Exchange Institute which has just been formed served as a vote of confidence for the in-
Bear of the faculty of engineering
to assure a forum for American and Israeli intellectuals similarly cumbent who now emerges as the outstand-
explain thai the mathematical tech-
promises to draw together men of culture from many lands. A sort ing Republican leader in our land.
nique is called "Dynamic Program-
of a clearing house will thus be established for the pooling of interests
It is our sincere hope that Governor Rom-
ming" and was developed eight
that will aid in the advancement of programs related to Histadrut's ney, who has our best wishes for a success-
years ago as a theoretical approach
social welfare ideas. This is part of a growing movement that does ful term in office, will be among the lead-
in the United States. This is the
first time the approach has been
not shirk responsibility leading to progress—and part of that duty is ers in the battle against the extremists in
Romney
melting
together
of
Israel
into
a
one-nation
entity,
regardless
applied to the problem of coastal
the
his own party.
Meanwhile we wish to express
of the -origin of the newcomers.
wells.
The problem involved in pump-
our sense of joy over the Johnson-
But - srael's problems are not easily soluble. In a recent issue of
ing from coastal wells is that over-
Humphrey triumph. This good team
the New Republic, Shlomo Avineri, a Hebrew University political
science lecturer, writing under the title "Israel: Image and Reality—
exploitation of the wells reduces
augurs well for our country. They
the fresh water level, with the re-
Going. If Not Gone, Are the Good Old Bad Days", warned:
had fought against elements who
sult that sea water penetrates and
"In Israel today few people really believe that one should be
were threatening our freedoms.
general salination ensues.
May they be granted the health
a peasant and not a doctor, a worker and not a scientist. The tradi-
A paper covering the research
tional patterns of Jewish society, middle-classness, are reasserting
and the strength they need to keep
themselves. Studying and making as much money as possible are
was recently presented at the sixth
America g r ea t, to give courage
International Congress of Agricul-
becoming more and more the general ethos of society. In brief Israel
to the downtrodden, to lend dig-
tural Engineering in Lausanne,
is approaching not only the normal, bourgeois democracies of the
nity to our international role, to
Switzerland, where it was selected
West, but also the traditional patterns of Jewish society in the
retain the courage that is needed
as the "Laureat du congres" by
West against whose 'inverted social pyramid' early Zionism rebelled.
to fight for the peace that is often
the Congress Organization Com-
Humphrey
Many foreign visitors do already find Tel Aviv too reminiscent of
endangered in many areas.
. Johnson

Anniversaries of Merit: Bar-Ilan's Tenth Year, 40th Year
Another 'Crucifixion'? . . . Jewry, Two Local Agencies
of Music Study Club, 70th Anniversary of Women's Council
Victims of Injustice Perpetrated by Arab-Propagated Libels
Several anniversaries of special interest to our community are
Under' sponsorship of the Arab Student Association of Wayne
State University, a so-called Palestine Art Exhibit provided by the being marked here currently.
Topping the celebrated events is the tenth anniversary of Bar-
Organization of Arab Students in the United States was brought to De-
and was on display here for six days at the International Institute. Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel, where the names of prominent
troit At a time when the Vatican is struggling to amend an historic Detroiters are in evidence as pioneers who assisted in establishing

Technion Studies
Help in the Use of
Water Resources

a combination of Miami Beach, Fla., and Golders Green, London.

With most of the European Jews becoming utterly bourgeois in

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Some Unfortunate Developments
Israel, and with the Afro-Asian Jews desperately wanting to emulate
The 1964 election was marred by a few incidents that were most
them but mostly unable to do so, the social pattern of Israel is
regrettable.
causing many observers to be more than a bit uneasy."
It was unfortunate that there should have been an appeal to
It is so very evident that Histadrut can be the most wholesome
element in averting a threat of social discord in Israel. That is why "Fellow Americans of the Jewish Faith" carrying chargeS that the
fund-raising campaign deserves better than usual support. Johnson administration had become a tool of Nasserism. There was

its current

mittee. Of the more than 120

papers presented, only one other,
from Spain, was selected for spe-
cial mention.

. THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
2—Friday, November '13, 1964

