Purely Commentary
Hawaiian Jewry . . Viscount
Samuel's Visit Here ... Jewish
Tradition Defies Drunkenness
By Philip 2 Israeli Stamps
3/0MOYitZ
Viscount Samuel's Visit Here
Jews in Hawaii: Do They Mirror Jewry's Future?
Bnai Brith's adult education department renders a real service
by bringing noted leaders for public lectures to this country.
By sponsoring a series of addresses by the second Viscount
Samuel, the son of the late Herbert Samuel, Bnai Brith presents an
authority on the Middle East and on Zionism who has watched the
developments in Palestine until the Yishuv has emerged into its
present status as the autonomous State of Israel.
Like his late father, the present Viscount Samuel is a brilliant
literary master. His father wrote in the Churchillian style. The son
tells stories with fascination.
It is a pleasure to join in welcoming the distinguished son of
a distinguished father to our community. His appearance here on
Monday evening should bring a record attendance.
HONOLULU, Hawaii—The 50th State of the United States, the
youngest in the Union, also has one of the youngest Jewish com-
munities in America. While there are legends regarding the presenta-
tion of a Torah to King Kalakaua—when Hawaii was a kingdom and
before it became an American territory—in the 1870s or 1880s, the fact
is that Honolulu's Temple Emanu-El was organized but recently. Its
dedication took place in May of 1960, and while the Temple points
with pride to the Yad—the Torah Pointer in its Ark—as purportedly
having come from King Kalakaua, everything in Jewish ranks here
is new.
There was a synagogue here before the formation of Emanu-El.
the congregation of the Honolulu Jewish Community was first organ-
ized in 1938. But the community's firmness was established with the
construction of the permanent house of worship at 2550 Pali Highway.
It is in Honolulu on the Island of Oahu that most of the Jews
reside. Only a handful of Jews are to be found in the other islands—
Kauai, Molokai, Maui, Hawaii, Lanai, Niihau, Kanoolawe.
In Honolulu there are said to be as many as 2,000 Jews or more,
but the affiliated Jews number 700 or less. The rabbi of Temple
Emanu-El, Dr. Roy Rosenberg, a graduate of Hebrew Union College
in Cincinnati, points with pride to the fact that his congregation
has grown, during his brief ministry since the dedication of the
temple, from 100 to 160 families. But he believes a great many more
could be enrolled if an interest were shown by the considerable num-
ber of Jewish professors in the University of Hawaii.
Hawaii has become known as one of the most enticing vacation
spots in the world, and tourism may, eventually, bring to these islands
many more permanent settlers. A speculator in Jewish population
trends even suggested that perhaps a Lubavitcher or some other
Hasidic group may decide to come here and revolutionize Jewish life.
Meanwhile this is a settlement farthest removed from traditional
observances. There are regular Friday night services at Temple
Emanu-El, and Rabbi Fishel Pearlmutter, the Conservative Navy
chaplain stationed at Pearl Harbor, tells us he gets at least 60 or
more Jewish servicemen at Friday night services he conducts at the
Pearl Harbor Chapel. There may be more than 300 Jewish service-
men in this strategic military area.
Yet, kosher meat is secured by Rabbi Pearlmutter only for him-
self and, he states, for only two or three other Jewish families,
occasionally. Such kosher products must be shipped to Hawaii from
Los Angeles—a 2,500-mile distance from Honolulu.
There were two rabbis who preceded Rabbi Rosenberg—the late
Dr. Francis Hevesi, a former chief rabbi of Hungary, and Rabbi
Alexander Segel. Both had helped provide kosher meats for a larger
number of families during their ministry here. Observing Jews who
required kosher food products have since become nil.
The 700 affiliated Jews represent the largest number of Jews
who can be reached with a Jewish appeal. There are many Jews
on the University of Hawaii faculty, but few show a Jewish interest.
When George Lincoln Rockwell made an appearance recently at
the university here, he received an ovation. Chinese, Japanese,
Hawaiians, who hardly know Jews, are said to have "loved" his
humor. It is reported that there now is a Rockwell cell here. It
numbers five or six members, but it exists. People here find it
difficult to explain the Rockwell "success," but the "triumph" is on
the record. The fact is that there may not have been anyone there
to challenge or to refute him.
The big void becomes evident here at once: there is very little
communication with the rest of Jewry. Even the religiously affiliated
Jews do not have Jewish newspaper contacts and may be totally
unaware of what goes on in Jewish life on a worldwide basis. The
lack of communication creates a void, but Rabbi Rosenberg tells us
that if a crisis were to rise in Israel—like the Sinai Campaign—his
community would be awakened to action in Israel's defense.
In spite of the void, Dr. Rosenberg makes the interesting comment
that Hawaiian Jewry "mirrors the future American Jewry." He
believes that American Jewry, like the Hawaiian of the present time,
will be a religious community and one that will continue to reject
secular appeals. That is why, he said, Bnai Brith is weak and tottering;
why there is no organized Zionist movement here; why there is what
he calls a socially-oriented small Hadassah group; and other move-
ments are not reaching out to Hawaiian Jewry.
But Israel Bonds are bought here—not in great quantities, but
their existence is known.
A prominent Hawaiian Jewish engineer, echoing Rabbi Rosen-
berg's sentiments, gave another view of Hawaiian Jewry; that it is
a test-tube for the study of the future of American Jewry.
Rabbi Rosenberg has converted 25 or more Hawaiians to Judaism.
He officiates at mixed marriages. He plays an active role among
non-Jews and he states that he would conduct a proselytizing campaign
for Judaism if his congregation were to back him up. How? With
financial assistance, he explained, to make proselytization possible.
And so, a rabbi's view of the mirror of the future and an
engineer's idea of a test-tube are applied to Hawaiian Jewry in
relation to American Jewry's future. Both views must be rejected
as unrealistic. Without knowledge, as without vision, Jewry perisheth.
But Jewry won't perish because the interests in Israel, Zionism, other
Jewish movements may grow here—and tourism may bring into this
community the elements vital to instill a life different from what
exists at present in Hawaii.
*
*
Drunkenness ... and the Jewish Tradition
A most enlightening article on "Teen-Age Drinking" by Bill
Davidson, in the Saturday Evening Post, reveals some shocking facts.
It tells, for instance, about "a handsome 17-year-old in beige chino
trousers" who said: "After 12 cans of beer I feel like a man . . ."
Davidson's article concludes:
"Most psychiatrists believe that social drinking by parents is
harmless so long as it does not become a fetish, and so long as the
child is brought up reasonably well. The strong family unit, they say,
is the strongest defense against problem drinking. It is a recorded
phenomenon, for example, that the children of Italian-American and
Jewish parents begin sipping wine ceremoniously with their families
at an extremely early age. And yet problem drinking is rare in these
groups because of the strong parental influence that frowns on
excesses of any kind.
" 'Unfortunately,' says Dr. Selden Bacon of Rutgers, 'not too many
American parents apply this sort of restraint on themselves, let alone
their children. Today, most Americans are afraid to tell anyone he is
drinking too much, for fear of being called a square or a bluenose.
We're the only nation in the world where it is not a disgrace for
someone to be sloppy drunk in public. If parents rid themselves of
this attitude, it would immediately reflect itself in their children . . "
There is validity in the issue outlined and in the examples given
of Jewish and Italian traditions. One wonders, however, whether the
rules of the past will retain their strength in an era and in areas of
environmental pressures. Public functions as a rule open up with
cocktail hours. Dinners in private homes are preceded by "a drink."
The children know about it. They see their elders in action. Do the
new trends invalidate the wholesome ceremonials of the past? Once
again, only time can provide the proper answer to this puzzle.
Joseph Bernstein
—
Remarkable Self Made Man and Leader
-
Joseph Bernstein would have been 85 in a few weeks. He lived
a good life, and he left an indelible mark upon our community. He
will be remembered as a creative personality who assisted in the
formation of important movements here.
He loved his work in the Jewish Daily Forward and he took
great delight in evaluating local conditions, in reporting communal
events, in being on guard against occurrences that might offend
the Jewish spirit.
A socialist and a labor leader with deep convictions, he had
become a strong adherent of the New Deal. He was an arch defender
of the labor and unionist movements and he fought against Com-
munists with a zeal and a conviction that stemmed whatever gains
the handful of Communists might have made in this city.
And he became a strong adherent of the Histadrut, a supporter
of labor Zionism, a lover of Israel.
It was thanks to him, in large measure, that the movement for
the building of a modern home for the aged took shape. He helped
in the formation of the Jewish Community Council and other move-
ments.
Whatever he created was a result of his own development into
cultural greatness. He was self-made, resulting from studies he con-
ducted on his own—never having had the opportunity for a higher
education. And what he acquired for himself was attained with love
and understanding. Perhaps that is what made him an even more
distinguished leader whose name will live in Detroit's annals.
Bourguiba Says Nasser Knew
His Arab-Israel Peace Stand
PARIS (JTA)—President Habib
Bourguiba of Tunisia, renewing
his appeal for an end to Arab-
Israel hatreds, disclosed that Egyp-
tian leaders knew and approved
of his intention to make his views
publicly known.
The Tunisian leader's latest ef-
fort was in an interview in the
April 15 issue of the French week-
ly, Nouvelle Observateur, in which
he reiterated his stand for a nego-
tiated solution of the Israel-Arab
dispute.
Specifically, he urged "an end
to the bitter hatred which divides
Arabs and Jews and which leads
the Arab masses to a fanaticism
which will be dangerous the day
when negotiations will have to
start."
Referring to a recent visit to
Cairo, he declared: "I told Cairo
that I intended to make my views
publicly known, on condition
that I should not be accused of
betraying the Arab cause. Every-
body agreed. There were some
differences of evaluation, but no
serious disagreements."
He also said that President Nas-
ser of Egypt exprossed, in an in-
terview with the French monthly,
"Realities," ideas "not so very
different from my own."
He asserted that he had reason
to believe that President Tito of
Yugoslavia did not support the un-
relenting hostility of the Arab
leaders against Israel. He hinted
that his recent talks with Tito led
him to believe that the Yugoslav
leader, "without doubt one of the
Arabs' best friends in general, and
Nasser's in particular, "might feel
that "Arab-Jewish co-existence
could be realized."
Meanwhile, the left-wing Mapam
Party instructed former Minister
of Health Israel Barzilai, who is
in Ireland now, to try to contact
"advanced Arab circles" in Europe
and discuss with them a Mapam
plan for peace between Israel and
the Arab states.
Mapam recently adopted a peace
plan which calls for immediate
Arab-Israeli negotiations concern-
ing the Palestine refugees and
denuclearization of the Middle
East region. The evening paper
Yediot Achronoth said Tuesday
that Barzilai had been requested
to follow through on this plan in
view of pacification statements by
Bourguiba.
(Copyright, 1965, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Mark Liberation,
Independence Day
Commemorative postage stamps
marking the anniversary of the
proclamation of the state of Israel
(left) and the liberation of Nazi
concentration camps have been is-
sued by the Israel Ministry of
Posts, Jerusalem. The Indep en-
deuce Day stamp, also in com.,
memoration of Memorial Day, costs \---------)
13 cents; the other is 9 cents. Add
one cent for a first day cover and
2'7 cents for postage.
Hausner Reviews
Implications of
Trials of Nazis
In the current issue of Esquires
Gideon Hausner, former Attorney
General of Israel and Adolph Eich-
mann's prosecutor, argues there
are no ex-Nazis, just a lot of free
ones who must be apprehended,
tried and punished.
Writing about the legal deadline
for the prosecution of Nazi war
crimes, Hausner notes that: "Limi-,
tations of actions is a concep
based on the Biblical idea of the
Jubilee year, when wrongs are for-
gotten, debts annulled and a new
spring commences. It would be a
real tragedy if, as a result of this
lofty idea, the greatest evil on
earth remains unpunished and the
most dangerous war criminals who
ever trod the soil are able to re-
vert to normal life . . .
"This is not the problem of Ger-
many alone. It concerns all na-
tions. Whatever threat to our fu-
ture peace may loom from other
quarters, the fact remains that in
our immediate past it was Ger-
many which made us go to war
twice and which has inflicted on
the world untold suffering. We. owe
it to the memory of the dead and
to the security of the living to en-
sure that the evil be rooted out
from that country. The peace of7,_
the world may well depend on
In his Esquire article, Hausnei----/
enumerates the crimes of some of
the major Nazi criminals who are
still at large. He reviews the his-
tory of anti-Semitism in Germany
that pre-dated Hitler; the present
attitude toward the prosecution of
Nazis; and the political implica-
tions of the cutoff date for new
prosecutions.
This article appears in the May
issue of Esquire.
Tel Aviv Site Selected
for New Soviet Embassy
TEL AVIV (JTA)—The Soviet
embassy will erect its own build-
ing here on a plot of land the
Soviet government retained when
it recently sold most of its prop-
erty to Israel, it was reported here.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
2—Friday, April 23, 1965
Rep. Gerald Ford Lauds Emotional Ties to One's Origin
Rep. Gerald R. Ford of Michigan,
minority leader of the House of
Representatives, declared that
Israel's "tremendous progress" dur-
ing the 17 years of its existence
has placed it "well on the way to
complete self-reliance and sta-
bility."
Speaking at a dinner in honor of
Sheriff Richard B. Ogilvie of Cook
County, held under the auspices of
the Chicago Israel Bond campaign,
Congressman Ford said:
"A courageous and dedicated
people have almost miraculously
transformed a largely arid and un-
developed land into a modern in-
dustrial nation."
The Michigan legislator lauded
the Israel Bond campaign for its
role in helping Israel overcome
many problems and difficulties and
in providing the economic facilities
for the immigration and absorption
of many hundreds of thousands of
immigrants.
Emphasizing the positive value
of the pluralistic character of
America, Rep. Ford observed that
out of the different ethnic groups
in our population "have grown a
fuller cultural life, and a more
stimulating United States."
He praised the Jewish commu-
nity for its support of Israel's de-
velopment, adding:
"Rather than question in any
way those who feel deep emotional
ties to other countries—whether it
be Israel or Ireland or Italy or
Africa—we should salute this as
a manifestation of the genius of
our nation. This is part of what
we call Americanism. It is one of
the things that makes both Israel
and America unique in the world.
The beauty of Joseph's coat was
that it was of many colors."