Pearlman's Talks with Ben-Gurion Reveal
Statesman's Atitude on Israel, World Issues

"Ben-Gurion Looks Back" by
Moshe Pearlman, published by
Simon and Schuster, contains a
series of interviews on the most
vital Israeli, Jewish and world
issues. If ever there were doubts
about David Ben-Gurion's position
on numerous problems, they are
dispelled in this very important
volume.
Pearlman is unquestionably one
of_Israel's most brilliant journal-
ists. He proved his skill as director
of Israel's information services
when Israel declared its independ-
ence. He was among Ben-Gurion's
chief advisers on public affairs.
In this volume are recorded
talks Pearlman had with Ben-
Gurion at Sde Boker, the B-G

DAVID BEN-GURION

Negev desert home, and in Jeru-
salem, in 1964. They were con-
ducted in Hebrew and Pearlman
presents the replies in English,
in his own translation.
The questions were on science
and ethics, Buddhism, Zionist lead-
ers and leadership, British High
Commissioners and Ministers, the
army, religion, Israel and world
Jewry and a score of other topics.
The list of contents at once
indicates the universality and the
variety of the issues discussed.
This reviewer is especially
impressed with the attitude Ben-
Gurion expressed on religious
matters and the reason he gave
for Jewish survival.
Frequent references were made
by Ben-Gurion to "Jewish Identity"
and Pearlman asked him what he
thought kept the Jewish people
alive throughout the centuries. The
former Israel Premier replied that
"Israel must be viewed in the con-
text of the Jewish past" and de-
clared: "I am convinced that its
preservation was due to the con-
stant and all-pervasive awareness
of Jews throughout the centuries
of something I can only express in
a seemingly archaic phrase — the
vision of Messianic redemption, na-
tional and all-human."
Pearlman pursued the question:
"Are you saying, then, that it is
basically the Jewish religion which
kept alive the special identity of
the Jewish people?" And Ben-
Gurion replied:
"Very largely so; but I am
stating what I believe to be the
full content of that religion, and
I am insisting that only by
recognizing all its features can
one understand the power of its
impact on the Jewish people
throughout history. The Jewish
faith is not only monotheism.
Intrinsic to it is the national
and territorial motif, which led
to the profound spiritual allegi-
ance of the Jews to their ancient
land even while they lived in
exile. Intrinsic to it is the body
of moral principles, proclaiming
the supreme values of righteous-
ness, mercy and love. And equal-
ly intrinsic to it is the idea of
redemption both of the Jewish
people and of all the peoples of
the world."
Believing that in difference
there is a difference between the
lives of Jews in Israel and those
in the Diaspora, Ben-Gurion never-
theless expressed the view that
"the two groups are interdepend-
ent," that "the future of Israel —
its security, its welfare, and its
capacity to fulfill its historic mis
sion — depends on world Jewry.
And the future of world Jewry

depends on the survival of Israel."
There is an impressive analysis
of Israel in relation to the emer-
gent and the aid Israel gives the
underdeveloped countries.
Ben-Gurion's views on pioneer-
ing are those of an expert in the
field. There is much interest in
his analysis of languages, of the
power of Hebrew, of the role of
Yiddish and Ladino.
His evaluations of Weizmann
and Herzl are equally important.
He pays honor to the first Presi-
dent of Israel by stating:
"Weizmann's place in Jewish
history is alongside the great
rulers and kings of old, and as
the foremost leader who fash-
ioned our sovereign statehood
in our own times."
Jewish and world leaders are
under scrutiny. He spoke of Gen-
eral de Gaulle as "fearless in
character," with "a dazzlingly ori-
ginal and analytical mind."
Ben-Gurion considers President
Johnson a leader who possesses
"the quality of compassion." In-
teresting. comments were made by
him to Pearlman about Truman,
Eisenhower, Kennedy, Hammarsk-
jold. His analyses of the High
Commissioners add immeasurably
to studies of the history of Pale-
stine under British rule.
On the question of Israel's re-
lations with the Arab states, Ben-
Gurion said:
"Peace today would benefit
the Arab States as much as, and
probably more than, it would
benefit Israel . . . Faith in my
fellow man makes me confident
that the wretched and degrading
effect of the Arab heritage will
not last forever. They must

Pantheon Books Publish es Adventure Stories

religious feeling among the non-
devout than do the Natorei Karta,
and an orthodox paratrooper has
a greater influence on his fellow
soldiers than does a Sabbath stone-
thrower of Mea She'arim."
There are so many issues that
confronted Ben-Gurion — all dealt
with by him with frankness — that
"Ben-Gurion Looks Back" emerges
as a most valuable philosophical
and social analysis of human
events as well as Israel and Jewry.
Moshe Pearlman did a splendid job
in his choice of questions and his
perfect translation into English of
B-G's replies in Hebrew.
—P. S.

Daniel Ross Chairman
of Friends of Tel Aviv U.

NEW YORK (JTA) — Daniel G.
Ross, a prominent New York at-
torney, who has served in the
leadership of various philanthropic
and cultural organizations, has
been elected chairman of the board
of directors of the American
Friends of Tel Aviv University, it
was announced by Dr. Raphael
Patai, president of AFTAU.
Simultaneously, it was reported
that Mrs. Louis S. Gimbel Jr. had
been named co-chairman and that
Harry Barger had been chosen
chairman of the executive commit-
tee. Tel Aviv University consists
of a Faculty of Science, Faculty of
Humanities, Faculty of Social Sci-
ences, a School of Medicine,
Faculty of Continuing Medical
Education and a Department of
Pedagogy.

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Artistically and content-wise.
"Grodge-Cat and the Window
Cleaner" is just the kind of story
the very young will devour with
great relish. The story is by John
Symonds. Lettering and the pic-
ture album is by Andre Francois.
Pantheon Books published it.
A little girl narrator, a daugh-
ter to Quince cat (Grodge) and
Grodge's beloved, and a mongrel
dog are the heroes of a tale in
which there is fun, adventure,
humor — action throughout. And
the action makes for a thriller that
enchants the young reader.
Another noteworthy Pantheon
book, of similar grandeur, is
Laurent de . Brunhoff's "Bon-
homme," translated from the
French by Richard Howard. De
Brunhoff did both the story and
the pictures. It is a story about
a French girl and her friend who
never says a word, yet there is

action with a p u r p o s e. Bon-
homme belongs in the zoo
and the town council wants him
there, but friend Emilie saves
him — and there develops a
story with a moral in friendli-
ness.
Credit Pantheon with another
impressive children's book: "The
Animal Family," by Randall Jar-
rell, a tale that is enhanced by
Maurice Sendak's illustrations _ . it
is a story about a hunter who
gathers a family of animals, in a
wilderness that takes on a pleasant
form. There is a mermaid, a
dolphin, creatures that become ac-
ceptable and part of a good life.
It is a book for 9- and 10-year olds
— and older ones too, since it
offers such enjoyable reading.

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MOSHE PEARLMAN

ultimately give way to the grow-
ing aspiration throughout the
hiunan race for educational and
economic progress, for more
freedom, for the full expression
of the individual personality.
Liberal governments will replace
the current dictatorships and
their concern for the interests
of their people will bring them
to co-operate with their like-
minded Israeli neighbor."
On Israel's relationship with
Germany, B-G said: "A hostile
Germany might endanger the
friendship with Israel of other
peoples of Western Europe, and
could also have an undesirable in-
fluence on the United States. It
is therefore doubly important for
Israel to promote closer relations
with Germany."
Especially significant is the
chapter that deals with his views
on China. Ben-Gurion believes
China will soon overtake the Soviet
Union and other advanced nations
and he told Pearlman: "China
should be recognized as soon as
possible as a member of the fam-
ily of nations."
He believes that the religious =
issue in Israel will become less
acute with time. He expressed the
conviction "that the religious kib-
butzim do more to encourage a

•

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, December 10, 1965-13

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