THE JEWISH NEWS Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951 Member American Association of English—Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial .eeocia Lion. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit, Mich. M235. .E 8-9364. Subscription $6 a year. Foreign S7. Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Editor and Publisher CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ Business Manager SIDNEY SHMARAK Advertising Manager CHARLOTTE DUBIN City Editor Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the first day of Heschvan, 5728, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues. Pontatuchal portions, Gen. 6:9-11:32, Num. 28:9-15. Pnophetical portion, Isaiah 66:1-24. Candle lighting, Friday, Nov. 3, 5:05 p.m. Page Four VOL. LII. NO. 7 November 3, 1967 Fiftieth Anniversary of Balfour Declaration Since the issuance of the Balfour Declara- tion on Nev. 2, 1917, Zionism has become a reality, Theodor Herzl's prophecy that he had created a Jewish State when he called the First World Zionist Congress in -1896 was fulfilled and the State of Israel stands firm as evidence of the realization of pro- nhecy. roreiga office, soveraber lid, 1919. Deer Lord Rothschild. I have much pleasure in conveying to you. es behalf of His Majesty' ■ Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Zahinet. His majeatwa Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national horn* for the Jewish people, and will use their beet endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object. it being Clearly understood that nothing shall be done 'blob may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish ccirmunitiss in Ps.lestins, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.* I anould be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the it:nodules of the Zionlit PederatIOn. A And 50 years have elapsed since Arthur James Balfour addressed the famous letter to Lord Rothschild were marked by tensions, tragedies, riots in Palestine with the aim by Arab potentates to destroy the very founda- tion of the Jewish State. The events of the past half century mili- tated against all of the obstructions that emanated from Arabs, British officials who could not stomach the very idea of Jewish statehood and anti-Semites in many quar- ters as well as some bigoted Christians who failed to recognize the legitimacy of Jewish aspirations as represented in the Zionist ideal. It is to the credit of Lord Balfour that he stood firm in adhering to the pledge he had made on behalf of the government he represented. He was abused by many, when he appeared at the laying of the corner- stone for the Hebrew University in Jerusa- lem he was maligned and his life was threat- ened. But he did not deviate an iota from Lord Balfour the ideal he embraced from the time that he had met with Dr. Chaim Weizmann, the world leader of the Zionist movement, and joined with him in support- ing the hopes of the Jewish people to strive for an end to Jewish homelessness. Retention of faith in the Balfour Declara- tion was not an easy task by any means. There were too many British officials who labored to destroy the very idea inherent in Zionism and in the pledge to the Jewish people by their government. There was, how- ever, a small group that stood with Balfour in defense of the great humanitarian idea which was the counterpart of another great declaration, that of Cyrus, King of Persia, as recorded in the Book of Ezra 1:2-4: "Thus said Cyrus king of Persia, AU the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord, the God of heaven, given me; and he hath charged me to build Him a house in Jeru- salem, which is in Judah. Whosoever there is among you of all His people, his God be with him, and let him go up to Jeru- salem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, (he is God), which is in Jerusalem. And whoso- ever is left, in any place where he sojourn- eth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem." Here we have the framework for Zion rebuilt, the source of prophecy, the basis for a continuity of Jewish claims to statehood in their ancient homeland. In this ancient decla- ration is incorporated the obligation of Jews everywhere to come to the aid of those who seek to re-establish their homeland in Israel and to end their statlessness wherever their security is threatened. Here we have a con- firmation of the rights of Jewry—of the Peo- ple Israel—to the capital called Jerusalem, the house of God that is in Judah! It is with a sense of historic continuity that the Zionist movement undertook the re- vival of statehood. The determined will of the Jewish people—under great difficulties encountered among Jews who were blind to reality in the early days of Zionism as well as among unfriendly non-Jews—was responsi- ble for a triumph that was accompanied by fearlessness, courage, adherence to faith. The historic sense was inspired by Theo- dor Herzl and the distinguished leaders who understood the Jewish needs and who de- terminedly set out to solve the age-old prob- lem of homelessness of persecutions that accounted for millions of Jewish dead dur- ing the 20 centuries of statelessness. The Balfour Declaration ensued as a result of the labors of one of the greatest men of our time — Dr. Chaim Weizmann. It was as a result of the activi- ties of the eminent Jew- ish chemist that Arthur James Balfour, Lloyd George, Winston Church- t ill, Josiah Wedgewood and many other hasidei umot haolam—the saint- , " ly among the nations of , the world, assisted in making Zionism a real- ity. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration we Dr. Weizmann must take into account primarily the guid- ance, the labors, the dedication, the sac- rifices for the movement made by Chaim Weizmann. And as we mark the historic event we take into account the labors of the many other great Zionist leaders and later the dedicated services of the present Israeli lead- ership, of the people who came to the ancient homeland to build against great odds, of the modern Maccabees who fought for lib- eration and who have battled heroically to retain their freedom. Annually commemorated in Detroit at Rich Traditions of 1870-1925 Recorded in 'Portal to America' When the Jewish Museum of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America conducted the Lower East Side Exhibition in 1966, it was among the sensations of the year. Depicting life on the East Side of New York in the early years of the Jewish settle- ment, it dramatically portrayed the historic period of 1870 to 1925. It incorporated the personalities, their struggles, their emergence into prominence. It showed the flow of immigrants and the difficult conditions under which they lived. And at the same time it indicated the desire for learning, the passion for culture—and for justice—and the craving for good theater, participation in press discussions, the public rallies, the defense of the downtrodden. Now this story is recorded in a most impressive, extensively illustrated, work, edited by the man who directed the exhibition. In "Portals to America: Schoener The Lower East Side, 1870-1925," published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Dr. Alton Schoener presents the chronicle of Jewish events in the years of the mass migrations, during the formative periods of the emergence of the Jewish community of America. Like the unusually impressive exhibition, this beautifully printed and excellently compiled book is a combination of history, of personal dramas, of art and literature. It is the story of the immigrants and the streets they made famous on the Lower East Side. It is an account of resistance to ani-Semitism, when rowdies molested newcomers, and of protests against pogroms in Russia. The story of the sweatshop, the strikes, the Triangle Fire, the social-mindedness, the theaters, the holiday celebrations; the per- sonalities who emerged in greatness; the centers that were created by Lillian Wald and men and women who, like her, sought to alleviate misery and to raise the standards of the people—these are among the many factors from the exhibition that are presented in this literary compilation. The treatment of the occurrences and the experiences of that era in the press—in the major New York newspapers and in the Yiddish press—is part of this dramatic narrative. Considerable attention is given to the Bintel Brief of the Forward and like the theatrical progress it es idences the interests of the people 1 and the form of service that was rendered to the immigrants and to those seeking advice on a variety of social, economic, family and other matters. It served as a platform for the East Siders. There was an Adaptation, as is indicated in the section so entitled in this volume, and in it the reader learns about the immigrant's adjustment to the economic, religious, social aspects of a new life. Naturalization was important and soon the im- migrant became a vital clement in America. His citizenship papers and the library card distinguished the newcomers. It was a pioneering era and in the course of it the immigrant assisted in forming a strong labor movement. In his introduction to this noteworthy work, the editor, who so ably directed the exhibition at the Jewish Museum, stated: the Balfour Concert of the local Zionist "A rich tradition of aspiration and achievement belongs to every- Organization, it is an occasion for genuine one associated with the Lower East Side. Immigrants became ped- rejoicing. The anniversary we are now celebrating marks the most historic event of the century. It was the beginning of Jewish statehood. It proclaimed an end to Jewish homelessness. Therefore we recall the name of Arthur James Balfour with joy and with thankful- ness. And we join in acclaiming the Bal- four anniversary as one of the great sym- bols of freedom attained—never tq be sac- rificed again. dlers, sweatshop workers, and small shopkeepers. Economic oppor- tunities permitted many of them and their children to become success- ful businessmen, lawyers, doctors and intellectuals. The American melting-pot philosophy encouraged social mobility. The Lower East Side was an open-end ghetto . . . It was a creative crucible which gave birth to great ideas and great men." Text and photography combine to make "Portal to America" an outstanding work. With the Lower East Side exhibition now touring the country, this volume assumes even greater significance.