Purely Commentary

MacLeish's Masterpiece: The Shalom
Spelling Peace in Land, in Soul

By Philip
Slomovitz

"We are going to war!" was the rapturous
scream MacLeish heard in Cairo during his week's
stay in Egypt. He was soon to learn the meaning
and extent of incitement to it, although Nasser may
have merely mouthed it without desiring it.

More Tension for Israel—Turkish, Iranian Antagonisms
Israel needs friends, and the Jewish State's pride has been that
at least two of the countries in her area—Turkey and Iran (Persia)—
have been friendly and that there were amicable liberations with them.
But in recent days we have had antagonistic declarations from
MacLeish came to Israel a day before the both. Emulating the cry of "get out . . . get out , .. "withdraw from
occupied
territories," these two countries are resorting to similar
He
had
a
chance
to
get
some
war broke out.
briefings. He came to a land which, in contrast outcries when affirming a desire for peace.
with Egypt, was not infested with the flies about
It is understandable that such outcries are being uttered for the
which his book reports at the very outset. He sake of assuaging a certain amount of public sentiments. There are
reached civilization — he doesn't say so in many Moslems in Turkey and Iran and it is for their benefit that an occa-
words but his story indicates a great difference sional anti-Israel outburst of oratory is sounded. Meanwhile there
in atmosphere. The title of his book is in itself is free exchange of trade and of tourism between Israel and these
biblical — it is from the Book of Joshua: "And two countries and hope persists that the relations will remain friendly
the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until between the three countries. But Israel must remain cautious at all
people had avenged themselves upon their times, striving to solidify rather than weaken such friendships. That's
f,
enemies
where tensions enter and the demands for Israel's calmness and
Yet throughout the story, contrary again, to diplomatic skills come into play in situations that are endlessly
challenging
situations.
it
was
not
vengeance
that
was
Egyptian outcries,
sought but a chance to live and ho have peace.
Will It Be 'Rabbi' Kennedy Next?
There are no limits to gimmicks in fund-raising and award-
MacLeish's report of his Tel Aviv visit follows
the Cairo pattern. It tells about the people and the giving.
Conservative Judaism's theological seminary annually conducts
political parties and their leaders. Eshkol, Ben-
Gurion, Dayan, Eban pass in review. So do the an appeal for funds in Miami Beach. It happens to be a wonderful
location
during the winter months—an ideal spot in which to contact
military leaders who waited with their report about
a great triumph until more could be triumphed, not the vacationists who have the means to make the gifts.
Yearly, the seminary finds some one to serve as an attraction for
to permit too speedy a UN cease-fire.
In this portion, too, there is a chance to learn audience-gathering.
This
year it'll be U. S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Ted Kennedy
about the stupidities of Hussein, his collaboration
of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
with Nasser in concocting the lie about aid to Israel will receive the seminary's degree
As
of
Feb. 26, Ted Kennedy will be honorary alumnus of a
by the United States and Britain.
Jewish theological seminary.
Previous works described the speed with
(Detroiters who heard the Massachusetts Senator
which the Israeli forces acted to acquire Gaza
at an Allied Jewish Campaign black-tie dinner two
and its environs, to get to the Suez. MacLeish's,
years ago will recall how he mesmerized them with
with great simplicity, seems to be even more
observations that were marked by a total lack of under-
thorough. It is a report for the average layman
standing of the Arab-Israel issue).
and not for the Pentagon, as some books seem
What a remarkable ecumenical stunt!
to have been angled in an earnest desire to
It's the closest to making it Rabbi Kennedy !
display understanding of military skills. Mac-
The seminary needs and should get lots of support. Let's hope
Leish is a broadcaster suddenly turned author this stunt will bring desired results. If we must go to a Kennedy to
and he accomplishes his task well in reaching get Jews to come to a meeting and to give for a rabbinic school, let
out for the average listener to the news: his it at least be successful.
reportorial work approaches perfection in
And on Feb. 27—let's begin asking: what next? any other gim-
simplicity.
micks and tricks in fund-raising? any other ecumenical stunts? shall
we
make
it Rabbi Kennedy next?
MacLeish also describes the horrors of warfare.
He tells about the devastation in the Gaza area, on The Prejudices of a National Periodical
the war to El Arish. He describes the loss of
A system-grinder hates the truth.
Egyptian lives, the bodies that were strewn on the
When the U.S.S. Liberty tragedy occurred shortly after the June
roadways, and when he related it to a young Israeli Six-Day War, the National Observer saw fit to enter into a lengthy
girl, a member of the Israel armed forces, she was tirade against Israel. In an editorial that was as close as one could
horrified. This is really the story of Israel: the get to anti-Semitism, that periodical resorted to accusations that were
search for the human element.
never fully sustained. It made charges that were not corroborated by
Israel, too, was attacked. Natania suffered from the Pentagon.
an air raid. MacLeish tells how the residents soon
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
regained their composure: they hadn't even been
Now, so close to the Pueblo misfortune, when it is generally con-
given the warning of an impending attack. The ceded that in an area of good will, reflected in American-Israel friend-
Natanians collected the rubble and spoke of re- ship, such an incident could not occur between two nations who are in
building.
an amicable accord, as in the case of the U.S.S. Liberty, the National
It was inevitable that there should be rejoicing, Observer again resorts to venom. It has just stated editorially:
"No amount of money can ever really compensate the families
but MacLeish tells how little there was of jubilia-
tion. It is no wonder, therefore, that as he was of the 34 American sailors killed last June in the wanton attack by
about to get on a plane to return to London, on the Israelis on the U.S.S. Liberty. But it is refreshing to learn that
June 9, he reported in these closing words in his Washington finally has presented a claim of $3,300,000 to Israel on
behalf of the families. Israel has agreed to the principle. We trust
"Islam is one of the roots of the people upon book:
there will be no haggling that would only add to the lingering stench
whom Nasser is building a state. Even the
As the passengers walked toward of this sickening episode."
proletarian Syrians don't dare trample too bard
the aircraft, the attendant said to
National Observer's editors need not be so sanctimonious. They
on religion. A Syrian officer said, just before
each, 'Shalom' In Israel the word is
are not alone in feeling that "no amount of money can compensate"
the war, that Islam is passe and ought to be
used for hello and good-bye.
the
bereaved families. But they need not inspire hate and suspicion by
out in a museum; he was publicly reprimanded."
But it really means peace.
speaking of "haggling," by charging "wanton" intentions, by inciting
In the land. In the souL
The role of Syria as evaluated by MacLeish is
to further prejudice about a "lingering stench." If there is a linger-
equally valuable. The Syrians wanted guerrilla war-
So ends a powerful story about a short but ing stench it is in the columns of National Observer and its view on an
fare. They didn't get along with the other Arab decisive war, described in fascinating style, by a incident tragic enough without causing it to be a cause of endless
leaders — and which of them did, except that commentator turned reporter. "The Sun Stood Still" hatred.
Hussein suddenly kissed Nasser after all the abuse is excellent reporting, brilliant writing, magnificent
It is never too late to give up our prejudices.
he received at his hands?
—Henry David Thoreau in "Walden.
observation of an important era in modern history.

The Sun Stood Still'— Excellent
Reporting, Brilliant Writing and Observation
Many books have already been written about the
June Six-Day War. Within a couple of weeks after
the historic events which restored Israel's security,
volumes describing the ocurrences, the events that
preceded June 5, the war itself and the aftermath,
began to escalate out of publishing houses.
There were hundreds of magazine articles. M. S.
Arnoni's lengthy review of the Middle East crisis
in his magazine The Minority of One was among the
significant literary products.
Few, however, match in brilliance the latest
evaluative work, "The Sun Stood Still — Israel and
the Arabs at War." by Roderick MacLeish, pub-
lished by Atheneum.
It is an impressive and revealing work in the
sense that it does not merely relate the facts
but deals with them in their historical sense,
touching upon the sociological factors, reviewing
the political approaches, probing the minds of
the peoples involved and their leaders.
MacLeish, radio and television commentator for
Westinghouse Broadcasting Co., had been to Arab
countries but not in Israel. He accepted the assign-
ment and the fulfillment of it is contained in the two
parts of the book—Cairo: May 28-June 2 and Tel
Aviv: June 4 - June 9. In the intervening week-end
he was in Rome. He certainly could not have gone
to Israel direct from Egypt.
There is cause for gratitude to MacLeish for his
thorough account of his Cairo visit not only because
it relates how the Egyptians clamored for war but
for the excellent biographical data about Gamal
Abdel Nasser and King Hussein and his description
of the relationships between the Arab rulers.
The Cairo portion of the MacLeish book has
the additional merit of analyzing Russia's role
in the Middle East. The USSR plays a game, and
it provided the Arab states — primarily Syria
and certainly also the UAR — with vast amounts
of weapons. Yet even the Russians were baffled
by the Egyptians' manipulations and inade-
quacies.
Nevertheless, Russia came to wage war on Israel
at the United Nations and MacLeish reviews
minutely the developments which led to the verbal
attacks on Israel. Suffice it to quote MacLeish's
conclusion that in the UN "Nikolai Fedorenko was
sounding as if he had taken leave of his senses.
His accusation that the Israelis were behaving in a
'Hitlerian' manner will go down in history as one of
diplomacy's vulgar non-sequiturs."
It is well to understand Nasser and Hussein and
Shukairy — as MacLeish portrays them. Besides,
MacLeish's account of the actions and attitudes of
foreign embassies in Cairo is valuable for an under-
standing of a war that will continue to cause amaze-
ment immemorially.
The reader of "The Sun Stood Still" will be
grateful to the author also for his explanation of the
influence of Islam teachings upon the present rulers.
There is this interesting observation:

Noted Scholars Secured to Address
Four Sessions of Midrasha Institute

"Prospects of Peace in the Mid-
dle East: What Can We Learn
from the Past?" will be the topic
for the 12th annual Midrasha In-
stitute at the Esther Berman Build-
ing of the United Hebrew Schools.

The second lecturer on March
27, will be Dr. Nasrollah S. Fatemi,
dean of graduate studies at Fair-
leigh Dickinson University, whose
subject will be "Jews and Arabs:
Historical Survey."

The series will include four lec-
tures by distinguished scholars
who will discuss various aspects
of the Middle East situation. Em-
phasis will be placed on the growth
of Islam and its influence in shap-
ing the destiny of the peoples of
the Eastern Mediterranean basin,
as well as on the possibilities for
a better understanding between
Jews and Arabs.

On April 3, Prof. Emil Lengyel,
chairman of social sciences depart-
ment, Fairleigh Dickinson ;Univer-
sity, will speak on "The Rise of
Nationalism in the Middle East."

To open the institute on March
21 (Thursday) Dr. Raphael Patai,
director of research at the Theo-
dor Herzl Institute, will discuss
"The Rise of Islam."

2 — Friday,

February 9, 1968

Concluding the series on April
10, Joel Carmichael will discuss
the current situation in the Middle
East and what the prospects are
for a rapprochment between Israel
and the Arab nations. Carmichael,
a specialist in current affairs and
their historical background, is the
author of "The Death of Jesus,"
"A Short History of the Russian
Revolution," and "The Shaping of

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

American Jewish Historical Society
Acquires Noted Lincoln Document

The American Jewish Historical for the House of Representatives In
Society has acquired an autograph 1864 and 1865. It was in its
album containing the signatures of photographic gallery that the last
Abraham Lincoln, his cabinet and known photograph of Abraham
official family, and many members Lincoln was taken four days be-
the Arabs."
of the United States Congress in fore his assassination.
Although the series is tradition- 1863 and 1864.
Little is known of Franklin
ally held on Wednesday evenings,
The volume, bound in red Philp, but his partner, Adolphus
this year, to avoid conflict with
S. Solomons, achieved fame in sub-
another major event in the com- morocco, has some 270 signatures
sequent years as a prime mover
munity, the first lecture is sched- including those of his private secre-
in the founding of the American
taries,
John
G.
Nicolay
and
John
uled for Thursday evening.
Red
Cross, a founder of the Jew-
Announcing plans for the Mi- Hay, as well as that of a former ish Protectory and Aid Society,
drasha Institute, also known as the law partner in Springfield, Ill., and of the Russian Jews Immigra-
John T. Stuart.
Mina and Theodore Bargman
tion Aid Society. He was acting
Memorial Lectures, Louis LaMed,
The album has been presented president of the Jewish Theological .
chairman of the Midrasha board by the firm of Philp and Solomons Seminary Association when it was
of directors, named Julius Har- of Washington, to women em- reorganized into the Jewish Theo-
wood as chairman of the institute ployees of the Treasury Depart- logical Seminary of America. Of-
planning committee, which includes ment who secured the signatures fered the post of governor of the
Mesdames Eileen Berris, Matilda and auctioned the book at a fair District of Columbia by President
Rubin, Evelyn Linden and Rose given in 1864 for the benefit of Ulysses S. Grant, Solomons re-
Schiller; and Lawrence Crohn, the United States Sanitary Com- fused stating that his observance
Gordon Ginsberg, Jack Malamud, mission.
of the Sabbath would interfere
Irving Pokempner, Jay Rosen-
Philp and Solomons were book- with official duties.
shine and Edwin Shifrin.
sellers and stationers in Washing-
The album supplements a large
There is no charge for the series ton whose business establishment collection of Solomons' personal
but advance registration is neces- served as a meeting place for local papers now on deposit in the Lib-
sary. For information call the UHS, intellectuals and writers. The firm rary of the American Jewish His-
DI 1-3407.
supplied most of the stationery torical Society.

