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
Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit, Mich. 48235,
VE 8-9364. Subscription $7 a year. Foreign $8.
Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 12th day of Sivan, 5728, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Num. 4:21-7:89. Prophetical portion, Judges 13:2-25.
Candle lighting, Friday, June 7, 8:47 p.m.
VOL. LIII. No. 12
Page Four
June 7, 1968
World Zionist Congress-Movement's Role
When the delegates from Zionist organ-
izations throughout the world convene in
Jerusalem, next week, for the World Zionist
Congress, a serious problem will confront
them. With Israel a reality, and the move-
ment under attack by the world's anti-
Semites who believe they have found a scape-
goat in the name "Zionism," the spokesmen
for the cause that gave rise to rebirth of
Jewish nationhood will have to decide on
the very challenging need for the movement's
survival and on the type of program that
might make such survival feasible and work-
able.
Is there need for Zionist organizational
structures now that the chief objective of
the dream for national rebirth has become
reality? Do the philanthropic agencies and
the national Jewish organizations that now
support Israel provide sufficient substitutes
for the protective elements i n h e r e n t in
Zionism?
It would be self-deluding to believe that
substitutes serve as media for action in time
of stress. While it is true that only the vicious
self-hating conglomerate of Judaism Council-
ites represents an organized group—small as
it is in numbers—of anti-Zionists who are
harming Israel's status, it is equally true that
movements that are not specifically Zionistic
might make concessions that could be •harm-
ful to the basic ideas of the Zionist cause and
to the need for unhesitating support of Israel
in time of stress.
*
*
*
Often — too often — crises developed
during which Jewish views were seriously
divided; when some elements made demands
upon Zionist spokesmen for concessions
which at the time sounded reasonable but
which, in the long process of historical de-
velopments, might have proven harmful to
Israel.
Then there are misunderstandings that
often arise which serve to negate the very
principles upon which the liberty-propagating
Zionists had based their ideological concepts.
As late as last month, at the convention of
Workmen's Circle, a somewhat peculiar atti-
tude was adopted by the delegates. While, for
the first time, aligning the Workmen's Circle
with Histadrut, the Israel Federation of
Labor, this American Jewish labor fraternal
order emphasized that it will remain non-
Zionist. An officer of that fraternal group
sought to explain the group's viewpoint by
stating that "there is a basic difference be-
tween being supporters of Israel, even pas-
sionate supporters, as we are, and being Zion-
its," and he added that Zionists "believe that
Israel is the homeland of all Jews and that
Jews elsewhere are living in the Galut." What
he did not realize is that when he said "we
in Workmen's Circle say no, for us the United
States is our permanent homeland," he was
reviving an ancient argument about "Wash-
ington is our Jerusalem."
What Workmen's Circle did was to con-
fuse the issue. Most Zionist organizations are
unable to enforce the idea of settlement of
all Zionists in Israel, and none of the organ-
izations would condone any sentiment that
would substitute Jerusalem for Washington
as the capital for American Jews. Anyone re-
creating that libel renders a great injustice to
American Jewry and to the Zionist cause.
And those who speak of it revive a currently
unworkable idea of universal brotherhood at
a time when hundreds of thousands of Jews
— perhaps millions — may yet be dependent
upon Israel as a haven of refuge and as
escape from universal intolerance and hatred.
When that threat to Jewry is removed, it will
be possible once again seriously to think in
terms of the social justice ideal of universal
brotherhood.
Indeed, there are misunderstandings and
confusions which relate to those who, having
previously fought Zionism and thereby hav-
ing stood in the way of vaster redemption
and rescue of the oppressed, now seek to
negate the movement on the ground of de-
siring to perpetuate their own status as
Americans. By such an argument they lend
strength to those who question Jewish loyal-
ties and unreasonably assail Zionism; and by
reintroducing this argument they give cre-
dence to the need for a Zionist movement
that will make such thinking impossible.
*
*
*
The Zionist Congress is faced with a prob-
lem of leadership. If Dr. Nahum Goldmann
should hold fast to his decision not to accept
re-election as World Zionist Organization
president, there will be the graire problem of
finding a suitable successor to a very brilliant
man who for many years directed world
Jewish affairs. Who are the available men to
lead the world movement? Is it Dr. Emanuel
Neumann, Louis Aryeh Pincus, Sir Barnett
Janner or Philip K 1 u t z n i c k? Or are
we so impoverished that selection of a suc-
cessor to a man who holds the chairmanship
of nearly every important world Jewish
movement is becoming impossible?
Surely, the World Zionist Congress will
find a way of reaching the important solu-
tion, of resolving the needs of the movement,
of selecting the proper leaders.
There is no doubt that the WZC sessions
also will react properly in formulating the
credo that will assure retention of the
strength necessary to assure proper defense
for Israel and for Jewry in the years to come.
A movement that has so nobly spoken in de-
fense of Jewish needs and Jewish rights and
has reached success in ending Jewish home-
lessness retains a vital place in Jewish life.
No Cause for Jubilation in Israel
It is no wonder that there was no jubila-
tion in Israel the first week in June—there
merely was a sense of relief that the threat
of annihilation had been resisted.
Neither is there any wonder that there is
no jubilation, and little cause for it, a year
after the June triumphs.
There is little relief for Israel at the
United Nations. There are no evidences of
encouragement to Israel or sympathy for the
Israelis' position, anywhere on the globe.
In the U.S. Congress, both Representatives
and Senators often speak up and demand aid
to the embattled state. But the State Depart-
men is unyielding in its "neutrality" that
really spells indifference or ton often partial-
ay to the Arabs.
EVen if Dr. Gunnar V. Jarring's efforts
Were to Mater' falie in'the' fullest 'sense of a
cooperative peace undertaking, there are the
obstacles of Arab intransigence that interfere
with a cessation of terrorism and the com-
mencement of a true attitude of amity.
Even President Habib Bourguiba of Tuni-
sia, although he constantly condemns Nasser
for his failure to recognize Israel's role as a
member of the family of nations, has joined
in demands that Israel evacuate occupied
territories. His position is far from accept-
able since it calls for a return to the 1948
conditions—a demand that even Nasser
would not dare press for.
Even friendly Turkey and Iran have utter-
ed unreasonable condemnations of Israel.
The situation remains grave, and both
Israel and world Jewry live in hope that some-
thing akin to a miracle will happen to restore
sanity in . the world and to assure peace in
the Middle East..
Zara Shakow's 'Curtain Time
for Jewish Youth,' Excellent
as Textbook, for Programing
Zara Shakow emerges as a brilliant analyst of the theatrical arts
and as a skilled evaluator of the best available dramatic and staging
material in an imressive hook, "Curtain Time for Jewish Youth,"
published by Jonathan David (131 W. 23rd, NY10).
Her vast experience as teacher of drama, as director of theatrical
projects, as consultant-adjudicator of the Histadrut cultural division, her
work in Israel—all are reflected in the compilations in this valuable
book which should serve as a guide for all groups conducting theatrical
programs. "Curtain Time for Jewish Youth" is an excellent textbook for
classes in the arts of the theater. In addition, it provides basic material
for youth as well as adult programs.
Miss Shakow already has authored an important book, "The Theater
in Israel," and with this voluminous work she enhances her record as a
writer in addition to her fine record as a director of staged performances.
In "Curtain Time for Jewish Youth" she has included the best
available material for recitations, the drama and descriptive data
about the arts related to the stage. While the book is for youth,
it is invaluable for elders—especially for teachers—and students
of the Jewish elements in pragraming will be grateful for the
offerings provided here.
While the program material is allocated to holidays—Jewish and
civic—Lincoln's Birthday, Brotherhood Week, Thanksgiving Day, Col-
umbus Day—as well as American-Jewish History Week, Israel Inde-
pendence Day and the major festivals on the Jewish calendar, Miss
Shakow's highly professional text offers a manual for program and
theater planning. The 43-page manual that introduces the text is a sig-
nificant portion of the book, offering the advice so vitally needed in
staging and in planning the actors' roles. For instance, in this manual,
Miss Shakow deals with dialect and states:
"When a part calls for the use of dialect, care must be taken
to eliminate any exaggeration on the part of the actor, lest ridicule
of a nationality, minority group or race be implied. A mere sugges-
tion of the dialect is preferable, by far, than gross exaggeration,
which distorts and caricatures. It is sufficient to capture the essen-
tial quality of the regionalism or native language—the indigenous
rhythm and authentic inflection."
Many of Miss Shakow's own materials are included in the program
selections. In the initial group, on Hanuka, there is her impressive
"Dance of the Hanuka Candles" which had already been published by
Bloch; and her American-oriented Hanuka play "The Night of the
Eighth Candle." In the Hanuka section also is incorporated "The Dun-
geon in the Citadel" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, excerpted from
"Judas Maccabeus." ti
The other holiday sections also are studded with Miss Shakow's
plays, readings, as well as her comments on major designs, staging,
program planning.
There are a number of stage plays by -Dorothy Ross, and many of
the selections are based on traditional holiday teachings.
Quotations illustrating the holiday themes are from Scriptures,
rabbinic sages, noted leaders. David Ben-Gurion and other Israeli lePfl-
ers are represented in the selections for suitable occasions.
Exemplary, typifying the balance of this book's selectioni;
the Shavuot section in which Miss Shakow has included a simulated -
radio broadcast, "Come Under the Wings," by Grace Goldin; dra-
matic readings by Judith and Ira Rosenstein; poems by Emma
Lazarus and Halman Scheour; selections from Psalms, Heinrich
Heine and other notable sources.
The section on American holidays gives the volume extra value
with emphasis on the Lincoln, Brotherhood, Columbus themes. There
are excerpts from the Works of Walt Whitman, Abba Hillel Silver,
Stephen Wise, and the readers will be interested to learn that one of the
poems is by the late Dr. Abba Hillel Silver ("God Called It America.")
The bibliographical appendices provide lists of authors, publishers,
directors, lighting and scenery experts to whom those planning pro-
grams may wish to turn for assistance and for basic sources of needed
help. The Zara Shako' book thereby assures fullest assistance to those
planning for "Curtain Time."