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 8-9384. Subscription $7 a year. Foreign $8.
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 28th day of Tevet, 5729, the following scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Ex. 6:2-9:35. Prophetical portion, Ezekiel 28:25-29:21.
Tora reading for Rosh Hodesh Shevat, Monday: Num. 28:1-15.

Candle lighting, Friday, Jan. 17, 5:09 p.m.

VOL. LIV. No. 18

Page Four

January 17, 1969

Great Social Task and Enigmatic Response

A serious question is posed why so many
Afro-Asian nations often side with the Soviet-
Arab bloc in actions attacking Israel at the
United Nations while Israel is rendering
such invaluable service to underprivileged
and undeveloped countries.
It is worth noting, therefore, that in spite
of the antagonists to Israel the latter's con-
tributions towards the uplifting of the new
nations in Africa and Asia have not dim-
inished.
Histadrut, Israel's Federation of Labor, a
decade ago established the Afro-Asian insti-
tute for Cooperative and Labor Studies. On
the occasion of the institute's 10th anniver-
sary, a valuable report has been issued by
the institute's director since 1961, Akiva
Eger, a member of Kibutz Netzer Sereni, who
stated in part:

make the first Japanese-Israeli co-production,
"The Boy and the Camel."
More than 40 per cent of the graduates have
assumed responsible positions in their homelands.
Some have reached high offices, including the
minister of transport and public works in Da-
homey, and the minister of economic affairs and
the minister of agriculture in Congo-Kinshasa.

Much of interest has developed as a result
of the Histadrut institute created to as-
sist the Afro-Asian countries. Eger reported
on growing cooperation with a number of
sister institutions such as the Asia Trade
Union College in New Delhi, the Asian Labor
Education Center attached to the University
of Philippines in Manila, and the Asian In-
stitute for Cooperative and Rural Develop-
ment in Tokyo. Exchange schemes are con-
stantly under way in lectures and material.
Eger recently went to Seoul, South Korea, to
organize a seminar for the Institute of Co-
operative Education attended by Korean trade
union and cooperative leaders, and has been
commissioned to compile, for the Interna-
tional Labor Organization, a manual on trade
unions and cooperatives for its study courses.
This is the type of program that matches

Documented Franks Letters
Enrich U.S. Jewish History

American Jewish history has been enriched with a remarkable
volume of letters written in the Colonial period. To the American Jew-
ish Historical Society goes the highly deserved credit of having made
available an exceptionally interesting set of letters, at the same time
Over 1,700 men and women from 78 countries
supplementing them with data that throws light on an important era in
have participated in its programs, of whom 200
history and on personalities of note in that era.
attended courses organized by the Institute out-
The new volume of the society does more than that: it pays honor
side Israel. At the institute itself, the interna-
to an eminent historian whose interest in gathering these letters, which
tional seminars are conducted alternatively in
became the possession of the American Jewish Historical Society, made
English and French: in addition, 21 seminars have
available the treasured collection.
been specially organized at the request of various
"The Lee Max Friedman Collection of American Jewish Colonial
countries and organizations. The students came
from most parts of Asia and from all parts of
the Peace Corps of the United States, that Correspondence—Letters of the Franks Family, 1733-1748," the impres-
sive,
fully illustrated and fully annotated volume, owes its excellence
Africa expect for South Africa and the countries
exceeds in value anything that countries !
two able editors, Prof. Leo Hershkowitz of the City University of
of the Arab League.
related to the beneficiaries from the Hista- to
New York and Dr. Isidore S. Meyer, editor of the American Jewish
In the last few years the emphasis has moved
drut efforts have even dreamt of. Yet Israel Historical Society. Both in their foreword and their scholarly introduc-
slowly to the Asian contingent. Two-thirds of the
fails to get a tumble from many of those re- tion, they throw light on the Franks family and the events in which
students in the recent 16th International Course
ceiving assistance in time of crisis!
they were involved; as well as the eminent historian, the late Lee Max
came from Asia, and one-third from African
Friedman, whose generosity enriched the historical society and helped
But the overall aim of advancing the preserve
lands. A breakdown of attendance indicates that
the documents he had gathered.
a third of participants usually are sent by trade
worldwide attempts at eliminating want, at
In the honor extended to the late Mr. Friedman, the two editors
unions, a third come from the cooperative move-
erasing poverty, at elevating the standard of
quote
the Hai Gaon admonition to man "to acquire a field, acquire
ment, and the remaining third are usually senior
living of backward countries, justifies all
a friend and a book," and they declare that Mr. Friedman's life
government officials from ministries of develop-
that
has
been
planned
and
that
has
been
was
synonymous
with the book, that "the fields he acquired were
ment, cooperation, labor and agriculture, includ-
in the areas of law and of American Jewish history." They add:
accomplished. There is some hope that the
ing an increasing number of academic personnel
"The human qualities of sincere friendship, devotion, self-sacrifice
beneficiaries from this significant undertak-
from colleges specializing in labor and cooperative
and anonymous magnanimity (gemilut hasodim), he showered upon
ing will see the light and will reject the in-
studies. Most of the participants belong in the
us
bountifully, and as for the written and printed word, the book—.
30-45 age group, possess considerable experience
human approach to Israel by the Soviet-Arab
as well as for works of art — he was the aesthetic and discerning
in their field of work and are thus capable of
bloc.
author,
historian, biblio phile, collector, benefactor and patron of
extracting the maximum benefits from their
learning."
These things must be said now, when
studies for application in their home countries.
As an aspect of "the ingathering of the sources of American Jewish
Histadrut seeks financial aid here, so that
One has only to glance through the bulletins
due credit for commendable planning may history, in the pursuit of objective historical research" and as a reali-
put out by students at the institute, containing
zation
of a wish to Mr. Friedman that the documents he had secured
be given the Israel labor movement.
letters and reports from graduates, to realize the
and preserved should be published, the historical society pursues an
role played by the institute in the lives of these
Histadrut blazed the trail for the uplift- important purpose.
men and women. Here are a few examples:
Of the 37 published letters, 34 were addressed to Naphtali Franks
ing of the Arab masses within Israel, raising
Congo (Kinshasa)—Noel Luango: "This rich
their standard of living, assuring them equal- by his mother, Mrs. Jacob Franks—who before her marriage was
Bilhah
Abigail Levy. One letter was written to Naphtali by his father
experience shown us by Israel, will be a guide
ity of employment and wages • comparable
for our African countries. Israel will never be
with those earned by Jews. Histadrut has and two by his brother David. Of the published collection, 31 were in
forgotten."
Friedman collection and six more subsequently were located by
made the Israeli Arab the most affluent Arab the
the historical society.
Ghana—D. K. Marquaye: "I have been telling
in the world, with the only possible excep-
Mr. Friedman's collection was accompanied by copious notes,
my friends that a month's study in Israel is
tion of the wealth-accrued area of Kuwait.
and these annotations provide historical data in relation to the
equivalent to one year in some other college."
Nevertheless, there are only minor acknow-
families delineated in these documentations. What becomes
Tanzania—Fulbert Mkwiche: "I met Mr.
ledgments of this service. While Israeli
apparent, as indicated, is that there were no striking personalities,
Kawawa (vice president of Tanzania). He asked
but that some of the occurrences have a bearing on history
Arabs will concede the benefits provided for
me many questions about my studies. He finally
generally.
them, all too little is done to overcome the
asked me whether I would accept a new appoint-
There is, for example, the matter of intermarriage. The Franks
ment in administration (regional economic plan- hatred for Israel that has been injected in children all intermarried. By contrast there was the Gomez family. One
Arab hearts.
ning), for he found that I had studied a lot
of the Gomezes would have married the Franks' daughter Richa, ac-
about it at the Afro-Asian Institute in Israel.
There is justified cause to believe that cording to the account given, but Abigail Franks "had the strongest
Well, I willingly accepted."
Arabs who have come under Israeli rule rec- contempt" for him.
But the Gomez family became deeply involved in Jewish affairs
Uganda—Y. E. Mungoma: " . . . Kibutz-type
ognize the advantages they have gained and
cooperation sounds like a legend but is very
concede that their lot is better under the con- "and their Judaism rested on firmer foundations" than those of the
Franks.
The Gomez descendants "are still associated with the historic
attractive to our countrymen. I have some 15 men
ditions of freedom they have acquired with- Congregation
Shearith Israel."
and women in my village who are keen and will-
in
Israel,
in
contrast
with
the
suppressions
ing to start a kibutz style of life."
Another factor of significance, as revealed in the annotations, is the
imposed upon them in Arab lands. But the element of anti-Semitism that was felt at that time in some quarters.
Burma—U Kyaw Tun: "Attached to the State
fear that has set in, the El Fatah threats, the The struggle for "the enlargement of Jewish liberties" is recorded as
Cooperative School, I had to write principles, rules
terrorism that has engulfed the area—these part of the experiences of the Jewish community of that time.
and guidance of members and a handbook for
have not helped either the cause of peace
An interesting note in the explanatory introduction asserts:
members of moshav-type cooperative villages in
"The letters should be viewed from the internal and external position
or the need to assure cooperation between
Burma which have recently been formed."
of the Jews from the enactment and revocation of the English Jew Bill
Arabs and Jews.
Ceylon—J. P. E. Sirivardene: "At present, I
of 1753. What happened to Jews in the British American colonies and
am busy with the organization of a wholesale
Outside pressures may be primarily ac- in Great Britain had a mutual impact on the Jewish community here
cooperative society for the agricultural producers
countable for the accruing troubles. Charles and abroad. In the pre-emancipation period in the, age of mercantilisro t
of Ceylon and my experiences and the time I de Gaulle hasn't helped bring amity - into the budding Deism and early 18th Century toleration, the problems of the
spent at Tnuva in studying your organization in
area. American vacillation helps to divide religio-cultural development of the Jewish- community would be re'
Israel have been invaluable."
rather than to unite peace seekers. That is fleeted not only in its economic position in the British colonies and in
Nepal—R. R. N. Shreatha: "A settlement like
why the basic truth remains: that Israel and the mother country but also in the linguistic abilities of its respective
the moshav shitufi is expected to be organized at
providing them with certain trading advantages."
her kinsmen are the chief factors in the members,
Nawalpur in West Nepal."
economic elements enter into discussion, and linguistically ft ta
struggle for survival. Christian and Moslem noted The
There are interesting side-effects to attend-
that Jacob Franks often wrote in Yiddish, in letters found in the
aid is sought to assure good will and even- Nathan Simson Letter Books.
ance at the Institute: Miss Mikaru Ishihima
tual peace. It is difficult to acquire it: that's
The numerous notes, referring to the events that transpired, make
studied at the eighth course, returned to Japan
and married the famous film director, Osamu why the road to peace still is strewn with ob- the contents understandable and provide the history-related aspects In
a Volume thatadds
.Takawashi, and in 1968, he came to Israel to stacles.
sianificance
to the historical society's purposes.
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