Purely Commentary

A Philo Semitic Churchman on Jerusalem

. The Zionist Controversy and
Democracy ... A Philo-Semite's
Assertion on Jerusalem Status

By Philip
Slomovitz

Respect for Truth and for Fellow-Man

Truth has many facets and honor among men is never assured
We have so many occasions to protest against unfairness that
of a guarantee.
emanates from churches and churchmen on the Middle East that when
Often Jews will betray their kinsmen, and those who could
a fearless philo-Semite speaks he should be credited fully as a spokes-
be in an enemy camp will speak out forcefully in defense of decency.
man for justice to Israel.
An interesting contrast was presented in an article in the Jew-
Responding to a letter written to the New York Times by Harry G.
ish Observer and Middle East Review of London about two recent
Dorman Jr. identifying Israel's occupation of Jerusalem as "expansion
events—one in which an Arab defended Israel, and another in which
by force of arms," the Rev. A. Roy Eckardt (Lehigh University, Bethle-
Jewish Communists followed the Kremlin line: Here is the inter-
hem, Pa.) charged that the writer of that letter "hides crucial facts of
esting item from the London weekly:
Israel's Arab Defenders . . .
history" and declared:
Yousouf Khamis, the Israeli Arab trade union leader, was at
Had the Arab world agreed, as did the Jewish leaders, to the
the center of an inter-Arab row last week in Geneva, where he
UN partition of 1947, Jerusalem in its entirety would have become
was
attending the conference of the International Labor Organiza-
an internationalized city. Jordan repudiated that decision and waged
tion. Algerian delegates branded him as "the Uncle Tom" in the
war upon the infant nation of Israel.
Jewish delegation. "You are like the Negroes whom the American
Against bitter opposition from all other Arab states, Jordan
imperialists appoint to high positions in order to mislead the world.
conquered and annexed, among other areas, the eastern part of
Aren't you ashamed to come in a Jewish delegation?" the Algerians
Jerusalem.
taunted him.
Even today, Jerusalem would be in Jordan's hands had that
Khamis, characteristically, "kept his cool": "I wish that the
government honored Israel's guarantee of nonbelligerency in 1967
citizens of Algeria and the rest of the Arab states had the stand-
and refrained from hostilities. Instead, Jordan shelled West Jerusa-
ards of the Arabs of Israel," he retorted. "I assure you that
lem, killing and maiming hundreds of people and forcing Israel to
when you reach such a standard, and your trade unions have a
status like that of our Histadrut—then surely there will be peace
fight back.
between us."
Jerusalem has never been the national capital of any people
Observers see the Arab delegation at the ILO conference as
save the Jews. It is deceiving to contend that East Jerusalem is
falling into three categories: those of Algeria and Syria, expressing
"Arab Jerusalem." In point of fact, until the late nineteenth century
blind
hatred of Israel; the Yemenis, Jordanians and Egyptians,
Jerusalem meant essentially the Old City. For longer than the cen-
who are less aggressive; and those of Tunisia and Lebanon who
tury that culminated in the rebirth of the State of Israel, Jews were
are
described
by the Israelis as "almost friendly". The Tunisians
the largest population in Jerusalem, and particularly the Old City.
joined in sponsoring the re-election of Histadrut Secretary-General
When the Jordanians seized East Jerusalem they destroyed the
Aharon Becker to the governing council of the ILO.
Jewish quarter and evicted its people, killing many of them.
. . And Jewish Attackers
If Mr. Dorman expects that his self-identified "overseas minis-
While an Israeli Arab was defending his country in Geneva,
try" will be advanced through manipulating history and by political
Israeli Jews were attacking it at the Communist conference in
complicity, he may end with a Pyrrhic victory. The real threat to
Moscow. The delegates of the New Communists joined with the
the Christian communities in the Middle East come from the Arab-
delegations of the Arab Communist Parties in sponsoring the anti-
Moslem alliance and the encouragement Western Christians give to
Israel resolution which was passed by the conference. The resolu-
Arab "aspirations" and to extremist forces in that affiance. The
tion was opposed by the Romanians and the Moroccans.
irony of this campaign is that religous life and freedom for Chris-
There has been a sharp reaction from the Israeli public, and
tians are flourishing in Israel and suffering in Arab nations.
a call by Labour Knesset member Amnon Linn for the New Com-
munists to be outlawed.
In citing the declamations against Israel by a national and a
In a public declaration, the leaders of the "old Israel Com-
world church body, Mr. Dorman naturally fails to advise us that
munist Party described the Moscow resolution on the Arab-Israel
these charges would have been impossible without a confederacy of
conflict as "against truth, justice and peace in the Middle East".
partisans for the Arab cause.
The New Communists had played a "disgraceful and despicable"
Statements by "churchmen" are not necessarily Christian. As a
role in sponsoring the Moscow resolution, which was "steeped in
Christian clergyman, I protest Mr. Dorman's attempt to employ his
Arab anti-Israel chauvinism".
a
device
to
further
the
interests
of
certain
office in the church as
It is no wonder that in the ranks of the New Leftists are the

-

nations committeed to politicide against another people.
Perhaps it is too much to expect that "churchmen" will cease
using the name of the church as a means of derogating Jews. This
has been, after all, a dominant policy among "churchmen" for
almost 2,000 years.

It is always regrettable that it becomes necessary to struggle for
the truth, as the Rev. Eckardt is compelled to do in his refutation of
misrepresentation. Fortunately there is always some one who speaks
out against libels and appeals to hatred.

'Fiction' versus 'Straight News' in the M. E.

Communist-oriented anti-Israelis. And it is heartening often to hear
Arabs and other non-Jews speak out in defense of truth. After all
"truth does spring right out of the earth" (Psalm 85:12).

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Artist Marc Chagall designed
the stamp "King David" to be
issued in September by the Israel
Postal Ministry. The legend
under the stamp quotes front
Samuel: "And David administer-
ed justice and equity to all his
people." The first day cover will
bear a cancellation from the Is-

rael Museum, Jerusalem. The

addition of Chagall to the illus-
trious list of artists who have
designed Israeli stamps is evi-
dence of the high regard with
which Israeli philately is held
worldwide.

U.S.'s First in Maccabia Games

Swimming Gold Medal Won by Spitz

(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News)

TEL AVIV — Swimmer Mark
Spitz has brought the U.S. team its
first gold medal in the eighth Mac-
cabia Games while setting a new
Maccabia record.
Spitz, an Olympic gold medal
winner, swam the 100-meter free-
style in 52.09 seconds, which is
seven-tenths of a second off the
world record.
Another Maccabia record was
set by Mexico's Tamara Oynick,
who swam the 200-meter breast-
stroke in 2:53.41. Maureen Caplan
of South Africa won the 100-meter
freestyle for women with a time
of 1:03.7.
Israeli Henry Herschkowitz won
the smallbore rifle event with
1,107 points out of a possible 1,200.
Second was Dr. Irving Lerner of
Internal Zionist Conflict: Democracy Not Abandoned
Conflicts within Zionist and other Jewish ranks were not uncommon the United States with a score of
1,099. Both marks better the Mac-
through the years.
America's distinguished historian, Dr. Jacob R. Marcus, in his cabia record set by the United
evaluative works on Am'erican Jewish history has reported on argu- States team in 1961.
In soccer, England beat Ger-
mentative happenings in which rabbis and laymen battled, often resort-
many, 3-0; Israel beat Brazil
ing to violence. There have been shootings in synagogues and resort to
4-0; Mexico beat Holland 1-0;
fisticuffs were not uncommon in Jewish experience.
France beat Italy 3.0; Sweden
In the Zionist movement there have been numerous clashes and per-
and Chile tied 2-2. In basketball,
sonality differences have played important roles in the disputes.
Greece beat Venezuela 78-57;
We have another such dispute now—except that in the newest Zion-
Australia beat Germany 61-56;
ist Organiaztion of America controversy there are even charges of mis-
Uruguay beat Mexico 55-45; and
management that permitted a financial loss to the organization due to
Canada beat France 71.33.
the administration's failure to be on guard against a man who did some
Nancy Spitz, Mark's 15-year-old
swindling.
sister, took second place in the
All of which is most unfortunate. If we ever needed a measure of 100-meter free-style for women, in
cooperation and some unity, it is now.
1:03.7. Together the Spitzes helped
Therefore, ZOA leadership must assert itself to prevent the crisis
the 19-member U.S. swimming
To deny at this time that the incumbent, Jacques Torczyner, did team gather eight medals in the
not fulfill his duties fully is utterly ridiculous. If there were shortcom- first acquatic competitions. They
ings, they are ascribable to the same difficulties that confront all move- are from Santa Clara, Calif.
ments in Jewish life today. But Torczyner did render important serv-
Cheryl Ann Solomon of the U.S.
ice, at the World Zionist Congresses be has been a powerful force for set a Maccabia record of 2:47.6 in
democratic action, and if the vote to sustain him for another term per- winning her heat in the 200-meter
backstroke. Bruce Fleisher, the
sists, it will not be to the detriment of the movement.
Since there are other candidates of merit, the democratic process U.S. amateur golf champion, fired
a 80 to take the first lead in gold
is not altogether endangered.
As long as we guarantee honorable contests, we have not aban- competition.
President Nixon, in a message
doned the democratic process.
But if there is to be another way of finding a solution, let the na- brought by the United States
team,
greeted the participants in
tional administrative committee restore the harmony that is so vital
the Maccabia games in Israel "on
in human relations.
behalf of all the people in the
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS U.S.A."
2—Fridgy, August 1, 1969

Israelis are a bit aggravated by the failure of the British Broadcast-
ing Corporation to establish the truth when reporting "Egyptian fic-
tion." It is "straight news" that is demanded, and there is validity to
the argument that there should be a reliable way of checking on reports
which make fantastic claims.
Time and again, Arabs have claimed that Israel has shelled civil-
ians. Merely to report such accusations and only to refer to Israeli
denials is not sufficient. What is needed is an establishment of truth.
But neither in England nor in this country has this been done, and
the guilt for poor reporting and analysis is especially applicable to
columnists who utilize every sensational rumor without indicating in-
justice when a nati9n is abused.
There is something normal about backing the under-dog, and the
Arabs are considered the unfortunate at this time. But Israel is willing
to help elevate the Arab standards, to establish amity, to create good
will. The trouble is that Israel refuses to perish in the process. The
devent-minded people in the world will have to recognize this right to
live. Perhaps we'll get somewhere when that occurs.
*
*
*

Attn. Collectors:
Chagall Designs
King David Stamp

Mr. Nixon expressed his "admi-
ration for the fine athletes from
the nations represented. We are
proud of the Americans who take
part in this exciting event and we
wish them well in their perform-
ance. We also thank each of you
for helping to further the spirit
of international sportsmanship and
peaceful competition."
Athletes from 27 nations were
competing at Modiin, in the West
Bank village of Midya, traditional
burial place of the ancient Mac-
cabeans.
The Maccabia torch was lit by

prayers and song. This year's
games constitute the largest Mac-
cabia in number of participants
and categories of competition. The
largest non-Israeli contingent is
the 154-member American group.
Britain sent 84 competitors, South
Africa 79, Mexico 61, Argentina
100, Brazil 96 and Canada 48. Pre-
sumably for political reasons, In-
dia and Iran barred their Jewish
athletes from coming here.
The most crowded competition
was in swimming.
Gildesgame said Maccabia au-
thorities were attempting to con-
vince participants to settle in Is-
rael. "For every soldier who is
killed in the war," he said, "we
hope 10 boys and girls will remain
to replace them." He said the Mac-
cabia is different this year "be-
cause we are going to urge and
educate the young people to come

Runners brought the torch to
the Ramat Gan Stadium near here
where President Zalman Shazar
officially opened the games. The
athletes marched in their colorful
uniforms, and a memorial observ-
ance was held for those who died
in Israel's defenses.
Also remembered were those
who, captives in their own coun-
tries, could not be present. They
were represented by Jews now liv-
ing in Israel but originally from
those countries. Egyptian Jewry
was represented by Abraham Pes-
sah, a basketball coach; Czech
Jewry, by swimmer Ivonna Tob-
bis; Moroccan Jewry by Henry
Ohayon, Polish Jewry by Tuvia
Mayortchik, Hungarian Jewry by
gymnastic champion Agnes Kelety,
and Russian Jewry by tennis play-
er liana Pessacoff.
Spitz was flag bearer for the
United States contingent. Follow-
ing the swearing-in of the partici-
pants, a flock of pigeons symbo-
lizing peace were released, fol-
lowing by an evening of mass gym-
nstics, a parade of contingents,

Israelis Join 'Olympics'
for Paralyzed Athletes

veteran Maccabi leader and Mac-
cabia games innovator Yossef
Vekptieli as some 1,500 Jewish
athletes assembled around the
huge, grey tombstones overlook-
ing the hills of Lydda. Present
were Pierre Gildesgame, World
Maccabi chairman, and heads of
Maccabi branches throughout the
world.

and settle in Israel."

LONDON (JTA) — The 21st in-
ternational Stoke-Mandeville Games
for the Paralyzed opened here
Monday with Israel among the 27
participating nations.
The games are played at Stoke-
Mandeville Hospital, where Dr.

Ludwig Guttman, a specialist in
paralysis and spinal injures stem-
ming from World War II at the
hospital's spinal center, founded
the games in 1948. Dr. Guttman

was knighted for his services to
the paralyzed, and the hospital
continued to sponsor the games.
The games began with 14 British
ex-servicemen and two ex-service-
women. They became international
in 1952 when the Dutch joined the
games. In 1954, Israel joined and
has participated ever since. The
games will continue throughout the
week. In early contests, Israel fin-

ished second and third in various
fencing matches and in swimming.

Other sports include archery and
basketbalL