Purely Commentary

By Philip
UN's Deplorable Role in One-Sided Middle East
Actions .. - Nonsense About Political Appointments 5/0mm/its

Partisanship in the UN: 'Horror Fiction' Encouraged by Indifference to Anti-Jewish Acts in Moslem Lands
Arabs themselves have let the world know what is intended. Iraq makes
"Horror fiction" is a mild way of describing the rumor mill that has
no secret of plans to make another public spectacle of alleged spy trials.
been at work condemning Israel for imaginary crimes.
Jews
are being jailed and held incommunicado. Repeating the outrage of
But it is not this mill that grinds out lies that is at issue. The dis-
last January it is being hinted that another group of accused men, among
turbing factor is that the root of the trouble is the United Nations, that
them two Jews, may be sent to the gallows at a public spectacle in Baghdad.
the international organization has made it possible for witch hunts against
And the United Nations keeps silent and its interrogations are about
Israel at a time when in the Moslem countries Jewish lives are valueless.
Israel, among creaters of "fiction horror," without a genuine attempt to
All charges should be investigated and there are no objections to the
clear the air of outrageous rumors.
inquiries regarding the accusations that Israel mistreats its Arab citizens.
The United States mission at the UN does not hesitate to join a com-
But while doing this there is the obligation to let the world know what is
bine
that condemns Israel. What about Iraq, gentlemen? Why is there
happening to Jews who still live among Arabs and to the Jewish communi-
silence
about the Moslem anti-Jewish acts? Have our representatives in
ties that have been uprooted in Moslem countries.
Congress become mute on the subject?
At this point investigations in Arab countries become unnecessary.

Collation of Louis D. Brandeis Memoirs

Belatedly, the vast amount of material relating to the Jewish in-
terests of the late Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis may soon
see the light of day—thanks in some measure to a Granite City, Ill.,
attorney—Burton C. Bernard.
Deeply interested in the work of the American Jewish Historical
Society whose aims he has assisted with great distinction. Bernard
has made a thorough search of the records and has learned that the
many documents about Brandeis and his time, and the jurist's Jewish
and Zionist activities, remain untouched.
Thus, he has learned that the Herzl Institute, which has a primary
interest in gathering information about leading Zionists and the roles
they had played in advancing the Jewish cause, has much data but has
kept the manuscripts untouched by researchers. He states that at the
Herzl Institute there is data relating to the following papers:
1. The Awakening of Brandeis' Jewish Consciousness
2. A Personality Profile of Louis D. Brandeis
3. A Personal Memoir
4. The Beginnings of Brandeis' Zionism
5. Brandeis and Jewish Relief
6. Brandeis at the London Conference
7. Brandeis and Hadassah
8. A Personal Memoir
9. Sources for Brandeis' Studies
10. Brandeis and His Economic Effort in Palestine
11. A Personal Memoir
12. Brandeis and the American Jewish Congress
13. Brandeis and the Unification Effort Within the ZOA
Leadership of the Late Twenties
14. Brandeis and the Cleveland Conference
15. Brandeis and the Balfour Declaration
16. Brandeis and the First American Kibutz
A comment by Mr. Bernard merits consideration. He writes to us:
"These papers are groundbreaking. Can you believe it? They still
are not published. I am skeptical that there are any concrete plans
currently pending for publication. Inaccessibility to these papers and
the failure to publish, is thwarting understanding, research and devel-
opment."
An interest in the Brandeisian era and in Brandeis' role as a Jew-
ish leader has earned for him the right to ask for speedier action to
assure perpetuation of the interest in Brandeis and the spread of
knowledge about him and his interests.
Mr. Bernard has lectured extensively on Louis D. Brandeis. The
St. Louis Bar Journal published his paper on "Brandeis in St. Louis"
and it has been widely distributed as a pamphlet. It contains valuable
information on Brandeis' legal work before his elevation to the highest
court in the land, tells about his major decisions in the court, outlines
the jurist's background as lawyer and judge and makes special refer-
ence to the memorial established for Brandeis in St. Louis in 1964.
Another pamphlet with tributes to Brandeis, with articles reprinted
from the St. Louis University Law Journal, contains the text of an ad-
dress by Mr. Bernard on "Brandeis in Saint Louis."
It is as a student of. Brandeis opinions and legal activities and of
Brandeis as a Jew and as an American that Mr. Bernard displays the
deep interest he is showing in the need to keep the Brandeis memory
alive by gathering the most important papers by and about him as
a permanent record.

$ s •

Political Nonsense About Jewish Appointments

All kinds of nonsensical speculations have been experimented
with politically, and among the most amazing and most misrepresented
is the idea that Jews ever wanted to have a quota of appointments.
When President Theodore Roosevelt first appointed Oscar Straus
as ambassador to Turkey, and Jews were afterward chosen to represent
the United States in our Turkish embassy, some began to believe that
this post had been chosen for Jews. The idea perished quickly, after
the retirement of Henry Morgenthau, Sr. and Abram I. Elkus from
the Turkish ambassadorial posts.
Then, when Louis D. Brandeis was named to the Supreme Court,
and there followed the appointments of Benjamin Cardozo, Felix Frank-
furter, Arthur Goldberg and Abe Fortas, it was taken for granted in
some quarters that a President was obligated to name a Jew to the
high court so that the court should never be without a Jew.
The tragedy of Abe Fortas (the complete story of the form of

suffering that was imposed upon him is yet to be told) suddenly
emerged into a meditation, speculation, columnists' discussions whether
the highest court in the land will some day be without a Jewish mem-
ber and what the Jewish reaction to it will be.
The very discussion was fruitless, aimless, unreal and unwise
because those who debated the issue never stopped to ascertain
whether there really was a feeling among Jewish citizens that there
just had to be a Jew in that court. Nothing could have been farther
from the truth. Never have Jews who thought rationally believed
that there must be such a Jewish appointment. The Jewish view is
that if a lawyer or a judge earns such an appointment meritoriously
he provides pride in our ranks over the recognition he receives. But
there is no set precedent, there are no demands, there are no regrets
or resentments if others who are chosen on merit are named to the
Supreme Court.
The very speculation over a "Jewish view" on the subject is
reprehensible. Those who entertain that idea are not thinking in the
American way—or the Jewish wny—regarding candidates for office
or for appointment. Just because one is a Jew does not make him
eligible for a high post in our government's services.

2—Friday, August 22, 1969

The RAMBAM and His Famous Letter to His Son, Rabbi Abraham
There is so much in our cultural heritage to teach us and for us to be guided by!

As we approach the opening of another school year, occurring simultaneously with our Days of Awe,
the Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and subsequent Sukkot festival, it will be of value for fathers and sons,
parents and children, to study the words of one of the greatest of the Jewish philosophers who also was a
Bible commentator and a noted physician. Moses ben Maimon, known as Maimonides — and by the He-
brew initials of his name the RAMBAM—wrote an important letter to his son Abraham who was later to be
known as Rabbi Abraham. In that letter he stated:

Fear the Lord, the God of your father, and also
serve Him with a perfect heart from love, for
fear guardS from sin, but love stirs to virtue. Love
wisdom, seek her as silver, and search for her as
for hidden treasures. Attend on the threshold of
the wise, of them that learn and teach; there let
your recreation be. When you ask a question, or
when you answer one, be not hasty, cry not aloud.
nor speak with stammering lips. Speak in well
chosen language and with a pure tongue, with a
gentle voice, and to the purpose, as one who is
desirous to learn and is eager for the truth, and
not as a quarrelsome person, or one who cares
only for victory. Take your place with delight in
the house of study, and bend your mind to obtain
the advantage it offers, and then your study will
be pleasant and easy to you. But if you let your
thoughts wander hither and thither. you will for-
feit the chief object of your attendance; for you
will learn nothing and your confinement will be a
burden to you, and weaken you physically as well.
And when you leave the house of study. consider
what it is you take away with you to your home:
engrave it upon your mind, and bind it on your
heart.
Study in your youth, when you are sustained by
what others hare prepared for you, while your
heart is yet free, ere it is encumbered with cares,
and while the memory is not weakened: for the
time comet,' when you will wish to learn and will

be unable, it will be with much labor and little
profit, for the heart will not follow the mouth any
longer, and even as to that which it follows, it will
not hold fast to it, but will forget it.
Let the truth and justice by which you may
seem to lose be sweeter to you than the falsehood
and injustice by which you may appear to gain.
Keep ever true to your word; let neither docu-
ments, nor witnseses, nor possession be of more
weight in your sight than a promise once made
by word of mouth, whether in public or in private.
Banish and disdain all subterfuges, evasions and
deceptions, cunning devices and devious practices;
it is woe to him that buildeth his house upon them,
for "he shall leave it in the midst of his days, and
at his end shall be a fool." Live in innocence, up-
rightness and purity.
Bring near to you those that are far off: bend
yourself to the little ones: let your face shine upon
the lowly: have compassion upon the needy, and
gladden the afflicted with your joy. Take care that
you put them not to the blush. Cease not to do
good to all. whoever they may be. to whom you
can render a service. Shun indolence and abhor
luxurious ease—they are the ladder to Satan.
Serve your friends and kindred with all your
power, "according to the good hand of the Lord
upon you": but take exceeding heed that you serve
them not by the sacrifice of your soul. for that is
God's portion.

RAMBAM was born in Cordova, in 1185. His father was a noted scholar. When Moses was 23
Cordova was captured 'ay the cruel and fanatical Almohades who forced all Jews and Christians to be-
come Muslims. Moses and family escaped and after some wanderings they settled in Cairo. There Moses
became court physician to Sultan Saladin who acquired world fame for his military skill and his struggle
for power. Moses wrote his many commentaries, his famous Letter to Yemen Jewry, until his death in 1204.
The letter to his son is among the most moving of his epistles and has relevance to the generations in

our time.
But how is the generation to be reached? We can boast of an idealistic progeny, but we need to
reach it so that it may know that the high ideals it aspires to are inherent in Jewish teachings.

Service Group's Annual Stag Day Set Sept. II

The 20th annual Stag Day of the luncheon and a dinner make up
Detroit Service Group of the Jew- the day's programs.
ish Welfare Federation will be held The membership will hold its
at Knollwood Country Club Sept. biennial election of members-at-
11, Paul Broder, president, an- large for the board of directors.
nounced. Officers for the coming two-year
Jack Milen is 1969 chairman of term will be elected at the first
the annual event which has be- board meeting after Stag Day.
come a tradition for men who Nominated for president is
have worked on the Allied Jewish
Paul Broder, presently in of-
Campaign-Israel Emergency Fund. fice, and vice-presidential nom-
Highlights of the day will be inees are Warren D. Greenstone,
the presentation of awards to Lewis S. Grossman and Arthur
leaders in the campaign. Golf, Howard.

A reporter interviewed organizational officials on the subject
and one of them commented: "No one feels there is a Jewish issue
any longer, or that there is a Jewish seat." We concur with the latter
portion of the quotation and if the man was quoted properly we chal-
lenge the "any longer" comment. Such an idea never existed, does not
exist now and in the American spirit never will.

•
A Crucial Convention—Quest for Realism

There is a feud in progress, and the convention of the Zionist
Organization of America, in Los Angeles, the coming weekend, may
be saddled with personality issues and with some charges that might
never have been inspired had it not been for the quest for the high
and coveted position of the ZOA presidency.
The ZOA will be confronted by many issues in the months
ahead, and as the major factor in world Zionist affairs its official

family will be confronted by the need to assist in overcoming the
obstacles that face Israel. In a time like this there is need for as
large a measure of unity that can possibly be attained. If the ap-
proaching convention will be marked by disunity that might harm the
movement's purposes and obligations, the entire Jewish community
might be harmed. This could especially emerge from a personality
controversy.
Whatever may be said with regard to the present administration,
the record of the incumbent, Jacques Torczyner, is a good one.
Whether he should be granted the right to run for a fifth term will
depend upon the mood of the convention delegates. If they reflect
the views of the large majority of the national administrative council,
Mr. Torczyner will be elected to a fifth term. But whatever the result,
the spread of false rumors is deplorable and an unsound personality
harms the movement more than Mr. Torczyner who has earned his
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS constituents' respect.

Other nominations for officers
are: George D. Keil, chairman of
board; Louis C. Blumberg, vice
chairman of board; Max M. Shaye,
chairman of the executive commit-
, tee; Esther R. Prussian, executive
director; and Arthur Howard and
!Milton J. Miller, representatives to
the board of governors of the Jew-
! ish Welfare Federation.
Nominated as members-at-large
of the board are Harry B Aronow,
Dr. Abraham Becker, Sidney J.
I Berlin, Louis C. Blumberg, Tom
Borman, Paul Broder, Martin E.
Citrin, Aubrey H. Ettenheimer,
Meyer M. Fishman, Samuel Fran-
kel, Warren D. Greenstone, Lewis
S. Grossman, Paul M. Handleman,
Dr. I. Jerome Hauser, Arthur How-
ard, Barney L. Keywell. Also
nominated are Richard L. Kux,
Edward C. Levy, Sr., Malcolm
S. Lowenstein, Milton J. Mil-
ler, Harold S. Norman, Hyman
Safran, Samuel Schiff, Abe Shill-
man, Alex Sklar, Richard Sloan,
Robert A. Steinberg, George M.
Stutz, A. Alfred Taubman, Jack J.
Wainger, William M. Wetsman,
Harvey Willens and Stanley J.
Winkelman. Nominated to repre-
sent the Pontiac community are
Abe Lapides and Irving Steinman.
Members of the nominating corn-
mitee are Robert A. Steinberg,
chairman; Benjamin H. Frank,
Phillip T. Warren, David G. Kurz-
man, Irvin Meckler, Abraham Sat-
ovsky and Stanley T. Burkoff.
Nominations may be made by
petition by at least five members
of the group and submitted to the
Detroit Service Group office not
later than five days before the
meeting.

I