Purely Commentary

Judge Ellmann: Man of Vision and Dedication
James I. Ellmann was a man of vision. He was a dedicated person
and the movements he served loyally benefited immensely from his
guidance, his leadership, his inspiration.
He had been a good judge. He was a dedicated Zionist and among
Israel's strong supporters. He understood the needs when, long before
the Israel Bond cause commenced, he suggested this type of investment
venture by Zionists and the Jews of the world.
Judge Ellmann understood the threats that stemmed from anti-
Semitic quarters, and as president of the Jewish Community Council he
instituted action to offset damage from the ranks of the bigots.
As president of the Zionist Organization of Detroit, he encouraged
educational activities in the movement's interests.
Detroit Jewry loses a distinguished leader in the death of Jim
Ellmann.
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A Vatican Declaration of Historic Significance
Leading to Path of Greater Amity Between Jewry
and Christianity . . . Russia's Venomous Policies

By Philip
Slomoyitz

. Closer Catholic-Jewish Ties Assured
A Remarkable Vatican Statement
There is very little in the history of Christian-Jewish relations to match the remarkable statement is-
' sued in Baltimore by Lawrence Cardinal Shehan on behalf of the Vatican Secretariat for the Promotion of
Christian unity.
It abandons efforts at proselytization, it affirms obligations to a mother religion, it makes a gesture
towards recognizing Jewish rights in Israel.
The document also calls for joint prayers. It is a statement that will undergo study and the matter of
prayers to be held jointly may assuredly be obviated at the request of the Jewish community. Once we
individuality. It is something we could not yield to because it would
I begin to pray together we abandon our
not be good for Catholics who would have to make emendations that might not be acceptable, and Jews
can not deviate from established Hebraic customs. But this may well prove a minor element in treating a
gesture of such great merit that it must be viewed with respect and admiration.
After all, we have experienced centuries of bias from Catholics. Now we are getting together. It is
from Catholic ranks that we have had the most impressive evidence of understanding of their Jewish fel-
low citizens. Catholics have begun to recognize the validity of Israel. Catholics are giving us comfort in
the great struggle for defense and survival.

This is the score on which the new document emerges as very significant. Catholic dignitaries,

David Sislin's Pioneering in Labor Zionism
especially Pope Paul VI, failed to treat Israel as an entity, as an established state. When Pope Paul
David Sislin was so vital to the Labor Zionist movement that his
was in Israel he failed to mention the state by name. Now, in the new document issued by Cardinal
passing left a serious void in the ranks of the Histadrut, Farband and
Shehan we have the declaration reminding Christians that Jews are "a people which in its history has
the people a covenant, of which
related causes.
- encountered the living and true God, the one God who established with
He was among the organizers of important local labor Zionist proj-
circumcision is the sign"; that fidelity to the covenant "was linked to the gift of a land, which in the
ects and he was always in the forefront of efforts in Israel's behalf.
Jewish soul has endured as the object of all aspiration that Christians should strive to understand
His major accomplishments were in the sphere of the cultural projects
and respect"; and the document proceeds to say that that is why "the existence of the State of Israel
of the movements to which he gave his time and energy. He was the
should not be separated from this perspective."
frequent presiding officer at functions of the movements with which he
This is most significant. It is a recognition of a Jewish historic right, and perhaps it will encourage
was affiliated. He sponsored educational affairs, and his interest in the an effort for genuine peace in the Middle East.
Gratitude for this document, which was adopted unanimously by the Catholic dignitaries who acted
Farband Shule was especially commendable.
The Jewish community loses a most energetic leader in the passing upon it, is due to Father Edward H. Flannery. For some years he has been among the Christian leaders
who defended Jewish rights and especially the role of Jews in the Holy Land. We are grateful to him and
of David Sislin.
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commend him for his vision. And as we await the actionof the Synagogue Council upon this historic state-
ment, we declare that we are thankful for a development that brings us so close to our Catholic fellow
Russia and Israel . . . Spread of Venom in Process
citizens by their act of fairness and justice towards People Israel and State of Israel.
of USSR's Ignoring Those Who Wish to Emigrate
* * *
Israel experiences both the benefits of immigration and the sorrow

of emigation. There is the natural process of Aliya—the movement of
absorbing newcomers—and Yerida—the emigration of the dissatisfied.
It is a normal procedure that was experienced also in die goldene
medina—the golden state, as the United States was referred to by the
immigrants in the early part of this century. Although they struggled,
the immigrants in this country considered this land golden. Yet there
were the dissatsified.
If there are some Russian Jews who are dissatisfied with Israel
once they get there, it is not a cause for despair. But for Pravda it
is a means to rejoice and to warn Russian Jews that Israel is imperial-
istic, that those who have gone there have been "trapped by lying.
false promises."
That's the Communist way of hiding truth, of counteracting reality
with distortions, of ignoring the basic fact that Russian Jews of late
have had the courage to ask for permits to leave the USSR and to
settle in Israel.
They give names, addresses, reasons for their desire to leave. They
do not ask for guarantees of a paradise once they get to Israel. A
typical example is this letter addressed to Chairman Kosygin of the
USSR Council of Ministers:
To the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR,
A. N. Kosygin,
From: Tina Brodetskaya, Moscow G-285, 1 Mosfilmovsky
Pereulok 5, Corpus 14, Apt. 133.
I apply to you in an open letter because in reply to my
repeated applications to the Soviet authorities with the request
to permit me to emigrate to my relatives in Israel, I have
been receiving refusals. In accordance with the accepted order,
these refusals are given orally, by telephone, without any state-
ments concerning the reasons for the refusal or concerning the
identity of the persons who had made these decisions.
My desire to go to Israel is caused by national feelings
alone, and not by hostility towards the Soviet Union.
During the second World War, my father, who had volun-
teered for the front, was killed. Many of my close relatives
were also killed. In my early childhood, together with my
mother—an army physician—I followed the Soviet troops from
the Ukraine to Berlin. I saw German concentration camps,
embalmed heads of Jewish commissars and crates with soap
inscribed: "From Jewish fat." I had to realize why such things
happened to the Jews. Later I understood that the defenceless-
ness of the Jews was caused by the absence of a Jewish state,
and that the fate of Jews really mattered only to the Jewish
state.
I decided that there was only one road for me—to live for
my people. In my student years I sought to awaken national
feelings in Jews. In 1957, I was sentenced to prison for Zion-
ism. My stay in prison did not change my convictions. I still
consider Israel as my national homeland.
I consider that under conditions that make it impossible to
express one's national essence and to educate the growing gem
eration in a national spirit, the Jewish people in the USSR is
totally doomed to forcible assimilation. I don't want to assimi-
late. My desire to live in Israel is unshakeable. I, therefore.
demand the satisfaction of my natural right to decide my fate
for myself and to be allowed to go to Israel.
I have already applied by letters to the leaders of the Soviet
government, but in answer I would receive a postcard with the
the request to telephone. My phone calls were answered by
unknown persons, saying that the right of departure has been
refused to me. I am forced to apply to you, Aleksei Nikolaye-
vich, in an open letter. There is no other way out for me.
Respectfully yours,
(signed) Tina Brodetskaya .
October 1969
The Soviet Union's spokesmen choose to ignore the appeal for the
just rights of human beings to go wherever they please. That's why they
resort to venom.
l' Prime Minister Golda Meir found it
It is no wonder that
a Israel's
necessary to state in the Knesset:
"The USSR has no alternative but to realize that it has failed,
after half a century and more, to silence the Jewish voice. It has
failed to decree that its millions of Jews sever themselves from

I

The Tragedy of Religious Leaders Becoming Spreaders of Hate
There is nothing more tragic than the spread of hate based on lies by spokesmen for religious groups.
There was a sample of it here last week when the head of the Islamic Center pinned guilt for the fire at the
Al Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem upon Israel,
It is possible that the average reader of that venomous attack as it was reported in a news story might
really be misled into believing that Israel failed to prevent the incendiary act. The truth is that there were
earlier fires at that mosque which caused greater damage, and little attention was paid to them because
Jordan then dominated over the area; that Israel quickly acted, arrested the Christian who caused the fire
and repaired the mosque: that Arab guards were responsible for the neglect which enabled the arsonist to
enter the mosque area and to cause the fire.
Naturally, the Islamic spokesman sought to place blame upon Israel as part of a scheme to harm
Israel's position. Therefore, he spoke of Moslems having protected religious valuables and also the Jewish
Western Wall. How good of him to speak of The Wall as Jewish! Arab propagandists even refrain from
giving the smallest bit of credit to Jews for any possessions. But who said that Moslems had the total say
over the area in 13 centuries? Was there an Arab hegemony at any time, until the many states were granted
them after the two world wars? And how much freedom was provided to religious observers in Jerusalem
prior to Israel's assumption of authority there? Now there is an assurance of religious freedom in an area
that was submerged in hate under Jordanian rule. Fair-minded Christians will affirm this truth. What Is
needed is more of such Christian spokesmen who will refuse to yield to the spread of hate like that which
came from Detroit's Islamic Center last week.
* * *

On the Road to Real Amity Between the Vatican and the Jewish People
Vatican-Jewish relations are assuming the highest roles of true amity and real cooperation as a result
of the newest statement which recognizes the right of Jews to hold fast to their faith while Catholics will be
creating links with them on the highest level of unity among fellow men.
Unlike previous Vatican assertions, the new declaration speaks of Israel by name and as an entity to
be dealt with and to be accorded respect and understanding.
There is no longer in the approach to amity, the emphasis on proselytization. On the contrary, this Is
actually ruled out. In every sentence of the statement read by Lawrence Cardinal Shehan, Archbishop of
Baltimore, there is the evidence of sincerity and of a desire to create a link of friendship between Jewry
and the Vatican.
While the statement needs to be studied and is receiving the due consideration of the Jewish leadership
in our religious ranks, it is safe to say there is cause for rejoicing over the emanation of a true spirit of
brotherhood from Vatican ranks. What has happened is a glorious development in religous amity. It is no
longer tolerance—which spells tolerating or enduring the other fellow. It is, now, genuine exchange of
respectful regard for a sister religion—In the case of the Vatican it is a mark of respect for Judaism as the
mother religion. Christians who value what has just happened have cause to say that the Christmas they
are about to observe will emerge as the occasion for more genuine brotherly love than has ever been
spoken of in their faith.

41 Govts. Give $13,878,796 to UNRWA

for Arab Refugees; USSR Pledges Nothing

Dr. Michelmore said all the
UNITED NATIONS (JTA) —
needs of UNRWA continued to
Pledges totalling $13,878,796 were
grow, particularly in education.
made Friday by governments for
He said the number of children
the.1970 operations of the United
in UNRWA UN Educational,
Nations Relief and Works Agency
Scientic and Cultural Organiza-
(UNRWA). The amounts will be
tion schools had reached nearly
made available to UNRWA in cash
230,000, about 10 per cent more
and in goods and services.
than a year ago, and that the
The United States refrained
greater census would add nearly
from making a pledge, pending a
$1,000,000 to the UNRWA
final decision by the government.
budget. As before, neither the
Angie Brooks of Liberia. president
Soviet Union nor any Communist
of the General Assembly, told the
government pledged anything.
representatives that UNRWA faced
Joseph Johnson of the U.S. said
a serious financial crisis. UNRWA
Commissioner - General Laurence that he welcomed indications that
Michelmore said the agency must Lebanese authorities were making
be provided with adequate re- arrangements to assume again
sources. The total pledged includ- their responsibility for mainte-
ed a special contribution of nance of order in UNRWA camps
$2,073,000 from West Germany, in Lebanon. Fifteen camps were
which is not a United Nations taken over by guerrillas last month
in clashes with Lebanese forces.
member.

But this is just what Russian Communist leaders dislike: the frank
declarations, the readiness of Israel to keep the doors open to all Jews
who wish to settle there. And anyone who has enjoyed the freedom of
unhampered travel in Israel knows that she is a land that practices
democracy.
The appeal that goes forth to Russia is: Otpusti narod moy!—Let

He said the U.S. had supported
UNRWA from the start and would

continue to do so, adding that the
U.S. has contributed 70 per cent
of the $700,000,000 spent by the

agency.
Shamay Cabana of Israel said
that the heavy burden imposed on
Israel from the war against it by
the Arab states was a factor in
its contribution. He said that sub-
ject to parliamentary approval,
his government would make a cash

contribution equivalent to $71,430

and added that funds for humani-
tarian aid must not give help to

states hostile to member states.

UNITED NATIONS (JTA)—The
General Assembly's Social, Hu-
manitarian and Cultural Commit-
tee has recommended to the Gen-
eral Assembly that it defer until
its 1970 session consideration Of
a draft resolution on the' elimina-
tion of all forms of religious in-
tolerance and discrimination based

on religious belief.
The postponement was proposed
by
the committee's chairman, Mrs.
everything they hold dear as Jews, from the Jewish public through-
Abdallahi Ould Daddah Turkia,
out the world, and from Jewish and Ilebrew creativity. Because my people go! Perhaps the Pravda venom is only temporary and and accepted without dissent. The
Russia's leaders are realistic people, they should have the cour-
limited. Perhaps there'll be an open door soon. Israel's entrances are representative of Canada also pro-
age to admit their failure and to let the Jews go."
open to those who have braced punishment to say they wish to leave posed postponement until next
year's session.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS for Israel.
2 Friday, December 19, 1969

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