American Friends Service Committee Report
Branded as 'Unconscious Anti-Jewish Bias'

Purely Commentary

By Philip Slomovitz
What makes the Communist regimes such a serious threat to Israel
and to the peace of the Middle East?
A research memorandum partially accredited to U. S. State De-
partment sources reveals the following Communist Chinese and Soviet
economic grants and credits extended to Middle Eastern and North
African countries from 1954 to 1968 in millions of dollars:
1954-1968
(Dollars in Millions)
USSR Communist China
Country
50
232
Algeria
SO8
Iran
184
Iraq
44
Morocco
66 22
Somalia
12
South Yemen
22
Sudan
16
233
Syria
210
Turkey
1,011
United Arab Republic
40
92
Yemen
246
2,602
Total

But when American aid is extended to Israel—in the form of
credits, not outright gifts—the wolves begin to howl!
In the long run, cold facts and figures like the above speak louder
than words in exposing the real menace thataaces the Middle East.

Baruch 'Zuckerman, the Remarkable Labor Zionist

Baruch Zuckerman was a remarkable man. He was primarily a'
Zionist leader, but it is unjust merely to label him as a partisan. He
was a dedicated Jew, a great scholar, a noted orator, an able writer.
Those of us who worked with him in the cause of Israel's
demption have learned to love him. He was charming as a conver-
sationalist and so admirable as a human being who was concerned with
the welfare of people of all faiths, all climes, that he stood out as a
great personality.
In the history of Zionism, in the story of our era, in the battle for
just rights for all peoples, his name will be recorded among the great
of our and the preceding generation. He was among those who right-
fully earned the appellation of being a Tzadik—a very righteous man.

•

•

•

The Detroit Importer of Bad M.E. News

There are many ways of undermining the cause of peace. Good
will can be destroyed by the subtlety of newsmen who, in the guise
of impartiality, go to the very sources that are venomous.
The editor of Detroit's morning newspaper did just that. He went
to the American University of Beirut, source of much evil in the Mid
East. He consulted the dissident leader in Israel. Did he deliberately
avoid the truly responsible and authoritative sources—,as he did
in avoiding the constructive in Israel while turning to the panic-loaded?
His utilization of the views in an American Friends report is a partial
indication of the motivations of bias. The latter is refuted and exposed
in the accompanying article by Judge Justine Polier. The balance of the
drivel, marked by so much confusion, is hardly deserving of attention.
But while the inconsistencies in the Detroit newsman's views and
the contradictions he created by his resort to questionable sources
create sort of revulsion, it is necessary that the destructive factors
should be exposed and the true aspects of possible peace motivations
should be presented by more knowledgeable people. The printed word
has its dangers. The false prophet who has just emerged from that
area represents such dangers. Both nations who were interpreted by
him have more representative spokesmen than were dignified by him.
Perhaps time will cure him, as time will surely correct the errors that
have been exported by that importer of bad news.

NEW YORK — The American
Friends Service Committee was
accused of "deep-seated, uncon-
scious anti-Jewish bias" in its re-
port, "Search for Peace in the
Middle East."
Judge Justine Wise Polier, chair-
man of the committee on Israel of
the American Jewish Congress,
charged in an "Open Letter to the
Friends" that the Quakers' theme
of peace had been "obscured and
distorted by persistent notes of
anti-Jewish prejudice." The result,
she said, has "created an awful
gulf between those responsible for
this document and Jews every-
where."
Judge Pollees statement was
published in the current issue of
Congress Bi-Weekly magazine, the
official publication of the AJC, and
has been reprinted in pamphlet
form for public distribution. The
American Jewish Congress leader
sits on the bench of the New York
Family Court.
Because of the Friends' long
record of humanitarian service and
claim of impartiality, Judge Polier
states in Congress Bi-Weekly, the
report was "more disturbing than
blatant attacks against Israel by
those who have sworn to destroy
it or by the position of openly anti-
Semitic groups." She added:
"This study of the Friends is
incompatible with the spirit and
actions of the founder of the
American Friends Service Com-
mittee, that great spirit, Clar-
ence Pickett, with whom I work-
ed and whom I held in highest
esteem and deepest affection."
The American Friends Service
Committee report, which had been
widely circulated in a number of
drafts and in pamphlet form for
about a year, was recently pub-
lished as a 'Fawcett paperback.
The "working party" which pre-
pared the report for the Friends
was headed by Landrum Bolling,
who is president of Earlliam Col-
lege in Richmond, Ind.
As examples of the . report's
"self -deception or unconscious
bias," the American Jewish Con-
gress spokesman listed "historic
inaccuracies (and) selective omis-
sion of significant facts about the
Middle East" plus "patronizing ad-
vice to American Jews, discrimi-
nating and misleading statements
concerning their distributions to Is-
rael, and even threats.
"Why should Friends . . . feel
that they are entitled to tell Amer-
ican Jews what they should or
should not say as citizens to their

government officials?" Judge Poll- 2,500,000 Israeli Jews, 2,400,000
er wrote, adding: would have to be dispatched one
"Why should Friends single out way or another. One must ask
contributions to Israel as tax de- how the Friends could ignore
ductible without acknowledging this covenant and limit their
that the same government policy quotation to only the passages
enables such contributions to Ita- selected."
Challenging the American
lian Relief, Korean Relief, Biafran
Relief, to the Catholic Church, to Friends Service Committee to
Protestant Church organizations, "self-examination and the purging
and even to the work of the Friends of vestigial prejudices which be-
in many lands including Arab coun- lies brotherhood," Judge Polier de-
clared:
tries?
"Possibly the most shocking evi-
"The study goes further and, un-
der the guise of an appeal, threat- dence of a regression by Friends to
ens that if American Jews put too historic bigotry against Jews is to
much pressure on government offi- be found in its repeated references
cials on behalf of Israel, it may to Israel striking back on a 'two
endanger 'interfaith harmony and eyes for an eye' basis.
brotherhood between American citi-
"One must ask why Friends
zens.'
should seek to give the impression
"Do not the Friends realize that Israeli counter terror stemmed
that they are using coercion from a religious commitment . to
when they urge a minority group vengeance through a false quota-
in this country to barter its con- tion from the Old Testament
science, its right to freedom of
"One must ask why, if any ref-
expression, its equal citizenship erence to the Old Testament was
for interfaith harmony a n d to be invoked, the Friends did not
brotherhood?
rather choose the teachings of
"Do not the Friends realize that Leviticus repeated in the New
if this is the price demanded, they Testament:
have reduced 'interfaith harmony
" 'Thou shalt love, thy neighbor
and brotherhood' to a mockery, a as thyself. The stranger that
snare and a delusion?"
dwelleth with you shall be unto
In detailing the "selective omis- you as one born among you, -and
sions" in the Quaker document, thou shalt love him as thyself.'"
Judge Polier asserted:
Asserting that "not only Hitler
and the Grand Mufti but the in-
The report fails to note, in a
difference to their plight by the
discussion of Arab national as-
powerful nations had proven the
pirations, the "creation of 18
need for a Jewish homeland
Arab states or sheikdoms cover-
where Jews and their children
ing an area of 434 million square
could live as of right and not by
miles" or "how small was the
tolerance," Judge Poller asked:
area allotted to Israel under the
"Can it be that the Friends
UN partition decision of 1947, ac-
are incapable of understanding
cepted by Israel but rejected by
this?
the Arabs."
"Does the image of themselves
The report omits to state, in a
as benevolent dispensers of serv-
discussiop of Jewish land pur-
ice prevent them from under-
chases before and after World
standing the need of a people to
War I, that "such lands were
be free of dependence on others
purchased for high prices from
for freedom and even for life?
Arabs, many of whom were ab-
"As one reads the study it be-
sentee landlords."
comes all but incomprehensible
The report quotes an Al Fatah that
the Friends, who have seemed
statement that "we are prepared to understand
the search for dig-
to live at peace in a reunited Pale- nity, independence
statehood
stine with our Jewish neighbors" of many peopleS in and
every part of
but fails to cite the National Cove- the world, should denigrate
the
nant of the Palestine Liberation search for the same goals by Jews
Organization, which declares that who have suffered persecution for
only "Jews who were customarily
living in Palestine until the begin- a period longer than that suffered
ning of the Zionist aggression by any other people."
Judge Polier, who is a national
against the Arab nation will be
vice president of the American
considered Palestinians."
Noting that the 1968 Congress of Jewish Congress and a former
the Palestinian group fixed 1917 president of its National Women's
as the date of the "Zionist aggres- Division, charged further that "the
question of anti-Jewish prejudice
sion," Judge Polier declared:
(Continued on Page 3)
"This would mean that of the

Several Jewries
Caribbean Islands and the Curacao Background . . . Noteworthy Facts About
one who came from Germany an

CARACAS, Venezuela—A Carib- with Venezuelan Jewry, but also results have given great satisfac-
bean cruise is incomplete without with the Jewries of Trinidad, Cura- tion to the concerned community
a visit to this beautiful city, cao, Barbados and other islands. that is so anxious to preserve the
the most prosperous of the The link with Israel is strong and historic records.
Caribbean countries. An Air some of the youth who have left
Prof. Lewin is confident that
France flight combined with the the Caribbean have gone to Israel, erosion processes thus are stop-
Istra Jugoslav boat cruise covers although larger numbers have set- ped and the treatment given the
a lot of ground, and Venezuela be- tied in the United States and Curacao tombstones is proving
comes a highlight of any such Canada, some in Australia.
of very great value.
cruise. You come here from Cura-
Students of Jewish history who
Curacao Jewry is more concern-
cao, the most interesting spot his- are in search of doctoral themes
torically, and in Venezuela, the would do well to turn to this area ed, however, with the preservation
tourist knows that he can locate for inexhaustible subjects. That is of Jewish cultural values, as has
the Israel embassy which covers why we, too, turn back again to been indicated in the establishment
a vast area including all the Carib- Curacao for additional data that of the museum which is being
directed under the guidance of Dr.
bean islands.
is always of great interest.
Jossy Jesurun. He is the dentist
• • •
Venezuela has a new synagogue
who accumulates historic records
CURACAO, Netherlands Antilles and who provided the museum
which houses one of the very pro-
gressive day schools. There are —It is not only the oldest syna- with real gems of great merit.
15,000 Jews in Venezuela, and they gogue on this continent that is of
Miss Mae Capriles, who directs
are late comers compared with great interest, and the Mikva that
the other islands. The Jewish ac- has been uncovered, but also the the museum's guests with evident
dedication,
is a sort of "returnee"
oldest
cemetery,
the
tombstones
of
tivities here did not begin until
which retain the oldest known to the faith who has become im-
1850.
bued
with
Jewish
history and with
North African Jews established memorial records in the history of Israel's accomplishments. There
the Associacion Israelita de Vene- American Jewry.
are many mixed marriages in her
Not so long ago, Prof. Seymour family. She seems to atone for the
zuela, with a Sephardic influence,
upon the island's Jewish commu- Z. Lewin of New York, a chemistry losses.
nity. The Ashkanazic community teacher, developed a liquid formula
The craving for cultural values
which has been applied for preser-
is of more recent vintage.
vation of ancient monuments, became evident during the Holy
"Hebraica" school is the pride Mikve
Days when the newcomer, the
Israel-Emanuel
of
Willem-
of the entire community.
stadt, Curacao, invited Dr. Lewin young Hazan, Reuven Silverman,
Israel's Ambassador Jacob Doron to apply his discovery to the tomb- who recently came from London
serves not only as a contact man stone on its old cemetery and the where he studied for the rab-
binate, began to make appeals for
2 — Friday, December 25, 1970
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Jewish loyalties. He deplored the
I_
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"appallingly low" attendance at
Sabbath services — although the
services are held regularly, un-
interruptedly. Although he is only
23 he serves as rabbi and assists
the Orthodox Rabbi M. Trizman in
conducting the daily Hebrew school
for the children. In his message
to his congregants he said:
"I have dedicated some of my
time to seeking ways to bring
new music to Friday eve serv-
ices and to resurrect some old
melodies. I have also tried to
combine a little adult education
with preaching by planning my
sermons on historical themes
with relation to present day Jew-
ish and world affairs."
Interest in Israel is immense.
Here is a WIZO chapter and Cura-
cao Jewry subsists on pleasant
recollections of historic values.
A rabbi who had contributed
greatly towards the advancement
of Curacao Jewry's activities was
Simeon J. Maslin, who wrote ex-
inspired his people, labored untir-
ingly until he left for a Chicago
pulpit some six years ago, as suc-
cessor to Rabbi Jacob J. Wein-
stein.
There was a sad chapter in
Curacao Jewry's history. When the
Nazis invaded Holland, the Neth-
erlands colonies considered any

••T••••

enemy alien. Many German Jews
had fled to the Caribbean for safe-
ty and the German Jews were in-
terned for many months on the
other Netherlands Antilles island
of Bonaire. But the best relations
soon were established when it was
recognized that an escaped Jew
was a sufferer from Nazism rather
than a collaborator.
Out of the Jewish loyalties in
the Netherlands Antilles Cara-
caoan Jewish sector have grown
some very interesting develop-
ments. Plaza Delicatessen dis-
plays a Jewish National Fund
Blue and White Box and carries
Hebrew National products from
New York—offering its custom-
ers kosher corned beef, salami
and hot dog sandwiches. Abram
E. Salas' large book store car-
ries every eopeeivable new book
of Jewish interest. The links
there with Jewry seems unbrok-
en.
The Curacao story, the history
of its synagogue, the pride of its
Jewish residents in its history as
a splendidly functioning Jewish
community, are a matter of record
that has been recounted time and
time again, the compilation of
whose history always evokes won-
derful memories among all Jews
in the Western Hemisphere. • - •

• •

......