Purely Commentary
Whitney M. Young, Jr., the Distinguished Libertarian
Whose Sense of Justice Embraced All of Mankind and
Included Israel . . . Truth About Fair Play in Israel
The Saintly, Justice-Loving Whitney M. Young, Jr.
By Philip
Slomovitz
Christian-Jewish Friendship in Israel
With the best intentions, one of Detroit's daily newspapers recently
carried a series of articles, in the Sunday magazine section, presenting
the conflicting views of Israelis and Arabs residing here on the con-
ditions that affect the attitudes of the peoples who are involved in the
Middle East controversies. Accompanying the views of the two peoples
who share a kinship dating back to Patriarchal times was an article
by 'a Jesuit priest giving his views on the kibutz movement.
It is immaterial who the participants were. The. basic fact in
that symposium, which unquestionably was featured with the apparent
aim of clarifying issues, is that so many distortions creep into public
Whitney M. Young, Jr., the distinguished Negro
One would think that a nation surrounded by discussions of issues involving Jews, Israelis, the Zionist movement,
leader, brought back interesting observations from
hostile Arab states whose guerrillas inflict daily that they can lead to misconceptions, hatreds for the Israelis and
Israel with timely advice for America and Ameri-
casualties on troops and civilians would develop their kinsmen. The impression one gets from such and similar expres-
sions is that Israelis killed, that they torture, that there is no freedom
cans.
deep hatred for the enemy.
He points out, for example that the popular
"But it is not so, generally. A top army gen- for Arabs or non-Jews (religiously considered) in Israel.
We are concerning ourselves with such analyses because it is so
myths among Americans is that because so much
eral explained it to me. 'I don't want my children
vital to the cause of good will and the need for understanding upon
must be spent for defense we cannot afford to
to hate', he said.
which peace should be based that the truth—and the truth alone—
finance new programs to end poverty and to aspire
"The subject came up again when I met should be sought and emphasized.
toward a more equal society. But in Israel, the
Israel's brilliant and charming prime minister,
So—we turn briefly to an accumulated record of very good Chris-
relatively poor country, which has to spend an even
Mrs. Golda Meir. An American suggested to her tian-Jewish relations made possible by the undiscriminating regula-
greater portion of its national wealth on defense,
that
Arabs
were
lazy
and
incapable
of
learning
tions of the Israel government and the cooperation of the justice-
three wars and harassment by hostile neighbors
modern techniques—the same lies that many loving Israeli people.
have not interfered with "the deep commitment of
people assert about Negroes.
The impressive record can be found on all scores, in all relation-
the top Israeli officials to develop that country's
"Mrs. Meir was visibly annoyed, but she ships in Israel. And there is an especially valuable compilation of
human resources."
answered
in
a
very
lady-like
way
that
no,
you
evidence in a magazine published in Israel entitled Christian News
-
Young points to the progress made 'by Israel in
can't say a people are lazy. It's a matter of oppor- From Israel.
education, and his observations deserve serious
tunity and education, she said, and she told of
What this volume does is provide the facts regarding experiences
attention by those who strive for cultural advances.
the efforts Israel is making to motivate its Arab of Christians in observing their faith. Reflecting "the spirit of Israel
Here's the story he brought from Israel:
population and open new opportunities for them. as a society open and democratic, free and pluralistic," this corn-
"The Israelis see, as too few Americans do,
In her own quiet way, she exploded the myths and pilation contains the reports on numerous functions submitted by the
that good schools and superior education can
generalizations that are part and parcel of racist Reverend Archimandrite Jacob Capenecas of the Greek Orthodox
erase social inequalities. So they are taking special
thought.
Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Canon Peter Schneider and Rev. D.
steps to insure that children from poorer families
"Israel also has some other lessons for us. Baker of the Anglican ranks, and spokesmen for other religious
get special, more than equal, schooling to com-
Its agricultural cooperatives might be used as denominations in Israel. In every instance the activities reported
pensate for their less favored backgrounds.
example for solving the problems of the rural indicate a close relationship with the government, outlines of func-
"The way they are going about this has some
South . . .
tions that go on without interruption and with due respect from admin-
lessons for us. Too often such compensatory edu-
"Israel is also dotted with new cities. Plan- istration and the people of the nation of Israel.
cation just becomes a political football here in
ners carefully arranged for the settlement of new
The• record referred to is emphatic. Christians in Israel have
America, with the real issues obscured by fights
immigrants in new towns. I visited one, Kyriat shown their resentment at those who seek to inject hatreds against
about bussing or other schemes.
Gat, one the edge of the Negev. It's a bustling Jews, as was the case at the conference in Beirut whence came such
"What the Israelis are doing is to quietly
community, specially designed to integrate new- a distorted declaration against Jews and Israel that fair-minded
saturate schools in poor neighborhoods with spe-
comers into Israeli life.
Christian spokesmen in Israel repudiated it. For instance, Sister
cial services. Students attending such schools
If a small country can do this, why can't Donna Purdy published a report in Newsletter of Secretariat for Cath-
start earlier, with compulsory kindergarten, and
we, with our vast open spaces, plan for new olic-Jewish Relations, in which she stated, as recorded in Christian
must stay in school longer, about two years more
towns to absorb our growing population? We have News From Israel:
than children going to other schools.
more money, more planners, more industry than
"The teachers are, of course, paid extra for
"The (Beirut) conference's statement that there can be no
Israel has. But they are experimenting, while we
their extra time, and their union backs the pro-
peace in the 'Middle East until Zionism is eliminated from Israel
are stuck in a rut. Why?
gram. Most teachers accept the fact that they
is disturbing. Equally disturbing is its judgment that the Zionist
play a key role in this developing society, and
political interpretation, founded on the 'manipulation of biblical
"Perhaps the answer lies in the pioneering
they welcome the chance to develop the talents
texts for the purpose of political power' is 'as unacceptable for
spirit, the nation-building spirit of adventure that
of their students. They lack the "combat" men-
Christians as it is for Jews faithful to the spiritual message of the
was once so strong in America, but now seems
Old Testament.'
tality of too many American teachers in slum
smothered by affluence and social disinterest. If
schools.
"That Christians meet to study the Palestinians' claim and
Israel has anything to teach us, it may be that
"I couldn't help thinking that in Israel it is
to support them in it is, in itself, unexceptionable, provided that
this spirit must be recaptured, and that our
accepted that you can take 28 people from dif-
such support does not undermine Israel's right to exist. One is
resources must be used to develop our own human
ferent cultures, all speaking different languages,
also free to disagree with attempts to prove from texts of Scrip-
potentials to create an equal society."
and teach them. Here in America it takes an
ture Israel's right to exist as a modern Jewish state, through no
These, indeed, are great lessons for America.
immense effort simply to convince people that
Christian can, without being unfaithful to this same Scripture,
They are enlightening reminders to Jews whose
middle class white children and poor black chil- activities are linked with Israel's to appreciate that
deny a Jewish link to the Land. But surely the days have gone
dren can be taught in the same classroom."
by forever when we Christians claim to be able to replace one
they are contributing toward the building of a
Young relates equally interestingly his impres-
interpretation of Scripture by our own interpretation, even though
highly advanced society. The fulfillment of prophetic
sions of the wav in which integration is attained
not a 'spiritual' one. Also, if it is wrong for a Jew to use biblical
dreams leading toward the elimination of want,
in Israel. On tolerance he says:
texts for purposes of 'Zionist political interpretation', it is equally
bigotry, hatred and warfare is represented in the
"Tolerance toward Arabs also surprised me.
wrong for Christians to use their interpretation of this Scripture
dream of Israel stemming from the Zionist idea.
for their political purposes.
What was written in 1969 was not his only right to gratitude for speaking the truth and for being
"It is unfortunate that Israel's military prowess obscures the
an excellent observer. There was a later incident which should be recorded anew.
nature of her true, deeper existence. Israel is a Jewish state.
On June 28, 1970, he was one of the signers of an advertisement in the New York Times that was
People, religion and Land have again become united. The Jews
entitled "An Appeal by Black Americans for United States Support for Israel."
He was attacked for his
have returned, in a dramatic way, to their roots and source.
views by militant blacks who had joined the anti-Israel ranks, and he wrote a rejoinder. In his reply he
Let Christians realize that they are not the only ones concerned
refuted the attempt to link Israel with South Africa as "being nations with political prisoners and, in
about the moral ramifications of this event, including the dispos-
Israel's occupied territories, 'not even the pretense of democracy.' " He declared:
session of thousands of Arabs. The Jewish community, both here
and in Israel, is also deeply concerned.
"As to the matter of 'democracy' in the occu-
And in addition to relatively unhampered travel
Of even greater significance is the statement that was issued by
pied territories, I think it is generally agreed that
across- the Jordan, West Bank Arabs have found
the Israeli occupation of the West Bank has been
jobs and higher pay within Israel itself. They have the Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity in Israel also
the most lenient armed occupation in history.
joined the union, the Histadrut, and receive equal repudiating the anti-Israel statement that came from Beirut. Their
declaration reads:
Despite the repeated acts of armed terrorism,
treatment in employment and other benefits. I
"We, Christians living in Jerusalem and in Israel, feel our-
West Bank Arabs enjoy self-government under
should also point out that there was 'no pretense
selves directly concerned by the declaration of the World Con-
the leaders appointed by the Jordanians, publish
of democracy' in the years preceding the Israeli
gress of Christians for Palestine', and in particular by the final
anti-Israel newspapers and freely propagandize
occupation, as citizens were brutalized and merci-
resolution entitled 'Appeal from Beirut.'
against the Israelis—an extraordinary situation. .
lessly exploited by the Jordanian ruling classes,"
"We cannot conceal our anxiety about the effect of such a
There had been charges—and they are being repeated!—about racism and discrimination against the
declaration on the peoples of the Middle East. We consider the
majority of Jews in Israel who had come from Oriental countries—the black Jews. Mr. Young had an
fact that we were in no way invited to make ourselves heard on
explanation in his reply to this charge:
the subject of Palestine an affront to truth and justice.
"We contest the . claim of the Beirut congress to represent uni-
"From what I have seen it appears that the dis-
the leaders of that country, and the lack of prejudice
advantages suffered by the Oriental population can one finds among the younger, native-born population,
versal Christian opinion. Are consider that Christians should
be more logically traced to the educational disad- leads me to believe that this is a problem on its way
promote peace among men and not encourage hatred. We object
vantages they brought with them from their Moslem to successful solution. Stripped of inappropriate com-
in particular to the use of the name 'Christian' for the sanctifica-
tion of a violent nationalistic struggle.
birthplaces, and their resultant inability to compete
parisons with American racism, one may say that
with native and European settlers better prepared
"Because we share with the Christians who met in Beirut
the problem of the Oriental Jews in Israel comes
for the urban, advanced society Israel has become. down to the fact that any society, but most of all a
the desire for justice and compassion toward all suffering, we
deplore with them the sufferings of the Arabs and we empathize
new, immigrant society, will exhibit social strains
"The acid test of any society is what it will do and tensions. A nation that is aware of these strains
with the desire of the Palestinians for a national homeland.
for its deprived, and while our country acts with a
However, we are grieved by the fact that they,' on their side, do
and is actively working to end them cannot be ac-
callousness that is unrelieved in its brutality, my
not understand the sufferings of the Jewish people and do not
cused of racism. I should add something that is so
1969 visit to Israel impressed upon me the fact that
recognize the. legitimate claims of Israel to exist.
obvious that it need not be pointed out—the Oriental
Israelis are acutely conscious of the gap afflicting Jews of Israel came to that country to flee the most
"The theologians of Beirut accuse Israel of using the Bible
their Oriental population and are taking steps—edu-
for political ends. We are convinced that to use the Bible to justify
brutal kind of religious oppression and social and
cational and - economic—to close it. I saw the develop.
contemporary events or political aims is theologically inadmissible.
economic discrimination. While it is just that their
ment of new towns, for example, designed to effect current status be a matter of concern, I have yet
But we are also convinced that only an extreme bias can prevent
the integration of the many varied peoples coming
a Christian from seeing that the Jews have derived their con-
to hear of anyone moving back in disappointment to
to Israel. The evident concern this subject has among
cepts of People, Land and Relation to the Lord from their annual
Egypt, Iraq or Yemen."
reading of the Bible. Moreover, we think that the presence of the
And then he had something to say about the so-called "Arab revolution" and the unwise alliance
Jewish people, from its origin and throughout its history, in this
of Blacks with Arabs. In his words:
Land shows that there has always been a link between the Jewish
"I must confess to being unaware of what you Israel into the sea and concentrated their energies
People and the Land of Israel. We feel that if justice is to be
call the 'Arab Revolution.' If the Arab nations had on improving the lives of their people. It is their
done to the Jews as well as to the Arabs this link must be
really been concerned with improving 'the social,
into consideration."
failure to provide opportunities for the Palestinians,
economic, and political existences' of their people, their greed in annexing the Palestinian state decreed
If we can establish the truth, enmities may vanish. In the inter-
they would long ago have ceased threatening to push
. (Continued on Page 3) est of truth we present the documentary evidence by calling to witness
Christians who seek justice and will not permit slander against Jewry,
2 Friday, March 19, 1971
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Israel and Zionism.
America and mankind 'have lost a truly great man with the sudden death of Whitney
M. Young, Jr. He was a man of intellect and of honor and he had the courage of a great
libertarian.
Whitney M. Young well earned the important chapter in American history that will
be dedicated to him. He played a role in the defense of Israel for which he will always be
remembered_
A major portion of our column on Oct. 17, 1969, was devoted to him. It was entitled
"Whitney Young's Lessons From Israel," and in it we stated:
,
—