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December 31, 1971 - Image 1

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 1971-12-31

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

Plight of
Syrian Jews
Demands Action
e -
Nixon Visit
to Kremlin and
Jewry's Plight

THE JEWISH NEWS

Michigan Weekly

Commentary
Page 2

Review of Jewish News

Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper — Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle

VOL. LX, No. 16

Vpr-

Prospects for

Peaceful 1972

a

Democratic
Approaches to
Community
Functioning

Editorials
Page 4

17515 W. 9 Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 356-8400 $8.00 Per Year; This Issue 25c December 31, 1971

World Jewish Leaders Deplore
Folding of Yiddish Daily 'Day

Zionist Congress Voting Extended;
Invitation to Goldmann Dropped

Due to delays in mail deliveries, the deadline on voting for delegates to
the World Zionist Congress on the basis of party votes has been extended to Dec.
31. It was reported this week that the American Arbitration Association, which
is managing the balloting, will accept ballots postmarked Jan. 3.
Among the serious issues that have arisen is the controversy between
Hadassah and the Zionist Organization of America. Hadassah claims to be non-
party, in its association with two minor groups in Zionist ranks and in its claimed
attitude toward Israel government functions.
ZOA President Herman Weisman and Dr. Emanuel Neumann, who heads
the ZOA list, disputed their claims. Weisman's statement declares:
"When Hadassah officials boast that their grouping is 'composed of Diaspora
Zionists only,' they are admitting to a dangerous isolationism which, if unchecked,
will drive a wedge between Israelis and world Jewry."

*
*
TEL AVIV (JTA)—A stormy session of the Jewish Agency Executive
voted to withdraw an invitation to Dr. Nahum Goldmann to address a session
of the World Zionist Congress next month because of a speech on Soviet Jews
and Israel he made last Sunday in London. Dr. Goldmann had been invited to
address a special session marking the 75th anniversary of the Zionist movement.
In a cable to the 77-year-old world Jewish leader, the JA Executive de-
clared Friday that "in view of the circumstances following the publication of
your London statement and after reading the full text of your address, it was
resolved Sunday by majority vote to withdraw the invitation to you to address
the festive session." The cable stressed that the vote was not meant to indicate
any opposition "to your legitimate right to participate in and address any session
of the plenary or the committees of the Congress."
Dr. Goldmann told the British Board of Deputies that while he "rejoiced"
in the migration of Russian Jews to Israel, it was essential to remember that
millions of Jews would remain in the Soviet Union and that Jews free to do so
should press for those remaining in Russia just "as they do for the rights of
all other Jewish communities."
The phrase "the circumstances that developed" after the London address
appeared to be a reference to the fact that Dr. Goldmann had been misquoted
by the Times of London which reported erroneously that he had said that "it
would be a betrayal to take the view that Jews in the Soviet Union should be
released to go to Israel." He had actually said it would be "a crime and a
betrayal" of Jews remaining in Russia if Jews elsewhere did not "press for
their rights" as Jews.
The vote for withdrawal was 7-2 with one abstention. The cable to Dr.
Goldmann cited a number of reasons for the action. One was that while Zionism
had always striven to protect the rights of Jews everywhere, "this does not fit
the present situation of the Russian Jews" in which it is "clear that first priority
must be given to aliya." The struggle for Russian Jewish emigration, the cable
said, "is the center of all our activities" and "any other approach weakens the
struggle for aliya rights."
The cable was signed by Louis Pincus, chairman of the Jewish Agency.
Criticism of Pincus' action was widespread in Zionist circles.

$65,000 Waller Gift Marks
Completion of Magen David
Medical Center in Ashdod

A $65,000 contribution from Mr. and Mrs. Allan L. Waller
completed Detroit sponsorship of a first aid medical station being
built in Ashdod, Israel, Dr. John Mames, chairman of the Michi-
gan Region of Magen David Adorn of Israel, announced this week.
A victory cocktail reception will be held Wednesday evening
at Cong. Bnai Moshe to mark completion of the project and com-
mencement of the building of the Magen David Adorn station
in Ashdod. Dr. Joseph Kott, chairman of the executive commit-
tee of Magen David Adorn in Israel, will be guest speaker.
(Detailed Story on Page 6)

NEW YORK (JTA)—Leaders in Jewish journalism tried to shed some
light Wednesday on the permanent darkening Tuesday night of the Day-Jewish
Journal. One of only two surviving general circulation Yiddish language dailies
in the nation, it ceased publication as of Tuesday's issue after 57 years, the first
39 as simply The Day. But even by Wednesday it was not clear just how
unexpected its closing was.
According to City Editor Philip Sandler, the closing was totally unfore-
seen.
Paul Novick, editor-in-chief of the Morning Freiheit, the Communist-
linked Yiddish daily, called the decision "very sudden and unexpected."
Neal Kozodoy, executive editor of Commentary, published by the Ameri-
can Jewish Committee, voiced "shock."

Tragedy Stalks on Jewish Spiritual-Cultural Horizon
With the Death of the Day-Journal; Yiddish Newspaper
History Recalled in Declining Stage of Yiddish Press

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
It was expected—ten years hence. At the moment, the end of the Tog-
Morgen Jornal is the most sensational and at the same time the most tragic
story that unfolds for American and world Jewries in this decade.
For 70 years the Yiddish newspaper has been the most important Ameri-
canizing force in this country. At the same time, it was the major factor in assur-
ing solidarity in Jewish ranks in providing relief for war sufferers in World War
I, in seeking havens for Jews in World War II, in striving for the protection of
Israel. It has been a factor in the battle against prejudice generally and in expos-
ing anti-Semitism.
Now, with the Jewish Daily Forward as the only remaining major Yiddish
daily in this country—except for the Freiheit whose smallness in size and circu-
lation is due to its Communist affiliation—the demise of Yiddish, which we de-
plored for many years, has reached a deplorable but hopefully not a final stage.

In 1914, when the Jewish population in this country was much less than
half the present U. S. Jewish population—the Jews in this country numbered
2,400,000 in 1914—there were 10 Yiddish dailies in this country. Their total
sworn circulation as recorded in 1914 in Editor and Publisher was 762,910. Now,
with the passing of the Tog-Morgen Jornal, the number of Yiddish reading
families for all of the United States will probably be around 50,000. This is a
tragedy because a Jewish language which was spoken by many millions, in the
love for which Maurice Samuel, Leo Rosten and many others recently have writ-
ten nostalgically, is losing one of its strongest organs.

The Yiddish newspaper has been as much a literary resorvoir as it was a
newspaper. The names of some of the greatest Jewish writers have been linked
with the Yiddish press. Chaim Zhitlovsky, Dr. Chaim Greenberg, Abraham
Goldberg, Yehoash, Sholem Asch, scores of names so popular that they have
become legends in many languages have been linked with Yiddish and the Yid-
dish press.

Snow in Israel

JERUSALEM ( J T A) — Snow
blanketed Jerusalem and the sur-
rounding hills Monday, and freez-
ing rains lashed Tel Aviv on the
coast, disrupting normal life in
bath cities and snarling traffic be-
tween them. Israel experiences
snowfalls on an average of once in
two years. Water and heating pipe-
lines are above ground and freeze
when the temperature drops. Is
raeli cars do not carry snow tires.
It was expected that Jerusalem
will be completely immobilized if
the snow continues.
(Related Story on Page 3)

(Continued on Page 5)

Mendes-France to Discuss
Middle East Problem With
Chinese in Peking Visit

PARIS (JTA)—Former French Premier Pierre Mendes-
France, who is now in China as a guest of the Peking govern-
ment, will raise the Middle East issue in the course of his con-
versations with the Chinese leadership, it was disclosed here
by a French political source. The source added that Mendes-France
is expected to appeal to the Chinese leaders to adopt a more
flexible policy regarding the Middle East conflict.
(The India-Pakistan situation may affect conditions involv-
ing China, Pakistan now evidencing a more friendly attitude
toward Israel. Story on Page 3.)

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