Dramatic Chapter of Truman's Role in Jewish History (Continued from Page 1) the days of Czarist Russia. This historic saga of persecution is one of the reasons why, as President. I placed a high priority on the establishment of the new state of Israel. I hoped that by this action the people of the United States would help to right a terrible wrong. For I deeply felt that the persecution of Jews over the centuries has left a deep and ugly scar on the conscience of civilization. "Anti-Semitism is not a trait anyone is horn with. It is something akin to a com- municable disease—passed on from com- munity to parent, and from parent to child. And the cycle goes on generation after gen- - eration. on Monday, Feb. 28, 1949. It was an import- ant day because it was so soon after his re-election. He had not forgotten his many friends. Dewey Stone of Boston, Abraham Feinberg of New York, Louis Berry and Ben Levinson of Detroit were among his supporters. At that session with us of nearly an hour, President Truman spoke about immigration. He favored liberalization of our laws to admit persecutees. His concern was the Middle East and, as already told, he turned the large globe toward the area and ex- pressed regret that his sincerity in support- ing Israel should ever have been ques- tioned. • • • TM C WHITZ HOUSE WASHINGTON February 2, 1.949 W dear Mr. Slomovitz: Please give Der warm greetings to all those who are attending the contention of the American Associa- On Jan. 20 1966, President Truman was "The disease of anti-Semitism is so tion of leglish-Jewish Newspapers February eighteenth to virulent that each generation seems to be presented with the plan for the creation of twenty-first. The 100th anniversary of the publication the Truman Peace Center at the Hebrew helplessly caught up in it. And there is no of ■ The Agnomen• is a significant occasion, and I am effective cure in sight, save that of an University in Jerusalem. President Johnson delighted to have a part in it. was the guest speaker at the Harry S. Tru- awakened conscience of man. man Library in Independence, Mo. Truman "What I find even more discouraging is The century that has passed since that date to see that in our institutions of higher was then presented by President Johnson has witnessed our country's rise to a commanding world education, where one wou:d expect the intel- with the Number One Medicare Card, thus inaugurating the U. S. Medicare program. lectual ferment to act as a purifier, there, position. This has been possible because we were richly On the following day—Jan. 21, 1966, at too, prejudice, discrimination and exclusion endowed by nature; but even more because we have drawn to the MuCebach Hotel, in Kansas City, Pres- exist in one guise or another. ourselves !roman the nations of the earth those who "And we know that in some of our large ident Truman was host at lunch to the 36 loved freedom best. business institutions, as in our professions contributors of $100,000 each towards the of law, medicine and other fields, discrimin- Truman Peace Center project (Emma It is our people who have made America great, Schaver and Abraham Borman were the ation and exclusion are not uncommon. and I am proud of the fact that there have always been "I think it is about time that we face up two Detroiters among the 36 who were many of Jewish origin among us. In t:le developeent of , to the offensive treatment accorded the Jew- honored with the title the Lamed-Vavniks , ish people here and elsewhere. And it is comparing them to the connotation Lamed our country, in its defense, and in upholding its high about time someone said something about Vav Tzadikim—the 36 saintly in ancient ideals, American Jewry has played a distinguished role. the violztion of not only their civil rights Jewish tradition). My wife and I were among the invited guests. I spoke to him but in certain areas their very lives as well For one hundred years, the Jewish press has "Consider how the tiny state of Israel. briefly at that time, expressing the hope been a potent force in building the America we love. Nay that out of the Truman Peace Center will only a few- years along from its precarious it long continue to uphold the highest ideals of human eventually emerge a worldwide fulfillment beginning has had to live with neighboring nations, who are fanatically resolved to de- of the hope for peace. His reply was dignity and social justice; stroy it by every means. "There'll be no peace," and he repeated it, "the - e'll be no peace." "And what about our churches — what Very sincerely yours have they done? Here, too, our spiritual Much has been said about Truman's hab- leaders have proved ineffectual—and the erdashery partner, Eddie Jacobson. But persecution of this mere handful of people President Truman had many Jewish asso- scattered throughout the four corners of the ciates. His secretary, David Noyes, read his world, goes on unabated. Even at the -Vati- speech for him at the Truman Peace Center can. where historic reforms are under con- ceremony In Independence, ju'l prior to the siderat:on, the problrm of anti•St mitism had address by President John on. Prof. Mar- to he tabled (or lack of agreement. shall 11. Shuman, now head of the Russian • rile "And, no 1 say, the Issue of civil rights Is department at Columbia University, was with us In many manifestations. The plight one of Truman's speech writers. Dr. Shut- of the Negroes Is but one of these. Anti man. son of Mrs. Harry M. Shulman of Mr. Philip Slomovits, Semitism is as grave • challenge Detroit, was a member of the staff of Sec- to President, sense of fairne us and morality. It Is to our he retary of Ftate Dean Acheson. Judge Sam- American Association of Maglish-Jewish newspaper., everlasting credit of the Jewish people th; t uel I. Rosenman was one of Truman's 2124 Penobscot Building, they have managed to live with all their Cos est associates. troubles and to survive them. Detroit 26, Michigan. During the years of pressures to prevent "When I think of the question of civil t he row of Jewish immigrants into Pales- rights in fu , President Truman's message to the annual convention of the Ameri- 1 perspective, I am moved to t ine, President Truman was firm in his say as the Lord said in 'Green Pa: tures'— humanitarian position. Unlike his predeees- can Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, held at the Willard Hotel, 'Let us have a compete rain.' " Washington, D.C., Feb. 18-21. or, he rejected the demands of Ibn Saud • • • a wed informed him how concerned he was than any other State Department official in of Israel, remains one of the most dramatic EaCier, f referred to the delegation t hat Jews should have a right to settle in encouraging President Truman to recognize of Jewish editors I headed, at President t he then Jewish National Home soon to Israel. That chapter, involving President in both American and Jewish histories. And Truman's invitation. A select group of us I Weenie President Truman was among the chief Israel the Jewish state. Truman, the State Department and some rch to^ s of a p r icy that gave firmness to met with the President at the White House Clark Clifford was more instrumental of the obstructionists in it, and the Heed' the -ebirth of the Jewish state. r. On Feb. 28, 1949, President Harry Truman welcomed a delegation from the American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, under the chairman- ship of Philip Slomovitz, editor and publisher of The Detroit Jewish News and president of th? association, in his office at the White House. The occasion was the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the English-Jewish weekly press in America. Mr. Slomovitz presented the President with a resolution eommending the Chief Executive for his aid to Israel and nom- Mating him for an honorary degree by the , Hebrew University in Jerusalem, 36-Friday, Deco.29, 1972 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS and with a reproduction of the first issue of the Asmonean, the first English- Jewish weekly published in America. In the photo are the attendees at that White House meeting (from left) Willy Pels, Southern Israelite, Atlanta, Ga.; Albert Golomb, Jewish Outlook, Pittsburgh; Leo H. Frisch, American Jewish World, Minneapolis; Philip Slomovitz; J. M. Feldman, the Sentinel, Chicago; President Truman; Dr. Alexander Brin, Jewish Advocate, Boston; Samuel Neusner, Jewish Ledger, Hartford, Conn.; Philip Klein, Jewish Times, Phila- delphia; and Eli Jacobs, Jewish Review, Buffalo.