Purely Commentary

'By the Rivers of Babylon . . .

Israel Foreign Minister Abba Eban spoke in the Knes-
set a few days before his departure for a brief visit in
the United States on the plight of Jewish communities in
Arab lands.
He referred to the handful of Jews left in Iraq—the
400 left out of the tens of thousands 25 years ago.
He called attention to the state of horrors under
which the remaining 4,000-5,000 Syrian Jews live today.

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137

By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down, yea, we
wept,
When we remembered Zion.
2 Upon the willows in the midst
thereof
We hanged up our harps.
'For there they that led us captive
asked of us words of song,
And our tormentors asked of us
mirth:
`Sing us one of the songs of Zion.'

glow shall we sing the LORD'S song
In a foreign land?
6 If I forget thee, 0 Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget her
cunning.
2 Let my tongue cleave to the roof
of my mouth,
If I remember thee not;
If I set not Jerusalem
Above my chiefest joy.

Then he became poetic. He took as his text the 137th
Psalm. He spoke about Abraham who was born in Meso-
potamia, about Ezekiel who prophesied in Babylan about
the dry bones that will assume new life. He analyzed the
background of the historical incident when Jews wept
over the destruction of their state and pledged allegiance
to a redeemed Zion in the days to come. He recalled the
psalmist's paean and he gave the Iraqi Jews the great
tribute, on the basis of Psalm 137. as having been the
first Zionists. In that speech in the Knesset, in Jeru-
salem, on April 29, he said in his plea for an "emergence
to freedom in behalf of Iraqi and other Jews in Moslem
countries, as he recalled the famous lines "By the rivers
of Babylon":
"Redemption of the last
orities really believe that
remnants of Iraqi Jewry
will spell the end of a
the dastardly murder re•
chapter of Jewish presence
cently committed and all
which has lasted continu-
other overt and covert
ously from the dawn of hu-
criminal deeds will deter
man history until the pres- Iraqi Jewry from joining
ent. In Mesopotamia was their people? Was it then
born the father of the na- not there that Jews first
tion, in Babylon did the
wept in recalling Zion?
eviled prophet behold the Was it not there that exiled
vision of the dry bones in-
Jews for the first time held
to which the breath of life Jerusalem above their
was infused, in the land
chiefest joy? And it was
between the rivers Gaonim
there that the wonderful
(Jewish scholars) and poets and unprecedented revela-
emerged to light the path tion emerged of a people
of the Jewish people in the
which, even in its disper-
Middle Ages—and it was
sions, never ceased yearn-
among Iraqi Jewry that es- ing for its homeland.
tablishment of the State of
"The very concept of 'the
Israel caused a ripple of return to Zion' was born by
yearning, until they arose
the rivers of Babylon, and
and flowed to us in their
it is indeed the silenced
multitudes in the early
harps hung on the willows
years of the state's exist-
that speak to us to this very
ence, out of a sincere and
day in a voice which can-
deep spiritual awakening to
not be stilled and knows no
the disregard of accounts of rest.
time and property. Even in
"Therefore, we have but
the past two years the
to intensify the sound of
Iraqi authorities were un-
our demand and to main-
able to withstand the pres-
tain the full wrath of our
sure of domestic and exter- protest and that of the en-
nal demand, which result- tire enlightened world, un-
ed in the redemption of til the last of the Babylon-
most of the Jewish rem- ian exile shall have closed
nant.
the circle of history—and
"Do the Baghdad auth- emerge to freedom."

The First Zionists . . . the Tragedy of the Iraqi
Jews Who Pledged Not to Forget Jerusalem . . .
Honor for Louis Berry .. . Aliya-Yerida Problems

By Philip
Slomovitz

Eban's Plea for Iraqi Jewry

Aliya and Yerida—the Russian Aspect

In the poetic words of Abba Eban we have the em-
phasis on the continuity of Jewish history, even as a
chapter involving Babylon is terminating.
Much of the story of Israel is steeped in tragedy. But
the psalmist does not despair, as the prophet did not
falter. Both recognized the realities of agonies, and of
exile, yet there was never a loss of faith. The belief in
ultimate redemption never wavered. Abba Eban gave
true power to that national Jewish attitude in recalling
the dream and the pledge, the reality of Jewry's elevat-
ing Jerusalem on the summit of all of the people's joys.

Tens of thousands of Russian Jews have settled in
Israel in the past few years. A few dozen have abandoned
their havens of refuge from the Kremlin persecutions.
The Aliya—the migration to Israel—continues on a
fairly large scale, allowing even for the restrictions which
keep many Russian Jews from Israel. The Yerida—the
emigration from Israel—is the smallest.
Only the Oriental Jews, whose very lives were at stake,
had not abandoned their Israeli sanctuaries. Western Jew-
ish settlers, to Israel's regret, register a large percentage
of yeridim, returnees to their former homes because they
can not economically and emotionally fit into Israel's scheme
of things.
In proportion to the yeridim from the Western Jewish
ranks, the Russian emigration from Israel is so minimal
that it hardly registers a ripple. But for the Kremlin it is
an occasion for a stormy attack. It is the means of repudi-
ating Israeli methods of creating homes for the oppressed
and of providing for them health-wise, educationally,
fessionally, economically.
For every voice that gives comfort to the nega•ors of
justice, there are thousands pleading for the opportunity
to find relief from bigotry in the Israeli liberation. The
Novosti sources of hatred and distortion may mislead those
who have already been misled, but facts are facts, and
Israel's role will not depend on venom from Kremlinites.
Jewry has survived Czarism, and as a committed partner
in the duty to protect Israel we are confident of surviving
another Russian form of anti-Semitism.

Louis Berry: Whom the Community Delights to Honor

Applying the sentiment in the. Book of Esther (6:9),
when Ahasuerus chose to honor Mordecai, "Thus shall it
be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor,"
it can be said about Louis Berry, who will reeive honors
from Israel at the hands of the state's Foreign Minister
Abba Eban:
"Thus shall it be done to the man
whom his community delighteth to honor."
This is an appropriate time to pay tribute to the emi-
nent Detroiter. It was with the aid of Louis Berry that
ammunition was secured, planes and ships were provided,
for Israel's defense in the years of struggle for independ-
ence and existence.
Berry was among the top aides in the movement to
assure haven for the refugees from Nazi Germany and
from the displaced persons camps.
He is among the early leaders in Allied Jewish Cam-
paigns and his congregational activities have added to his
*
*
*
meritorious record. Israel Bonds leaders have acted wisely
in choosing him for the honor he will receive this Sunday Hermine Braunsteiner Ryab's Deportation
evening.
Deportation orders for Mrs. Hermine Braunsteiner
Ryan, issued last week by Judge Jacob Mishler, brings to
light a situation calling for action against a large number
ADL's Sixtieth Anniversary
of war criminals, Nazis who committed some of the worst
From its earliest years, since it was formed in 1913,
crimes during the Hitler era, and those who were known
Bnai Brith's Anti-Defamation League has kept gaining
to be guilty of the crimes yet succeeded in escaping justice
respect from all American sources, in addition to adding
by hiding under psuedonyms and other means of avoiding
to its prestige in Jewish ranks.
So effective have been the services of ADL that prosecution.
There have been charges against Viorel Trifa who, his
many other groups in this country, especially those that
accusers say is now a church dignitary in Detroit func-
needed defensive mechanisms to assure justice in many
tioning as Bishop Valerian. He has denied guilt, but the
quarters, have emulated the Jewish group which has
charges persist.
emerged as Bnai Brith's greatest pride.
If he is innocent, the stain should be removed from
ADL has served well in exposing anti-Semitism, in
his record.
establishing an enviable record in civic-protective fields,
But Romanian Jewish leaders and many in the non-
in behalf of the less fortunate not only in Jewish but in
Jewish community charge that he was involved in mass
non-Jewish ranks as well, as has been evidenced in he
crimes against Jews during the years in Romania.
labors of the movement in behalf of just rights for the
In the report on the extradition bench warrant against
blacks.
Hermine Braunsteiner Ryan, issued by a judge in Dussel-
In recent years, the research work ADL hascon-
dorf (Germany) on March 14, and the subsequent depor-
ducted in establishing the truth about Arab propaganda,
tation order of Judge Mishler, ordering that she be sent
the contributions to tasks in Israel's defense, the expose
back to stand trial in Germany as a Nazi criminal, the
of threats to Americans who are supporting the Zionist reporter asserted: "United States Attorney Robert A. Morse
cause, have been among the most effective in the field disclosed after the ruling that he and 'other government
involving the Middle East.
people' were investigating reports that at least 50 individ-
It should be stated at this point that in addition to uals might be 'in a situation similar to that of Mrs. Ryan.' "
the Hillel Foundations the work of ADL represents the
If the Detroit Romanian bishop is in that class, he
outstanding accomplishment of Bnai Brith, and ADL's
should be prosecuted. If he isn't, a court should absolve
60th anniversary earns for the great fraternal Jewish
him. But the charges persist, and it is the duty of govern-
movement the acclaim of Jews everywhere.
ment authorities to act in the matter.

Anniversary Stamp, Holocaust in Israel Series

On May 3, Israel issued
four singles and a souvenir
sheet marking events as
varied in their evocative
ability as the 9th Maccabiah
Games and the Hitler Holo-
caust.
The Israel Philatelic
Agency in America states
that perhaps most significant
in this 25th anniversary year
are the single and the sou-
venir sheet for Independence
Day 1973. The IL 1 single
is designed by M. Amar
around the reproduction of
a portion of the actual Dec-
laration of Independence—
the bottom section containing
the signatures. The signatory
on that significant 14th of
May 1948 included David
Ben-Gurion, Golda Meyerson,
David Remez and Moshe
Shertok. The related souvenir
sheet contains the IL 1
stamp. continuing in its ver-
tical proportions to reproduce
the entire declaration, also
designed by Amar. Repro-
duction of both is by photo-
gravure.
For the ninth Maccabiah
Games a single of IL 1.10
value features a stylized Star
of David composed of inter-
secting elements all of which
seem to be in movement,
with a figure nine suggested
within all. Two elements of

significance are: the "all-
Jewish" Olympics come very
soon after the massacre of
Munich; and they continue a
tradition older than the state
itself, since the Maccabi
movement began in the late
19th century, with Zionism
itself. The first Maccabiah
was held in 1932 in what was
Palestine, the second in the
clouded year of 1936, the
third and the rest in Israel,
beginning in 1950. Design is
by D. Resinger, printed by
E. Lewin-Epstein Ltd. in
photolithography.
The Hitler Holocaust is
memorialized on an 0.55
value, designed by A. Games
consisting of a semi-stylized,
skeletal hand reaching. Com-
memorating e vents that
stretched from 1933 to 1945,
fully titled "The Holocaust
and the Revolt of European
Jewry," the stamp represents
events that began as far
back as the political platform
planks of the fledgling Nazi
party with its effort to lay
the blame for Germany's
World War One defeat at a
scapegoat's feet, through the
first primitive camps set up
in Germany in 1933.
This year's Memorial Day
stamp is an 0.65 value, show-
ing a single memorial flame

against a lighted horizon that
might be dawn or sundown.
The Memorial Day issue is
traditionally for all those who
have given their lives for
Israel, in any capacity; but
this year's design departs
from the more familiar,

2—Friday, May 11, 1973

somewhat stylized look, usu-
ally featuring a spray of
flowers, for the "yarzeit"
memorial candle flame fam-
iliar in every Jewish house-
hold. The design is by M.
Faraj, printing by E. Lewin-
Epstein, Ltd.

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

