ISOPf4 OMIPRF4
Protestant Anti-Israelism Exposed by Dr. Fishr
in WSU Press Book; Role of Christian Zionists Noted
ism, Lessing Rosenwald, and the concept 'Israel,' though it trum. An example is John
Protestant leaders are in- anti-Zionist image. He shows
may prove painful, may Nicholls Booth, a Unitarian-
their associates, and:
dieted for animosities to- how pro-Arab interests in the
change it long-standing nega- Universalist pastor. I refer to
"One
of
the
council's
prin-
wards Zionism and Israel Protestant ranks "became in-
cipal officers, Rabbi Morris tive attitudes towards Jewish his article, 'American Free-
that have caused serious creasingly vocal on the Pal-
S. Lazaron, was so obsessed nationalism and a Jewish dom Versus Zionist Power'
damage in Christian-Jewish estine question as World War
by
his anti-Zionist attitudes state. It is doubtful, however, in the February, 1972 number
relations. A thorough study II neared its end and the
that he became a vice chair- whether major progress can of The Cross and the Flag,
of the Protestant church and pressures for a pro-Zionist
man, and the only Jewish be expected until peace pre- official organ of Gerald L. K.
lay leaders vis-a-vis the Jew- solution were stepped up."
member,
of the pro-Arab vails between Israel and her Smith's Christian Nationalist
ish national 'movement is in- He proves how some among
Crusade. Booth finds in Zion-
Committee for Justice and Arab neighbors."
'eluded in a revealing book these antagonists "who were
Dr. Fishman's expose is ism a terrible crime and con-
Peace in the Holy Land.
published by Wayne State interested in Jewish converts
(Rabbi Lazaron at one time valuable for a major current spiracy against humanity.
University Press. to Christianity (along with
traveled for the Zionist reason: because Protestants Zionism is the enemy of hu-
In "American Protestant- Moslem converts), were more
Organization of America, and still are among active leaders man dignity, the suppressor
ism and a Jewish State," Dr. ambivalent on the subject."
he delivered one of his then in functioning anti-Israel re- of human freedom.
Hertzel Fishman shows how An official spokesman for
impassioned pro-Zionist ad- ligious bodies. The facts
"One widespread strata-
Protestant leaders and their the anti-Zionists at the 1946
should be known to be able to gem among contemporary
dresses in Detroit).
publications, and especially hearings of the Anglo-Ameri-
How does Protestantism counteract their venomous anti-Semites — represen‘
Christian Century and Chris- can Committee of Inquiry in
react now that Israel is a programs.
for example, in and by
kianity and Crisis, have not Washington was the Rev.
* •
reality? Dr. Fishman points
Soviet Union—is carefully to
o n1 y endorsed anti-Zionist Leland S. Albright of Canada,
to some of the antagonistic Eckardt Exposed
avoid the word `Jew' and to
efforts but have been leaders and Rabbi Fishman exposes
movements that are active Ex-Detroiter's
substitute the word 'Zionist'
in creating hatreds towards his nefarious role. Rabbi
DR. CARL H. VOSS
against Israel — Arnerican Anti-Israelism
and sometimes the words
Israel and the pro-Israel ele- Fishman further points out:
Friends of the Middle East
Among the Protestants who `Israel' and 'Israeli.' At times
ments. In the process, it is
"In the United States, the the aid of the anti-Semitic
safe to say that some of these secretary emeritus of the In- elements in Protestantism,— among them. He points to as recent as early this year Booth adheres to this prac-
cam- tice, as when he writes that
enemies of the movement for ternational Missionary Coun- the pressures for the inter- conducted an anti-Israel cam-
o preached against nationalization of Jerusalem paign was the Unitarian Rev. Zionists have been able to
Jewish national rebirth and cil, the Rev. A. L. Wairnhuis, those who
aa d o p t e
d th
ane
Utilization of the John Nicholls Booth. His establish a climate of decep-
the reborn state of Israel utilized the pages of the anti-Semites but
have emerged as antagonists Christian Century to rebuke their line of thou,ht and ac- refugee problem for attacks were the articles that were tive impressions, internation-
tion in opposing the pro- on Israel.
the basis for the anti-Semitic al tensions and domestic poli-
of the entire Jewish people.
those American Protestants Israel and pro -Zionist ideo -
Not in the course of de- stand of South End on the tical decisions that under-
Dr. Fishman, who was who supported the Zionist
velopments there were others Wayne S t a t e University mine the foundation principles
ordained at the Jewish Theo- cause. He labeled their con- logies.
This is where Dr. Voss and besides Voss and Chworosky campus.
of our republic,' and when he
logical Seminary and who cern 'hypocrisy' because they
who rejected and resented the
In an article in Midstream, states that the 'corrupting in-
holds n. PhD from New were not fighting for Jewish the ACPC came in to over- anti-Zionism of Coffin and October 1972, Prof. A. Roy
fluence of gutter Zionism on
York University, is presently immigration to the United come the d a m a g e from others. Edgar Ansel Mowrer Eckardt of Lehigh University,
American life is only begin-
an advisor to the Israel min- States. He raised the specter Protestant enmities.
While the American Chris- was among them. Dr. A. Roy writing on the subject "Chris- ning to surface.' However,
istry of education. He has of the Jews becoming a tian Palestine Committee of Eckardt, a former student of tian Perspectives on Israel,"
Booth also utilizes 'a now-
gone thoroughly into a survey nation, with a geographic
which
Dr.
Voss
was
the
quid-
Coffin,
repudiated
him.
But
stated:
familiar
device among anti-
of Protestant opinions and state of their own, warning ing light has not functioned Lazaron, Harold Fey, editor
"In a penetrating analysis Semites, namely, the accusa-
public expressions and his that they 'must either choose
for some years, the attacks of Christian Century, and in the Journay of Ecumenical tion that a major weapon in
volume is filled with detailed to be resident aliens or fore-
upon
it by Protestant ene- their ilk continued their nega- Studies, Edward H. Flannery, the Jewish world conspiracy
data, with 60 pages of anno- swear their Jewish national-
mies of the Jewish cause tive roles impugning Israel. while not equating Christian is the blackmail charge of
tations to the text of 182 ism and become citizens in have left their marks through There is a long list of Israel's anti-Zionism or anti-Israelism
anti-Semitism and, indeed,
pages, with quotations from the lands where they live.' At
the pro-Arab and anti-Israel enemies in the evaluative with Christian anti-Semitism, the Jewish fabrication of anti-
the
same
he
reiterated
time,
editorials that support his
nevertheless shows the mark- Semitism where it is, in fact,
the argument that the Zion- forces they have created. Dr. study by Dr. Fishman.
charges.
There is, however, happier ed affinity among these phe- absent. Furthermore, in
While Protestants have con- ists were having a difficult Fishman exposes one such note
in Dr. Fishman's con- nomena, especially at uncon- places Booth does not even
sistently protested against time 'find(ing) enough Jews enemy in the person of the
Rev.
L.
Humphrey
Walz
who
elusions.
He points to a par- scious levels. A ready illus- bother with the semantic trick
anti-Semites and have con- in Europe who are willing to
tial reversal in attitude in tration is today's Christianity I have mentioned. Thus, Zion-
demned anti-Semitism as "a go' to Palestine, and there- first fought the ACPC and Christian Century when it and Crisis, which, as we are
ism is a 'coordination of Jew-
theological sin," Protestant- fore were appealing for Jew- then became the head of
dealt with Jewish peoplehood reminded in another source, ish skills, loyalties and
Americans
for
Middle
East
ism "has remained blind to ish emigration from the
o n e y '; American Jews,
Understanding who conducted in 1967. He states: is 'except for occasional
the sharp contrast which United States."
"The activities of the World showpieces' now consistently rather than Israel. are the
the vile campaign against
Another
prominent
Protes-
exists between its theoretical
Council of Churches Interna- hostile to the redemption of real directors of 'the global
objections to anti-Semitism tant is exposed by Dr. Fish- Zionist tasks.
Walz's attacks on Voss and tional C o m m i t t e e on the the Jewish people in Israel.' aims of Zionism'; and "the
and the practical injurious man as follows:
the ACPSC, the pamphlets he Church and the Jewish Peo- An all-too-familiar weapon Jewish establishment" is
effects of its own subtle anti-
"Dr. Henry Sloan Coffin, Published, the letters he ple, organized in 1961, are is utilized by this journal: the spending millions `to spread
Semitism on the destiny of former president of the Union wrote against the movement bound to influence future double standard. Contribu- suspicion and hate, as well as
the Jewish people as a collec- Theological Seminary, also
Protestant thought about the bons sympathetic to Israe shut down those who would
tive body," Rabbi Fishman protested that American p oll. to end Jewish homelessness. state of Israel. Originally are invariably answered by educate the public in what is
Dr.
Voss
came
forth
with
re-
asserts.
ticians jeopardized the peace
formed to help coordinate direct attack; articles sym- occurring.' In these ways
Dr. Fishman analyzes the of the world and the good plies that demolished the Protestant missionary activ- pathetic to the other side are Booth's approach reflects a
Walz
stand.
He
had
the
ac-
name of the United States
Protestant role by stating:
tive assistance of the Rev. ities in relation to Jews, the handled quite differently. It return to a more traditional
"Denying the existence of with three hundred million Chworosky of the Brooklyn committee has moved away was inevitable that owing to practice in Christendom: the
a viable Jewish people, lib- Moslems, 'in order to fish for
Universalist Church, and both from its missionary purposes, the journal's antagonism to explicit identification of the
eral Protestantism has per- votes.' As a Protestant theo- receive due recognition for and has played an increas- Israel, Mrs. Reinhold Niebuhr enemy of humankind as the
sistently upheld the Christian logian, he denied that the
ingly active role in world should have recently demand- Jew. The Jews are tribalists
courageous acts.
theological doctrine of the Bible promised Palestine to their
Protestantism on behalf of ed that her late husband's who oppose 'universal, hu-
Incensed
at
Waltz's
attacks,
disappearance of the 'old the Jews, insisting that such Voss and Chworosky pro- Israel's national interests.
name as founding editor be manitarian man.' Here Booth
Israel,' the Jewish people, promises appealed only to
"Increasing, though slow, removed from the masthead is completely at one with
duced
lists
of
Christian
spon-
when 'new Israel,' the Chris- biblical literalists, 'and to
Gerald L. K. Smith's intro-
Catholic adjustment to the of Christianity and Crisis.
of their movement.
tian church, came into being. ignorant ones at that,' f or sors
concept of Israel will also "Writing in general terms, ductory commendation of him
Countering
Walz's
argu-
The name 'Israel' continues such promises were condi-
ments. Chworosky, according have a bearing on Protestant Alice L. Eckardt says: 'Israel for revealing 'the stubborn
to be understood by Chris- tioned on obedience to divine
to Fishman, "asked Walz to thought. In a report to the as a nation is treated much dogmatic tyrannical world-
tendom not as an ethnic- law, and 'Israel notoriously explain 'the sudden senti- National Conference of Catho- the same as the Jewish people wide institution known as
religious term describing a failed to fulfill the condition.'
lic Bishops in Washington, in have been treated throughout Jew-Zionism.'
corporate national body of Said Coffin: 'The plea for the mental interest' of Christians November 1970, the Rev. Ed- history.' This reminds us that
in
the
cause
of
the
Arabs.
"Almost identical ,senti-
Jews, but as a spiritual con- necessity of a Jewish national
ward H. Flannery, executive contemporary Christian atti- ments are offered by Booth
'Can
it
be
that
they
hope
cept denoting the religious state is no more cogent than
secretary of the American tudes to Israel, many of
brotherhood of all Christian would be a similar plea for thereby to win more Arabs Bishops Conference for Catho- which are hostile, must be in a piece called "How Zion- .
for
Christ"?'
he
asked.
He
Your i Ne
Y
believers, Jewry continues to an Armenian national state.'"
lie-Jewish Relations, explain- understood in continuity with ists Manipulate
remain an object of contempt The m a n n.e r in which reminded Walz of the lebt. ed the rationale for the the long tradition of Christen-
Protestant anti-Zionists con- Christians owed to Judaism identification of the vast ma- dom's antipathy towards Jews the United Church of Cana
for Christian society."
It s h o u 1 d be noted that ducted their devilish work and suggested that Zionism jority of American Jews with and persecution of Jews. On da's Observer, which is edited
an opportunity tot he
to ious
' most
by
there are exceptions to the against the American Chris- offered
Christian world `to make a the state of Israel, and ad- the other hand, we must not
rule, and men like Dr. Carl tian Palestine Committee is small down payment on this mitted that dialogues with i g n o r e Father Flannery's and denominationally protect-
Hermann Voss, the Rev. Karl related in the Fishman ex- age-old debt.' " Jewish spokesmen t a u g h t point that many views of ed Christian anti-Semite, the
and a few pose, and it is here that the
M.
The shameful role of Jew- Christian participants about Israel can hardly be con- Rev. A. C. Forrest. In the
others have spoken and writ- role Carl Hermann Voss and ish participants in the anti- the intense bond which united sidered Christian, even if latter article Booth asserts
that the Zionists have "crush-
ten in protest against Prot- his associates, especially the
they come from Christians,
Zionist ranks is given due Jews with Israel."
innumerable
estant animosities. These ex- Rev. Karl M. Chworosky,
ed into silence" Israeli
nue
Then Dr. Fishman declares and some of them are pasi-
attention
by
Dr.
Fishman.
conscience.
voices
of
emerges
in
the
glory
of
a
ceptional men receive due
account is given of the that "A in e r i c a n liberal tively un-Christian.
An
credit in Dr. Fishman's re- minority of Christian clergy- activities of Miss Virginia Protestantism's recent accept-
"In certain cases anti-Zion- intelligence, through Bnai
searched work as well as in men who refused to be jock- Gildersleeve, dean of Barnard ance of pluralistic cultural ism and anti-Israelism among Brith's (Anti - Defamation
similar studies that have eyed into the fraudulence of College; of Dr. Harry Emer- patterns in the United States Christians are overt, con- League), Zionist organiza-
been published about the sanctimonious anti-Semitism. son Fosdick, B a y a r d S. is bound to lead it to develop scious embodiments of out- lions, temples and rabbis,
But on this score, it should
Christian role in deference to
and-out anti-Semitism, and, in penetrates every part of our
be noted that the Jewish anti- Dodge, president of American a more sympathetic attitude truth, reveal themselves as nation. . . .' Booth's efforts in
Zionism and Israel.
University in Beirut, and toward Jewish ethnicity." He
Dr. Fishman's charges in- Zionists, the destructive
synonymous with anti-Semit- these publications, in the
elude proof that missionaries forces that stemmed from the other Christian enemies of concludes:
"A thorough prolonged re- ism. Here is our first major American Mercury, and in
Zionism.
have projected the Protestant Council for Judaism, came to
There is the story of the evaluation of American Prot- position, located far to the public addresses carry for-
(Continued on Page 8)
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS head of the Council for Juda- estantism's understanding of rejective end of the spec-
56 Friday, June 8, 1973
—