Isaiah Friedman's 'The Question of Palestine'
Valuably Explores Political Genesis of Israel
Prof. Isaiah Friedman of
D r o p s i e University adds
valuable historical data to the
topic dealing with "British-
Jewish-Arab Relations" —the
subtitle to his book—in "The
Question of Palestine, 1914-
1918,", an ever-timely and
important Schocken book.
Many conflicting issues
were raised during the years
under review in Dr. Fried-
man's book. There were the
McMahon letters, the Sykes-
Picot Agreement, the Amer-
ican involvement preceding
the issuance of the Balfour
Declaration.
Out of the research con-
ducted by Dr. Friedman
emerges a positive interpre-
tation of British intentions,
in the pledges. to facilitate
the establishment of the Jew-
ish National Home. The
friends who sponsored the
idea which motivated the
British appear in their his-
toric roles. There are the
facts of some Jewish opposi-
tion, as well as the array of
Jews who adhered to the his-
toric principle of Jewish na-
tional rehabilitation.
Of interest in Dr. Fried-
man's approach is the gene-
sis of his present labors—
the fact, as he commences
his extensive thesis that his
book had begun with his in-
tention to write a supplement
to Leonard Stein's "The Bal-
four Declaration," and how
his findings developed into ;
this full-length review of an
historic period in Zionism."
Concerning the ambiguity
of the oft-discussed Mc-
Mahon letter of Oct. 24, 1915,
which has been used as an
argument of a British pledge
that Palestine be part of the
Arab territories, and which
"left a loophole for future
contentions that the British
pledge to Arabs) also extend-
ed to Palestine, Dr. Fried-
man refers to the role in the
deliberations of Muhammad
Sharif al-Faruqi, "an Arab
staff officer in the Ottoman
army and a prominent mem-
ber of a young Arab secret
society called al'-Ahd, an off-
shoot of the civilian al-Fatat. -
Quoting a briefing and a
letter from Sharif, Dr. Fried-
man writes:
"McMahon has justifiable-
reason to take al-Faruqi's
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
38—Friday, January 25, 1974
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Specialized
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557-9666
•
I Inconclusive Origin of 'Biryoni'
Sparks Debate Among Scholars
`Biryoni,' a term describ- "home-guards" a group in
ing members of an extreme later wars who were com-
word as reflecting, if not be j exchange of correspondenceregarding Balfour's position. political faction who defended mitted to defending the cap-
binding upon his fellow' between McMahon and Hus- I He is described as having Jerusalem against the Ro- ital at tremendous odds. In
Arabs. Being under the firm sein, the then King-Sharif of been cautious in public and mans in the 1st Century CE, this capacity,_the biryoni pro-
impression that Palestine was Mecca. In the new study of consistent privately. that he has caused much scholarly vided the last line of defense
excluded from Arab desider- the 1914-1918 Palestine occur- told
Meinertzhagen:
"My debate as to their origin.-
at a time when "reasonably
ata, he was under no compell- rences, it is emphasized that i personal hope is that the
According to an article in there was no longer a chance
ing necessity to specify its "Palestine was not covered Jews will make good in Pal- the Jewish Quarterly Review, for Jerusalem to survive the
exclusion, all the more as he by the McMahon-Hussein un- estine and eventually found- "Who Were the 'Biryoni'? - siege and ultimate defeat."
understood that the Arabs derstanding" regarding au- i a Jewish state. It is up to the group was linked (in a
Use of the term biryoni in
have not included the places tonomous areas to emerge them now; we have given talmudic story) to a group of
modern Hebrew, according te
inhabited by a foreign race after the war; that "al- them their opportunity."
robbers or brigands. How-
in the territories which they Faruqi (Sharif al-Faruqi who I The Montagu opposition to ever, the article states, "that the Quarterly, connoted dis-
demand. This limitation ap- was involved in the discus- the Balfour Declaration in a more precise view would grace. The term is reminis-
plied with particular force to sions) and Hussein them- Jewish ranks, the encourage- perhaps be that the biryoni cent of a faction that "failed
Palestine, where according selves excluded it from their ment to Zionists by Chief preceded the sicarii ,(rob- to save Jerusalem frc
to British consular reports, desiderata, since, unlike the i Rabbi Joseph Hertz, the de- bers), who were persecuted Romans, its aspirations .. ere
forgotten, while their violent
there were before the war Syrian interior, it was not a i bates within Jewish ranks, by the Romans.
100,000 Jews."
purely Arab territory. -
Herbert Samuel's and the
Solomon Zeitlin, Distin- and immoral deeds stuck in
For the record, in diffusing
On this score, of added in- Rothschilds' roles—these are guished Professor of Post- the minds of later genera -
many misinterpretations ,re- terest is the revealing fact among the many factors in Biblican Literature and Insti- tions."
garding the Zionist idea and that "Lloyd George recalled an important book which tutions at Dropsie University,
how it became a major that during the deliberations earns a valuable place in the writes, however, that "the
BY POPULAR DEMAND!
plank in British Near East on the Balfour Declaration Zionist library and the read- sicarii of Masada are called
Now Booking . . .
p o 1 i c i e s, Dr. Friedman s the British government ing and study of which be- by Josephus 'robbers and in
evaluative tasks bring much wished to consult the Pales- comes a must for Jews seek- the Talmud biryoni."
ED BURG
lighton the issues that were tine Arabs but this was not ! ing knowledgeability.
and His Orchestra
A philological inquiry into
frequently raised to discredit possible because they were
The Arab position is taken the origin and interpretation
85 1 -61 1 8
the Zionist goals. One of, fighting against the Allied I into consideration. Balfour is of the word has found nothing
them is the (Sir Henry) Mc- forces." Dr. Friedman also depicted, together with his conclusive.
Mahon role. There was an points out that "the Arabs associates, and with the Zion- Nevertheless, one explana-
remained on the debit side" ists, as having sought amity tion finds that the term de-
during World War I, quoting with the Arabs. It was be- rives from bira which means
Lt. Col. W. F. Stirling: "We lieved that Arabs would gene-; fort and also is the term used
realized that if Allenby's fit from Jewish cooperation to describe the Temple in one
push failed; we should have in their ancient homeland. In of the Talmud tractates. Bir-
Jan. 19—To Mr. and Mrs. little or no chance of escaping the establishment of the Jew- ' yon, then, would mean a
Ralph Stein (Janice Wein- • . . . The Arabs would be sure ish National Home, Dr. Fried- ; "palace-soldier, caste-guard,
berg), 28540 Selkirk, South- . to turn against us." And Dr. , man summarizes, "the over- ' keeper" according to t h e
field, a son, Adam Joshua. Friedman also states: "Law- riding consideration was that' Quarterly.
. rence
(T. E.)
complained the Jews had a stronger claim
Another explanation de-
Jan. 18—To Mr. and Mrs. that the Syrian-Palestinians and that Palestine was a sui scribes the duty of the biryon
MAX SCHRUT
Lawrence Bassin (Ronna would rather see the Judean generis."
as "fort-keeper," relating to
for quality photographs
,
There
is
effective
substan-
a
group
affiliated
in
some
Kritzer), 23480 Church, Oak Hills stained with the blood
and fast service
Park, a son, Jason Todd. of the London Territorials tiation of this conclusion and .way with the Zealots, "and
call me at
than take sides in the fight the Palestinian history during dedicated in particular to the
the years of plans for and
f their own freedom."
Jan. 17—To Dr. and Mrs. for
defense of the vital fortress
BLAIR-KEITH
Lawrence White (Marlene
Many occurrences in Zion- : the issuance of the Balfour of Jerusalem in the face of
Lewis), 17564 Alta Vista, ist experiences are reviewed Declaration are thuS' brilliant the forthcoming onslaught by
'STUDIO
Southfield, a daughter, Mar- in Dr. Friedman's studies, ly evaluated in a noteworthy the Romans."
Weddings, Bar Mitzvas
book.
Dr.
Friedman's
"The
with much added information
jorie Elyn.
The article speculates that We come to your home with samples
*
regarding the events that Question of Palestine 1914- the biryoni may have been
1918"
deserves
top
considera-
398-91 1 1 or 895-8805
Jan. 13—To Dr. and Mrs. challenged Zionist policies.
r elated to the voluntary •■■■
dir
Charles Markle (Rochelle For example, Sir Mark Sykes tion in seeking information iliMMINOINNIMMMIM -MMINIMMEMMINOMMINNEMMII
about
the
historic
develop-1
Platt), 15827 Harden Cir., advised against the formation
Southfield, a son, Lawrence of a Jewish Legion, because ments during those crucial i I
Phillip. it would prove to be an anti- years.
*
Turkish manifestation by
Jan. 10—To Mr. and Mrs. Zionists. It did not deter Arab-Europe Pact :1
Marvin Hayman (Sandra Vladimir Jabotinsky who was
I
Berman), 321 Poplar, Royal firm in his view that a Jew- Urged by Egyptian :I
BONN (JTA) — The presi-
Oak, a daughter, Staci Lynn. ish military force was vital in
*
dent of the Egyptian National I
I
attaining Jewish goals.
The encouragement Zion- Assembly, Mustafa Ka mel
Jah. 8—To Mr. and Mrs.
DO YOU HAVE A CHILD 21/2-31/2 YEARS?
Lawrence David (Marilyn ists received, the genuine Murad, at present leading a
Daniels of Detroit), of Ster- attitude of Arthur James delegation of parliamentari- I
I
Now at less than the cost of babysitting, your
ling. Va., a son, Adam Balfour, the views of David ans in West Germany and
I
Lloyd-George and his sup- Austria, has proposed an I
child can receive a complete early childhood ed-
Mitchell. -
I
porting position, the Wood- Arab-European parliamen- I
ucational program including the nationally proven
iI
Jan. 8—To Mr. and Mrs. row Wilson endorsement in tary conference to discuss the
copyrighted PURUCKER METHOD" of reading in-
Stephen S. Gold (Phyllis spite of some Americans' problems of securing peace
struction, and math plus music, art, and regu-
Kleiman), 10111 Albany, Oak interference—the roles of pro- in the Middle East.
I
I
The
proposal
was
made
lar nursery activity. Applications now being
Zionist
forces
are
portrayed
Park, a son, David Stuart.
I
*
during
a
meeting
with
West
in the gathering of historical
accepted. Call now space is limited 542-6767.
•
I
Jan. 4—To Mr. and Mrs. facts that leave no doubt as German Bundestag deputies I
Leslie J. Schonberg (Ila to where the -Jewish position here headed by Bundestag IPURUCKER PRE-SCHOOL LEARNING CENTER 542-67671
Krause), 29517 Fall River, was fashioned at the time. Speaker Annemarie Renger.
Agreeing that parliamen-
e5•=1=•=0C5=0M.. „4:ieMaMk.
Southfield, a daughter, Mara Leopold Amery, who pre-
pared the text of the Balfour tarians, as well as govern-
Ann.
Declaration; W. Ormsby- ments, could do much to
Jan. 3—To Mr. and Mrs. Gore and other British reach understandings on - in-
Helen. Zinberg
-
Alan Kristall (Linda Rogo- friends, are duly recorded, ternational problems, she an-
The hair you pluck will come back to haunt
you. Before you tweeze again, remember this
vein), 20321 Alhambra, South- and so are some of the Jewish nounced that a German-
Quotation from
one
of the foremost medical
field, a daughter, Jennifer antagonists who were fright- E g y p t i a n parliamentary
authorities on the subject of human hair:
ened by the idea of Jewish group would be established
Elyse.
"Plucking out strong hairs should never be
*
statehood.
soon (Such a link exists
advised... Why not? Because the long term
penalties for continued plucking. can be so
Statehood, too, is a subject with Israel and Tunisia.)
Jan. 1—To former Detroiter
. severe:
Maj. and Mrs. David B. Boc- of interesting review in this
Thirst for Truth
koff (Laura Holy of Long book. It is clear that in the
now that
Air-cooled
jet
1. You may stimulate the
Stream Electrolysis is avail-
All the greatness of the
growth of additional hairs
Beach, Calif.) of Germany, a ultimate the Zionist support-
able
to
you.
This
is
the
first
around
the
one
you
pull
ers in the era under discus- white races comes from that
son, Robert James.
method of permanent hair
out.
*
sion thought of the dream sublime Judeo-Christian idea
removal with everything to
2. You may cause succes-
Jan. 1—To Mr. and Mrs. that was soon to be a reality, whose light was shed over
commend it. Air-cooled Jet
sive generations of hair from
Ira G. Harris (Judith D. which was suggested as a the world from Palestine
Stream is faster, more corn-
the abused follicle to grow
coarser, longer, darker.
fortable.
Fink), 1335 Joliet, a son, national home, was to emerge through the agency of the
Electrolysis is the only
3. You may cause skin irri-
Adam Daniel.
Bible and the great teachers
as the Jewish state.
medically approved method
tations, pits, scars.
The immense value inher- of the Pharisees. Through its
to remove hair permanently.
4. You may make eventual
Dec. 25—To Mr. and Mrs. ent in Dr. Friedman's book influence the State lost its
Investigate this suprior spe-
permanent removal slower
cialized
service for the per-
and
costlier
by
pulling
the
Richard Thomson (Shelley becomes additionally effec- divine character and put it-
manent improvement and
root
and
follicle
out
of
Kletter), 1287 Elliott, Madi- tive with a recounting of the self at the service of man-
confidence. You owe it to
place.
son Heights, a son, Jamie positive activities in Zionist kind; the spirit of better
yourself to look your best.
Such risks are needless
Robert.
advocacy of Col. R. Meinertz- things were given the free-
*
hagen, whose documentary do ► of the world; the thirst
ANNOUNCING NEW LOCATION
Dec. 6—To Dr. and Mrs. evidence in support of the for truth and justice in-
16125 W. 12 MILE RD.—OPEN MON., WED. & FRI:
Phillip A. Levy (Denise Jewish aspirations proved creased with every effort
9 to 5 P.M. — 557-8115
Locke), 4219 MacQueen, Or- helpful historically through made to quench it.—Gugliel-
chard Lake, a daughter, the years.
8221 Curtis Open Tues. & Thurs. 9 A.M. to 6 P.m. UN 2-8914
rno Ferrero, in "Peace and
Emily Joyce.
There is a note of interest War."
, ( Birt h s
I
I.
I
I
I
..
. 415
_
CONFIDENTIALLY
—
your
-.