THE JEWISH NEWS

Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951

Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Associa-
tion. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075.
Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription $10 a year.

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Editor and Publisher

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ

CHARLOTTE DUBIN

City Editor

Business Manager

DREW LIEBERWITZ

Advertising Manager

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 11th day of Sivan, 5734, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Num. 4:21-7:89. Prophetical portion, Judges 13:2-25.

Candle Lighting, Friday, May 31, 8:45 p.m.

VOL. LXV. No. 12

Page Four

May 31, 1974

Kissinger's Courageous PersLstence

Peace is never attained cheaply. A high price was paid for the disengagement won
through the efforts of Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger. The war's casualties, the ten-
sions, the terrorist acts suffered by the people of Israel were many agonies which, hopefully,
will end with the new agreement.
Syria was not immune from suffering. Her losses were in the thousands, and her
hatreds were immense.
If the disengagement—which does not yet mean peace—can lead to a measure of
amity that will end the war, it will be the first step in the direction of better rela-
tions in the agonized area of the world. It will lead to recognition of Israel's existence,
it will be a closer road to peace. Perhaps the desired amity can be viewed as attainable—
and in its realization the persistence, the courage, the genius of Dr. Kissinger was the major
factor in a great step forward toward better human relations.

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Scandalous Communal asruption Must End!

This community is experiencing a tragic
occurrence—the airing in public of an inter-
nal issue that involves the teachers in our
community school system.
Since it is not a new issue—it has dragged
for several years, it involved a strike and
many controversies, its merits and demerits
were debated at public meetings and were
circularized in paid advertisements — it was
to have been -expected that anything involv-
ing outside forces would be prevented.
Such expectations did not materialize. The
airing took place, the matter is no longer
private and has become a controversy brought
into the ranks of the statewide teachers' fed-
eration and the labor union movement. A de-
plorable situation has been created. If it does
not prove embarrassing to the involved or-
ganized board of directors of the school sys-
tem it will add to the puzzlement created.
It certainly will not add glory to a com-
munity that traditionally prides itself on
being able to resolve issues through the
media of internal courts, batei din, with a
sense of justice, with honor for all, and
certainly with self-respect.
Have traditions gone down the drain so
repulsively that it is no longer possible to
speak and think in terms of a beth din? What
is happening to our communities—that a mat-
ter of this sort should have been gutterized
by revulsive sensational publicity?
The occurrence involving teachers and
administrators has been permitted to reach a
stage that does not lend dignity to our commu-
nity. It is even worse in another respect. A
major duty devolves upon all concerned,
every community- and historically-minded
Jew, to strive for highest respect for learning.
This demands the bending of every effort to
create respect among the children in our
schools for -teachers and parents, school ad-
ministrators and the movements in whose
behalf they function.
Would it be any wonder if the children
in our schools would resort to ridicule of
teachers and disrespect for those who permit
what has happened?
The unfortunate occurrence of last week
and the threat of further disruptions in our
ranks do not lead to the perpetuation of
Jewish traditions which demand the self-re-
spect and dignity vital to Jewish involvements.
Consistent advocacy in these columns of re-
sort to arbitration in matters involving commu-
nal disputes seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
These editorial columns have urged that
differences of views involving labor and man-
agement be kept within our inner ranks.
Teachers and social workers have followed
national trends in the formation of labor
unions and the Jewish communities have not
been immune from such tasks, nor were they
to be expected to be exceptions to established

trends. For the first time, however, negotia-
tions have assumed threatening aspects in
relation to philanthropies. It is something
that should not only have been averted but
should have been prevented.
A dramatic story of conflict over administrative and academic
In the matter of the local dispute, the
in the Hebrew University's earliest years — 1925-1935 — is
shocking adverse approach, the assumption functions
related in a study resulting from research conducted by former De-
that inviolable causes can be placed in jeop- troiter Rabbi Herbert Parzen.
ardy, causes justified dismay.
His revealing book, on the Hebrew University (Ktav) relates how
Fair-minded people will also be puzzled by
another aspect of the sensationalism that has Prof. Albert Einstein commenced a feud with the then Chancellor Judah
L. Magnes, charging that Dr. Magnes did not possess
emanated from the current dispute: not the
academic qualifications and that such skills are needed,
fact that the labor movement should seek
• in accordance with European experiences, to head a
redress—assuming that is involved—for He-
university.
brew teachers, but that the spokesmen for
In the course of the ensuing years, the battle that
labor should have threatened to abrogate
raged involved Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who also opposed
established friendships by labor unions for
Magnes; Felix M. Warburg, Judge Julian W. Mack and
Israel Bonds, Histadrut and Federation-ori-
many others.
ented causes.
Since when does a great social need be-
Some of the most noted American and world Zion-
come a target for attack in the course of a
ists and world academic leaders who served on the
university's board of governors became involved in the
labor dispute?
Dr. Parzen
controversies and in the efforts to resolve the issues.
It is not necessary to look for culprits, to
play favoritisms, to blame one side or the
A survey committee debated, studied the matter, issued reports,
other. A major ethical problem has been cre- and the controversy became so involved that the resignations from the
ated and the community is duty-bound to chancellorship and the board chairmanship of Magnes and Weizmann
were debated, juggled, disputed until a solution finally was found.
find a way to resolve the issue.
Community spokesmen have procrasti-
In the survey committee's report the suggestion was apparent
nated inexcusably in assuring an end to a about Chancellor Magnes' "lack of university 'experience before he
sad conflict without the nastiness the matter came to Jerusalem." Apparently the parenthetical statement "Sug-
has assumed. The teachers, on the other hand, gested by whom? Einstein." is Dr. Parzen's. But the entire issue com-
permitted themselves to be contributors to a menced with the charge by Einstein and his demand for Magnes'
Hilul HaShem—and there is no other way of removal.
describing the condoning of an internal com-
What Dr. Parzen has gathered into his researched document forms
munal dispute to become means of injecting an interesting chapter in Zionist history, since the formation of the
ridicule of Jewish idealism as being nothing university was part of the achievements by the World Zionist Congress
more than desecration of a respected need in under Weizmann's inspiration.
Jewish life.
Involved were many non-Zionists, including Warburg, and the role
Since both sides have failed miserably in by academicians
is interesting.
their approaches to a problem that has
The issue was resolved when Magnes, after 10 years as chancellor,
dragged entirely too long, this community has
a right to demand that impartial people be became president of the university.
drawn in for arbitration. Many months ago,
At one point in -the controversy, there was discussion about Einstein
this editorial column urged such arbitration. assuming an academic role in Jerusalem. When the issue was resolved,
The suggestion made then was that men like Einstein again was invited to participate in Hebrew University affairs,
Dr. William Haber, noted educators from the but he did not respond.
University of Michigan and/or Wayne State
Certainly, personality issues crept into the debates and contro-
University, be asked to sit in on the discus- versies
over the status of the Hebrew University.
sions, and arrive at a solution of the problem.
Dr. Parzen did not deal with the question as a dispute over hon-
That view now gains pragmatism. What ap-
peared necessary then becomes imperative ors and power, but rather as one involving basic principles affecting
a great university.
now!
A Jewish community can ill afford being
Nevertheless, the attitudes of great men in such disputes, as they
dragged through notorious sensationalism. A involve personal sentiments and preferences do not enter into the
community of responsible Jews must never analyses.
be accused of injustice. If those in power
While the Ktav-published Parzen-researched book dramatically re-
are unable to resolve a serious problem, lates all of the details of the Hebrew University struggle, the data is
there should be enough confidence in the supplemented with all the detailed correspondence of Magnes, Einstein,
good judgment of fair-minded people in our Weizmann, Warburg and others, thus adding to the subject's historicity.
midst to step in and to resolve the issue.
Dr. 'Magnes, who gains an important role as a Zionist historian,
Let there be no delay in obviating addi- adds to this role with other current studies. His brochure on "President
tional scandals in our midst. What has oc- Truman and the Palestine Quandary: His Initial Experience, April-
curred was scandalous, and it must be ended December, 1946;" and the scholarly article in American Jewish Ar-
promptly.
chives, April, 1974: "The Roosevelt Palestine Policy, 1943-45."

Hebrew University Controversy
Involving Einstein Over Magnes

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