Elmer Berger Still on the Rampage as Advocate
of Disruptive U.S. Relations With Israel . . .
His Stubborn Role and His Hate Spread in Ireland
Purely Commentary
The Anti-Zionist Elmer Berger;
Still on the Scene, With a Voice in Dublin
A curious mirage traveled to and from Dublin in the
person of Rabbi Elmer Berger. The former Pontiac-er
and Flint-er Rov went to Ireland to unburden himself of his
anti-Zionism and to pour out his venom on Israel. But
that was four years ago, and the phenomenon (how funny,
if it weren't tragic!) did not acquire notoriety here until
four years later.
Poor Elmer! He had to wait four years to be portrayed
in his Irish role! But he really didn't have to lament his
miseries. He hasn't changed — is it possible to change
the leopard's spots — therefore, the role of 1969, no dif-
ferent from the way he exposes himself now, depicts him
again as the chap who has not abandoned prejudice
against the libertarian aspirations of his kinsmen and the
right of Israel to live in spite of his advocacy of changes
in American policies. He just doesn't like the friendship
this country has for embattled Israel. The rabbi who is
no longer in the Council for Judaism — he has created
an even more even greater animus in his new organiza-
tion, Jewish Alternatives to Zionism — and now he is a
president of this group whose existence is questioned only
when the Elmer Berger name appears in print: does
anyone else associate with the alternatives to justice? -
So — Elmer challenges the scoop. Poor guy wasn't
mentioned immediately upon his appearance on the plat-
form of the terrorizers of Jews and Israelis.
Time being of such value to him, perhaps, with the
approach of Yom Kippur, he'll repent. Nothing super-
sedes penitence and he will always have the chance to
say hatosi — I have sinned. That's how he can attain the
sainthood he and the Arabs who would destroy Israel
and their anti-Semitic supporters would grant him only
grudgingly.
In any event, Elmer should know by now that his
still being in the ranks of those who would destroy Israel
is not a secret. And since he_ is motivated by such high
ideals as guaranteeing a free press and eliminating and
exposing the hired press, it might be well for him to tell
us where his funds come from to ask our government to
be inhuman and to encourage Arab terrorism. Is it the
White Shirts or Arafat's forces who give you funds and
courage, Elmer?
.
*
Zvi Tomkiewicz Notable ,Role
Detroiters have played many important roles on behalf
of world Jewry. One of the most impressive is this com-
munity's participation in efforts in behalf of Bar-Ilan Uni-
versity. The Stollmans, the Schlussels, theNusbaums have
given generously and worked hard to advance the uni-
versity's needs.
Guiding them all in the past two decades has been
and continues the directorial genius__ of Zvi Tomkiewicz.
Not only as a devoted executive director, but more es-
pecially as a scholar, Hebraist, lover of Zion, Mr. Tom-
kiewicz has written his name indelibly in the global Bar-
Ivan University story. It is commendable that he should
have been selected for honors at the annual dinner of
Detroit FriendS of Bar-Ilan University next Thursday
evening.
JEWISH ALTERNATIVES
TO ZIONISM
President, Elmer Berger
August 16, 1974
Mr. Philip Slomovitz, Editor,
The Jewish News,
17515 W. 9 Mile, #865,
Southfield, Michigan 48075
Dear Old Friend!
You sure know a scoop
when you see one! The
"news" report in yOur July
12, 1974 edition, "informing"
your readers of my — "in all
places"---Irish visit was only
four (count 'em) years old.
The exact date was February
5, 1970.
Among other things that
your story failed to report
was a meeting and luncheon
I had with a delegation from
the Zionist Organization. I
found them there, somehow,
somewhat more civilized —
sophisticated would be a
more accurate word — than
your colleagues in the Amer-
ican sector of the same per-
suasion. Or, perhaps, since
they requested the meeting
they just wanted to check to
see if I did, or did not, have
the horns you and your "jour-
2 Friday, Sept. 6, 1974
—
nalist" associates in t h e
h i r e d "Jewish" press of
America have painted.
But you will be sorry to
learn I am still alive, highly
motivated and watching the
shift in American policy with
the keenest interest. Tha t
shift, by the way, • may ex-
plain why you find a four
year old story "news." It is
certainly more consistent
with the old Zionist hack stuff
than telling your r ea der s
something of the present po-
litical and economic facts.
N'est pas?
Anyway, good luck. I take
the liberty of enclosing a
copy of my Dublin address.
Maybe the next time you are
tempted by a whiskered story
that suits your prejudices,
your "conscience" or at least
conscientiousness, may per-
suade you to publish either
this letter or some parts of
what I actually said to a very
large and enthusiastic audi-
ence of Irish people, includ-
ing many Jews.
For auld lang sync.
Elmer Berger
An Irishman's Outcry for
Justice: 'Zion go Bragh'
This commentator will surely be permitted recollection
about an Irish Zionist.
Since Elmer Berger sees fit to utilize his Irish experi-
ences to foment animosity towards Israel, let's turn back
the pages of history to an interesting episode.
Many years ago, William Marion Reedy published
Reedy's Magazine in St. Louis. He was a militant Irish-
man and therefore also supported the Zionist cause. What
was just for the Iiish—national independence—was equally
right for Jews.
Therefore, one of the most effective Zionist declara-
tions ever published was his article in the early 1930s in
Reedy's Weekly under the heading "Zion go Bragh."
With as much spirit as he advocated "Erin go Bragh"
he also pleaded the Jewish cause.
The late Jacob deHaas, the Zionist intimate and asso-
ciate of Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, was
a close friend of Reedy. The Irishman, who also loved
his Irish whiskey, once again asked deHaas whether there
will be prohbition when the Jewish state is re-established,
and deHaas punned."Never! Not even on pork."
Will the Irish lesson teach Elmer the anti-Israeli lec-
turer in Dublin, the lesson of his justice for all, especially
his own kinsmen? It's doubtful — especially in his de-
lusion about a free press he would poison with his hatreds.
McKeldin the Christian Zionist
Theodore R. McKeldin, a former Maryland governor,
left a high mark in the record of Christian Zionists. He
was unfaltering in his support of Israel. One of his visits
there, with the late Judge Simon Sobeloff, enthused him
to such a degree that his interest in the Jewish cause
became part of his religion—and he was a very devout
man.
Israel Bonds became one of his major interests and
he traveled often in its support. He was a brilliant speak-
er—one of the old-time orators who inspired audiences
with his own enthusiasm.
A frequent attendee at Passover sedorim and services
in Chizuk Amuno synagogue, he almost became an expert
on Jewish liturgy.
He will long be remembered in many socially-minded
ranks.
*
*
By Philip
Slomovitz
ideologically to the Nazi program, but not to its pursuance
according to Hitler's aspirations.
His brother, Gregor Strasser, shared his views and
was murdered by Hitler's agents. Otto Strasser was in
eXile, winding up in Canada, to escape Hitler's wrath. He
did not share Hitler's aims to exterminate the Jews.
So—in Otto Strasser there was an ideological Fascist
but not a murderous one.
It is reminiscent of an experience with a British
Jewish leader in the days of Mussolini's rise to power.
He opposed Jewish liberalism and when asked to join a
campaign against Mussolini he said: "In a sense I am a
Fascist myself." His name is known but it would serve
no purpose to bandy it now.
Achievements at Sinai
in Revealing Article in
Holiday Issue, Next Week
. . . and Lindy the Pro-Nazi
There are saintly Christians who knew the meaning
of justice.
Charles A. Lindbergh was not among them.
He gained popularity . . then notoriety . . . finally
disdain.
Every obituary story mentioned his pro-Nazism.
Such a legacy is disdainful.
The worshipers of the old Lindbergh, the lone flier
not the pro-Nazi, have now embarked on schemes to name
airports in his honor. Will there be protests or will hero-
worship sully history's truths?
Otto Strasser's Role
Otto Strasser, who died in Munich recently, was a
Nazi, but he was an enemy of Adolf Hitler. He adhered
THE REPLY
Rabbi Elmer Berger
President
Jewish Alternatives to
Zionism
Suite 404
133 E. 73rd St.
New York, N.Y. 10021
Indeed, good old friend,
For a fleeting moment, your
salutation deluded me. I
thought; now we are friends
and fellow Jews with deep
respect for each other, with
respect for ourselves and our
people. Of course, I knew you
were alive; how else would
there be the discovery from
another journalistic source
that you were continuing
your ideological delusions?
Was it a "scoop" to rein-
troduce you to a curious pub-
lic that must have wondered
why the previous guide of the
American Council for Juda-
ism is now a president of a
new group, less moderate,
more determined to introduce
obstacles to a people seeking
justice and the right to live,
your Jewish alternatives to
Zionism.
Seeking the right to live
for a new nation, we would
not deny similar right- to an
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS individual—Khas ve-Khalila!
But the "scoop" really did-
n't matter, Elmer, did it?
Since you are the same
Elmer — the one-time rabbi
of Flint and Pontiac, the
former teacher in the adult
school of Temple Beth El,
the same unrelenting fellow
Jew who once threatened me
with a libel suit for differing
with him.
So the Irish Zionists are
more civilized, more sophis-
ticated because they invited
you to meet with them? It
didn't alter a situation of
your looking forward to a
possible — again K has ve-
Khalila — change in Ameri-
can policy that may deny Is-
rael the ability to defend the
right to live!
Indeed, the case is the
s a m e, whether you had
spoken to the Irish four years
ago or whether you now spew
venom by saying that those
of us who plead for the right
to live for an embattled peo-
ple are the hired press.
Have you a conception of
conscience and the moral
duty of a Jew — of a human
being! — to speak out in de-
fense of a people's freedom?
So I am hired!
For a legacy called the
Research Technologist Freda Lengel checks vials in
an auto-gamma scintillation spectrometer, one of the many
analytial tools of modern medical research pursued at
the resarch department of Sinai Hospital.-A revealing art-
icle by Avrum Schulsinger in next week's Jewish News—
the annual Rosh Hashana issue—will relate the extensive
research at Sinai Hospital. The activities of Dr. Piero P.
Foa, chairman of _Sinai's research department, and his
associates are detailed in this important article.
source of their peoplehood,
we differed, and at one point
you even threatened me with
a libel suit. Now you are re-
peating the old cliches.
Is it the "scoop" that mat-
ters, or the realities and the
truths? You seem to be boast-
ing. We found an item in
another periodical. You were
portrayed in your traditional
,role — a role we had known
but had it reaffirmed. You
were aligned with Arabs and
terrorists, not to encourage
peace but to call us names.
So, the thread was picked
up as a matter of curiosity.
After all: you are now presi-
dent of Jewish Alternatives
to Zionism, and one gets
curious; is the guy of the
same ilk as when he was in
the imaginable more moder-
ate Council for Judaism?
Who do you really think
hired me, Elmer? If you still
do not believe in the sanctity
of a conscience, then you
can't locate the source.
How curious that you
should have mentioned con-
science." Is it possible that
you may attain it as a mark
of respect for those who will
not abandon the afflicted, the
imperiled, those who would
thinkof you as their kinsman
but who instead advocates
destruction?
Yours is not the American
way. What is it? What moti-
vates your hatred? Why pur-
sue a prejudice that isn't
good for yourself or your
fell6w men?
The search is on to solve
a Palestinian problem—the
human way? Would you in-
troduce the inhuman, that
won't help even those wit
whoni you are aligned?
Indeed, Elmer, much more
is at stake than a "scoop."
When the same Elmer who
formed the instrument for
inhumanity of Jew to Jew
seeks to an escape in name-
calling, finding fault in dat-
ing, yet pursuing a task of
destruction, is there hope
that a role of inhumanity of
man to man will find sur-
cease in the still voice of
human fairness?
You resort to hope for an
American change; is the aim
an abandonment of the sanc-
tity of American fair play?
N'est-ce pas?
YOURS,
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
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