2 Friday, July 4, 1975
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
Is the USSR Renewing
Its Anti-Israel Propaganda?
For a couple of years there seemed to be a lull in the
anti-Israel propaganda that had its roots both in the Krem-
lin and in the USSR news agencies, with the Washington
Soviet embassy as the disseminator of the stories of, by and
about the Jews which are intended to blast Israel and Zion-
ists.
Apparently that campaign is being resumed, but the
propagandists are missing their mark. Dealing with the de-
veloping demands by Russian Jews to be permitted to emi-
grate, the Soviet propagandists have poured their venom at
Israel. They are ignoring the United States and Canada
which are being eyed more extensively by Soviet migrants
in their quest for havens of refuge.
The USSR embassy has released a story entitled "What
Awaited Soviet Jews in Israel" bylined by Mikhail Iofin,
syndicated by the Russian Novosti News Agency, purport-
ing to show that Russian Jews who had gone to Israel were
duped, that the Israeli tactics are fraudulent, etc., etc.
It is undoubtedly true that the Jews quoted in the re-
sentments against Israel have actually spoken their con-
demnations and that the handful of disgruntled were not
misquoted. But the basic facts need to be stated:
Of the tens of thousands of Russian Jews who have
gone to Israel, perhaps a hundred, perhaps less, have ex-
pressed outrage over conditions in Israel and indicated a
desire to return to their motherland. Most of the Russian
Jews remain in Israel and are integrating. A sizable num-
ber wishes to settle elsewhere, and the fleshpots of the
Western Hemisphere tempt many.
Because some 7,000 Russian Jews have already settled
in the United States, does it mean that some evil tactics
have been resorted to in attracting them here? Are they all
satisfied? Haven't there been disgruntled in this country as
well?
If the Iofin article had not carried the imprimatur of
the Soviet embassy in the U: S., whence it had reached this
Commentator, the matter might have been treated less seri-
ously. Under the circumstances, the renewed attempt at
poisoning the minds of those who may be reached by the
Iofin article is additional deplorable evidence of an anti-
Jewish prejudice — it isn't anti-Israel alone.
In Libertarian Ranks There Must Be No Silence,
Even When 'Anger' Stems From the White House . . .
Potpourri on Matters Relating to USSR, Yiddish
By Philip
Slomovitz
Anger in White House: Stab-by-Stab or Step-by-Step? . . . Growing Crises
Something cynically funny is happening in the nation's
capital. The new talk about "competitive leaks" must be
causing amusement in many quarters. In all diplomatic
ranks, even in the midst of the Iron Curtain's strictest cen-
sorships, there are leaks galore.
Isn't it true that even the very protesters against leaks
often resort to them themselves in order to release trial bal-
loons to test public sentiments? But in the instance of the
latest Middle East developments Israel was a handy scape-
goat.
A notorious rabbi might call the objections to these
charges "American Jewish chauvinism," yet the fact is that
what has happened is not a matter of inspiring chauvinism
but one of being on the alert against harm to be done to
Israel. That is why it is so vital that reports from the White
House about the President's "anger" towards Israel should
be treated promptly and seriously. Ron Nessen fulfills a
duty, in his role as the President's protector to deny that
there is fury towards Israel in the White House. But all
indications are that it is growing. Therefore, the justified
question about the Middle East: Is it a step-by-step or
Another Sad Note
Sociability and Business:
`Five O'Clock Anti-Semitism:
stab-by-stab form of diplomacy?
Massive military aid for Egypt from Britain and
France, the smiles and back-slapping for Sadat by the Pres-
ident, the arming of the Arabs while Israel is threatened
with penalties for not giving . . . is there also to be an im-
posed silence upon Israel's friends? For the sake of truth,
will any one dare be silent?
A message from a former Detroiter who now resides in
Israel adds sadness to recollections about forgotten literary
Remember Heywood Broun's definition of bias against
giants and their works.
Jews socially by people who did business with them? He
Aaron Kutnick, Detroit scholar, linguist and dedicated called it "Five O'Clock Anti-Semitism," when business
Zionist, now resides in Natanya in Israel with his family. ended and prejudice began, and it became the standard ex-
An admirer of the late Haim Greenberg, Kutnick had been planation of civilized society's 20th Century standards.
working on a biography of the distinguished Jewish leader
This definition came to mind upon reading the follow-
and author. Searching for a publisher, he discovered that ing on the front page of the June 26 Detroit News:
few now know about him and that his name is not believed
Roger W. Straus Jr. of Farrar Straus and Gi-
to be meriting a full-length book for lack of an audience.
roux Inc., a New York publishing company, has
published almost all the works of Nobel Prize-win-
This provides another note of sadness on the score of
ner Alexander Solzhenitsyn in English. As a result,
both forgotten language, neglected literature and unre-
Straus put hundreds of thousands of dollars in roy-
membered writers.
alties into a Swiss bank for Solzhenitsyn when the
The late Rabbi Morris Adler was a great admirer of Dr.
Russian author was still behind the Iron Curtain.
Haim Greenberg, and many others, including this Com-
Since emerging into the free world the reticent
mentator, saw him as an eminent man. Wayne State Uni-
author has turned down attempts by Straus to so-
versity published a Haim Greenberg book edited by Rabbi
cialize. Learning that AFL-CIO boss George Meany
Adler.
is giving Solzhenitsyn a dinner in Washington Mon-
Dr. Greenberg was more than an author. He was a phi-
day night, Straus called Meany, hat in hand, and
losopher. He was a leader of men and his role in the Zionist
asked if he could be invited to meet the author.
movement was markedly great. He was a linguist and a
Meany's office said the best it could do would be to
master, as a writer and speaker, in Hebrew, Yiddish, En-
let Straus sit in the audience and view the literary
glish and other languages.
lion he's never been able to meet.
This Commentator also has memorable recollections.
It's not a new story. It repeats itself. It's told about the
When a delegation was organized, in 1945, to consult with wife of a former U. S. President who was a snob. Her hus-
Yiddish Press 'That Was'
Michigan's U.S. Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, in Wash-
had been in business with a Jew, he was among the
A 750-page Yiddish volume, the product of the World ington, the late Dr. Haim Greenberg and Herman Shulman band
most sociable and most democratic of men. His strongest
Federation of Jewish Journalists, (Weltfarband fun Yid- were assigned to accompany this Commentator.
supporters included Jews. But his wife, who was a marvel-
dishe Zhurnalisten) headquartered in Jerusalem, compels
If Aaron Kutnick is correct in saying that Dr. Haim ous hostess and never showed prejudice at the White House,
special attention.
would not socialize with Jews in her home.
"Die Idishe Presse vos is Geven" — "The Yiddish Press Greenberg is no longer remembered, that there are few to
"Five O'Clock Anti-Semitism !" How descriptive — and
attest
to
his
genius
so
that
his
name
would
merit
a
biogra-
That Was" — is the title of the big book. It is an historically
true in the display of gratitude by the Russian Nobel
chronicled volume recalling the impressive record of a great phy, then another sad chapter is added to the story of Jew- how
Prize winner!
variety of Jewish periodicals that have been published ish writers and leaders who are not long remembered.
throughout the world over a 300-year period.
A dozen countries are represented in the volume and
the photographs of the newspapers and of many of the liter-
ary giants who played important roles in the functioning of
NEW YORK — Isram Israel with a group of 30 They can't figure out what see American Jews in per-
an unusual journalistic history are represented here.
The title reveals the tragedy inherent in this Work. Travel's new program of members of Bnai Amoona. has happened to American son. Israel needs to know
Since it is admittedly a press that was then the equation two-week singles tours to Is- For me, this was the 17th Jews, and they are con- by more than just charity
rael gets the unattached trip I have made to Israel. It cerned. Where are they?
or Israel Bonds that we
also could read: "The Yiddish Press: Obituary."
"The situation is seri- are in their corner."
A 30-page closely-printed index, containing many touristically attached in the was a very exciting trip and
For information about
hundreds of names of writers and journals, attests to the interest of economy and very exciting to be in Israel ous. It is no longer a mat-
in these times.
ter for some kind of intel- singles tours to Israel, con-
rich record of the Yiddish journalistic enterprises. The new- good fellowsnip.
On the tour in the new
"Their big hangup . . . lectual
or
erudite tact a travel agent or EL AL
ly-published volume retains a valuable record for history. It
perpetuates a memory. Since it is only a memory, with few part of Jerusalem, one can their big concern . . . is us! discussion. Israel needs to Israel Airlines.
to take up the cudgels for the Yiddish language, the very see the famous sights—the
subject dealt with in the impressive volume permeates Hebrew University, the
Improper Posters Found in Israel Buses
Shrine of the Book where
sadness.
the
Dead
Sea
Scrolls
are
dis-
If the supplementary chapter about the status of Yid-
inhabitants of Orthodox heim said. "We collected sig-
By MOSHE RON
dish journalism on the American continent were to be ap- played and the open-air
quarters including Mea natures of religious leaders
Jewish News Special
pended to "Die Idishe Presse vos is Geven" the agony sculpture garden designed
Israel Correspondent
Shearim in Jerusalem and and sent them to the Egged
by
the
Japanese
architect
would be all the greater. The Yiddish press is disappearing
Bnei Brak. Therefore, it is and Dan cooperatives, ask-
TEL
AVIV
—
Hasidic
everywhere. It is vanishing in the United States where mil- Naguchi.
impossible that they ing them to have mercy on
A highlight of the singles youngsters in Jerusalem
lions were readers of Yiddish only five decades ago.
should be "decorated" our children and remove the
proclaimed a "holy war"
tour
is
a
five-day
stay
at
the
This is one of the saddest reviews ever to appear in
with posters, which show posters because they incite
against
the
managements
of
these columns. The loss noted in the decline of Yiddish is French Village in the sea- the Egged and Dan bus
naked women and entice young men. We turned to
coast resort of Ashkelon.
one to be mourned by all Jews everywhere.
the "bad instincts" of the firms, who use such no --.7
It's a lively place where cooperatives because they
some men. If enterprises ters to publicize their
agreed
to
carry
posters
Seats of Hatred
tourists can enjoy French
and factories wish to make ucts and asked them to
showing
naked
women.
oopaganda for their prod- frain." The managers of the
Vancouver may become another area of hatred — just cuisine, plenty of sun and
This young brigade calls
sand,
swimming,
horseback
ucts in public buses, they bus cooperatives answered,
as Mexico City suffered from imported prejudice last week.
itself
"Committee
for
Sav-
should do it in a modest that they were not responsi-
At a meeting of the United Nations Preparatory Con- riding, tennis and volley ing the Holiness of Israel."
ball.
manner.
ference on Human Settlement (HABITAT) held in Teheran,
ble for the posters as they
Its announcements were
In
Israel,
the
sights
in-
Rabbi Tarnheim argued get them ready made.
Iran, it was recommended that Israel be barred from the
published
in
Jerusalem
and
that religious Jews can live
sessions of the Human Settlement meeting scheduled to be clude Bethlehem, the Dead Bnei Brak, It called to all re-
The Hasidic youth have
Sea, the Negev Desert,
without cinemas and thea- warned the enterprises, that
held in Vancouver.
ligious parties and young-
Jericho,
the
Golan
The happenings in UNESCO at the Paris meetings, the
ters
where
there
are
naked
sters to mobilize a legion for
if they would not change the
ILO decisions in Rome and the shocking display of inde- Heights. But the real fas- God which should put an
women who call themselves advertisements. they would
cination
lies
in
the
people
cency by the wife of Egyptian President Anwar el Sadat
end to immorality and artists, but they cannot for- call thQ religious population
and the walkout of Third World, Asian and Communist de- travelers meet — from the shame.
feit going in public buses to boycott their services.
suntanned kibutzniks to
legates from the Mexico City meetings of the International
and therefore such immoral They also appealed to the
The
secretary
of
the
the Tel Aviv cafe sitters.
Women's Conference thus threaten to be repeated.
committee is Rabbi Shi- and enticing posters should
chief rabbis, and the reli-
Alfred
Fleishman
re-
If society were truly civilized, Vancouver, Mexico City,
mon Tarnheim, who ex- be removed without delay.
gious members of the cabi-
cently
wrote
in
The
St.
Paris and Rome would refuse to host the sessions at which
plains that the public
"We have started a big net and the Knesset to help
Louis
Jewish
Light:
hatred and bigotry were dominant.
"I have just returned from buses are also used by the campaign," Rabbi Tarn- them in their efforts.
But — who said society was civilized?
Tours to Israel for Singles Initiated by El Al Airline