2 Friday, F
ROIT
,
IS
Purely Commentary
Boycott and Expedience
Zionism had many opponents, in many quarters, in-
cluding the internal Jewish ones.
In the general and the specifically Jewish quarters —
the Bund especially among the latter — a substitute solu-
tion for Jewish needs, including an end to sufferings from,
persecutions, was the panacea of Socialism.
During the past 75 years, the Socialist panacea devel-
oped into a calamity. Every Socialist claim was farcical. The
Communists soon leaned towards anti-Semitism and the
hatred for Jews by Karl Marx who was himself born a Jew
became almost a guideline for Socialist bigotries.
Now there is the subjection to a new shocking experi-
ence. A New York Times report from Paris describes a "loss
of traditional Socialist sympathy for Israel that reaches al-
most open support for the Palestinians."
The details are not as important as the disillusionment
with hopes that the liberal elements in the world will retain
an interest in decency when dealing with the Jewish prob-
lems and in tackling tasks to end anti-Semitism.
What's the cause of it all? Golda Meir, David Ben-Gur-
ion, Moshe Sharett and others had been the idols of the
Socialists, yet there is now a confrontation that endangers
the very status of Socialist Israel. The Jewish state's basic
regulations are socialistic, the controlling party is labor and
pro-Socialist, yet the support for Israel from the liberal
quarters is dwindling.
Golda Meir was in London at an international Socialist
gathering after the Yom Kippur War and her appeals in
behalf of her country fell on deaf ears. She marveled, as did
others, and in the deafness of silence she suddenly heard a
whisper in back of her, an old-time Socialist commenting:
"They are choking on oil."
If that is the case, whence cometh help?
Not since the boycott of Nazism in the 1930s and 1940s
has a resentment against a prejudicial government act
worked as promptly, as effectively, as decisively as the boy-
cott against travel to Mexico.
It did not last because there was an intergovernmental
relationship involved, and it ended because Mexico was anx-
ious and equally as prompt in laboring for repairment of
damage at the United Nations. The antagonism that appar-
ently stemmed from the presidential blunder in Mexico is
being repaired by the adoption of the more rational policy
of refraining from giving comfort to Israel's enemies at the
UN.
An end to any manifestation of enmities between Israel
and a country with which she has diplomatic relations must
be welcomed with delight. The fact remains, as had been
indicated in these columns, that Israel and Jewry would
have cause to boycott a dozen or more countries for infr-
ingements of rights enjoyed by Jews and for support many
governments give to Israel's enemies. Even the abstainers
are not friends, and except for the United States there are
few if any avowed backers of Israel in the struggle for life.
Because of these truths, expediency is often a compel-
ling need and resort to concessions becomes mandatory.
*
*
Lesson for Disillusioned
From Herzl's Precursor,
'Communist Rabbi' Moses Hess
History is filled with lessons for the disillusioned about
the fallacies of expecting relief from anti-Semitic persecu-
tions from Socialist ranks.
Nearly four decades before Theodor Herzl and his call
for redemption and the return to Jewish sovereignty, Moses
Hess learned the lesson of the hopelessness of solutions
from his fellow Marxists. He told it in his "Rome and
Jerusalem."
Bearing the name Moritz Hess, he reverted to the He-
braic to become known as Moses Hess to emphasize his i e-
turn to the fold. He was the contemporary of Karl Marx,
who labeled him "the Communist Rabbi," and that appella-
tion stuck to him for the balance of his life.
MOSES HESS
Hess foresaw the calamity of Hitlerism and he warned
German Socialists, Jewish intellectuals, of an impending
disaster.
There were many others who learned the lesson of hy-
pocritical Socialism under Bolshevism, in the Soviet Union,
and especially during betrayal of basic Marxist principles
during the Nazi era.
Now the principles of Socialism become apparent in a
new garb that is soaked in oil, and Socialist-oriented Israel
is in danger of being victimized by many who were treated
as comrades. How sad to be compelled to say "beware of
your friends."
i .)04
/ 4 41 4 4 4 4
Socialists' Abandonment of Israel Vindicates Prophe-
cies of 'Communist Rabbi' Moses Hess . . . Boycott
of Mexico, Other Challenges, Arab Infamy
The Socialist 'Solution'
*
4 4 `# 4
The Arab Boycott
Israeli authorities have not encouraged boycotts. Hope
is retained for good relations between nations. Even in the
instance of France, whose official attitude towards Israel
has been very damaging, efforts are made to retain the
friendship that has existed between the French and the
Israelis.
The Arab boycott, however, remains a matter of seri-
ous concern, and it has become an issue in this country,
with a suit by the U.S. Justice Department against the
Bechtel Corporation resulting in charges of abuses of the
antitrust law.
The Arab boycott is a matter damanding action in de-
fense not only of Israel but also of American concerns num-
bering in the many hundreds that are included in the dis-
criminations by the combined Arab governments. Even
Egypt, in spite of the current agreements with Israel, has
made no effort to end the industrial and commercial block-
ades imposed on Jews and Israelis everywhere by their
kindred peoples who are seeking Israel's destruction.
Thus, there is this specific boycott that needs alert
counteractions.
Depletion in the Ranks
Society news in major newspapers, especially in New
York, is the source for continued study of one of the major
problems confronting Jews — that of mixed marriages.
By Ph ilip
Slomovitz
In a period of two weeks there were announcements of
two intermarriages of descendants of the famed American
Jewish philanthropist, Jacob Schiff. The elder Schiff was a
strong supporter of religious institutions. He was a faithful
Jew. In fact, because of his emphasis on religion, he ran into
difficulties with Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis
who chastised him for his anti-Zionism. But the late Jacob
Schiff afterwards supported Eretz Israel institutions with
generous gifts.
Not only the Schiff family, but the Warburgs and oth-
ers are vanishing as members of the Jewish community.
Intermarriage is taking its toll, with heavy losses for Jewry.
It is doubtful whether a single descendant from the
committee of 250 that conducted the 250th anniversary of
the settlement of Jews in the United States, observed in
1904, remains in Jewish ranks.
Not to take the problem of mixed marriages seriously
would be lacking in concern and good judgment over Je-
wry's status.
Concern Over the Youth
Orthodox rabbis, meeting in Washington for an annual
Torah convocation, expressed concern over the indifference
of youth to their heritage, in religious dedications and com-
munal involvements.
Unconcern by Jewish intellectuals and young academ-
ics especially concerned the Rabbinical Council and was
especially deplored.
The distress in the Orthodox rabbinical ranks is not a
new one. It had been felt in all Jewish quarters.
It was felt for many years, during the assimilationist
years when Jews were anxious to assure a Melting Pot for
America. Then came the Ford-Coughlin-Hitler years, in the
1920s, 1930s and 1940s, and there was "a return," a revival
of Jewish interest, which gained strength with the rebirth
of Israel.
The new concerns are logical and are based on realism.
Interest in Jewish life is almost totally lacking in academic
ranks. University students register minimal involvements.
The youth are not identified firmly in major movements.
Nevertheless, the philanthropic causes have succeeded
in attracting a good element of young JewS. They are be-
coming leaders in fund-raising and if the Detroit Allied
Jewish Campaign is an example there is solace in that
regard.
It is not enough. The craving remains for a perpetua-
tion of the traditional Jewish intellectual artistocracy, and
the need for learning and Jewish cultural movements.
Here, too, the question can be posed, "Whence cometh
help? In the past, solutions developed when anti-Semitism
increased. Is there a way of injecting loyalties now, spiritu-
ally, culturally?
The 120 , 000 Emigres versus the Seven Plus
Remember the old anecdote about the Russian Jew who, after a brief stay in Israel, was asked how life was in
Russia.
"I couldn't complain," he declared. Asked about economic conditions, the status of housing, his children's educa-
tion, social security and medical services. To all these questions his answer was: "I couldn't complain."
"Then why did you come to Israel?" was the final question.He replied: "Because here I can complain."
Because this is more truth than anecdote — for proof -ask any Soviet dissident or the many critics, among them
leading scientists, who have been punished for their criticism by being committed to insane asylums — this is
applicable to the situation that inspired the Kremlin to popularize the disaffection of seven Jews with life in Israel.
Seven critics. There must be many more. But there are more than 120,000 former Russian Jews who have
become new settlers in their ancient homeland. Therefore if the seven are multiplied by a thousand — and that's not
conceivable'— they still would be in a minority.
Going to extremes, suppose the number of discontented were to be counted in the tens of thousands, what would
it prove? Does that absolve ingratitude? The disenchanted did not limit themselves to criticisms of Israel — although
they made a point of utilizing the entire Kremlin anti-Israel verbiology by branding the Jewish state racist. They
also criticize the United States, and one family of those who had abandoned Israel and settled in Brooklyn was as
embittered against the United States and the Jewish community as it expressed bitterness over the alleged mistreat-
ment by Isreal and Israelis.
What's the truth about the settlement of Jewish newcomers to Israel, or those who are welcomed to the U.S.
through the good services of HIAS? In Israel, after large sums are spent for their transportation from Russia, they
are provided for in an Ulpan where they study Hebrew, are housed, fed, cared for, provided with medical needs and
their children's education while they are in absorption centers. They are given financial assistance to provide for
extracurricular needs and then every effort is made, after six months of true hospitality, tc, assure them with
employment. In this country they are housed, fed, educated, trained for jobs and provided with employment.
But some are dissatisfied. Let it be admitted that MANY are disappointed. Does that make Israel, whose
freedoms, except for inevitable military restrictions forced upon the community by the nation's needs for national
defense, or the American Jewish communities, are not human enough to the kinspeople from Russia?
That's a lot of piffle, and the Russians know it, but they are foxy. They utilize it for propaganda purposes,
especially against Israel and Zionism. How else could the Kremlin justify the inhumanities and stupidities it engi-
neers at the United Nations?
The mass of Russian material that has reached this Commentator from the Russian Embassy in Washington,
the propaganda from Novosti, the half-truths and distortions are grist for the propaganda mills and provide unusual
background data for students of propaganda methods.
The trouble with the foxy Kremlinites is that they believe they can pull the wool over the eyes of sensible people,
that just because Novosti ends every news release or feature fantasy with an attack on Zionism there is the dilusion
that truth can he stifled. The aim at weakening the Second Brussels Conference on Soviet Jewry is the dream of the
present-day Soviet anti-Semites who have inherited their hatred for Jews from the Czarist Black Hundreds. It won't
work, Ivan! Just as..you can suppress the many dissidents who are defying your propaganda, the targets you are
using in the new USSR anti-Semitisms is no longer the silent. Jew! You haven't learned the lessons of the defeated
Chmielnicki and Hitler — all patterned after the Haman soon to be derided on Purim! It won't work, ye sowers of
hatred! And this applies also to the deluded Jews who have become tools of the Kremlin anti-Semites.
American Jewry will continue to open its arms to newcomers and Israel will continue the ingathering of the
oppressed wherever they may hail from.