2 'fricfay,'Febitiai* 25,1977
THE bitiOIT JEV1/15F1 NEWS
Purely Commentary
Landsmanshaften Retain Glory in a Major Segment, Pinsker Having
Reached 50th Year . . . Historic Events Recalled in Jewish
Legion Anniversary . . . Tribute to. Clara Van Auken
By Philip
Slomovitz
The Pinsker: Nostalgia for Elders,
Historic Interest for Community
A Notable 1977 Anniversary:
The 60th of the Jewish Legion
Pinsker Progressive Aid Society's 50th anniver-
sary inspires renewed interest in an important chap-
ter in fraternal organizational history. The Pinsker
have survived a declining trend in Jewish life — the
disappearance of the landsmanshaften, the unique
movement that retained friendships among newcom-
ers from communities in the Old World. The shtetl, the
village and small town whence came the many immi-
grants to this country, remained in memory and
served both to assist the communities whence the
migrants came, while helping others to be reunited
with families and friends as a result of the link be-
tween the old and the new into a landsmanshaft.
But only the elders remembered the shtetl and
their children and grandchildren had no cause to think
of Minsk or Vilna or Bobruisk as native centers. The
very emphasis that landsmanshaften placed on
Americanization as a result of a great loyalty to the
adopted land became a menace for the fraternal
movement that retained the memory of the Old Coun-
try.
There were nearly 150 landsmanshaften five de-
cades ago. A handful continue to function with mini-
mal memberships. Some have less than a dozen mem-
bers, yet nostalgia prevents the aging from giving up
and they retain the memory of the community they
stem from, perhaps as memorials to the victims of
Nazism, most of the Jews of Eastern Europe having
perished at the hands of the Hitler murderers. In this
community only the Pinsker Society remains as a
symbol of what was once an impressive form of or-
ganized Jewish community functions. Pinsker, there-
fore, attain special status in the community.
Admittedly, the Pinsker Society retains a hold on
children of the organizers because it possesses a
cemetery. Continuity of memberships because of it
represents a loyalty to, family traditions and a desire
for families not to be separated even by death.
There also are the cultural factors and the special
link that the Pinsker members have with Israel. A
study of the landsmanshaft movement will show that
many of them had been influenced by the Socialist
ideology, most were concerned with the economic
status of the members and relief for those who were
left in the home towns or assistance to those who had
their economic difficulties here was of great impor-
tance. The Pinsker were the more consistent in their
Zionist and pro-Israel devotions. They retain a strong
link with pro-Israel causes. Is it possible that an ideal
to live accounts for survival that could not be attained
by the other landsmanshaften?
In World War I, Jewish warriors played a vital role
in the redemption of Jerusalem from Turkish rule. The
Jewish Legion fought with General Allenby in the
Middle East:and they shared in the Allied military
success in ending Ottoman domination over the Holy
Land. It is true that the British conquerors introduced
their own rule of terror against the Jews of Palestine
by submitting to the pressures from the Arabs, espe-
cially when the Grand Mufti commenced to preach
hatred and destruction. But the liberation of
Jerusalem was a major step in the direction of a resto-
ration of historic Jewish rights and the fulfillment of
prophecy for the Israel that was to emerge 30 years
later.
The Jewish Legion bore the blessings of the Libertarian Clara Van Auken:
British anuhorities who were soon to issue the Balfour Tribute to Christian Zionist
Declaration of Nov. 2, 1917. The Jewish Legion already
f
When the,hopes for a redeemed Zion as fulfillme
was a functioning military force when the famous
Prophecy
were
dim,
adherents
to
the
cause
of
tht
declaration by Arthur James Balfour was released
towards the end of the year of the formation of the establishment of Jewish statehood included many
Christians. The American Christian Palestine Com-
Jewish military units.
mittee numbered supporters in the tens of thousands.
The experience in World War II was entirely dif- The Michigan Chapter of the ACPC functioned for a
ferent. The demand in Jewish quarters for a specific number or years under the chairmanship of the late
Jewish military unit to be active in the battle against Judge Frank Picard. He was succeeded to the leader-
Nazism was opposed by the British. It took much pres- ship of this committee by the late U.S. Senator Philip
sure to compel the formation and recognition of what
was known in the second world conflict as the Jewish A. Hart.
It .should - be noted that U.S. Senators Arthur H.
Battalion.
Vandenberg, Robert Taft and Robert F. Wahner were
The Jewish Legion has an interesting history.
national co-chairmen of the American Christian
When the actual observance of the 60th anniversary of Palestine Committee.
the Legion will be solemnized the complete story will
Clara Dockum Van Auken was among the very
surely be told about the roles of David Ben-Gurion, the
dedicated
Zionists who formed this vital:
architect of Israel's statehood; Itzhak Ben-Zvi, the element ,in Christian
pro-Zionist ranks in this country.
first President of Israel; Vladimir Jabotinsky, the re-
It certainly was most appropriate that the Rev.
visionist leader, who, while in the opposition to the Allan
A. Zaun, in his evaluation of the life of Mrs. Van
Zionist leadership of that time, was among the very Auken,
in his eulogy to her in final rites, should have
eminent personalities of the 1920s and 1930s in Jewish noted that notable fact in the life of a devout Christian.
life.
With her husband, the late Howell Van Auken,
Detroiters who enrolled in the Jewish Legion rep-
who
was a powerful figure in Democratic Party ranks
resented an impressive group of Jewish loyalists.
in Michigan, Clara Van Auken shared in many of the
Their story will surely be among the fascinating ac- functions of a movement that sought justice for the
counts of young men, who had never handled a gun,
of Jews who needed haven from the persecu-
who were motivated by a love for Zion and a desire to Millions
tions that pursued them in many lands even in the
Pioneer in the movement for fulfillment of prophecy civilizing era of the Twentieth Century.
and emerged as modern Maccabeans in a struggle for
Therefore the name of Clara Van Auken merits
Jewish rights. They included Alfred Bunin, Norman remembering and honoring. Her role as a Christian
Cutler, B. A. Aaronson, Mrs. Bella Wolf and J. E. Zionist, however, is much more than that of a member
Schwartz.
a group that no longer functions. Her devotion to the
On a national scale, William Braiterman of Balti- of
aims of the American Christian Palestine Committee
more, a leader in the ranks of the Jewish Legion that continued through the trying years when many of her
seeks to perpetuate the image of an historic .g,Toup, will
observe the Jewish Legion 60th anniversary in'May at earlier fellow members of the American Christian
a meeting at the Jewish Legion Museum at Avi-chail, Palestine Committee cooled to the ideal. A dream was
an easy vision to pursue, reality was accompanied by
Israel.
menacing dangers, especially from the -millions of
Actually, the anniversary of the founding-of the enemies who surrounded Israel, the fulfilled Prophecy
Jewish Legion is an occasion to be remembered by -all which exists as a reality as aJewish sovereignty. Clara
Jews.
Van Auken did not abandon her ideal. She supported
and defended the Zionist goal. Even in the months of
her illness she wrote to friends of all faiths, affirming
David Pollack's Notable Record •
her hope that Israel will be secure and strong.
as Israel Bond Chairman
She was a libertarian and a wit with a strong
David Pollack displayed such excellent leader-
humanitarian soul. She is among those who earned
the title Philo-Semite in the friendship for Israel and
ship in efforts in behalf of Israel in the past decade
the Jewish people. She has earned the tributes that
that his co-workers as well as Israel owe him an ex-
must be accorded her by an appreciative Jewish com-
pression of gratitude.
As chairman of the Detroit Israel Bond Commit-
munity.
Linked with the nostalgic in reminiscing about the
landsmanshaft movement is the opportunity for study
of the history of a movement that had its important
role in the development of the greater American
Jewish community. Dr. Jacob R. Marcus, the director
of the American Jewish Archives, is among the histo-
rians who are anxious to trace and to perpetuate
knowledge about the landsmanshaften. The Pinsker
Society's 50th anniversary contributes towards such a
urgent need of keeping the records straight about a
movement that had its influence and its values and is,
regrettably and unfortunately, passing out of exis-
tence. More power to the Pinsker who are able to re-
tain a hold on an interested segment in this commu-
nity.
•
tee, Pollack indicated a deep understanding of Israel's
needs, an appreciation of the constructive work done
in Israel with Israel Bond dollars and the need for
dedicated people to advanCe the cause. Thanks to him
a large -group of Detroiters made substantial invest-
ments in Israel. He encouraged the volunteers he en-
rolled in the movement to participate in missions to
Israel which served to enlighten them on the obliga-
tions to Israel and the form of their fulfillment both
philanthropically and by means of investment dollars.
Pollack's retirement from tor; leadership in the
Israel Bond movement was accompanied by a succes-
sion that promises to be equally as effective in the
years to come. This, too, the molding of new leaders, is
an added tribute to Pollack's labors for which his co-
workers are surely very grateful.
Quaker Blunders and Breira's Guilt of Collaboration in Disputable Project
A conference held in Washington with the aim of encouraging enlistment of
the PLO's participation in a renewed Geneva Conference on the Middle East and
other deliberations between Arabs and Israelis invites consideration of the role of
the Breira movement in this serious conflict.
Breira is under constant attack from most official Jewish quarters. The
resentment is understandable, except that there must be an admission that the
Breira leaders are not traitors, that they are seriously motivated by the convic-
tion that Israel mustgive up a great deal to achieve anything approaching peace.
And they certainly advocate abandoning a great deal of secure borders
and even of yielding:in some measure on Jerusalem.
The opinions held by the Breira advocates have become unacceptable because
they are one-sided proposals and do not even have the endorsement of Arab
spokesmen. But Breira's inexcusable act was the co-sponsorship of the conference
with the American Friends Service Committee — the Quakers — who, under a
cloak of peace-searching, have been most antagonistic to Israel.
Many questions have been addressed to the Quakers regarding their pro-PLO
position. The American Jewish Congress addressed a challenge to the Quakers
and asked seriously how a terrorist group that keeps advocating Israel's destruc-
tion could possibly be dealt with. Among the questions addressed to the Ainerican
-
Friends Service Committee is this one:
Before dawn on Sept. 27, 1976, three PLO terrorists — captured after they had
attacked the Semiramis Hotel in Damascus —were hanged in a public square in
that city, where their bodies remained suspended for hours. Commenting on
the attack (by terrorists who admitted under interrogation that they belonged
to the Al Fatah wing of the PLO), President Assad of Syria declared: "We
condemn this act of terror, committed by a gang of traitors and criminals. We
refuse to bargain with them." If Assad refused to bargain with PLO "crimi-
nals," why should Israel?
If the Quakers can be scrutinized for their pro-PLO actions, how much
more serious is the guilt of Breira? Granted that a well-meaning group endorses
the Breira position, the extremism of the movement's submission to policies that
would smell Israel's destruction proves its blunders. It is a maverick group that
refUses to join in deliberations which would give fellow Jews a chance to prove
their blunders. Collaboration with a Christian element that appears to be consis-
tently pro-Arab does not add to its status. The loyal identification of Breira
leaders with Jewry and therefore also with Israel should impel it to recognize
that by consenting to association with "moderates" in Arab ranks who in truth
have not altered their aims at destroying Israel should cause them to think
before acting on their own and thus undermining unity in Israel's defense
Jewish ranks.
The views of American Jews engaged in the Breira movement are in no sense
differeht from those of General Matti l-'eled and Arieh Eliav, the Israelis who are
negotiating with the PLO and are advocating their acceptance in deliberations
affecting Israel's future. Therefore it is a serious difference of opinion and at
stake are not those who differ but their views. The.comirig months, dedicated to a
consideration of renewal of the deliberations at Geneva, may be very crucial-for
ultimate decisions and efforts to resolve the conflicts in Jewish ranks.
Whatever the considerations, dealings with the PLO continue to- be consi-
dered indecent, whether it is a Quaker or a Breira who is involved. Even the State
Department, with its unending vacillations, continues to reject PLO requests for •
a partnership in the planned Geneva meetings. While there is an "unless - in the
declarations of the latter which keeps the road partially open foi:the terrorists —
an "unless" kept open for some concessions that do not presently please Israel —
the glorification of the PLO is an abomination.
r"