2 Friday, May 12, 1918

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Purely Commentary

Zionism as the Motivating Political Force in Israel's
Rebirth Gains Forceful Momentum on the Jewish State's
Thirtieth Anniversary, With Great Pride by Its Adherents

By Philip
Slomovitz

Wear It With Pride, the Zionist Emblem

Israel's anniversary has equal impact on the state and the Jewish communities
throughout the world.

Thirty years of statehood is linked with 80 years of Zionism.
While national hegemony has its roots in the earliest pages of Jewish history, the
modern political actions that led to Israel's re-emergence as a member of the interna-
tional society of nations is the fulfillment of the Zionist ideal.
Zionism was the medium for Jewish approaches to the nations of the world for the
recognition of the just rights of a homeless people seeking redemption.
Zionism inspired the pioneering spirit that was necessary to reclaim the desert and
make it blossom like a rose in the ancient Land of Israel.
Zionism aroused the conscience of the world to Jewry's sufferings from oppressions and
made the Christian world aware of human responsibilities and admonitions taught them
in prophecy they had accepted as a heritage from Judaism.

It is true that at the outset only a fraction of the Jewish people supported the Herzlian
ideals and the Zionist goals proclaimed to the world by Dr. Theodor Herzl, Dr. Max
Nordau and the early leaders of the World Zionist Organization. It is true that it took a
Holocaust to awaken many to the realities of historic tragedies. In the process of Israel's
redemption Zionism emerged as the great libertarian legacy for all time, for all genera-
tions.

Aliya, the Major Need for Israel
Treated Realistically

Aliya was a major objective in the decisions of the World
Zionist Congress in Jerusalem last February and at prev-
ious Zionist Congresses. Israel beckons to Western Jews to
settle there and to bring the skills of young Jews to the land
that needs the emigrants.
Many obstacles have obstructed the processes of the aliya
movement. There are many settlers in Israel who have
succeeded in integrating in Israel's society. Their experi-
ences are vital for the Zionist of America and other free
lands.
The experiences registered in these successes stand in
good stead for those planning to go to Israel. They are
related in a very valuable work just issued by the North
American Aliya Movement in a volume entitled "Coming
Home."
Compiled and edited by Sybil Ruth Zimmerman, an
author and newspaperwoman who settled in Israel in 1970,
this American woman has gathered data that states the
case well and her "Coming Home" deals with all of the
problems andneeds of those seeking advice and guidance in
the task of fulfilling the desire for aliya.
Education, housing, acquisition of a knowledge of the
Hebrew language, job-seeking and all matters related
them are tackled. Because the fulfillment is by those who
remain in Israel the guidance provided is realistic, practi-
cal in all respects. The difficulties are not hidden, therefore
the approaches to the issues involved are on so sound bases.
Therefore, "Coming Home" must be viewed as one of the
most important compilations gathered on the subject of
aliya.
The contributors to the discussions in this volume had
gone through the agonies of settlement. Many brought
funds with them and applied them to their needs. The
manner in which the children became factors in their lives,
the routines pursued by the elders also are reviewed. There
are the sentiments, of course, in seeking and adhering to
aliya and since nothing is hidden these pragmatic factors
resorted to by the editor-compiler as a summation merit
serious consideration:
The answer is why do some people stay in Israel
while others, who are broken, return? The answer
is relatively the same. For olim, it is the reason
why they came. After three years the ohm prob-
lems are over. You're like every other Israeli.
The real test of Motivation — why did you come
to live in Israel in the first place, really takes over.
People who were not properly motivated in com-
ing will go back. Life now becomes a day-to-day
situation. Is it a sacrifice that you've changed
your lifestyle or do you find your lifestyle in Israel
more satisfying? If you find your Israeli day-do-
day living challenging, exciting and meaningful,
you will stay. You will cope with the financial
crunch. If you find the sacrifices were too great,
you will return. It's as simple as that.
One is motivated to come on aliya by a number
of very different, very personal reasons. One is
also motivated to stay in Israel by a number of
very different and very personal reasons and the
two sets of reasons are not always the same. This
is the point where why you are staying takes over.

This is realism and it is good to be able to treat it as such.
The approach to aliya and confrontation with realities
received unusual attention from Canadian Zionists.
A Commission of Enquiry With Respect to Canadian
Ohm was organized under the chairmanship of Gerald
Charness. The commission went to Israel, conducted public
inquiries into conditions, interviewed Canadian ohm, and
analyzed their problems.
There was no pulling of punches. Whatever affected the
new settlers, the obstacles they faced, the Issues that had to

When the Nazis stormed into Jewish communities, destroying synagogues, murder-
ing innocent people, registering their shame for all time to come on Krystalnacht and the
years that followed, imposing on Jews a Yellow Badge to distinguish them from non-
Jewish Germans. The organ of the German Zionists, the Judische Rindshau, addressed
all Jews, regardless of their social and political preferences. Now is the time to say to all '-
Jews: "Wear it with pride, the Zionist emblem!"
The inhumanities that have emanated from the impotence of the United Nations,
under the influence of the Russian-Arab Bloc, has revived the Nazi venom by denigrating
Zionism. This calls for strengthened and renewed identification with the Zionist ideal by
all Jews, regardless of their social and political preferences. "Wear it with pride, the
Zionist emblem!"
This is a call to action to be treated with seriousness on the occasion of Israel's 30th
anniversary.
The good wishes of all who have a sense of justice goes forth to Israel.
Israel's hands must be upheld in her struggle for dignity and security.
The supporters of Israel also have a banner to raise in the Diaspora, with a message to
Israel that the movement which gave them spirit is kept alive and its emblem is treated
as a Badge of Honor.
Jewry surely will proclaim its identity with the great libertarian principles of Zionism
as they greet Israel with affection on her 30th anniversary.

be challenged in an effort to solve them were openly

scrutinized.

The editorial comments in Israeli newspaper and the
texts of the discussions are incorporated in a complete re-
cord of the investigative efforts under the title "Report of
the Zionist Organization of Canada Olim."
It is to the credit of Mr. Charness and his associates that
such a study was undertaken and fulfilled.
They dealt with facts and they learned the problems. The
comments in Israel newspaper editorials evidenced a recep-
tive mood, an encouragement to face the issues so that
proper housing, job placements, education and other factors
could be attended to.

It is as a result of these efforts that it becomes apparent

that the dedicated remain in Israel no matter what the
difficulties.
The Canadian Zionist Organization is to he commended

for having undertaken this task.
It was found that the present system, the method of

sending shlikhim, is faulty. The findings must lead to a
cooperative method of solving the problems.

The recommendation is made that other Jewish com-
munities send similar commissions for studies in Israel.

This, too, is commendable and hopefully will he given a due
and positive response.

With Post-War Refugees Bound for Israel

By JACOB BELLER

NATANYA — At the

United Nations at Lake
Success negotiations and
discussions were underway
on the historic decision. In
Eretz Yisrael unofficial war
had broken out between
Arabs and Jews. The Jewish
resistance movement was
fighting on two fronts: on
one against the Arab bands
and on the other against the
British Mandatory power
which prevented the Jews
from arming and was help-
ing the Arabs before they
abandoned the country.

British embassies and
consulates abroad looked
upon journalists, especially
Jewish journalists, as un-
welcome guests as things
were then in Palestine.
However, by various de-
vices I succeeded in getting
a British visa and early in
August I was under way.

I arrived in the port of
Marseilles on a hot summer
afternoon. Among the
scores of ships I caught sight
of the mast of the first
Jewish ship Kedma from
which was proudly flutter-
ing the blue-white banner
with the Magen David.

After boarding, I saw a
bronze plaque in the rec-
reation room with a He-
brew inscription saying:
"A gift of the Belgian
Jewish community to the
first Jewish ship Kedma
which will be carrying
Jewish children to their
homeland. From the Bel-
gian Zionist Federation,
18th day of Tammuz
1946.'

The first person I met
was the Mizrachi leader,
the late Moshe Chaim
Shapira — who later was

months in transit and d.p.
camps: middle-aged men
and women, young lads and
girls who had escaped the
crematoria and the very
young who for the most part
were children who had been
concealed with non-Jews
and been re-gathered after
the war.
There were middle aged
couples with small children
who would normally be
taken for their
grandchildren but were ac-
In a situation that serious tually their direct offspring.
they clearly felt the need for These were branches split
great secrecy, even with a from broken family trees.
Jewish journalist overcome The husband had lost his
by curiosity. They held wife and children in the
meetings at a separate table flames of the gas ovens and
and whispered cautiously the wife had similarly lost
among themselves. The her husband and family.
On the edge of the deck I
treasurer of the Jewish
Agency, Mr. Eisenberg, was was met by a round of pow-
among them. Only on the erful song from a group of
third day out did I manage young folk seated in a circle.
to strike up a conversation They were singing "Do not
with one of the delegation say you are taking the last
who whispered in my ear road "(Zog nit keinmol az du
that there was a suspicion geyst dem letztn veg), the
that there were British Song of the Partisans.
spies in the ship's crew.
I looked into the faces
* Among the passengers of the singers and saw
there were also Jews their renewed joy of life.
from Eretz Yisrael — long Those who didn't know
established and well- the words hummed the
known industrialists who tune. A woman I had seen
had been visiting Europe a few weeks earlier in a
or the United States look- camp in Italy was also
ing for a market for their singing. At that time she
products and bringing was tragically lost — she
with them patterns and had been left all alone,
designs of various her husband and chil-
foreign models.
dren having been de-
The third class deck is stroyed in the gas ovens.
The voyage from Marseil-
where the olim were lo-
cated. The cabins were les to Haifa was meant to
crowded and beds had even last four days and we were
been placed in the aisles. already in our fourth week
These were the lucky ones at sea. We had stopped at a
who through various means number of Greek and Ita-
had obtained official certifi- lian ports. At these ports
cates and were travelling serious-faced young men
legally after waiting for appeared who talked with

to become Minister of
Religions.
After an entire day of
enquiry and nosing about I
learned that a delegation of
American Jewish leaders
was aboard. Their purpose
was to show solidarity with
the Yishuv and encourage it
in its life and death strug-
gle. They walked about with
silent, earnest faces. All my
efforts to engage them in
conversation were to no
avail.

those passengers who had
been so silent on board.
All that could be made out
in their conversation were
references to Chaver S or
Chaver C or references to
numbers. Large chests and
bags were taken aboard.
New faces were seen in the
third class aisles, some
speaking Greek or Italian to
each other — and the tune
and words of "Artza Aleinu"
were struck up louder and
clearer.
Cyprus was the last
stopover. Tomorrow morn-
ing, it was announced, we
would arrive in Haifa.
When our ship approached
the port of Haifa dawn was
breaking. As the sun rose
higher it was reflected in
the surface of the sea which
looked like a vast silver
mirror. After a sleepless
night of excitement and an-
ticipation it is now day-
break. I am on my feet and I
am straining my eyes to see
the shorealpf Eretz Yisrael.

I try to absorb every
detail of the scene about
me. I look around and see
that I am not the only one
doing this. The old man
with the faded talit is
standing at his morning
devotions wearing his
tefilin. "They said I
wouldn't live to see it —
yet here it is!" he ex-
laimed.

The old Jew in talit and
tefilin cried out: V'shuvo
banim l'gvulam — Thy
children return to thy bor-
ders!" This was like a signal
— it shattered the silence
and suddenly scores of
passengers young and old
clasped arms. By the time
the vessel entered Haifa
harbor the entire deck was
filled with dancers.-