Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 April 1949 — Page 5

Friday, April IS, 1949

THE NATIONAL JEWISH POST

RaLbi H. J. Schachtel Quits Council; Hits Anti-Zionist Foes of 17 JA Again Kstionai Jewish Post HOUSTON, Tex.—Rabbi Hyman J. Schachtel, who rocked the anti-Zionist American Council of Judaism a year ago with a blunt repudiation of its stand of neutrality on contributing to the United Jewish Appeal, disclosed this week, in a repeat performance, that he had resigned from the Council last Nov. 29. The spiritual leader of Temple Beth Israel here, then a prominent anti-Zionist and member of

the board of the Council, bitterly denounced the Council and subsequently took an active part In the 1948 campaign but without dropping his membership in the anti-Zionist group. Rabbi Schachtel took up cudgels against all American Jews who ,J for what seem to them to be cogent reasons, either do not wish to contribute at all to the United Jewish Appeal, or would limit their contributions to a mere token gift.” Answer!* Council Charges His criticism of such Jews was not directed this year, as it was last, at the Council, for two reasons. The Council, since establishment of the Jewish State, has taken the position that it is not opposed to Israel. Second, the Council has taken no formal stand on the UJA di'ive this year. But Rabbi Schachtel made it clear that he regarded the Council as a center of opposition to UJA contributions by dealing directly with some Council charges against Zionism, in connection with his criticism of non-givers. One of the charges, basic to Council ideology, is the fear that Zionism has focussed attention on American Jews as Jews and thus allegedly has created the threat of more anti-Semitism. Another, which Council speakers have developed since establishment of Israel, is that Zionists now are seeking to "Zionize” American Jews. Recants Own Stand Rabbi Schachtel took up the first issue by a frank admission that he was one of those U. S. Jews who “believed that a State established by the Jews in Palestine would add to anti-Semitism In this country, would open up opportunities for those who hated Jews to weaken the position of the Jewish community in the United States.” Since then some 10 months have passed, the Houston rabbi noted, and asked “what are the facts since the establishment of the State of Israel?” “The facto are that the very opposite has happened,” he asserted. “The name Jew is now associated with courage, stamina, heroism, fighting power—the an-ti-Semites have been confounded.”

RABBI H. J. SCHACHTEL He Does It Again

Rabbi Schachtel commented with bitterness on the fact that the bravery of American Jewish soldiers in World War II h“d utterly failed to stop anti-Semitic slanders about Jewish cowardice. Contrast Noted In contrast, Rabbi Schachtel reported an experience recently, "an experience that has been multiplied many times. I have heard similar expressions from Christian ministers and leaders all over the country. “Sitting next to a gentleman who was not of our faith and who did not know who I was, I said to him, as we drove out to the airport limousine. Tell me, what do you think of the Israeli over there in Palestine?’ “And this is what he replied: T never knew that Jews could fight like that You have to take off your hat to people with such courage who can fight like furies.’ The rabbi commented that “I, for one, am convinced that the anti-Semite is being defeated by the courage of the Isratt. Whatever stigma the anti-Semite has tried to put upon the Jew, Hie stigma of avoiding battle has now been erased. It has been washed away by the blood of the Jewish heroes on the borders of Israel and in the siege of Jerusalem.” Then Rabbi Schachtel turned to the other Council charge, “the one that the state of Is-

rael will try to Zionize Jews wherever they live, here in the United States and everywhere?” Again asking “what are the official facts thus far?” the Houston rabbi said: Israel Speaks For Self “Officially, the State of Israel has spoken for no one but itself. It has sought recognition from the governments of the world and it has gained that recognition. It has sought loans from the governments and has succeeded in obtaining a small loan from the United States of America.” He continued, “As to Zionizing you or me, let me ask you to reflect and consider what has l»een done these past ten months, here in the City of Houston, or any other city, to Zionize anybody.” “Has any statement been made by any accredited spokesman of the Zionists which could be regarded as treasonable toward our proud status as American citizens?” he asked. “Has any responsible Zionist spokesman ever, in these 10 months, said or done anything which you or I or our Government has regarded as offensive to our country? Have responsible American leaders repudiated the United Jewish Appeal as an un-American activity?” Said the rabbi, in brief continent, “of course not.” He said there might be some zealots among the Zionists who “have said things with which we are in utter discord. Moreover, efforts will be made and are being made by ardent Zionists to make Palestine the center of Jewish culture and Jewish spiritual guidance.” Dismissing Council tactics to battle such a possibility, RabM Schachtel said the only answer to such efforts “Is the awakening of a strong American Jewish religious life, the vigorous support of our own great seminaries and temples and synagogues and centers.” “Only a fading American Jewish community, a dying American Jewish community will submit itself to the sovereignty of spiritual guidance from elsewere,” he said. “We are the master of our spiritual fate.”

The Histadrut’s educational net- Israel is being planned as a Railways, never popular in Palwork comprises 190 kindergar- highly industrialized country estine where buses provided pastens, 133 elementary schools, 18 which will have 80 per cent of senger transport, are now being secondary and vocational schools, its population in cities and 20 per developed as an important means and two teachers’ training col- cent in farming and rural life. of communication, leges. -

Shlomo Ginsberg .former administrator of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and son of Achad Haam, exponent of cultural Zionism, has been named Israeli representative to Italy.

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Deserves Support, Says Cincinnatian

OHIO COUNCIL OFFICIAL BACKS 1949 UJA, TAKES POST IN DRIVE NoUonal Jewish Post CINCINNATI—Rejecting charges that members of the anti* Zionist American Council for Judaism used the organization as a “shield behind which to hide from giving to charity,” the president of the Cincinnati chapter of the group lauded the 1949 United Jew* ish Appeal drive and announced he had accepted a top post in the

ISo Doubt It Broke Ernie Revin’s Heart LONDON (JTA)—Dr. Mordecal Eliash, Israel’s first Minister to the United Kingdom, paid his first offlcia! caii this week at the British Foreign Office. Dr. Eltash presented his credentials to Foreign Undersecretary Christopher Mayhew, who expressed regret that Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin was absent. Dr. Eliash declared that his country was looking forward to friendly relations with Britain and that he hoped a spirit of cooperation would dom inate the discussions of the many practical problems In the field of trade, commerce, finance and communications.

Hungarian Zionists Dissolve Voluntarily BUDAPEST—(JTA)—The dissolution of the Hungarian Zionist Federatio'n and all its branches was announced this week. The report of this action in the publication, Uj Elet, organ of the Jewish Community, described it as a voluntary decision by the executive committee of the Federation, adopted unanimously. “Since the state of Israel has been established,” the committee’s resolution stated, “the supreme aim of the Federation has been fulfilled and normal diplomatic relations exist between Hungary and Israel.”

*8 MILLIONS MONTHLY TEL AVIV (JTA)—The Jewish Agency is now spending -25,000,000 monthly to bring immigrants into Israel and settle them here, Dr. ISrael Goldstein, treasurer of the Agency, said this week in Haifa. The average cost of maintaining each immigrant Is now $1,000, he said.

Cincinnati drive. Dr. Leon Saks said that “if our bond is that of religion, it follows that we must be first to plead the cause of the homeless, suffering, mistreated and orphaned.” “I have accepted a membership on the executive campaign committee of the UJA Welfare Campaign with the full knowledge and unanimous consent of the American Council Cincinnati chapter’s executive board,” he said. Asserting that “nothing can be more religious” than the UJA appeal, Saks said that “only Judaism can preserve that precious spirit or carry on the great Jewish tradition of righteousness and charity.” The emphasis on religion stemmed from the Council’s definition of Jews as members only of a religious grouping. Hits Zionists “Shocking are some of the statements made by some of those with whom we happen to differ on which path the Jews shall proceed,” Dr. Saks said, in an oblique reference to charges by Zionists against the Council for its long-time fight against Jewish aspirations in Palestine. Saks strongly urged full support of the 1949 drive In the first statement this year by a Council official on the current UJA campaign. He said that the local chapter was “a part of the Cincinnati Jewish community and part of the general Cincinnati commun-ity-integration without assimilation, Judaism our only faith, America our only country.”

BB HONORS TRUMAN WASHINGTON (JTA)—Pres!dent Truman was presented with “America’s Democratic Legacy Medallion” by the Anti-Defama-tion League of B’nai B’rith at the White House this week. The President said he was happy to accept the award.

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