Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 September 1960 — Page 12

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TOO MUCH TO EXPECT

We hope that President Eisenhower’s influence on Nasser will be successful in opening the Suez Canal to Israel shipping. Yet it is too much to expect if you recognize the factors involved. THIS IS NOT to say that the effort of the Jewish leaders to bring to bear the influence of Eisenhower on Nasser’s intransigence as far as Israel is concerned should not have been made. But we must be realistic. NASSER IS IN the Russian camp, although he pretends to be neutral, and he needs Israel as a whipping boy, not only for domestic reasons, but also because of his fight to retain leadership in the Arab League. We believe that Nasser will be the last to yield. The other Arab states will one by one begin to adopt a disinterested attitude towards moves directed against Israel. That will be followed, as leadership changes within the Arab states, by Arab nations who will enter into political and economic relations with Israel. THE TIME however, is not now. If anything, the best result of the meeting between our President and Nasser will be to remove the blinders from many Americans who feel Nasser is a good boy who is a victim of circumstances.

RABBIS BREAK SILENCE In 1957 when Rabbi Andre Ungar was ordered by the South African Government to leave South Africa because of anti-apartheid views, no rabbi in South Africa spoke up in his defence. Nor for that matter did the South African Board of Jewish Deputies which has taken the un-Jewish stand that apartheid is not a Jewish question. SINCE THEN Rabbi L. I. Rabinowitz of Johannesburg has in a more or less general way, in a message on the High Holidays, showed the un Jewish basis of apartheid. Now South Africa has expelled the Rt. Rev. D. Ambrose Reeves, bishop of Johannesburg. Rabbi L. I. Rabinowitz and Rabbi Israel Abrahams have both issued strong statements condemning the government action. WE’RE HAPPY that the rabbinical spokesman of South African Jewry have spoken out. This paper has been critical of the reticence of the rabbis of South Africa, and of course, of the South African Board of Jewish Deputies. But we’re happy that the rabbis have freed themselves of lay restraint and spoken the Jewish viewpoint. We don’t expect the lay leaders of the Jewish community to change their views as quickly, but in time they will. We should remember that the U.S. Jewish community, which of course is now definitely committed to side with the Negro in the U.S., went through a long period of bitter controversy, vestiges of which are still with us, before it officially took the view that any injustice was a Jewish cause.

BRAD HARLEY We were shocked this week to read in a temple bulletin listing babies named at services to note at this late date that names which are strictly without any Jewish connotation are still being given to Jewish children. IN THIS CASE, the baby was given the first name of Brad Harley. We don’t advocate giving a child an unwieldy name foreign to American environment. There is no reason to call a child in America “Yankel”. But by the same token, it is unwise to foist on a child who will live in the Jewish community a moniker like Brad Harley.

ABOUT A YEAR ago we were told a desolate first hand account of the situation of Russian Jewry. But we were sworn to off the record secrecy because of the possibility of reprisals against the members of the family living in Russia. There is no question in our mind about the discrimination against Jews by Russian officials. As a result, Jews are worse off than others. But what is more discouraging is the shabbiness of life in Russia, whether for Jew or non-Jew. THE COMMUNIST state is not a happy one for any Russian. The people live in shabby tenements without the minimum of comforts. The one-room apartments, crowded with three and four and more people are dark and dank, and toilet accomodations are scarce with only a few for all of the one-room apartment families on the floor. The clothing is of low quality and the cost excessive, so that one cannot spare the rubles to buy new clothes. WHEN SOMEONE loses a job, they must find work within six months or give up their social security benefits. The deceit and fraud practiced by the factories where one seeks work was something you can only understand when you realize that a whole country is without private enterprise and controlled entirely by a bureaucracy shot through with all kinds of evils, false reports, lieing, poor production, etc. The factories are supposed to report openings for jobs, but when one applied, the job had always been filled. THERE IS NO such thing as moving since to give up your room means that you may never find another. The spies are intertwined all throughout Russian life, which accounts to some extent for the poor attendance at synagogues. Everyone thinks everyone else is a spy. This account is the reason why when Golda Meir attended services at the synagogue in Moscow the streets were crowded with Jews for blocks around. Or why the Israeli delegation to the Moscow youth conference was greeted by large crowds wherever it went. So the Communists refused to announce when the Israelis would appear in the huge stadium after their first few appearances found the entire stadium crowded with Jews. As the train bearing the Israelis came from the Black Sea port to Moscow, each stop found another crush crowd of Jews hoping to get a glance at the Israelis. On the return train trip, the Communists would not post the schedule of the train the Israelis were taking, and even rearranged the normal schedule. But still everywhere the train stopped, there was a tremendous welcoming crowd of Russian Jews. THE TRUTH IS somewhere close to the fact that if the Jews of Russia could emigrate, they would leave by the hundred of thousands. Since the Russians now bar Jews from the teaching professions, the diplomatic posts, etc., it would seem that this is just what the Communists want. But to let the Jews go would tell the

world about repression and give the same idea of getting to the free world to other Russians. The official Jewish view, incidentally one that guided the conference in Paris called by Nahum Goldmann on the question of the Jews of Russia is that since Russia permits no emigration, it would be a mistake to call on her. to let her Jews go. There is some validity to this position, but only from a diplomatic standpoint. If world Jewry could secure a relaxation of the rules which bar Jewish cultural life in Russia, this is concession that might be won. To secure emigration of Jews is an impossibility. YET THE LOGIC is on the side of making the big push on the point that because Russia doesn’t want her Jews, she should permit them to emigrate. Since the Russians are finding the Jews so hard to assimilate—witness the excited reaction of the Russian Jews to visits by Israelis—they are faced with unhappy alternatives, either let them go or continue the policy of repressing them. It might be wiser to propagandize for the emigration of the Jews. Then if the Russians find this impossible to entertain, and facing the inability to assimilate the Jews, they may come back to the lesser alternative—to let Jews be Jews in the same way that other peoples in the Soviet republic are permitted full freedom to express their own culture. • Finance Minister Levi Eshkol told the national economic conference of the State of Israel bonds in Washington something which even we^ were not aware of. We knew that there was more than a trickle of new immigrants coming into Israel, but we didn’t realize the proportions of this influx of newcomers. Eshkol said that 30,000 immigrants will arrive in Israel this year. This means that the monthly rate must be 2,500. From various sources we have learned that Jews were getting out of some countries, but not only did we not want to jeopardize this flow by publicizing it, also we didn’t know how large it was.

ONE OF OUR subscribers, Mrs. Meyer Sachs of Baltimore, sent me a prayer she had composed for Yom Kippur. It has considerable grandeur in its simplicity. A Yom Kippur Prayer “Heavenly Father,” as we stand before you in repentance and humility, Grant us your forgiveness for any sins we have committed, Give us a year of good health and happiness with our loved ones. Make our minds receptive to the plight of others, who are oppressed and enslaved, So that we may be tolerant and understanding of our fellow men. Rid us, Oh “Lord” of our selfishness and greed, Fill our hearts with understanding and kindness and love for all mankind So that once again we may walk in dignity. And above all, Dear “God,” Grant us Peace. Ame

THERE IS AN inconsistency here too. If there is come psychological reason for selecting such a name, why go to a Jewish house of worship to give such a non-Jewish name? Our non-Jewish neighbors are beginning to accept lovely biblical names, so that Jacob or David are the choices of many. Fortunately, Brad Harley seems to be the exception which proves the rule. Most Jews too, haying gotten over their insecurity which drove them to imitate the non-Jews at whatever sacrifice to Jewish values, have now reverted to good Jewish names for their children.

NON-JEWISH TESTIMONIALS In the current issue of Brief, a publication of The American Council for Judaism, testimonials are printed from five famous personages; Arnold J. Toynbee, George V. Allen, Adlai E. Stevenson, Dr. Reinhold Neibuhr and Virginia C. Gildersleeve. IF THE SAME question that struck us strikes you, then try to answer why a Jewish organization employs testimonials from non-Jews. This is the organization that was founded by 91 rabbis originally r but which now has lost practically all rabbinical support. Even from the non-Jews, you get the type of noncommittal recommendation such as Stevenson writes: '‘YOU WILL MERIT the blessings of all men of good will if, in your council, you help to lift the sights of all Americans to the mist-enshrouded battlements of peace.”

WHO WILL TEACH US HOW By Prof. ABRAHAM HESCHEL the fear of being cruel? the danWhat does a person expect to ger Of being callous? Where attain when entering a syna- should one learn that the greatest gogue? In the pursuit of learn- truth is found in contrition? lining one goes to a library; for portant and precious as the deesthetic enrichment one goes to velopraent of our intellectual fathe art museum; for pure music culties is, the cultivation of a to the concert hall. What then sensitive conscience is indispenis the purpose of going to the sable. We are all in danger of synagogue? sinking into the darkness of vanMany are the facilities which hy? we are all involved in worhelp us to acquire the important shipping our own egos. Where worldly virtues, skills and tech- should we become sensitive to nlques. But where should one tbe pitfalls of cleverness, or to learn about the insight* of the the realization that expediency spirit? Many are opportunities & not the acme of wisdom? for public speech; where are the WE ABE constantly In need of occasions for inner silence? It is self-purification. We are In need easy to find people who will of experiencing moments in teach us how to be eloquent; but which the spiritual is as relevant who will teach us how to be still? and as concrete, for example, as It is surely important to develop the esthetic. Everyone has a sense a sense of humor; but is it not of beauty; every one Is capable also important to have a sense of distinguishing between the of reverence? beautiful and the ugly. But we Where should one learn the also must learn to be sensitive eternal wisdom of compassion? to the spirit. It is in the syna-

TO be STILL?

gogue where we must try to acquire such inwardness, such sen*

sitivity.

To attain a degree of spiritual security one cannot rely upon one’s own resources. One needs an atmosphere, where the con* cern for the spirit is shared by a community. We are in need of students and scholars, masters and specialists. But we need also the company of witnesses, of hu* man beings who are engaged in worship, who for a moment sens* the truth that life Is meaningless without attachment to God. The NATIONAL JEWISH POST and OPINION Published every Friday in 5 Editionby The National Jewish POST. Inc-i 516 S. Meridian. Indianapolis 6. I 0 ** MElrose 1-1307 .. All editorial correspondence gSKS be addressed to the New York Ofiio '

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