Newspaper Page Text
Pa*e Four
THE SOUTHERN
ISRAELITE
Friday, August 26, 1949
The Southern Israelite
Published weekly by Southern Newspaper Enterprises, Inc., 312
Ivy Street, N. E., Atlanta 3, Georgia. WAlnut 0791-0792. M.
Stephen Schiffer, publisher; Adolph Rosenberg, editor; Willy Pels,
business manager. Entered as second class matter at the post of
fice,Atlanta, Georgia, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Yearly
subscription, three dollars. The Southern Israelite invites literary
contributions and correspondence but is not to be considered as
sharing the views expressed by writers. Deadline is 9:00 a. m.
Wednesday but material received earlier will have a much better
chance of publication.
Selection from Our Bible
Keep thy tongue from evil and they lips from speaking guile.
Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
—Psalm 34: 14, 15.
Joined the Center Yet?
We trust the fine initial response which is currently
being felt by the volunteer workers is an indication of the
city-wide attitude towards the membership drive being
conducted by the Atlanta’s new Jewish Community
Center.
The kick-off dinner earlier this week saw the campaign
off with a high level of enthusiasm and determination to
enroll all within the community. First reports of the re
sults were on an equally high key.
It is well that Atlanta should indicate such splendid co
operation the first time the new Center comes to the pub
lic for members, for the project is a worthwhile one and
its belated bid for support a milestone on the communal
horizon deserved of general approval by one and all.
The campaign is an indication of the positive Jewish
potential which the new Center will in time affix to At
lanta; its success one of the preliminary steps in estab
lishment a Center worthy of Atlanta Jewry and its needs.
Facilities at the old Alliance and the temporary struc
ture on the new site will continue in use until completion
of the new million-dollar center which will arise on
Peachtree Street.
But aside from the personal benefit which many will
receive from using these facilities, membership at this
time is a token of faith in the broader center and what it
can mean to the members themselves and to the com
munity at large.
We add our endorsement to the membership drive and
urge our readers to come forth with their backing.
Not a Legend
Israel paid homage this week to the father of political
Zionism, Dr. Theodor Herzl, whose mortal remains were
reenterred on the soil of Eretz in keeping with his final
wishes.
Elders of Israel recalled the struggle of Herzl and his
premature death at the relatively young age of 44. Young
er generations grown up since his passing knew him only
as the individual who had squired what seemed a legen
dary cause.
Then what seemed legend became a reality, assuming
thereby elements of fantasy and fiction which before
imagination could not conceive . . . To all who have been
astonished and amazed by the materialization of Herzl’s
dream, now the removal of his remains to Isreal seemed
a natural part in the remarkable events of this past
decade . . .
How appropriate the words of several of Israel’s lead
ers as the nation paid homage to a great man.
Premier Ben Gurion, in a moving homage delivered to
the Knesset deputies on behalf of the government, de
clared: “Only two men were privileged to have their re
mains returned to Israel in the course of 3,300 years—both
were sons of Jacob. The first was Joseph, who left a testa
ment asking that his remains be returned to Israel with
the exodus of the Jews from Egypt ,and the second was
Herzl. This funeral is not a mourning procession, but a
triumphant march of victory for a vision converted into
reality."
Speaker of the Knesset Joseph Sprinzak read a message
from President Chaim Weizmann, who is now vacation
ing in Switzerland. “Every person in Israel,” Dr. Weiz-
mann’s message declared, “must today remember Herzl’s
famous words—‘If you will it, it is not a legend.’ The Jew
ish people has shown a determination to persist until the
state becomes a home for all in the Diaspora. With the
transfer of Herzl’s remains I visualize the completion of
a decisive stage in the history of the Jewish people and
an indication of the course of the future. Fortunate is the
generation which has been privileged to implement the
dream of its leader.”
Speaker Sprinzak, addressing the overflow audience
which assembled in the Knesset gallery and which in
cluded veterans of the first Zionist Congress in Basle, said
the Israeli parliament was halting its regular proceedings
to hold a special session for the “greatest event in the
history the state.” Dr. Herzl’s coffin has now been
brought before the Knesset building, he asserted, adding:
“It is oar duty to receive him as a living person, because
he lives in our hearts every hour."
BETWEEN US by Boris Smolar
Behind the Washington Scene
There is a very ugly mood in
Washington now among certain
officials who are close to the
Palestine question . . . The at
titude of some officials is re
flected by the fact that they
speak of Israel as “the still
born baby ...”
This is pretty serious on the
eve of the opening of the U. N.
General Assembly at which the
status of Jerusalem and the
question of Israeli frontiers
may be decided . . . But even
more serious is the fact that
American Zionists, who in pre
vious crises found ways of ap
plying pressure in Washington,
are now completely disorgani
zed . . .
The American Zionist Coun
cil, which spoke and acted ef
fectively on behalf of all Zion
ist groups, is today practically
non-existent . . . The Council
was to have a meeting this
week in New York and elect
Louis Lipsky as its chairman
to take over the rule of Dr.
Abba Hillel Silver . . . How
ever, the meeting did not take
place . . .
Lipsky, who is practically the
only candidate for the post, is
ready to accept, but on two
conditions ... He stipulates
that the Council must enjoy
complete independence and not
be subservient to the Jewish
Agency . . .
And he also wants the Zionist
groups represented on the
Council to agree to the forma
tion of an American Zionist
Federation . . . This Federation
would be formed at a congress
of American Zionists of all
shades and parties with dele
gates sent not on the basis of
shekolim, but on the basis of
the total membership of each
group . . . The American Zion
ist Council would then be elect
ed by the American Zionists
Federation as its representa
tive body along the same lines
as the World Zionists Congress
elects a world executive . . .
Lipsky’s stipulations do not
seem to find favor with some
of the groups in the American
Zionist movement . . . Thus,
the American Zionists Council
in its present form is, for the
time being, without an active
chairman and does not even
have an executive director to
organize its daily work . . .
There has been some talk of Dr.
Israel Goldstein as a candidate
for the chairmanship of the
American Zionist Council . . .
But Dr. Goldstein, in a cable
from Jerusalem, said that upon
his return next month to New
York, he does not want to hold
any other position than that a
member of the Jewish Agency
executive . . .
Report From Israel
An answer as to whether the
Israeli Government will float
a bond issue in the U. S. in
1950 is given in a report sub
mitted by Henry Montor to the
United Jewish Appeal follow
ing his return from Israel . . .
And the answer is “NO”. . .
The Israeli Government is at
present more interested in hav
ing American Jewry give its
maximum support to the
United Jewish Appeal in 1950
than in any other project . . .
Mr. Montor’s report reveals
exactly what has taken place
in Tel Aviv ... It says: “One
of the projects examined in re
cent months by the Govern
ment of Israel was the possible
issuance in the United States
of a bond issue ... In addition
to its own analysis, the Govern
ment received representations
from various important sources
—official and unofficial—in the
United States . . .
Much of the opinion from
America said that ‘free dollars’
would be vital in 1950 for Is
rael’s economy; that the issu
ance of bonds by the Govern
ment of Israel would be mis
understood by some prospec
tive investors and would ser
iously jeopardize, if not im
peril, the United Jewish Ap
peal . . .
Recognizing the earnestness
of these representations, and
appreciating the vital signifi
cance of the U. J. A. lor the ab
sorption of immigration, the
Government of Israel decided
that it would not undertake
any bond issue in the United
States in 1050 ... It is placing
complete reliance on the sup
port which the Jews of the U.
S. will give to the United Jew
ish Appeal in 1950.” . . .
What About That?
By Rabbi Sammuel J. Fox
^ewiih Calendar
ROSII IIASIION A
Saturday, Sept. 24
(First Day)
Sunday, Sept. 25
(Second Day)
YOM KIPPUR
Monday, October 3
succos
Saturday, Oct. 8
(First Day)
Sunday, Oct. 9
(Second Day)
Saturday, Oct. 14
(Eighth Day)
HANUKKA1I
Friday, Dec. 16
QUESTION: Why are “tefllin”
(phylacteries) not worn on
the Sabbath?
ANSWER: The Bible speaks of
three objects as the symbol of
the Jew: the phylacteries that
are wound around the arm and
head, the circumcision, and the
Sabbath. Two symbols are al
ways necessary. On weekdays
the Jew has the tefillin and the
circumcision as his two witnes
ses. On the Sabbath, the Sab
bath itself serves as a symbolic
reminder of his God, and thus he
has no need for the tefillin.
• * • • *
QUESTION: What is a "Bad-
chan,” and what is the devi-
vation of the word?
ANSWER: It used to be a cus
tom amongst Jews to hire a
special person to liven up the
wedding party with songs and
jokes. This person was called a
“Badchan.” The term “Bad
“Back To Zion”
BY MRS. EVELYN EPSTEIN
“Back to Zion, my people, how great!”
God has given us back our State,—
“The land flowing with milk and honey,”
Spiritual wealth and aspects for money.
You’re coming in thousands, O dear ones,
Mothers and fathers, daughters and sons,
From lands wherein you were beaten, rejected.
To your country, where you’re welcome, respected.
“Back to dear Zion,—the yearning of our souls.”
Only there can we live contented and whole,
Where Abraham, Moses and King David dwelt,
Where God’s calling was audibly heard and felt.
“The Eternal has called us back to our land!”
We’re His chosen ones, and united we must stand
With mind, heart and soul to serve every call,
And pray it will not again decay and fall.
Abounding thanks to the Good Lord our God;
He has withdrawn from us the chastening rod,
To serve again as a distinctive nation
And honorably reach our ancient station.
chan” comes from a Hebrew-
Aramaic root meaning “to make
merry.” Originally, it may have
come from the Hebrev root
meaning “to push aside” or
drive away.” The association
would imply that a “Badchan”
or merrymaker drives away the
sadness and gloom as he makes
the happy couple rejoice- The
Talmud states that one who has
enjoyed the feast of a bride
groom and hasn’t contributed to
his enjoyment is guilty of many
failures. For this reason, a spec
ial man was hired to represent
the company and to make merry
for the happy pair.
*****
QUESTION: Why is it custo
mary to chant songs about
Elijah the Prophet on Saturday
night in the synagogue and
home? (R. K., Chicago.)
ANSWER: It is a cardinal be
lief of the Jewish religion
that the prophet will come forth
one day to announce the com
ing of the Messianic Era. The
Talmud states that Elijah will
not come on the day before the
Sabbath so as not to disturb
the peace of the day. He is
likely to come at the conclu
sion of the Sabbath. Jews be
lieve that observance of the
Sabbath will be a cause for his
coming. Therefore, the exit of
each Sabbath causes specula
tion as to whether this is the
Sabbath which Elijah will fol
low.
Amnesty For Americans
WASHINGTON, (JTA)—A
proposing to grant amnest
American citizens who foug'
the ranks of the Israeli or the
armies during the Arab-I:
war has been introduced ix
House under bi-partisan spo
•hip.
—ATLANTA, 1949.