Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

\l The Southern Isrneiite A V/eeklv r Southern Jewry 0X3 -80 Number 18 Ladies* *,3X000 jo AJO^Jun y , MAY 12 , 1950 runa total to $600,000 Mark Charleston Jewry Maps Plans for 20th Anniversary CHARLESTON, S. C., (JTA)—Extensive plans are being formulated for a series of celebrations this fall to mark the 200 anniversary of the founding of the Jewish community of Charleston, it was reported by Or. Allan Tarshish, rabbi of Temple Beth Elohim here. Although there were Jews living in Charleston as early as 1695, the establishment of the community here dates to the inauguration of Congregation Beth Elohim, which was formally organized in 1750. Prior to that year, Jews in Charleston worshipped in private homes. Congregation Beth Elohim counted among its members Moses Lindo who before the Revolutionary War, developed the fabulous Carolina indigo trade, and Joseph Levy, who fought as a lieutenant against the Indians in the Cherokee War of 1760. Another of the synagogue’s first members was Francis Salvador, probably the first Jewish officer in America to cast his lot with the Revolutionary cause, who was elected a deputy in the Provincial Congress of South Carolina. Salvador lost his life during the Revolutionary War. Charleston’s Jewish population today numbers 2,000. There are four synagogues in the city, two of them are Orthodox, one Reform and one Conservative. Epstine Keynotes Anniversary Parley of Seaboard Hadassah Drive Chairmen Have High Praise for “O uistanding Success’’ Made by Cover Girls, Report Only Half of Prospects Reached in General Campaign, Call for Continued Alertness to Push Fund Beyond Goal. BY ADOLPH ROSENBERG “Say, ’dent bill collectors is here!” It was a house-man shouting from the window of one of Atlanta's recently completed apartment houses to the “lady of the house” outside soaking up some of last Sunday’s sun. (Specif) to the Southern Israelite) RALEIGH—Messages from high dignitaries were read last Sunday at the Silver Anniversary Banquet here featuring the 25th Annual Conference of the Seaboard Re gion of Hadassah. Governor Kerr Scott of North Carolina, extending greetings, praised the “humanitarian ideals of Hadassah” and said that he was “also interested in another great humanitarian—the greatest humanitarian North Carolina has produced since this state began.” He was referring to Senator Frank P. Graham, outstanding Southern liberal, whom he is supporting in the coming Democratic primary. Greetings were also extended by Arthur Liverhant, first secre tary at the Embassy of Israel in Washington; by Mrs. Harry Shor, president of the Raleigh Chapter of Hadassah; Benjamin Haggai, executive director, Seaboard Z.O. A., and by M^yor J. P. Snipes of Raleigh, and Mrs. Samuel Lubin, president, Seaboard Region. Keynote address was delivered by Rabbi Harry H. Epstein, spirit ual leader of the Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Atlanta. He gave an account of “An American Rabbi Looks at Israel,” based on his recent visit to Israel. Tracing the brief history of Is rael’s de%'elopment, Rabbi Epstein ! stressed the amazing energy and I resourcefulness of the citizens of' this infant State. Through a series I of inspiring first-hand stories, he brought home to the audience of several hundred, the spirit of faith and optimism of a people reborn in freedom. He added: “The land and the people in spire one with a new soul, a new life and a new freedom. They in ject one with abiding strength, with unebbing vitality, with hope, with the ability to perforin mira cles.” She had cautioned the worker to be on the look-out for th£ “Cover-All Gills” expected to call during the day and make a solici tation for Atlanta's 1950 Welfare Fund Drive. The team of women however were not given a bill collectors’ run-around and the apartment owner left her comfortable spot on the lawn and rushed upstairs by a rear entrance to greet them with her pledge. The notice of the worker too had been the warning for other occupants of the apartment house I who likewise had rushed to their I units and awaited the ‘‘Cover j Girls.” This welcoming attitude was 1 the rather general report brought I back by the several huricTrcd vol- | unteers who took to the “door- I bells” in behalf of the Atlanta I Women’s Division of the Welfare Fund campaign. Having been asked to remain at home by advance notices from the Division, the potential givers did just that. They waited for the workers to come with their pledge cards. Some had checks made out in advanoe. Some had to be con vinced. Others took the initiative and filled out the cards without much ado. The religious schools too had cooperated and declared a holiday for the day. The ranks of leadership in the Women’s Division dissolved for the one-day canvass job as cono- nels and captains took their place as privates in ttie all-out effort to complete the major portion of the solicitation. And when the workers had done their job, they reported to the Temple Hall for a quick snack and drink refresher. The results surprised and en thused all of them. A total of 1,200 women had been reached and it was announced that an additional $20,000 had been tabulated for the Welfare Fund workers. There was such wonderful co operation on the part of all work ers that the drive’s general chair men, Rabbi Harry Epstein and Rabbi Jacob Rothschild said “it is impossible to single out any one for special citation." Instead, they issued special commendation to all the workers in the Women’s Division, through the General Chairmen, Mrs. Jake Abelson, Mrs. I. M. Weinstein and Lehman Protests Release of Two Ships to Egypt Cross Burned at Home of Va. JWY Leader SUFFOLK, Va., (JTA)—The Suffolk City Council is expected to adopt an ordinance against cross-burning this week, following the burning of a cross by a Klan- like group across the street from the home of A1 Duden, a leading citizen and a former department commander of the Jewish War Veterans. An ordinance has been drafted by the Council for firjal reading at the next meeting. Suffolk is known to be a former stronghold of the Ku Klux Klari and there have been other cross burnings reported in southern Virginia during recent months. It is believed that the latest burning was a “warning” intended to frighten Jews who plan to build homes on property near Mr. Ruden's residence in Suffolk’s fashionable suburban district. WASHINGTON, (JTA)—The State Department this week offi cially announced the release of two former U.S. Navy vessels turned over to Egypt as “com mercial” vessels. The former American fighting ships, “Papua” and “Tobago,” manned by Egypt ian Royal Navy crews, were told that they could sail at will. Representations against clear- j ance of the ships’ transfer to | Egypt were made by Sen. Herbert I H. Lehman, it was learned this I week. Sen. Lehman also called the j attention of Senators to the trans- j fer of American vessels to Egypt ; and entered evidence in the Con- I gressional Record indicating that the frigates are not intended for “commercial” use. He said: “Although it was claimed that the ships were to be used for pas senger service, they have no pas senger capacity except for crowd ed quarters for the crews and the superstructures of the ships show a number of gun mounts and ammunition bins and charge racks. “The ships were reconditioned at an estimated cost of $75,000. It should be remembered that these ships are destined for the Middle East, where the Arab League is restive, and where a peace be tween the Arab states and Israel has not yet been written," Sen. Lehman pointed out. The State Department said it was satisfied that the ships would be used for “commercial purposes only." An inspection was made, following the disclosure by the press of the transfer of the ships and it was found that “they were demilitarized according to navy specifications which the State De partment concurred in,” the De partment claimed Washington sources were puz zled by the clearance as the ships were inspected by reporters who saw gun stands, depth charge stands, and found that the vessels were obviously fighting craft which can easily be re-gunned for battle. The State Department de nied these press reports, admitting however, that “there were some reinforced places on the deck for the mountings of guns.” Mrs. Herman Heyman, and thru the “Cover-All Day” co-chair men, Mrs. Abner Lichtenstein, Mrs. George Chait and Mrs. Mau rice Pepper for the “magnificent job you have accomplished. Your fecord on this day is indeed a tes timonial to women’s ihterest and ability in communal and Welfare Fund affairs.” Meanwhile headquarters of the campaign announced that pledges to date have climbed to $600,000. Late developments in the cam paign included the following special events: 1. Dinner for the Atlanta Psy- sicians and Dentists Division, ad dressed by Rabbi Jacob Roth schild. This Division held its own in pledges, with slight increases reported in most instances. 2. A general solicitation dinner for women on May 3, addressed by Stefan Heym, author of "The Crusaders,” popular novel of a season ago and writer of note. Campaign officials noted that to date about 2425 contributors have been reached, less than half of the total. Significance of this figure, it was pointed out, is that Atlanta has an “excellent opportunity” of pushing the drive well past its goal if the alertness and respon sibility shown so far are contin ued by both workers and donors. B’nai B’rith Plans Institute of Judaism at Wild Acres (Special to Southern Israelite) An Institute of Judaism, ded icated to Jewish knowledge and inspiration in the work of B’nai B’rith, will be held at Wildacres, North Carolina, from Wednesday evening, Aug. 2, through Sunday noon, Aug. 6, 1950 under the sponsorship of District Grand Lodge No. 5 of B’nai B’rith. Lecturers at the institute will be Dr. Mordecai M. Kaplan, noted scholar, professor and lecturer; Dr. Solomon Grayzel, prominent historian ?nd editor of the Jewish Publication Society .of America; and Richard E.Gutstadt, executive vice chairman of the Anti-Defa mation League. According to information sup plied by Abe Shefferman, chair man of reservations for the insti tute, the space at Wildacres itself is limited to 50 men, with accom modations for 25 additional at a 41 JTA Writer Visits “Demilitarized Ship U. S. Sold to Egypt BY MILTON FRIEDMAN JTA’s Washington Correspondent BALTIMORE, (JTA)—The Egyptian royal navy this week depth gave me an enlistment pep talk abroad their new naval craft ' in Baltimore Harbor. We talked about the coming “second round” against Israel. It happened this way. I went to the Bethlehem shipyards and boarded the two speedy ships which have just been nearby hotel. Total fee for attend ing the institute will be $40.00. This includes tuition, room and board. For those staying at the hotel, the fee will be $20.00 for tuition, plus hotel expenses. Reservations will be made in the order of their acceptance and it is expected that many more will want to come than available space will permit. The institute is limit ed to men; however, if space is available within 30 days prior to the institute, those men making reservations will be advised and may also make reservations for their wives. Those members of B’nai B’rith interested in attending the insti tute are requested to forward re quest for reservations, along with check for $40.00, to Abe Sheffer man, 514 Colorado Building, Washington 5, D. C. He added that a lot of “the boys” were already in Egypt and that turned over to Egypt by the U. S. My purpose was to find whether the State Department’s assertion that the ships would be used only for a “commercial purposes” was correct. The Navy has assured the State Department that the former fight ing ships Papua and Tobago have been “demilitarized by Navy standards.’ ’Although the guns were removed I found all turrets intact and ammunition bins un touched. The radar mast, search lights, and other equipment were plainly evident. As I looked about for evidence of “demilitarization” I was chal lenged by several crew members. I asked to see an officer or the captain. A weather-beaten Brit isher appeared, dressed in a bad ly-worn officer’s uniform, without insignia markings. I told him I was an ex-C. I., who was interest ed in adventure, quick money, and the “second round” against the Jews. , We chatted for a few moments about the Jews and less interest ing subjects. He told me that the Papua and Tobago would sail for Alexandria but that the crew was “a bunch of bloody dirty wogs” and that I would do better to work a “deal” through the Egyp tian Embassy. He said he knew of a passenger ship which is sched uled to leave to Alexandria in a few days. I was assured that I could get an officer’s commission. (Continued on page three)