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THE IOUTHEIN ISRAELITE
Friday. May I, Mi
Opinion ...
“SHALOM, SHALOM”
After World War II, they came—a nonde
script fleet of a State not yet created bear
ing the survivors of a holocaust unparalleled
in history. They were typified by the Exodus
—the one-time American river steamer “Pre
sident Warfield,” before she was given her
biblical name. Oh, how the pictures of her
crowded decks and hold have seared our
memories- Her saga of courage has inspired
us to joy and tears. But that was more than
16 years and 1,000,000 tons of shipping ago.
Today, another ship bearing a proud name—
“Shalom”—ploughs the Atlantic. She docked
in New York on her maiden voyage Thurs
day, April SO, amid fanfare unequalled in
maritime history. “Shalom"—her very name
thrills us—is more than just another 25,000
ton luxury line. She is more than iust an
other queen of the sea. She is more than just
another bottom in just another maritime
fleet. “Shalom” is the very symbol of Israel.
She is proud. She is strong. She is modem
and yet embodies the great tradition of the
past. “Shalom” is the measure of the progress
of the people whose Star of David she flies.
She is the product of dreams, of imagination,
of daring, of a willingness to challenge the
future- She is the product of an Israeli na
tion which embodies the spirit of the 20th
century. Time has stood still in the lands
surrounding Israel. The 20th century is a
calendar term only. The oil-rich Arabs stir
themselves slowly and cannot comprehend
what is happening. While they play their
outmoded games of “diplomacy” and conjur
up visions of Arab legions pushing Israel into
the sea, the very nation against whom they
plot in medieval fashion plunges bravely and
courageously into the world of tomorrow.
“Shalom” is part of that world—a world of
never-ending progress and of peace.
B’NAI B’RITH MESSENGER.
Los Angeles
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Kathleen Nease, Jeanne Loeb, Joseph Redlich
Georgia Press Association
Telegraphic
Agency
7 Arts
World Press
A FRESH APPROACH
The Zionist Movement was the recipient of a most de
served pat on the back when Prime Minister Levi Eshkol
recently told the Central Committee of the Mapai party that
the Jewish State must place a greater emphasis on cultural
and educational relations between Israel and the Jewish
people throughout the world through the instrumentalities
of the organized Zionist Movement. Seeking new strengths
for Israel “both spiritually as well as materially,” the Prime
Minister said that the Diaspora is a great source of power
for Israel and “there is only one address to which we can
turn. We must turn to the World Zionist Movement, the vital
link for Israel and Zionism. Within this framework, we have
the opportunity of developing new efforts and activities.”
There is no mention of a change of policy, no mention
of former Prime Minister Ben Gurion, but informed observ
ers hailed this statement as an important and welcome change
in attitude of the Israel government- The great B.G. had be
come impatient with the Zionists; either you had to accept
his definition of Zionism, or he wasn’t interested in the move
ment, whether it lived or died. Obviously, Mr. Eshkol sees
values for Israel in a strong Zionist Movement in the Dias
pora, and he seems willing to accept the Zionists for what
they are, not what he wants them to be.
NASSER’S NEW CHALLENGE
The ulitimate purpose behind President
Nasser’s massive military intervention in
Yemen was clarified by his belligerent
speeches on his surprise visit to that rocky
desert land. His purpose is nothing less than
to drive the British out of Adeh and “all parts
of the Arab world” as a step toward his own
control of the oil of the Persian Gulf area.
The historic irony of his latest drive is that,
having been stymied in his campaign against
Israel, he deems “so-called Great Britain” to
be a more vulnerable target. Having won
command of the Suez Canal, he would like
to eliminate the British hold on Aden, which
controls the southern outlet of the Red Sea.
If that aim could be accomplished, the whole
British-protected Federation of South Arabia
with its dozens sheikdoms and emirates
would collapse, opening the way to Oman
and even to Kuwait. Such a success would
cement Nasser’s hold on Yemen and force
Saudi Arabia to come to terms with him.
The unification of the Arab states in an em
pire under his domination would be ad
vanced- And so would his projected confron
tation with Israel, for which he proclaims
Arab unification to be a primary condition.
These are high stakes. They explain why he
has not withdrawn his troops from Yemen
as promised. His purpose is not merely to
back the Yemen republication regime against
the royalists but to make Yemen a base
against Britain (in his eventual threat to de
stroy Israel . . .) The British and their friends
in South Arabia are, with reason, disturbed
by these developments ....
THE NEW YORK TIMES
JEWISH CALENDAR
•8HAVUOT
Sunday, May 17, 1984
(first day)
Monday, May 18, 1984
(second day)
•ROOT HASHONAH
Monday, Sept 7
Tuesday, Sept 8
•YOM KIP PUR
Wednesday, Sept. 18
♦8UOCOTH
Monday, Sept 21
Tuesday, Sept. 22
* HOLIDAY BEGINS
SMHAT TORAH
Tuesday, Sept 29
Sundown Previous Day
The Prime Minister’s attitude is both realistic and whole
some; it indicates a respect for the past and a willingness to
work together in the future. The American Zionist Move
ment, as well as every other national Zionist Movement
throughout the Diaspora, has its own particular problems
and idiosyncrasies, but all find a common platform in their
dedication to Israel’s growth and progress.
So, with almost all of the world’s Jews favorably dis
posed to Israel, it is well that Israel, and its leaders, should
accept the various Zionist Movements without a rigid doc
trinaire point of view. Zionists and Zionism are responsible
for the establishment of Israel. The Movement has contribut
ed much to its growth; and working hand in hand with
understanding and cooperative government officials Zionists
and Zionism will continue to help the Israelis build a greater
Israel. As Dr. Emanuel Neumann, of the American Section
of the Jewish Agency, commented: “Prime Minister Eshkol’s
highly significant statement augurs well for the future and
foreshadows a new chapter in the relationship between the
Zionist Movement and the government of Israel
—HEBREW WATCHMAN, Memphis
Washington Parley
Continued from page 1
(hen, manifestly, the Adminirtration
should consider the second alterna
tive—make certain that Israel has
the arms to defend herself,” he de
clared.
The call for American arms to
Israel was spelled out even more
specifically by Senator Hugh Scott,
Pennsylvania Republican, who ex
pressed the hope that President
Johnson “will examine the situa
tion again in view of recent clear
evidence of Nasser's expaniondst and
imperialistic drive that threatens
not only Israel but Western positions
of strength ’’
“First, the United Sates must
stop aH aid to Egypt. Secondly, I
urge President Johnson to consider
the possibility of providing military
defense equipment to Israel—os are
did in 1962—to offset the dangerous
advantage that both U. S. and Soviet
aid have given in Egypt,” Sen. Soott
declared.
In Mb statement of policy, the
Committee warned of the growing
danger created by Arab aggressive-
neas and expressed concern that
"despite this growing threat to the
United States and the rent of the
free world, the Arab states continue
to iworivw generous economic as
sistance from the United Staes.”
Noting that the present Admini
stratkm reiterated President Ken
nedy’s commatments to intervene to
prevent aggression in the Near East,
the policy statement declared that
such commitments “will have
greater effect if they are reinforced
by concrete military aid to
strengthen those whose security is
imperiled. Israel is in that cate
gory.”
The policy statement commended
President Johnson's support of Is
rael’s water development program,
and also declared that “the most
feasible solution for the Aral) ref
ugees is settlemenet in Aral) lands,
which have space and economic op
portunity for them.”
The Committee urged the Govern
ment to resist vigorously Arab boy
cott attempts in America, and call
ed attention to the fact that, despite
successive pledges by U. S. Admin
istrations, the Sues Canal remains
closed to Israeli shipping In con
elusion, the statement urged Amer
man initiative for Isreel-Arab peace
negotiations "Our country has the
obligation to exercise moral leader
ship in the attainment of an Arab-
braei peace," the statement stress
ad.
Comment...
PANAMA AND ITS JEWISH
COMMUNITY
Panama, whose diplomatic dispute with
the U.S. has made headlines since January’s
riots, has a Jewish community with a dra
matic background. The first Jewish settlers
came from the West Indies during the Cali
fornia gold rush, when many gold-seekers
chose a trip over the narrow Isthmus of
Panama rather than the long voyage around
Cape Horn- Sephardic Jewish merchants
opened stores in Colon, where they sold
equipment and supplies to prospectors. A
handful of American Jews married into the
Sephardic families ... In 1876 Colon’s first
synagogue, Congregation Kol Kodesh Yaakov,
now a reform Temple, was organized. From
1880 to 1889, while the French were work
ing on the Panama Canal, additional Jews
arrived from the Balkans and Syria. They
formed their own synagogue, Congregation
Sheveth Achim, in Panama City. This con
gregation maintains the only Jewish school
in Panama, the Albert Einstein Talmud
Torah, which provides some 300 Jewish
children with both religious and general in
struction. A third and much larger group of
Jews fleeing pogroms in Czarist Russia set
tled in Panama after 1903 when Panama
broke away from Colombia and, as an inde
pendent republic, granted the U.S. owner
ship of the territory on which the Panama
Canal was to be built. By the time the Canal
was opened to traffic in 1914 there were some
1,000 Jews in Panama . . . Today there are
1,800 Jews in Panama and perhaps 200 in
the Canal Zone . . . Besides the synagogues
and the JWB Center, Panama has a B’nai
B’rith Lodge, a Zionist Organization, and a
branch of the WIZO . . . Until 1960 there was
little open anti-Semitism. In that year, Arab
propaganda was held responsible for an out
burst of anti-Jewish agitation in some news
papers and on a few radio stations . . .
BERNARD POSTAL, World Over
Talmudic Treasures
COLLECTED AND TRANSLATED BY
JACOB L. FRIEND
When the Almighty enters a Synagogue
and does not find ten men (religious quorum,
known as a “Minyon”) present, His anger
is kindled, as it is written (Isaiah L, 2): “Why
have I come and no man was there, why
have I called and there is none to answer?”
How about the empty Synagogues in the
United States of America? . . .
Hillel the sage, an outstanding scholar who
lived some 2,000 years ago, toas renoumed
for his great patience. A man wagered four
hundred golden coins that he could cause
him to loose patience. One Friday afternoon
when Hillel was washing himself in prepara
tion for Sabbath, he shouted at Hillel’s
where is Hillel.” The latter wrapped him
self in his robe and invited him into his
house. “I have a question to ask” said the
tester. ‘‘Ask, my son, ask,” answered Hillel.
‘‘Why are the heads of the Babylonians
round?” queried the tester. Hillel, although
he realized the question was not urgent and
somewhat foolish, replied in all seriousness,
‘‘Because they do not have trained mid
wifes.” The man departed, but returned soon
thereafter, and went through the same pro
cedure. This time he asked: “Why are the
people of Palymra weak-eyed?” Hillel re
plied: “Because they live in sandy country.”
The questioner left again, but returned once
more and interrupted Hillel’s bath by asking
“Why do the people of Africa have such
broad feet? “To which Hillel replied: “Be
cause they live in marshy land.” The man
then told Hillel that he had many more ques
tions, but feared to ask them because the
sage might become angry. Hillel told him
to ask him all he wanted to. Then the man
said “Are you really the Hillel, called the
Prince of Israel?" Hillel nodded in the af
firmative. “Then,” said the questioner, irrit
ably, “I pray that there may not be many
more in Israel like you.” “Why?” Hillel smil
ingly inquired. “Because,” answered the man
“I lost four hundred golden coins because of
you.” “Be cautious of your temper” Hillel
replied. “Better it is that you loose four hun
dred golden coins and even four hundred
more than that Hillel should loose his tem
per and patience.”
This story is related in Talmud, volume
Sabbath 31a and should serve a great lesson
in patience, especially, for our present-day
nervous and impatient world.