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Fa«c Yom
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
NCJE Convention Ask Tax
Deduction lor Jewish Education
ATLANTIC CITY (JTA) - More
than 13,000 teachers are employed in
Jlfjvish educational institutions in
the’Tlmted States, and at least 1,000
teachers are needed annually for
new positions and replacements, it
was reported at the four-day 38th
annual conference of the National
Council for Jewish Education, the
overall professional organization of
Jewish educators in this country,
held at Breakers Hotels here re
cently.
“The annual shortage of hundreds
of teachers in Jewish elementary,
secondary and higher schools of
learning is a threat to the very exis
tence of the several Jewish school
systems in the United States,” the
report said. More than 500 delegates
attended the conference Dr. Elazar
Coelman of Philadelphia, dean of
Gratz College, was elected at a ses
sion to a second term as president
of the organization
The conference adopted a resolu
tion urging amendment of federal
income tax laws to jiermit parents
of children attending full-time re
ligious schools to deduct from their
taxable income a portion of funds
spent for tuition to such schools.
The resolution stressed that such
an arrangement would not infringe
on the principle of church-state sep
aration, but “would ease the present
unfair burden“of double taxation on
such parents at relatively little cost
to the federal treasury.”
In another resolution, the delegates
urged the Jewish federations and
welfare funds “to provide adequate
support for communal Hebrew
schools throufh central community
agencies for Jewish education” and
to provide adequate facilties for such
schools “to meet the needs arising
from changing conditions in the
Jewish community, particularly
from the current mobility of the
Jewish population."
The delegates also urged the
American Association for Jewish
Education to organize the communal
Hebrew schools of the United States
and Canada "into a national federa
tion to advance and strengthen the
communal school movement “ The
resolution also urged the AAJE to
conduct a nationwide survey to ob
tain all the facts pertaining to the
development, achievements, prob
lems and potentialities of the com
munal school for the advancement
of Jewish education.
In another resolution, the educa
tors called on parents to exercise
close supervision on television view
ing by their children for the benefit
of Jewish study. The resolution urged
parents to trim drastically the
amount of viewing [>y their children
of certain programs “both on
grounds that the time could be much
more usefully spent on their home
work assignments, txith general and
Jewish, and because this television
Is spiritually and culturally de
basing.”
Dr. Samuel Dinin, vice-chancellor
of the University of Judaism in Los
Angeles, addressing the conference,
proposed that the organized Jewish
community create a fund of $5.<KK).
000 to be used solely to strengthen
Jewish education in the United
States, particularly in the recruiting
of young people for careers in .Jew
ish education.
“The Jewish teaching profession
is in danger of becoming a vanish
ing profession'” Dr. Dinin told the
500 educators. He said changes in
Jewish education had brought about
part-time and pupil-teachers who
lacked adequate training. He also
said that, as in public education,
there was a shortage of teachers
even for full-time teaching jobs in
Jewish education because young
Jews preferred careers in science
and research
“If it were not tor the exchange
teachers from Israel and for the
hundreds of Israelis residing in the
United States, the Jewish schools
would indeed be in a had way,” he
stated. But most of the Israelis are
here for but a few years time and
cannot be counted upon as a per
manent source of supply for teacher
personnel.”
“What is required," he continued,
“is a special fund of 55,000,000, sim
ilar to the fund established by the
lord Foundation, to be used to re
cruit young [iccple to careers in Jew
ish education through the provision
;,f scholarships to high school and
college students; to provide incen-
live grants and grants in aid to en
courage schools and communities to
raise salaries, to provide pensions
aril health insurance and other
fringe benefits to give the Jewish
teacher salaries and conditions of
r.nrk similar at least to those of the
public school teacher in his coin
munity.”
Dr, Samuel L Blumenfield, direc
tor of the Department of Education
and Culture of the Jewish Agency
in New York, urged the Jewish edu
cators to seek to correct the “inade
quate and sometimes distorted”
ideas held liy young American Jews.
He told the delegates that such ideas
constituted “a caricature of Israel
and its meaning for American Jew
ry ”
llq_ said it was not uncommon to
find American Jewish youth who
have attended Jewish schools speak
ing of supporting “poor Jews” in
Ilsrael and of Hebrew as simply a
subject required for preparation for
Bar Mitzvah. He said it was a re
flection on tire Jewish organizations
working on behalf of Israel and
Jewish education that they had fail
ed to “convey to the ris’ing genera
tion in the United States the dream
of Israel relwrn and the signficance
of modern Hebrew men of letters
and scholars, not only for Israel,
but for American Jewry as well “
Dr Alexander M Dushkin, pro
fessor emeritus of the Hebrew Uni
Friday, June 5, 1961
versity and former executive vice-
president of bte Jewish Education
Committee of New York City, dif
fered with the prevailing view that
Jewish education in the United
States now had not improved over
tiie past 5!) years.
Dr. Judah Pilch of New York, di
rector of the National Curriculum
Research Institute and chairman of
the Project, reported that a chair
had been established in the Institute
of Oontemjiorary Jewish Studies at
the Hebrew University under spon
sorship by the National Council for
Jewish Education through an Alex
under M. Dushkin Fellowship.
Yitzhak Harkavy, the newly ap-
jiointed director of the Department
of Education and Culture of the Jew
ish Agency in Jerusalem, told the
Jewish educators that the unity of
the Jewish people and the continu
ity of Israel were the indispensable
concepts for Jewish education. He
urged American Jewish educators to
view their long-range objectives in
terms of these concepts
Statements by LBJ, Eshkol
WASHINGTON (.JTA) — Following
is the text of President Johnson’s
welcoming speech to Prime Minis
ter Eshkol delivered at the White
House lawn ceremony:
"Mr. Prime Minister, ladies and
gentlemen: I am very happy, Mr.
Prime Minister, to welcome you to
our country. Your predecessors have
visited my country informally sev
eral times in the past, but this is
the first offical visit by a Prime
Minister of Israel. We. are pleased
that you have come. My countrymen
greatly admire the progress made
by your people. You have met and
mastered monumental problems of
economic survival. You have shown
all the world how to use science and
technology to improve man’s life on
the planet.
“Today, Israel is a vital, pros
perous land, a symbol of the cour
age and the strength of her people.
The United States is proud to have
assisted in this high enterprise. We
are prepared to continue our contri
butions to technical advancement in
Israel, particularly in the field of
The Eshkols Arrive for
Two-Week Official Visit
Guests of Government Throughout
Stay in U.S.; Elaborate Program
Scheduled by State Department
By DAVID HOROWITZ
PHILADELPHIA, Pa., (WUP) -
Prime Minister Levi Eshkol with
his young charming wife arrived
here Sunday afternoon. May 31,
via a special flight of El A1 Israel
Airlines and were greeted at the
Airport by Mayor James H. .1. Tate
and other outstanding city officials.
A large corps of U.S., Israeli and
Jewish newsmen spearheaded the
welcoming crowd.
As the official guests of Presi
dent and Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson,
the Eshkols will be under fhe guid
ance of the State Department
throughout their two-week stay in
the United States. An elaborate
whirlwind program has Ivoen sched
uled for them by the government.
Following the official welcome in
the City of Brotherly Dive and a
tour of the historic sites, the Esh
kols were flown the next morning,
Monday, June 1, by helicopter to
the White House where they were
greeted by the President and Mrs.
Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Dean Rusk,
the Chief of Naval Operations and
Mrs. MacDonald, the IXan of the
Diplomatic Corps, and other U S.
officials.
Full military honors attended
their arrival.
While Mrs. Eshkol was being en
tertained separately by Mrs. Duke
on the “U.S.S. Sequoia" where a
special luncheon for her was held
and later by a visit to ML Ver
non, Premier Eshkol’s Monday pro
gram included 1. a meeting with
Ih-esident Johnson at the White
House; 2 a Dean Rusk luncheon
at the State Department; 3. a visit
to the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier
and to the grave of the late Presi
dent Kennedy; 4. a meeting with
members of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, and 5. an
official dinner given by the Presi
dent and Mrs. Johnson at the White
House.
On Tuesday, June 2, Levi Eshkol
was honored at a breakfast given
by George Meany and other offi
cials of AFL/C10. The Israeli Pre
mier also met with Secretary of
State Rusk and others at the IX*-
partment; also with Secretary of
Defense McNamara. Later Chief
Justice Earl Warren honored him
at a special luncheon aboard the
USS Sequoia. At 4 pm. Premier
Eshkol met again with President
Johnson after which the two issued
a special communique. In the eve
ning, Mr. and Mrs. Eshkol played
hosts to President and Mrs. John
son at a reception in the May
flower Hotel.
On Wednesday, June 3, Mr. Esh
kol had breakfast with members of
fhe Congress at Blair House. His
other activities this day included
appearances on the television net
works of ABC, NBC and CBS and
a luncheon given by the Overseas
Writers. He also met with Felix
Frankfurter and visited the Jewish
Community Center.
At 4:30 pm. Wednesday, the Esh
kols arrived at the Ellipse where an
Armed Forces Full Honor Depar
ture Ceremony was conducted Mr.
ami Mi's. Rusk were on hand to
wish them farewell. A U.S. heli
copter took the Eshkols and party
to Andrews Air Force Base where
they boarded a U.S. Air Force
special plane for New York
The Thursday, June 4, schedule
in New York included a UJA din
ner at the Waldorf Astoria, meet
ings with Mayor Wagner at City
Hall, with Governor Nelson Rocke
feller, and a UN luncheon given by
Secretary General U Thant at the
UN; an evening reception given by
the Mayor in the Waldorf Grand
Ballroom.
On Friday, June 5, the Israeli
successor to Ben-Gurion will meet
with members of the American
Zionist Council and with reprsenta-
tives of the Synagogue Council. At
noon the Overseas Press Club will
give a luncheon in his honor. He
will also meet with Mrs. Herbert
Lehman, and in the evening Adlai
Stevenson will give a private din
ner for the Premier and his wife.
Premier Eshkol’s Sabbath sched
ule includes attendance for services
at the Sha-arith Israel Congrega
tion in the morning and, in the
evening, he will be the guest of a
Bonds for Israel Organization din
ner at the Waldorf.
On Sunday, June 7, the special
U.S. Air Force plane will fly the
Eshkols and party to Cape Kennedy,
then to Houston, Texas; on Monday
to Freeport, Texas, where they will
visit the Saline Water Conservation
Plant, aixl at noon they will fly on
to El Paso. At 3 p.m. they will
depart for Los Angeles where a
busy program has been worked out
for all day Tuesday, At 6 p.m. the
Eshkols depart for Chicago for an
other active day of activities. On
Thursday the head of the Israeli
government returns to New York
where he will visit Yeshiva Univer
sity, the Jewish Theological Semin
ary and the Hebrew Union College.
At 7 p.m., June 11, the Eshkols
will depart for Israel on the new
Israeli liner, the SS Shalom.
desalination of water. We are aware,
Mr Prime Minister, of the problems
of political adjustment that Israel
faces with her neighbors. We know
that you want to live in peace with
those neighbors, and we believe it
not only possible but imperative that
those problems be peacefully resolv
ed, bringing justice to all as well as
security for all.
“We welcome this opportunity to
“Mrs. Eshkol and I are deeply
grateful for your kind invitation and
warm welcome. It is a privilege to
meet the statesman on whom destiny
has laid so vast and historic a re
sponsibility. In the short time since
you, Mr President, assumed your
exalted office, your deep dedication
to peace, to freedom and to the wel
fare of ordinary people have aroused
hope and confidence throughout the
world
“The prophet Malachi, almost
three thousand years ago delivered
this eternal message: ‘Have we not
all one father; hath not one God
created us.’ In face of the danger
to human survival in our time, this
lasting truth, and with it, the sense
of common destiny is cutting across
the barriers of hostility and ideology
which divide nations.”
“From Jerusalem, the city of im
mortal prophecy, and peace, I bear
with me the best wishes of the people
of Israel, to you Mr. President, the
first citizen of this great country,
you fulfill the injunction of our sages,
to love peace and pursue peace.
“Mr President, from this great
center of government, here in Wash
ington, symbol and repository of de
mocracy, there has constantly come
forth a message of encouragement
to nations in their struggle for lib
erty and the affirmation of human
values. The aid and sympathy tend
ered to us by successive United
States Governments, and by the
people of the United States, are en
graved for all time on the tablets of
our renewed nationhood.” Through
you. Mr President, I wish to convey
from the people of Israel to the
people of the United States, a heart
felt message of good will and of best
wishes for their happiness and wel
fare."
“Mr. IYesident, tills moment will
always remain with me. For me, it
is symbolic of the providential
change which has taken place in
the fortunes of my people—of the
transition within so short a time,
from the tragedy, which only two
exchange views with you on matters
of mutual interest. We share many
common objectives, Mr. Prime Min
ister, chief of which is the building
of a better world, a world in which
every nation can develop its resourc
es and develop them in freedom and
l>eace. I am confident this visit will
result in increased understanding
between us aril a strengthening of
our already cordial relations.”
decades ago engulfed one-third of
my people, to the new epoch of in
dependence and construction which
commenced with the rise of Israel.”
“Only lasting faith in the fulfill
ment of prophecy enabled us to sur
vive tribulation down the ages. In
our time, it has been given to us to
reaffirm in independence the ancient
unbroken link between the people
of Israel ami the land of Israel, It
is our belief that just as the pro-
!>hocy of the restoration of Zion is
being fulfilled, so too, will the pro
phecy of universal peace be vindi
cated
“Mr President, I thank you from
the heart for your friendship, which
is a source of the deepest encourage
ment to my people, as it faces the
future w r ith faith and hope.”
I IN Philatelic Societij
Hono rs Nash vilie
Surgeon H. Weinstein
UNITED NATIONS (WUP>— Dr
Bernard M Weinstein, noted Jew
ish surgeon of Nashville, Tennessee,
ami an outstanding communal leader,
was honore;! here last week at the
monthly meeting of the IFN Philate
lic Society in Conference Room 5.
Visiting the United Nations as the
UN correspondent. Dr. ami Mrs.
Weinstein were invited to attend
(he Philatelic Society mooting by
David S J Alexander, president
of the group, composed of nationals
of many nations.
During the meeting, Mr. Alexan
der introduced the honored guests
and called upon Dr. Weinstein to
speak on his unique collection of
first-day autographed covers and
stamps of the world. Dr. Weinstein,
who lias one il the largest stamp
collections in the world, enthralled
the UN philatelists by the descrip
tion of this collection.
The Weinstein's visited the UN on
the eve of their flight to European
countries and Israel.
Louella Shapiro Among
liliW Art Prize Winners
WASHINGTON — Mrs. Israel D.
Shapiro of Atlanta has received hon
orable mention for her batik entry in
the second annual National Art Com-
lietition of B'nai B’rith Women in
Washington, it was announced by
Mrs. I .canard M. Sims, president.
Mrs. Shapiro’s entry “Contempla
tion” was chosen for its excellent
technique, style and design by a
panel of three noted art experts in
the nation's capital.
Mrs. Shapiro is a member of the
Atlanta Chapter of B'nai B’rith
Women.
The winning entries are on display
in the Klutznick Exhibit Hall of the
B'nai B’rith Building in Washington
and will remain on exhibit through
the month of June.