Newspaper Page Text
The Southern Israelite
Vol. XU
A Weekly Newspaper for Southern Jewry - Established
0%^° .qnM
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1966
Congress Hears Proposal
For Free Israeli Arms
WASHINGTON (JTA)—The
House of Representatives heard
this week a proposal that the
United States provide free arms
to Israel in place of the present
sales arrangement, because of
reported Communist Chinese
weapons shipments to the “Pal
estine Liberation Army.”
The proposal for legislative
and executive initiatives to pro
vide Israel with cost-free weap
ons was made by Rep. Seymour
Halpem, New York Republican.
Informed French sources in
Paris said it had been known for
some time that Communist China
Anti-Semite Vandals
Hit N J. Synagogue
VINELAND, N. J. (JTA)—
Beth Israel Synagogue here was
broken into recently by anti-
Semitic vandals who burned a
Torah Scroll and some 200 re
ligious books, and did other
damage to the building and its
furnishings. Both police and
synagogue officials said the vand
als were obviously motivated by
anti-Semitism. Vineland was no
torious in the 1930's as a center
of the Nazi Bund. It is also a
noted center of Jewish poultry
raising.
Damages were estimated at
several thousand dollars. Police,
who opened an immediate inves
tigation, said they had no clues
as to the identity of the desecra-
tors. Mayor Henry Garton visited
the vandalized synagogue today,
and expressed shock at the out
rage.
The vandals started several
small fires in the synagogue and
smeared swastikas on the walls.
The slogan “Jews, Get Out” was
smeared on the children’s class
room. The Torah was removed
from the Ark and burned in what
officials called a “sadistic man
ner.” Flags bearing the Star of
David also were set afire.
was sending weapons to the “Pal
estine Liberation Organization
army,” including rifles, bazookas
and machineguns. However, they
added that the quantity was
negligible.
The idea of grants, rather than
sales, will be discussed by the
Jewish War Veterans with high
U.S. Government officials, JWV
commander Malcolm Tarlov said
this week. He said the JWV had
decided to act because the Mid
dle . East situation had been
"dramatically altered” by dis
closure of the Communist Chinese
arms shipments. He said that
Israel was finding it increasingly
difficult to pay for the “extreme
ly expensive” American weapons.
The JWV official said “prompt
and public action” by the United
States to authorize grants of
arms to Israel would “deter”
Egypt and Syria from allowing
their territories to be used as
staging bases for incursions into
Israel.
Rep. Halpem said in a floor
speech that Israel was menaced
simultaneously by Soviet and
Chinese weapons provided to the
hostile Arab states and that
Israelis “are paying more for de
fense per capita than even the
citizens of the United States.”
Tunisia Spurns Egypt
LONDON (JTA) — Tunisia
formally broke off diplomatic re
lations today with Egypt. The
two countries have been at odds
for years over questions of Arab
world leadership and the Israeli
issue. Tunisia’s President Habib
Bourguiba shocked the Arab
world two years ago and since
with repeated public calls for a
peaceful settlement of the Arab-
Israeli dispute, specifically urg
ing the Arab rulers to agree to
negotiate directly with Israel for
a peace agreement.
ADL Says Eich
Missed Vital Emphasis
*<Vial
NEW YORK (JTA)—The trial
of Adolf Eichmann in Israel in
1961, which had been thorough
ly reported in all American news
media, generated a “sympathetic
response toward Jews but failed
to “deepen understanding of the
horrors of the Nazi era,” the
Anti-Defamation League of B’nai
B’rith reported here on the basis
of the findings of a scientific
study.
The study, conducted under an
ADL grant but developed and
conducted as an independent
work of scientific research, was
made by the University of Cal
ifornia Survey Research Center.
It will be published this month
title “The Apathetic Majority.”
The authors are three sociolog
ists: Charles Y. Glock, director of
the research center, Gertrude J.
Sleznick and Joe L. Spaeth.
The study was based on 463
hour-long interviews with a rep
resentative sample of the popula
tion of Oakland, Calif., after the
evidence at the Eichmann trial in
Jerusalem had been reported,
but before the Israeli court had
rendered a verdict in the Eich
mann case.
The study revealed that, al
though 84 percent of those quer
ied were aware of the trial and
77 percent of these thought it
was a “good thing” that Eichmann
had been brought to trial, only
13 percent were knowledgeable
enough to be able to answer cor
rectly four elementary questions
on the trial’s details and back
ground.
After more than a year of head
lines at the time the study was
made in 1961, forty-one percent
did not know that Eichmann was
a Nazi, and 9 percent thought he
was Jewish. Sixty-eight percent
did not know he was captured in
Argentina; 50 percent did not
know that Israel had arrested
him; 67 percent did not know
the number of Jews killed by the
Nazis.
Citing as the dual purpose of
the trial, “to bring a criminal
to justice” and to serve as “an
educational instrument” for un-
Eshkol Plans Tour
Of U.S., Europe
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Prime
Minister Levi Eshkol plans to
visit the United States and West
ern Europe early next year for
discussions with government
leaders and to renew contacts
with Jewish communities, ac
cording to a report here in Yediot
Ahronot, an afternoon daily
newspaper. The paper said that
the Premier will leave either
next January or February for a
two-week visit to France, Britain
and the United States, with a
possibility that he might also
confer with West German
Chancellor Ludwig Erhard.
The underlying motive for the
trip, according to the newspaper,
is generally believed to be eco
nomic. Mr. Eshkol will reportedly
try to obtain in France increased
support for Israel’s association
with the European Economic
Community. In ttw Halted Eta tea,
he is expected to press for in
creased American official and
private support for Israel's cris
is-stricken economy. The possible
meeting with Chancellor Erhard
was seen as an opportunity for a
major discussion of the relations
between the two countries, and
the prospects for their future
economic cooperation.
derstanding the Nazi era, the so
ciologists declared that the pro
ceedings failed to involve a com
placent public and to achieve
their educational objective.
Ban on Rockwell
Made Permanent
CHICAGO (JTA) — George
Rockwell’s American Nazi Party
was under permanent court or
der here to stay away from any
synagogue on the Jewish Sabbath
or on Jewish holidays. Judge
Sam Perry converted a tempor
ary injunction into a permanent
one in federal court here for the
northern judicial district of Illi
nois, which covers all of Chicago
and counties surrounding it.
Rockwell said he would appeal
Judge Perry said he based hie
ruling on the constitutional guar
antee of freedom of religion. He
twice cut Rockwell short when
the Nazi arose to protest at the
hearing. “This court,” he ruled,
“would restrain or regulate any
kind of march, regardless of color
or creed, if the same should be
shown to be in violation of consti
tutional rights of individuals
that would result in substantial
and irreparable damage or injury
to persons or the community as
a whole, and especially if it is
shown that the purpose of such
marches or demonstrations is to
ftwannt racial or fdglws Jb-
The Injunction cover* not aiafy
members of RodcwaW* group
but also any other person wear
ing a Nazi uniform or carrying
Nazi Party paraphernalia, such
as placards or symbols. All such
demonstrations, under the ruling;
are confined to a point beyond a
half-mile from any synagogue.
Savannah Pediatrician, Carrying On Grandfather s
_ove for Zionism, Sparking Sale of Israel Bonds
By ADOLPH ROSENBERG
A young physician with a strong tradition of Zionism in
e family is at the helm of the current effort of the Savannah
wish Community in behalf of Bonds for Israel.
S.E. United Synagogue
Parley in Miami Beach
He is Dr. Bernard M. Portman,
a native of this coastal Georgia
city and a leader within the Jew
ish community itself for many
years.
Energetic and dedicated with a
love for the Israeli cause, Dr.
Portman told The Southern Is
raelite editor over long distance,
“I suppose I infused my love for
Zionism and for the Jewish state
from my grandfather and an
uncle, Ben Portman.”
The grandfather was the indef
atigable Sam Portman, a long time
resident of Savannah and a rare
spirit of inspiration in his com
munity’s support in behalf of the
emerging Jewish state in the
Middle East.
So zealous and wonderful was
his service that he was accorded
the rare honor of a “Sam Port-
man Night” at the Jewish Edu
cational Alliance. The program
featured a “This Is Your Life
type of program, assembling
members of his family from
many scattered points of the
United States.
The climax of the evening was
the presentation of a round trip
ticket to Israel to enable the Sa-
vannahan the opportunity of see
ing the country for which he had
labored so long and so effective
ly.
It was “beshaired” however
that he was never to make the
voyage. Ill health overtook him
before he could leave and death
brought an end to the idea.
His close friends and associates
however used the fare money
and more to plant a forest of
trees in his memory in the new
state. That was about a decade
ago.
This week, his grandson was
hard at work at a round of ac
tivities which included a special
evening for workers and leaders
in the campaign, a fashion show
for women spotlighting Israeli
designers and preparations for a
community-wide dinner the night
of October 16.
Dr. Portman, responding to a
telephonic quip over “whether
you are a doctor a doctor or a
doctor a dentist,” responded
“pediatrics.”
The chairman of the Israel
Bond Committee received his
medical education in his native
state, taking his pre-med at the
University of Georgia in Athens
and later attending the Univer
sity Medical School in Augus-
ta.
He interned at Jewish Hospital
in St. Louis and took his resi
dency at Texas Childrens Hos
pital In Dallas.
As a youth he was a member
of AZA, the B’nai B’rith youth
organization especially strong in
Savannah. When he completed
his preparation for practice and
returned to Savannah, he was
advisor of a Young Judaea chap
ter.
He served as a director for his
congregation and currently is
vice president of the Savannah
Jewish Community Council.
He’s never made a trip to Is
rael himself but hopes to do so
as soon as possible. When he does
he’ll have a chance to see the
forest honoring his grandfather
and the many projects being de
veloped through funds he him
self is helping raise through
the current sale of bonds.
Last year, Savannah broke its
own record with a total sale of
approximately $105,000, he said.
“This year,” he continued, “we
hope to sell as much. More im
portantly we hope to broaden the
base and to sell more individual
bonds to more individuals, thus
involving more persons in this
fabulous and worthwhile cause.
“The State of Israel is a shining
and living example of democ
racy in the Middle East and I am
privileged that I can take my
turn at marshalling the efforts
of my wonderful commmunity in
behalf of this new nation.”
Dr. Portman has another per
sonal love in his life, eclipsing
even his devotion to Israel. This
is for a charming lady whose
name used to be Cheryl Huvard.
About a month or so ago she
changed her address from Hous
ton, Texas, to Savannah and her
name to Mrs. Bernard M. Port-
man.
The Southeast Region of the
United Synagogue of America
will hold its biennial convention
at the Carillon Hotel, Miami
Beach, Friday, Oct. 14, through
Sunday, Oct. 16.
The theme of the convention
will be ‘The Conservative Move
ment: Ideology or Accommoda
tion,” an open-ended analysis of
the problems, shortcomings, po
tential and future of the Conserv
ative Movement, from the con
gregational point of view.
Among the participating guests
will be Dr. Morton Siegel, nation
al director of the Commission on
Jewish Education of the United
Synagogue of America, and Hans
Weinberg, executive director of
Temple Sholom, Long Island, ex
pert on the financial structure of
the Synagogue.
Prior to the beginning of the
convention, there will be a meet
ing of the Executive Council ef
the Southeast Region of the
United Synagogue, begining at 2
p. m., Thursday, Oct. 13. Rabbi
Morris B. Chapman, spiritual
leader of Congregation B’nai Is
rael, St. Petersburg, and Dr. Har
old C. Rivkind, also of St. Peters
burg, will attend the meeting as
members of the Executive Coun
cil, and then will stay on for
the convention.
DPhiE Groundbreaking
Sunday at UGa.
A new Jewish sorority house will soon rise for Psi Chapter of
Delta Phi Epsilon on the University of Georgia campus at Athene.
Members and alumni, along with university and town officials
will gather at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct 9, for groundbreaking cere
monies at 11 a.m. at the site at Brittain Avenue and Lumpkin
Street.
A luncheon will follow Immediately afterwards at the Center
for Continuing Education Building.
Ai] DPhiE alumnae are cordially Invited. Reservations can be
made by writing DPhiE Groundbreaking Celebration Chairman,
624 So. Milledge Ave, Athens, or by calling Alumnae President
Mrs. Alan Lease, 634-2878 in Atlanta.