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Page 4 — THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE, August 3, 1973
tb« Southern Israelite
Published weekly by Southern Newspaper Enterprises, 390 Court-
land St., N.E., Atlanta, (Borgia 30303, Phones 876-8249, 876-8240. Sec
ond class postage paid at Atlanta, (Georgia. Yearly subscription, $10.50
The Southern Israelite invites literary contributions and correspond
ence but is not considered as sharing the views expressed by writers.
Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, but material received earlier will have a much
better chance of publication.
Adolph Rosenberg, Editor and Publisher
Vida Goldgar, Assistant Editor
Kathleen Nease, Edward M Kahn, Kathy Wood
Gertrude Burnham, Alva Englehard
N
A
Association
MEMBER
Na
PA
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
L
PER
Georgia Press Assn
Seven Arts Features
World Union Press
■ Founded 188 5
V -VSHO> V"
Louis Pincus and Atlanta
Destiny made Louis Pincus a particular ally with Atlanta
leadership.
He probably became aware of Atlantans first a few days before
the epochal Six Day War when The Southern Israelite editor,
then national president of the American Jewish Press Associa
tion, led a contingent of several score journalists to Israel for a
national convention.
T he Jewish journalists comprised the only group of Americans
to travel to Israel at that time against many odds. As this writer
opened the national convention, we learned that Prime Minister
Eshkol, scheduled to officially welcome the journalists, was
delayed in the field where he had been busily involved in the total
mobilation of manpower in preparation of what the uncertain
future held for the Jewish State. The worthy substitute was Mr.
Pincus, head of the Jewish Agency, in whose auditorium the open
ing convention session was scheduled. Mr. Pincus remained on a
first-name basis with Association officers who frequently since
have returned to Israel on numerous missions.
There was in a measure yet lo be another area of close ties with
Atlanta. He had departed for America prior to the war’s actual
outbreak to mobilize American Jewry in behalf of emergency aid
for Israel.
His first community appearance was in Atlanta itself where a
meeting was scheduled for Monday night, June 6, I967, the very
day the Six Day War began.
Mr. Pincus possessed the great knack of speaking tachlis to
Americans. In his flawless English, he could present the facts
eloquently and with inspiring fluency. His Atlanta appearance
that June 6 evening is remembered as an occasion when his infec
tious flair set a new standard for Georgia philanthropy. The
Atlanta response bolstered his talented capacity for subsequent
appearances before several of the large Jewish communities in the
United States, notably Cleveland and Chicago. Over a million
dollars in special emergency aid was raised by a scant 155 persons
quickly assembled by the Atlanta Jewish Welfare Eederation. He
has returned to Atlanta on several occasions since.
I he tone he set has never let down and through the years has
been sustained by the top Federation leadership. He remained es
pecially close to the Atlanta Federation leadership and on subse
quent successive Eederation missions to Israel, he always took
time out for special attention to the Georgians, the relationship
deepening into warm personal friendship and understanding
through the years. A communication of affectionate tribute is be
ing sent by the AJWE to the widow.
His personal charisma seemed particularly adept to the crea
tion of close ties with persons in philanthropy,Zionist and opin
ion molding levels. It was a cogency which served his nation well
and Jewry in mourning holds his memory in special love and
respect. T he combination of many talents within his character set
him aside as a great leader. His genius cannot be duplicated.
Chalk Up 4 for Libya
News this week that Libya's government will bring to trial four
surviving hijackers of the Japan Air Linesjumbojet was welcome.
reportedly, this is the first time hijackers of a foreign airliner
will be tried in an Arab country. The judicial disposition of
terrorists specializing in other lines of horror is not anything
vague.
For the most part, these border-hopping guerrillas seem to have
been able to count on tacit sympathy, if not downright approval,
in some of the more militant Arab countries.
Libya’s seat on the Mid-East seesaw, under the control of the
bombastic Quaddafi, has been predictable until this startling trial
bit.
Now, Libyan Information Minister Abu Zeid Durda calls the
hijackers “dishonorable men without a cause," assuring the world
they will be tried according to “Islamic jurisprudence.” Durda
notes that “the means of defending national causes should be as
honorable as its objective."
Perhaps this hard-line from Libya will discourage some future
disaster, particularly if carried through and permanently adopted.
The world would join in gratitude.
49 Years—
( ontinued from Pane 3
ly Mayfair Club Destroyed by
fire."
THE ’50’s
The I950’s was a particularly
bountiful decade for Atlanta
Jewry. Congregation Or
VeShalom enjoyed new facilities
on Highland Road dedicated in
I948. In I954, Ahavath Achim
Synagogue decided on a new site
for its home at the corner of
Northside Drive and Peachtree
Battle Avenue, and blueprints were
approved for the building on
Peachtree Road housing the
Atlanta Jewish Community
Center
In I955 Congregation Beth
Jacob occupied a new home at 475
Boulevard and Shearith Israel
made plans for a new synagogue.
Atlanta’s increasing importance
to world Jewry was recognized by
the establishment of an Israeli con
sulate here in 1956.
STRIFE
But the I950’s were also a time
of strife, fear and tragedy for
Southern Jews. The I954 Supreme
Court decision calling for school
integration received support from
Southern Jewry, but also signaled
the initiation of increased racial
tension which sometimes overflow
ed into the Jewish community. On
September 23, 1955, The Southern
Israelite sounded an ominous note
with the report “Renewed 'U S.
Klan' Activity Blights Georgia,
South Carolina."
1958 was a banner year for
hatred directed at Southern Jews.
On March 21, this paper reported
“Dynamite Hits Two Centers —
Nashville and Miami.” On May 2,
"Bomb Damages Jacksonville
Center, Fizzles at Birmingham"
The next week TSl reported
“Police From 4 States Confer on
Halting Bombing Violence” and
“National Organizations Call for
Legislation on Dynamiting"
ANTI-SEMITISM
While the bombing briefly
abated, open anti-Semitism grew.
June 20: “More and more Ku
Klux Klan meetings and, in some
cases. White Citizens Councils, are
turning their efforts to Anti-
Semitism"
August I: “Atlanta Police
Arrest Five Pickets Bearing Anti-
Jewish Signs"
September 26: “Fear Tide of
Anti-Semitism Over School Issue
in South"
TEMPLE BOMBED
The climax of this crescendo of
hatred came in October. On the
17th of that month, The Southern
Israelite reported “Dynamite
Bomb Damages Atlanta Temple;
Shocks City, State and Nation
into Action."
"We are shocked and sick at
flaw It
Caleudwt
•TISHA B’AV
August 7, Tuesday
•ROSH HASHANA
Thurs. and Fri., Sept. 27-28
*YOM KIPPUR
Saturday, Oct 6
•SUKKOT
Thurs. and Fri.. Oct 11-12
HOSHANA RABBA
Wednesday, Oct. 17
* HOLIDAY BEGINS
SUNDOWN PREVIOUS DAY
heart at the wantom damage to
our House of Worship," wrote the
Temple’s Rabbi Rothschild
Rabbi Sydney Mossman, of
Shearith Israel Congregation
noted "the tumultous tidal waves
of incredibility, unbelief and soul-
searing horror" brought on by the
news.
But even in its grief The
Southern Israelite noted “in Ger
many the synagogue bombings
were expressions of public opinion
and the Nazi officials... In Atlan
ta, the reverberations from an
aroused public brought confidence
and reassurance to the dispairing
Hebrew Benevolent
Congregation.”
The word flashed around the
world and it was reported “For
three days after the event, every
newspaper in Israel, in every
language, carried news of the at
tack."
In typical Atlanta fashion, the
Temple rose ever stronger from its
own ashes. On October 31, only
two weeks after it told of the bom
bing, this paper reported “Atlanta
Temple Lauches Campaign for
$700,000 Addition." The original
damage amounted to $200,000.
Rabbi Israel Gerber of Emanu-
El Congregation of Dothan, Ala.,
in a guest editorial summed it all
up, call the bombings a “Tem
porary Setback.”
Soon Atlanta Jewry was
building and bustling again. On
November 7, 1958, TSI reported
“Congregation Beth El
Consecrates Ground for Initial
Unit of Synagogue Facilities.”
March 20, 1959, “Beth Jacob
Purchases Lot for New Quarters.”
THEWs
In the I960’s Atlanta Jewry
grew with Atlanta herself. But
again, national and international
events had their impact.
The Southern Israelite reported
on November 29, 1963: “Southern
Continued on Page 9
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