The silent alarm
An editorial review of A Conspiracy of Complicity and Complacency, by David Porter, Vantage Press, 188 p.p., $3.75.
CENTRE CONCERT LAUNCHES JEWISH
IN HIS INTRODUCTORY REMARKS to his
recent book, David Porter discloses that friends who knew of his projected work gave hinl the following "best seller" recipe: "Make a human story out of your facts, wrap them in fiction and spice them with a lot of sex."
Porter decided, however, not to take their advice, preferring rather, as he says, "to stick to the naked truth—with all the 'dullness', lack of 'glamour.' and 'sensation' it repriesents."
One wonders What the I result would have been had the author listened to his friends' suggestions. Eor the pesult, without the "recipe", is 'indeed a rdUll, glWrnduries^ book that will not cause a sensation simply because it will not be read. For while there are grammatical weaknesses which may be-overloolted as problems of translation from the Hebrew, there exist also, basic flaws in construction which make the going difficult.
These are regrettable debilities for they weaken his argument. And the tragedy is that he does have a case. His message, in fact, is vital to the survival of civilization in genieral and of the Jewish people in particular.
IT IS SOMEWHAT like an electronic expert inventing an intricate, complex alarm system to warn of danger. When the situation becomes critical, the' alarm goes off. But inadequacies in the system result in the alarm bell remaining silent. This does not mean, however, that the dangers which the alarm was meant to detect do not exist. -: ■ : ::-.•■>:>;
Here, then, is his message:
Arab nationalism has inherited Hitler's legacy of hate. Today: Mein Kampf is standard issue to Egyptian students and soldiers; old Nazi movies are featured on Airab television; German war criminals are employed by Nasser to wage an anti-Jewish propaganda war; German scientists are engaged by Cairo in the manufacture of modern weapons to be used against Israel.
Nazi and neo-Nazi activity also exists in many other parts of the world. The Arab-German entente that was in effect during the last v/ar continues today with the active assistance of Arab oil dollars and the passive help of an indifferent world.
As an example, Haj Amin el Husseyni, better known as the Mufti, openly collaborated with the Nazis, even accompanying Eichmann on visits to the Auschwitz death camp. He was never punished as a war criminal and is still actively engaged in disseminating Nazi ideas in the Arab-Islamic world.
Documents made public by Bartley Crum prove that 24 hours before Germany surrendered, "in consideration of monies in gold paid up to date, he (the Mufti) agreed to set up a new
Pan-Islamic Empire and 'to fight the common enemy'." If this was true, the Mufti had been paid by the dead hand of Hitler to carry on Hitler's work where Hitler left off," Crum said.
"THE ARABS HAVE LEARNED the lesson of total appeasement," declares Porter. "They have strengthened their resolve to destroy Judaism in the ancient world, in accordance with Hitler's legacy, in the belief that American complacency can be made to degenerate into full-fledged complicity by the bid Nazi process.
Complacency is a. recurring theme throughout the book. Prior to World War II all nations, all peoples were guilty, Porter says. Canada's representative at the Evian-les-Bains Conference in 1938, for example, pleaded that Canada'is laws did not allow for the mass entry of Jews from Germany and some 30 other nations represented at Evian all took a similar position.
But in the post-war era, three countries Australia, Brazil and Canada—have alone actually absorbed over four million new immi-
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
EVIAN CONFERENCE REMINDER OF COMPLACENT WORLD TODAY
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
i would like to draw your attention to a recently published book by a Sabra, David Porter, who has been an attorney in Israel. As a young fellow he went to cover the infamous conference of Evian for a Palestine newspaper.
Since I found out that many Jewish and Gentile Canadians are still ignorant of that conference, I would like to point out that it had been initiated by the late Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938, after the Nazis had marched into Austria. His call went to 32 democratic countries to send their delegates to Evian, France, close by Geneva, in order to find ways and means to help rescue the terribly endangered Jews of Central Europe.
To the eternal disgrace and shame of all those assembled
countries, nothing was achieved then and there. Not a single delegate from European or American countries stood up and said that his government would take a greater part than usual of Jewish people as immigrants.
A triumphant outcry from the Nazis occurred: "Nobody wants them!" they gloated. And from then on the so-called "end-solution" was contemplated, which resulted in the murder of six million Jewish men, women and children. Until that Evian conference, the Nazis were afraid of such an outrage, although they tried with every means short of mass-murder to get rid of the Jews.
David Porter points out in his book, which has the title "A Conspiracy o f Complacency" (Continued on Page 5) See LETTER
grants. This makes a mockery of the stand these three countries took in 1938 when they and the other Evian nations would not admit the desperate German Jews. The latter only numbered one-tenth of the immigrants whom these nations did, in fact, admit later
IN ONE OF HIS more effective analyses. Porter compares the attitude of the United States government towards West Berlin and its two million German residents with that of Washington towards Israel and its similar number af Jewish inhabitants.
He delineates the late President Kennedy's determined and successful efforts on behalf of the former, including an emergency airlift and Kennedy's own public statement, "Ich Bin ESn Berlinerl" Both were made in order to convinciB the Soviet Union and East Germany that the West would not sacrifice the German city to Communist maneuvering.
Only a similar stand on behalf of Israel will divert the Arabs from their genocidal plans, states Porter, who appeals also to Jewish leadership to meet the Nazi-Arab threat by rallying the same kind of positive force which created the State of Israel.
It should be noted that much of the "evidence" and the documents presented by Porter have already been published by statesmen, historians and other writers. His compilation, however, indicates the development of a crisis situation not unlike that of the Holocaust which claimed the lives of Six Million Jewish martyrs and millions of non-Jewish victims.
THE PRESENT ALARM is, in our opinion, a silent one, but hopefully it may trigger another, more voluble "signal" that will awaken an unsuspecting, lethargic world.
Suggests phone service
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
Re: the letters, "Human need knows no time", and the explanation of the Jewish Family Service Agency.
I would suggest that the JFSA subscribes to a telephone answering service, where people in distress are referred to the place or phone number that they can call for instant help (police, hospital, etc.).
It is a well known fact that people in distress and excitement forget what to do in an emergency even if they usually are capable people. Besides, there are many newcomers in town who just don't know about the facilities available.
Mrs. O. L.
MORE LEAVE THAN ENTER
NEW YORK—A total of 40,000 Israelis entered the United States as residents in the last 10 years, ending June 30, 1966, according to reports by the U.S. Immigration. Number of olim to Israel from the U.S. for the same year is 1,915 as compared with 1,985 in
Jewish Music Month was launched in Vancouver last weekend with a happy, bright, sometimes brilliant concert at the Centre.
Bringing the stage to life first were the Nirkoda Israeli dancers. They depicted in dance the influence of Israel's many cultures, performing with sensitivity and understanding; Highlight was the touching Yemenite offering, "Li-krat Shabbat", which captured the spirit of the Sabbath.
The technical staff are to be especially commended for the staging, lighting and sound which greatly enhanced the emotional portrayal of the Nirkoda group. Linda Rubm's choreography is gaining in maturity and interest.
A seldom heard work of Tsch-kowsky was chosen for performance by six principals of the J.C.C. String Orchestra, "Souvenir of Florence" evoked the romantic yearning of an East European composer. It is interesting that an emergency situation was overcome when the cellist slated to play became suddenly ill. A professional cellist offered to substitute, performing a brilliant sight reading display so that the ensemble could play.
Mrs. Elizabeth Wolak conducted the Jewish Community Centre
Choir during the second half of the program, for what was prob ably their top concert to date There was a noteworthy feelin of communication between th Choir and the audience, which re suited in relaxed singers who ob viously enjoyed performing.
Choral selections from "Fiddle on the Roof" were undoubtedl. the show stoppers. Young violin ist Diane Mahl; pianist, Murie Morris, and narrator, Arnol Selwyn, interplayed well with ex cellent choral singing. The audi ence reacted with justifiable ei thusiasm.
The Choir also gave forth wit its best rendition yet of The Exo dus Song, while soloists gave fin performances during the progri namely Sadie Bross, Dave Rabin ovitch, and Arnold Selwy "Palestinian Nights", with Eve lyn Kahn as soloist, was a dram atic high point and provided song of wonderful contrasts.
One part of many Jewish co munal gatherings, the singing Hatikvah, provided a brillia climax at the Centre auditori' last Sunday evening. The Choi led the audience in a proud re dering of what that night coul be recognized as a beautiful them. P.'
SHALOM, IRVm UPSKY
The Jewish Community of all of Canada has suffered a great loss with the passing of Irvin Lipsky.
An architect of the contemporary British Columbia Jewish Community, Irvin Lipsky was deeply concerned for the totality of Jewish life. The emergence of a Hebrew Day School here was largely due to; ^his Efforts. The creation of Camp -Hatikvah was possible because, "he willed it".
Mr. Lipsky believed with full heart in the right of the Jewish people to normalcy, and expressed that belief through his efforts on behalf of Israel from within the ranks of the Zionist Organization of Canada. In the Zionist Organization he gave of his time and himself in all those areas de-
— DEATHS ~
MEPHAM, Clare Norman March 5th, 1967
KEMP, Susan Micki March 5th, 1967
As another Bulletin community service feature, Birtiis and Deatlis will ba pubfisfied weelcly as they are regis-tered^THE PUBLISHER.
JEWISH CALENDAR (LUAGH)
Candle Ligrhtingr MARCH 10, 5:5S
1967
JUar. 26 -Apr. 25
Purim Pesach
Israel Indep. Day_May 15
Lag B'omer__May 28
All holidays begin the preceding eve at sundown.
dicated to the redemption of Zio He was a good father, not on to his three sons, but to the dren of Vancouver. It was a fi ing tribute in 1957 when COn gregation Schara Tzedeck name him, "Father Of The Year".
Words of sympathy go out fro all Irvin's friends and co-work over the ^ears, agrgs^ -^an sTda; to his wife, Rae, and to hi three sons, Gerald, Martin an Laurie. With them all of us shar a sense of irreparable loss. L
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
from the TALMUD
Shame not and you will no be shamed. — Moed Katon, 9 b
Ehdorsations Granted
Histadrut
Campaign -Feb. 15 - Mar. 15 Pioneer Women Shaloch Monos Drive—Feb.. 26-Mar. 26 United Jewish Appeal
Drive —:_________Mar. 1 - 31
BX Men's Breakfast„.Mar. 12 Schara Tzedeck Special
Event
Mar. 12
U.J.A, Women's
Canvass Clinic ._________Mar. 13
Youth Aliyah Lunch. ..Mar. 14 S.T. Sisterhood
Farm Market ..._____Mar. 19
B J. Cavalcade Lecture Mar. 21 J.N.F. Negev Dinner..„Mar. 22 El Al Hadassah
Purim Ball .„_„„^__Mar. 25
Centre Purim Carnival Mar. 26 B'nai B'rith Women
Gold Menorah „„___JVfar. 29
mmisH wESTim Biiimm
Official Organ of the Vancouver Jewish Community Council
Friday, March 10, 1967
Published weekly every Friday at 3285 Heather Street, Vancouver 9, British Columbia.
SAM KAPLAN Editor and Publisher
WILLIAiVl GELMON President
ALEC BECKER Publications Chairman
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