"ISRAEL… HAS WITHIN THREE YEARS ESTABLISHED THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC REGIME IN THE WHOLE OF THE MIDDLE EAST, SERVING AS AN EXAMPLE TO ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES IN THAT AREA": EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT LETTER TO FAMOUS YIDDISH WRITER S.L. SHNEIDERMAN DETAILING HER FEELINGS ON ISRAEL, JEWISH ACHIEVEMENT, AND THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
ROOSEVELT, Eleanor. Typed letter signed. New York, June 8, 1951. Three sheets of Eleanor Roosevelt's Park Sheraton stationery, each measuring 7-1/4 by 10-1/2 inches; pp. 3, with original matching envelope.
Fascinating 1951 Eleanor Roosevelt typed letter to acclaimed Yiddish writer and Jewish activist S.L. Shneiderman clarifying her sentiments toward Israel and the Jewish people in light of a remark she made on a television program; expressing her hopes for solidifying Israel's democracy through a $150 million foreign aid bill; and setting forth a tentative outline for peace in the Middle East, signed by her.
This letter was written to assuage concern in the Jewish community over a television appearance by Roosevelt in which she answered a question about Israel with a statement about Arab refugees. At the time, Roosevelt was unaware of the reason for the question: a $150 million foreign aid bill percolating in Congress. Her pivot on the question was perceived as indicating a lack of sympathy for the Israeli cause and a realignment of support toward the Arab population.
The letter, typed on Roosevelt's personalized stationery and signed by her, is dated "June 8, 1951" and reads in full: "Dear Mr. Sneiderman: In answer to your telegram, I am very anxious to clear up any confusion which may have resulted from the discussion on my television program devoted to peace in the Middle East. At that time I made a remark regarding assistance to Israel that seems to have been generally misunderstood. I think in the light of my feeling about Israel my position should be made clear.
Those people who have watched the rise of Israel since May 1948 can not but be impressed with the magnificent way in which the people of Israel have made immense sacrifices to make room for hundreds of thousands of Jewish immigrants from all over the world. Despite the fact that Israel fought a bitter war to maintain its independence and that at best its resources at that time were incapable of maintaining the then-existing population, the doors of Israel were thrown wide to needy Jews from dozens of countries. An outstanding achievement was the emptying to Displaced Persons camps in Germany and Austria, thus giving to these unfortunate people a home and a freedom that had for so long been denied to them. These people might even today be an international charge, with our Government bearing the major share of their upkeep. In addition, Jews in countries where they had been discriminated against and allowed the privilege only of second or third class citizens found in Israel a country that gave a new meaning to life and a new opportunity to develop as normal and constructive human beings.
The Jewish community of the United States has made notable voluntary contributions through the United Jewish Appeal to assist in the transfer of the Jewish refugees and immigrants from Europe and Asia to Israel. I am proud to have been chosen as chairman for the month of June for the New York Campaign of the United Jewish Appeal. In addition, in order to achieve within the next few years an additional 600,000 Jews may be allowed to enjoy the fruits of the same democratic regime that the others who came to Israel in the past three years are enjoying today. This loan will enable Israel to make enormous strides in its agriculture and industry and achieve a normal, healthy balance of trade.
I do not believe that there is another chapter in modern history that can compare to this achievement in Israel. It has within three years established the only democratic regime in the whole of the Middle East, serving as an example to all the other countries in that area. In this context, and since we are trying as a government to aid the Arab nations with their problems, I think it is important the the United States give some recognition in the form of a grant to the State of Israel to help that new democracy achieve economic stability and thus strengthen its determined resolve to protect liberty and democracy in the Middle East against aggression. The Bill now before Congress asking for $150,000,000 has just come to my attention and is one that will assist in insuring that Israel remains a bastion of democracy and will continue to offer hope and freedom for those Jews who today find themselves under intolerable conditions. I hope in time a comprehensive plan covering the whole Middle Eastern area may be worked with the cooperation of all those countries but peace must come about first.
The problems of refugees is one in which I have been interested for a long time. I know that Israel is prepared to make a generous payment towards the resettlement of the Arab refugees in Arab countries within the framework of a general peace treaty. I feel and I know my government feels a responsibility to all the poor people who have lost their homes through the misfortunes of war. I hope the Arabs will be willing soon to sit down with Israel and work out peace treaties so that all these problems of human suffering can be solved and peace once more restored to the Middle East. Very sincerely yours, [signed] Eleanor Roosevelt." The recipient of this letter was the famous Yiddish writer and journalist, Samuel "S.L." Shneiderman. Continuing his distinguished early career as a war journalist, Shneiderman is best known today for raising awareness about the plight of the Warsaw Ghetto after his arrival in the United States in 1940 and for his dedication to preserving the history of the Jews in Poland throughout his life. His works on the Holocaust and the terrible fate of the Jews remain the best known of his works. Shneiderman and his wife, Eileen, were also avid collectors of Yiddish-language books and their collection is now housed at the University of Maryland. With the original envelope with Roosevelt's stamped free frank signature.
Fine condition.