Irritating Mouse

Henceforth no Jew may blow the Ram's Horn (shofar) on the site of the Temple of Solomon. He may bring out the Ark and the Scrolls (on tables of a size specially prescribed) only on special holy and fast days proclaimed by the chief rabbis of Jerusalem, on Atonement Day and at New Year. Moslems, on the other hand, shall not annoy Jews at their daily devotions, nor construct, repair or demolish any building adjoining the Wall. Neither faction may make political demonstrations or speeches at any time. Thus, last week, the British commission adjudicated the differences between Moslems and Jews over the Wailing Wall. For both Moslems and Jews the 13-month British Labor Party had brought forth a very inconsequential and irritating mouse.

What the Jews chiefly wanted was recognition of the legal right to unrestricted use of the sacred place. What the Moslems chiefly wanted was disbarment of Jews from the Wall. What the commission had done was to reiterate and legalize the status quo. Irate, the Grand Mufti of the Palestine Arabs said that his followers had never recognized the commission's authority, could not abide by its decision. Although unsatisfied, Chief Rabbi Kook said: ''We gain nothing under the new law, but we lose nothing we had before."

On the Long Island estate of Mrs. Martin Wiley Littleton, wife of the famed Manhattan criminal lawyer, there is an exact reproduction of a house which Mrs. Littleton once saw in Palestine. In the house is Mrs. Littleton's large Biblical library and collection of 15th and 16th century literature. Surrounding the! house is a wall 100 ft. square. On the wall, last week, finishing touches were being put to a panorama of Palestine by Artist Frieda Abrahams of Jerusalem. The Alfresco mural depicts the Sea of Galilee, the Hills of Judea, Nazareth, Jerusalem, the Wailing Wall. As soon as it is completed, Mrs. Littleton plans to turn over her library to the use of preachers, Bible students, Sunday schoolmarms.

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