THE • JEWISH NEWS Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue. of July 20, 1951 Member American Association of English—Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Associations, National Editorial Association Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 1.7100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich., VE 8-9364. Subscription $6 a year. Foreign $7. Second Class Postage Paid At Detroit, Michigan PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Editor and Publisher SIDNEY SHMARAK CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ HARVEY ZUCKERBERG Advertising Manager Business Manager City Editor Rosh Hashanah Scriptural Selections . Pentateuchal portions: First Day of Rosh Hashanah, Saturday, Gen. 21:1-34, Num. - 29:1-6; Second Day of Rosh Hashanah, Sunday, Gen. 22:1-24, Num. 29:1-6. Prophetical portions: Saturday, I Samuel 1:1-2:10; Sunday, Jeremiah 31:2-20. Fast of Gedaliah will be observed on Monday. Light Benshen, Erev Rosh Hashanah, Friday, Sept. 28, 6:02 p.m. VOL. XLIL No. 5 Page Four September 28, 1962 What Does 5723 Hold in Store for Jewry? The New Year 5723 commences in a spirit of gravity. There is an element of seriousness that reflects the sad experiences of the year we leave behind and the numerous unfortunate developments which transformed the last twelve-month period into one of tension and serious dangers. While the events that transpired in Moslem counrties were to be expected—the threats to the Jewries of Algeria and Morocco were foreseen—there were far too many shocking occurrences to jolt the Jewish populations in free countries. The anti-Semitic incidents in Latin American countries, the bigots' movement to establish international headquarters for anti-Semites in England, the freedom with which the spreaders of prejudice and intolerance navigated throughout the world, were the evidences of a newly-emerging hatred enveloping the globe. What could we possibly say to the communists in Russia, or to those who purportedly are fighting the resurgence of Nazism in Germany, in condemnation of bigotry, when the same elements whose destructive activities are threatening the well-being of Jews behind the Iron Curtain and are defiantly re-creating the Hitler idea in Germany, are brazenly propagating anti-Semitism in democratic countries? What has happened in the past year serves as a warning not to Jews alone but to all liberty-loving peoples not to be too complacent, to be on guard against infringements upon their freedoms, to beware of danger every time a bigot raises his voice. There is never complete security against intolerance. Not all humans are thoroughly prepared for an ideal life devoid of hatred. The need to educate the unknowing; to enlighten the ignorant, to teach the masses the values of common decency among men, never ends. What is disturbing is the fact that the constant repudiations of evidences of inhumanity of man to man seem to have fallen on deaf ears; that the lessons taught by oppressions have not been learned fully; that even so tragic a conflict as the last war and the dan- gers of another world catas- trophe have failed to teach the masses the needs to strive for total freedom for all, regardless of race or creed or nationality origins. Rightwing extremists in this country represent a grave danger to the Ameri- can way of life, and it is inevitable that their venom- ous propaganda should add fuel to the fires of hatred that emblazones some areas of our land. Racial and re- ligious prejudices are too frequently expressed by sponsors of movements which were believed to have passed into oblivion with the dark middle ages, but which nevertheless have risen to some power suffi- cient to give us concern. Added to the concern that has been aroused by the racial and religious prejudices that have been revised in some areas is the fact that the repudia- tions of them too often end in mere lip service and in resolutions. What is needed is firm action. Even within the United Nations there has been hesitancy to deal firmly with the problems of hu- man relations, and that is most regrettable. Yet, we must not com- mence 5723 in a spirit of despair. We must have faith that the evils we experienc- ed in the recent months will vanish and a new era of justice and tolerance will set in. If we begin the New Year in a spirit of good faith, while vowing never to relax in vigilance against inhumanity, we can indeed await better days ahead. In this spirit our good wishes go forth to all for a Happy 5723; New Year's Challenges, Duties We are entering upon a period during which world Jewry must face graver problems than have faced us in more than a decade. The terrors and tensions, the threats to the security of Jews in many lands, the horrors that have been perpe- trated in Moslem countries and the insecurities in com- munist countries, have forced another unprecedentedly large migration of Jews to Israel. While this migration goes on, Israel's enemies are concentrating upon the destruction of the only avenue of escape left for Jews who have been and continue to be dispossessed in backward countries. The mounting tragedies, the continuing threats to the lives of Jews in many communities, place increasing duties upon us. While we must strengthen our own posi- tion as a wholesome community; in the process of giving substance and meaning to our educational efforts and to those activities which are aimed at providing the best facilities for social service and recreational movements, we must keep in view the burdens that have been thrust upon us by the re-emerging bigotries in many lands. It will be the responsibility of American Jewry, more than that of any other Jewish community in the world, to provide the means to move large populations and to make their lives secure in the haven established in Israel. There has been a spirit of generosity in the past, but it will have to be surpasSed in the months to come because of the mounting dangers and the necessity for speedy action to move populations rapidly. Unless the United Jewish Appeal will have the necessary funds with which to carry on its task of transporting the dispos- sessed, the, dangers will become insurmountable. The New Year 5723 may prove to be more challeng- ing than any we have experienced in this century— certainly it is the most trying since the establishment of Israel's statehood. The duties that go along with such: challenges parallel the dangers. Let us hope that the year 5723 will be marked by honorable approaches of an understanding people.