By CHARLOTTE HYAMS
"Many Christians believe the
Jews were punished by God
through the Nazis. Many Jews
retain this idea. And I say it's
not possible. The massiveness
of this horror is proof that it
could not have been the punish-
ment of God. Otherwise, . it
would break any faith in a God
of Mercy."
The words belied the easy-
going, almost careless appear-
ance of their speaker, an ami-
able fellow in rumpled suit and
MEYER LEVIN
does not really understand," he
said.
"If the idea spreads that this
was God's will, it is an encour-
agement to anti-Semitism.
"People have shivered over 1
this question of God's intention.
They're afraid to look into it
too far. So I've taken it on,"
he said.
Thus, comparing his own
book to "The Deputy," Levin
called "The Fanatic" the Jew-
ish view of the same problem.
"It is interesting they both
should have appeared at the
same time."
Levin, who lives in Israel,
turned to the question of
Jewish identity and the Is-
raeli writer. "They're not
Jewish in the sense of being
tied to Jewish tradition," he
replied.
Unlike American Jewish
writers, who "react negatively
to a tension they feel in their
backgrounds," Israelis are not
deliberately conscious of Jewish
tradition, Levin said. "That is,
unless they skip all the way
back to the Bible."
He added that in the past
year Israeli youth have been
given a more thorough under-
standing of Diaspora Jewry, in-
struction which was lacking
until now.
Levin urged a mass visiting
program between American and
Israeli youth "to help destroy
misconceptions of the U.S. Jew
on the part of the Israeli and
to instill Jewish values in
young Americans."
And what of religious values
among Israelis? "Aside from the
Orthodox, the Israeli hasn't
thought through his relation-
ship to God at all. Because the
Orthodox control religiouS life
in the country, the rest is a
vacuum," Levin said.
"There might be a change
in five years. Who knows?
But the ground is prepared;
when there is no longer the
same absorption with settle-
ment and growth, the people
can turn to other things.
"If Israel didn't have that
spiritual core, then we've all
been deluding ourselves."
During his Detroit visit, Le-
vin was the guest of Mr. and
Mrs. , Charles E. Feinberg of
West Boston Boulevard.
sport shirt, who "Just dropped
in for a few minutes to say
hello. Can't stay long. Have to
catch a bus to Flint for a lec-
ture."
But Meyer Levin, one of the
finest American Jewish writers
of the- century, stayed long
enough to discuss his best sell-
ing novel, "The Fanatic" (Jew-
ish News, Feb. 14).
"The most important ques-
tion that hasn't been studied,"
he said, "is the psychological
effect on the world public of
a background of belief in
many religions that God pun-
ishes specifically, that the re-
surgence of Israel is a recom-
pense for the destruction of
six million.
"I maintain, in 'The Fanatic,'
that God does not interfere with
the free will of man. He may
look on with anguish," Levin
said, "but if He were to inter-
fere, it would mean the end of
free will and the restraint of
man in a society based on jus-
tice."
Levin said he argued with
"The Dimensions of Jewish
playwright Rolf Hochhut over
an impression left by "The Education in Detroit" is the
Deputy" that the failure of the theme that will feature the pro-
C h u r c h to protest the Nazis' gram p or t ion of the Jewish
murdering of Jews was the Community Council delegate
failure of God to protest. assembly, 8:30 p.m., Monday, at
"Besides, in the entire play, the Jewish Center.
Organizational delegates will
there is not one heroic Jew on
stage—evidence that the play- review current activities of the
Wright, defending the Jews, Council committees, highlighted
by community involvement in
the pending "prayer amend-
' ments," arrangements for the
Warsaw Ghetto Exhibit, and
participation in the forthcom-
Leave Everything to Us
ing South Oakland County Con-
ference on Religion and Race. •
Dr. Shmarya Kleinman, chair-
man of the Council's nominat-
ing committee, will submit the
choices for Council offices and
vacancies on the executive com-
mittee. Members of his commit-
tee are: Henry Au:slander, Irv-
ing S. Cane, Mrs. -John Grekin,
Jerome Kelman, Jack Malamud,
Mrs. Leonard Sims.
A panel on Jewish education
will be moderated by Dr.
Samuel Krohn. Panelists in-
elude Albert Elazar, Rabbi Max
WYN and HAROLD LANDIS
Kapustin and Rabbi Jacob
Segal. The panel will consider
such questions as the goals of
Jewish education and the "drop-
out" problem.
Phone
Mrs. Morris Kutinsky, presi-
dent of the Women's Auxiliary
• STYLE
of the Jewish National Fund,
• ELEGANCE
will head the hostesses who will
• BEAUTY
serve at a social hour following
WYN-HAROLD CATERING
the delegate assembly.
EducationTheme
on Program of
CouncilAssembly
I t WHY WORRY I
HOME CATERING
EL 6-8411
MISS R. LEADERMAN
Hebrew University's
Peak Enrollment
8ng agements
In 1965, the Hebrew Uni-
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Eder, 13140
versity of Jerusalem will mark Northfield, Oak Park, announce
its 40th academic year. This is the engagement of their daugh-
ter Linda Gail to David Allan
a significant milestone.
Kaplan, son of Mr. and Mrs.
In 1948, when theState of Seymour
' Kaplan, 18942 Wilde-
Israel came into being, the stu- mere. The couple are students at
dent body numbered 1,000; this Michigan State University, where
year it has reached a peak figure the bride-elect is enrolled in the
of 9,000, including undergradu- college of education. The future
ate and graduate students and bridegroom, in business admin-
hundreds_ of research students istration, is a member of the
working for their doctorates. Honors College, Beta Sigma
Among the students from abroad Gamma honorary and Zeta Beta
there are over 300 Americans, Tau fraternity. An Aug. 8 wed-
including those in the One-Year ding is planned.
Student Program conducted by
the American Friends of the
Hebrew University.
School Board Meeting
The board of Hayim Green-
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Leaderman berg School will meet 8:30 p.m.
of Kenwood Ave., Oak Park, an- Tuesday at the Labor Zionist
nounce the engagement of their Institute.
daughter Rochelle to Detroiter
The True International Touch!
Gary M. Starler, son of Mr. Al
Starler of Mansfield, Ohio, and
133 IMICIOnZ214111C1.
the late Mrs. Starler.
A June wedding is planned.
Joseph's Studio
of Coiffeur
ZAN 611.11LIT
Dinner in Honor
of Senator for
Histadrut Fund
A Senator Patrick V. Mc-
Namara dinner co m m it t ee
selected a steering committee
and made arrangements for the
event to be held in the Foun-
tain Ballroom of the Masonic
Temple, June 6. Proceeds from
the dinner will go toward the
establishment of a Senator Mc-
Namara Histadrut Scholarship
Fund.
Gregory J. Bardacke, execu-
tive director of the American
Trade Union Council of Hista-
drut, addressed the group rep-
resenting labor, government
and industry who attended a
planning luncheon.
The steering committe e,
which will handle the affair, is
headed by Al Barbour, presi-
1 dent of the Wayne County AFL-
CIO who will act as chairman.
George Ames, executive assist-
ant, •public relations depart-
ment, Michigan Bell Telephone
Company was named co-chair-
man; Irving Bronson, treasurer
of Painters' Local 42, secretary;
Arthur King, vice-president of
Laundry and Linen Drivers'
Local 285,. treasurer. Others
serving on the steering commit-
tee are Myra Wolfgang, Fi-
nancial Secretary, Hotel and
Restaurant Employees' Local
705; Irving Bluestone, repre-
sentative. International UAW;
Morris Lieberman, chairman,
Detroit Histadrut Campaign;
Eddie McGloin, representing
Senator Hart; Alfred Michaels,
Director, Detroit Histadrut
Campaign; Clifford J. Sullivan,
assessor, City of Detroit.
end his intme.
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19 -THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS —Frid ay, M arch 13, 1964
A Talk With Author Meyer Levin— Leaderman-Starler
`Holocaust Not Punishment by God' Vaws Set in June