A Friendly Visit THE JEWISH NEWS Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951 Member American Ascociation of English—Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Association. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit, Mich. 48235. WE 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 Advertising Manager Business Manager CHARLOTTE HYAMS City Editor Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath. the twentieth day of Adar II. 5727, the following Scriptural selections will be read in Our .9,1/agog/les: Pentateuch& portions, Ler. 9:1 - 11:47, NUM. 19:122. Prophetical portion, Ezek. 36:16-38. Candle Lighting. VOL. LI . No. Z Friday, 'larch 31. 6:39 p m. Page Four March 31, 1967 Go to the Laymen, Ye Political Sluggards Predominant confusion over the Vietnam issue has created a situation so saddening that it has divided Americans, it has created bitterness, and discussions over the advisabil- ity to end the bombing. as against established escalation policies, are marked by stinging scorn and harshness that is leading to hatreds in our internal affairs. Philip M. Klutznick's proposals made at a Bnai Brith meeting last week pinpoint the basic needs in dramatic difference of opinion which -has split our population. While advice to President Johnson, the State Department and the military leaders is fraught with handi- caps occasioned by the need to be cautious when dealing with a wartime situation. and with matters of security, the eminent Jewish leader who played an important role as a member of the United States mission to the United Nations nevertheless indicated a possible approach to means of ending the war. Klutznick has suggested the conven- ing of a "limited-size", conference of high- level civilian admihistrators as well as leaders of both parties represented in Congress to consider a "common agreement on foreign policy," and he commented: "A President who has frequently demonstrated his extra- ordinary skill in bringing persons who hold differing views in a common conclusion could inspire this effort and give it hope for success." * We are inclined to agree with this ap- proach. In a matter involving our national security and our country's honor, there should be an elimination of political aspirations and the avoidance of any capitalization on per- sonal aspirations by any member of our gov- ernment, or any responsible American. When, therefore, Klutznick spoke of participation of high-level civilian adminis- trators in dealing with the problems involv- ing Vietnatn, he touched upon a vital, even if it is a challenging, idea. By involving lay leaders in viewing the conditions which have created our war crisis, there could be a good chance to reach a fair solution to a major problem. That is why we join with Klutznick and say: go to the laymen, ye poli- tical sluggards. * * * But with all the emphasis on the need to call in civilians to cooperate in providing a solution to the aggravated Vietnam situation, there is this to be taken into account: All the current protests give the impression that there is a villain in the White House, that the escalation is a one-sided policy that fails to take into account the human factors in the struggle between North and South Vietnam. This is an injustice. There are aggravations that stem from all fronts, and perhaps the overwhelming protests and pressures are not altogether helpful. The exchange of letters between the White House and Hanoi, revealing the ada- mant position of the North Vietnam rulers, indicates that there is need for continuing efforts to arive at a solution as speedily as possible. Perhaps the approach of another presidential campaign will contribute towards the hastening of action. But that in itself does not justify the taunting that comes from certain political aspirants. * * * Indeed, all who can be of service in this crisis should be welcomed to aid in contrib- uting towards a quest for peace. But we'll never attain anything by resorting to name- calling. And while we would like to see the President act more speedily in the matter — if that is at all possible — there is injustice in resort to abuse. All who can assist should and will aid in speeding peace. Let the laymen share in that duty with the military. Let's not wait for the 1968 political campaign to assure an end to the war. The Composite Canvas of Social Services In the midst of a major campaign for basic causes which keep a community alive, one wonders how much appreciation there is for the vast canvas portraying the social services rendered through functioning move- ments. In the current Allied Jewish Cam- paign the community is asked to take into account so many causes that the totality of welfare action may become confusing. Per- haps the many activities are taken too much for granted. Since every conceivable need is accounted for in the drive's objectives, per- haps the view from the outside is dimmed by the continuity which makes the existing agencies appear as if they were routine func- tions in the people's everyday life. That is why it is so vital that there should be repeated review of the objectives of a campaign which yearly calls for increased giving and for undeviating dedication by an appreciating constituency. * * * The canvas that unfolds in the Allied Jewish Campaign is a composite one. It in- cludes every conceivable function that is vital to a people's existence. It places emphasis on the health and welfare of those being served, on the spiritual and cultural obligations in the training of children, on the many inter- related causes on a national scale which deal with civic-protective obligations and with ed- ucational values which give emphasis to the roles of all who are involved in the collective efforts of a community. It is the taking for granted of the services rendered by an organized community that can harm the causes and the people they serve more than anything else. Such an attitude contributes to indifference and 'undermines the functions of agencies that are vital to a people's existence. * * * In the course of striving to raise the vast sums that are so urgently needed, it is equally important that the education of the prospec- tive contributors should not be ignored. There is need for constant review of the aims of a campaign and of explanation and evalua- tion of objectives. We are now engaged in a great drive for local, national and overseas causes. In addi- tion to those enumerated, there is that press- ing need not to abandon Israel, to assist tens of thousands of dispossessed Jews in estab- lishing permanent and secure homes in Israel. These causes will not benefit from al- legiance unless their functions are fully understood. Commencing with the children, carrying the educational processes into all areas, the community must be properly ad- vised on the aims of a great drive. There is as much need for self-education, by becom- ing more intimately linked with the many causes, as through campaign propaganda. By means of proper educational processes we can elevate our communal standards, lead- ing towards an understanding constituency whose loyalties will assure impregnability for existing movements whose social welfare objectives make for a people's highly, digni- fied existence. CATHOLIC-JEWISH RELATIONS osa■ ,,J17/4 cii r tt;sz EWA 'God, Man and Atomic War' Dresner Urges Spiritual Society in Exposing Nuclear Threat Dangers that stem from atomic warfare, the contention that "the radical nature of the nuclear threat is such that military and defense means alone cannot prevent atomic war, only a change in man him- self," motivate the impressive work by Rabbi Samuel II. Dresner of Springfield, Mass., ''God. Man and Atomic War," published by Living Books ( (11 W. 42nd, NY36). There is a challenge in Rabbi Dresner's assertion that: "Deep at the root of the unrest which pervades our time, manifesting itself in rising juvenile crimes, family breakdown, the collapse of sex mores, political cynicism and a fun morality, is the growing sense of human helplessness, as though we were drifting inexorably toward oblivion and carrying with us, bit by bit, the landmarks of culture and civiliza- tion." The theme of Rabbi Dresner's study may, therefore, be said to be summed up in his declarations, after quoting Isaiah about the breaking of swords into ploughshares, that: "It is the task of the Biblical faiths, as well as those of the Far East, to shatter the present illusions and quicken the ancient vision by preaching the obsolescence of sovereign nations in a world which is joined by the threat of death, and by teaching the spiritual oneness of man under the oneness of God as the only enduring ground for political unity. "The Biblical faiths can stretch out their arms in brother- hood to all religions. The impending destruction of mankind should be the ever-present issue before the world's religions, mobilizing their strength in a global effort to preserve man. A world congress of religion dedicated to the survival of human life could be a step in awakening the conscience of the nations to its common danger . . . Jew, Protestant, Catholic, Moslem, Hindu, whatever their differences, passionately agree upon one thing: the necessity of halting mankind's reckless road to ruin." * Rabbi Dresner draws upon scores of sources to point to the threatening clouds that go with nuclear dangers, to reach the con- clusions aimed at inspiring renewed faith on a worldwide basis, in order to forestall the menacing trends which could bring about an atomic holocaust. "Religious leaders could create an international body whose task it would be to awaken the human race to the terror which lies ahead and to urge, on a spiritual basis, that change of heart and mind which might provide a lasting basis to a nuclear test ban agreement, dis- armament, renunciation of national sovereignty, and that new world which must arise out of the present crisis, if we are to survive!" Rabbi Dresner contends that: "The machinery for instant death for all mankind is now in man's hands. "There is no defense. "Only the creation of a new society can prevent the use of the bomb and outlaw war. "A new society requires a new man who can only become so by revering God and walking in His ways." In this fashion, Rabbi Dresner makes an interesting plea for a redeemed society and for a demonstration of "faith in the power of man." • • • As a postscript, however, he speaks glowingly of the Moral Re. armament movement, whose conferenpe he attended at Mackinac Island. He praises this movement as "an exemplary brotherhood of workers" and one wonders whether the rabbi-author is aware that Moral Rearmament had failed to repudiate Hitlerism? (The Penguin Encyclopedia states specifically about Moral Rearmament: "It refrained from denouncing Hitler's policies"). Thus, while Rabbi Dresner's analytical work is certain to arouse discussion and inspire discussion on a vital subject, it still needs elaboration, and the author would do well to think twice about the merits of the Moral Rearmament objectives.