'I1E MEM Fuw-1967
THE JEWISH NEWS
tocorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association 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
Uk. 8-9364. Subscription S6 a year Foreign S7.
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PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Editor and Publisher
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
.
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City - Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the eighteenth day of Elul, 5727, the follou -ing scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion: Deut. 26:1.29:8. Prophetical portion: Isaiah 60:1-22.
Candle lighting, Friday, September 22, 7A2 p.m.
VOL. LH. No. 1
Page Four
September 22, 1967
Israel Libeled Despite Constructive Efforts
The appeal of the mayor of Bethlehem to the
mayor of Jerusalem to kindly "annex" (not merely
"adopt") the former stronghold of war-spirited
Jordan permits the conclusion that the people of
Bethlehem know best what is good for them.
Hitherto—the same as the souvenir vendors of Old
Jerusalem — their income served to contribute
heavily to defray the expenses of the royal house-
hold in Amman, the Jordan capital. At a stone's
throw away from all that royal luxury indulged
in the royal palace, the loyal subjects of Ilis
Majesty live in dire need, if not in misery.
The people of Bethlehem want to live the same
happy life as now do the people in Old Jerusalem:
tax-free, supported by a liberal municipal policy
which supplies them with all the conveniences and
modern facilities enjoyed by those who live in
New Jerusalem. While the Israeli population has
to pay for what they get, the Arabs in OW Jeru-
salem will get their municipal services free of
charge until such time that they will earn.a taxable
income. Free electric light, water (hot and cold),
garbage pickup service, accident and health insur-
ance and an endless number of additional muni-
cipal services, including social service aid, are
given to young and old, besides free schooling
and meals for the children.
No wonder that the people of Bethlehem want
their town to be annexed, notwithstanding that this
"City of David," the birthplace of Christ, lies fully
6 miles away from Jerusalem (to its southwest).
The question arises if such a change of territorial
dependency and wholesale change of citizenship of
all its inhabitants is permissible under Interna-
tional Law by means of a referendum. immigrants
in the United States are allowed to sever the ties
of allegiance to their country of birth when apply-
ing for American citizenship. But could they do so
while still back home?
The mayor of Bethlehem goes one step farther;
he wants the whole town to be annexed by Israel.
This would convert his city to an Israeli enclave
in Jordan territory. If International Law should
permit such a change—the Kingdom of Jordan
would soon start to lose one town after the other.
This might be a test case for the International
Law Court in Hague, Holland.
If it would be true what King Hussein says
about the underdog treatment given to the Arab
population by the Israelis, it is rather strange,
indeed, that a non-occupied neighboring town in
Free Jordan, after having been spared "the terri-
ble fate of Old Jerusalem," should beg to be an-
nexed by Israel, according to the unanimous de-
cision of all its inhabitants—not satisfied with an
adoption—and that the freed prisoners beg to be
allowed to stay on and ask' for political asylum.
The mayor of Bethlehem, who controlled the
referendum and watched that nobody should vote
twice, made the appeal to be annexed "in the name
of all the people of Bethlehem, including himself
and his family."
This is a case without precedence in modern
International Law.
Seldom, if ever, in history, have victors in
a serious and major war provided as many
advantages for rehabilitation, for reunion
with families, for reconstruction of their
homes and rebuilding of their agricultural
and industrial activities of the vanquished,
as Israel assures for the Arabs in Egypt and
Jordan. Similar offers are being made for
the return to their homes of Syrians who
have fled from areas conquered by Israel.
Unusual scenes were witnessed last week
when Arab refugees from camps in the Gaza
Strip were permitted by Israel to visit their
relatives and friends in the Jordan area.
There were no restrictions.
Nevertheless, cliarges of mistreatment by
Israel are multiplying and Arab propaganda
seems to have infiltrated into many Christian
quarters where the situation is misunderstood
and misinterpreted, in spite of the numerous
indications, confirmed by the Red Cross and
by UN observers, that Israel's policies are
based on high humanitarian principles.
A report submitted to UN Secretary
General U Thant by his personal representa-
tive, the Swiss diplomat Ambassador Ernesto
Thalmann, emphasized the earnestness with
which Isi.ael approached the problem of Arab-
Jewish relations in the re-acquired Old City
of Jerusalem. Mr. Thalmann's report de-
scribes how he was moved by- the "great
activity on the streets of Jerusalem." He
stated on this score:
"The uniforms were few and the weapons
fewer. The military policemen went about their
duties in a matter-of-fact way. They appeared to
be mostly concerned with directing the traffic,
which was quite heavy. Arabs and Jews were
mingling . . . There was direct access to the Old
City through many newly made roads and through
the reopened gates. Outside the walled city the
scars of battle were more noticeable. Also a num-
ber of shops were closed. Most of the hotels had
reopened. Before dawn and during the day the
muezzin could be heard as wen as church bells."
,
The ravages of war are in evidence, but
there is freedom under Israeli rule for all
elements in the population.
In spite of it, however, the Arab states.,
Muslim religious leaders and Christian
spokesmen outside the Middle East who have
no way of knowing the true conditions, or
who are unconcerned about the develop-
ments. are showering venomous attacks on
Israel. They fail to understand the validity
of the statement by Mr. Thalmann that Israeli
authorities indicated to him that unification
of both sectors of Te ,lisalem "had meant that
the `underdeveloped' economy of the eastern
sector had come into contact with the more
developed economy of the western sector."
Facts emerging from current develop-
ments show that many Arabs are pleased with
Israel's role. and there have been declarations
from Arabs in favor of an Israeli administra-
tion in areas previously held by Jordan.
• • •
In the earliest Period of the Six-Day War.'
there already were evidences of Arab acquies-
cence to Israel's acquisition of the territories
now administered by Israelis. As early as last
June it was reported that the People of
Bethlehem welcomed the Israelis. The Times
of Spain. the English language newsnaner
serving Madrid and Barcelona, quoted this
statement from the Upi-Efe service:
"Christian and Mohammedan digni-
taries and important citizens of Bethlehem
demand that their city should join Israel.
The petition, signed by hundreds of per-
sonalities, has been handed to the military
commander of Bethlehem with the requeest
to be submitted to the competent authori-
ties."
The Times of Spain then proceeded to
nresent the following facts on how "Bethle-
hem wants to join Israel":
Little to God'
Gordis' Collected Essays Guide
Students Learning Jewish Values
Dr. Robert Gordis deviates from his previous emphases on biblical
studies and philosophic works dealing with the status of world Jewry
and with questions relating to Christian-Jewish relations. His newest
work, "Leave a Little to God." published by
Bloch. is a collection of sermons.
Nevertheless, these "essays in Judaism"
are marked by the same power which dis-
tinguished his other works. They are filled
with historical data, with interpretive biblical
knowledge. with guidance along Jewish lines
for those seeking information about Jewish
history and traditions.
Dr. Gordis' earlier works dealt with Kohe-
leth (a revised edition of his "Koheleth" will
he published soon by Schocken), Job, Song of
Songs and Ecclesiastes: with a definitive vol-
ume on Conservative Judaism and his most
recent impressive "Judaism in a Christian
World."
Now, in "Leave a Little to God" —
which is the title of the first essay in his
new book and is a Rosh Hashana sermon
. D
ordis
— he yields to entreaties of his friends and offers the texts of his
speeches in Temple Beth-El of Rodkaway Park, New York, which
he has served as. rabbi since 1831.
There are three sections in this book, dealing with The World,
Israel and Man. In the first he explores the impacts of science and its
effects on religion. There are six essays in this section and in the
concluding one, "The Beginning or the and," he emphasizes in a
quotation from the Talmud that man is "God's co - partner in the work
of creation." In another sermon he describes the High Holy Days as
"a mighty declaration of man's dignity," that "man is endowed with
reason" and therefore "is free to choose . . . is responsible for
his action . .. "
i In five essays in the "Israel" section Dr. Gordis touches upon the
role of JeWish youth, the problems besetting American Jewry, the
status of Jews not only in Israel but also in the United States and in
the world. Ile declares in one of his evaluative addresses that "Jew-
ish ignorance has always been a threat to Jewish survival," that
the "well-educated, self-assured generation of our youth contrasts
the light of general culture, about which it knows a good deal — or
thinks it does — with the dark obscurity of Jewish culture, about
Many of these declarations now are being which it knows little
or nothing. Our youth then draw the natural,
yitilted by venomous acroninlitions of hatred though totally mistaken, conclusion that general culture is contentful
for Tsrael seeking to destroy whatever good
will could be generated.
and Jewish culture is meaningless."
lie asserts: "Our goal is not merely our survival, but our
service to mankind through the nobility and the wisdom of the
Tore. For our work will not be done until the prophetic word 10
fulfilled, with which every Jewish worship service ends . . •
'The day will surely conic when the Lord shall be king over all
the earth. On that day the Lord shall be one and Ilis name one"
(Zechariah 14:9).
"Man." the portion of the book - to which eight sermons are devoted,
analyzes issues confronting people, man's faith, the problems related
While the UN now is reoeiving data to to
sin and forgiveness, "the divine art of being human" and related
prove that Israel has rejeeterl any possibili- topics.
ties of vengeance, that the desire is for
What is "the ultimate goal"? Rabbi Gordis declares that "to
genuine peace and for the best relations with walk humbly with thy God"
is a quality "needed in our attitude
the Arabs, the prejudices are mounting and toward our fellow men . . . the
bedrock of man's relationship with
Israel's position is far from easy. New attacks his God."
are certain to be leveled at Israel at the UN
Rabbi Gordis declares in his preface That his aim was "to speak
and wherever anti-Israel sentiments can be to the laymen, and particularly to our young people, who are-no less
circulated. Which indicates the difficulty of concerned with issues than the scholar and the thinker."
living within a stratum of victory and the
There are substantial guides towards a better understanding of
obstacles that are on the road to peace. But Jewish values, in these impressive essays. The collected sermons serve
well
as inspirations for Jewish laymen, and they will be found of great
they do not obviate hope for amity. As long
as there is firmness within Igrael and a de- merit by people of all faiths.
Dr. Gordis' approaches to
termination amidst Israel's friends, primarily
universal i..2ses, his analyses of
traditional Jewish principles, fit his new collection of speeches
in Jewish ranks, for sound and realistic ap- superbly
into
the
library
of
Gordis Books which have elevated their
proaches to the evolving issues,' hope for an
regrettable attacks on Israel need
llenged and the Bertrand Russell
g
torobt: eloc7
a that
a' is now accusing Israel anew of
having been "inhuman" in dealing with the
enemy and of collaboration with the
United States should have proof before
spreading such lies.
-
end to conflicts may never fade.
ianuttehlolerctuianitso. a position of leadership among American Jewish