Purely Commentary
Back in Athletic Arena . . Fair Play the Motto
On the very day on which the curfew was lifted here, 42,000 people,
men, women and children, met in a friendly arena, to cheer the city's
ball team, to give vent to hope for a Tiger 1968 Pennant, to join
hands in upholding the great American principle: the call to Play
Ball mingled with the joy of Fair Play!
It was the most cheering affirmation of a .true American spirit
that defied bigotry, encouraged blacks and whites to sit together,
shoulder to shoulder, expressing the same sentiments, joining in
mutual hopes for a common cause that spells adherence to sports-
manship, emphasis on brotherhood, the urge to share the blessings
of a great land.
Who said America was divided on that day and on subsequent
days of good sportsmanship?
Who dared deny that we were "one nation indivisible," whose
citizens, blacks and whites together, can share in the mutual inter-
ests of life? And if it can be in the field of sports, why not also in
the arena of citizenship and the American Society of Men Created
Equal?
We join in the call Play Ball! And we want it 'always to spell
Fair Play, Good Citizenship, America's indivisibility! May we learn
the lesson of honorable •citizenship, making it live wherever we turn,
transforming our society into an arena of Fair Play.
A Sensational Proposal . . .
Schemes galore inevitably emerge from imaginative minds, and
in democratic countries where we still hope to live in freedom, dreams
are passed on as possible realities.
Here is a typical example: the American Jewish Congress
proposed to ?resident Johnson that he should invite King Hussein of
Jordan and Israel's Prime Minister Levi Eshkol to meet with him on
the -U.S. Sixth Fleet's flagship in the Mediterranean to plan a
permanent peace.
As examples of precedents, the AJCongress recalled two incidents:
President Theodore Roosevelt's convening of a peace conference
between warring Russians and Japanese, in 1905, at Portsmouth, N.H.
—an act for which TR won the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of
his having facilitated an end to the Russian-Japanese war; and
Soviet Premier Kosygin's call upon India and Pakistan, in November
1966, to meet with him in Tashkent to settle the border dispute.
If we had a TR with a Big Stick in our time—and if a Big Stick
could be effective in our time—such a proposal might be realistic.
And if conditions were comparable for Israel-Jordan as with
Pakistan, the idea would sound pragmatic. But conditions are
different, moods are more varied, leadership is less dominating and
not as impressive.
Yet, out of dreams many amazing things often develop. Let us
dream—hopefully! Perhaps some good will come out of fantasies.
*
*
*
The Measure of Security .. .
Nearly two weeks before the Period of Terror that followed the
insane act in Memphis, Temple Israel, in its bulletins, made this an-
nouncement as "A Measure of Security _far Temple Families":
Members of the congregation who come to the temple for
other than religious service or major programs are asked to use
the parking lot door for entry into the building.
The main doors will be open on Friday nights, Saturday
mornings and for major events; however, in order to have
complete surveillance over the building, all temple doors will be
kept locked except for the parking lot doors, effective 'im-
mediately.
Those coming for night meetings, appointments with the
rabbis or other staff members, Bar Mitzva tutoring, etc., will
be asked to sign a check in and check out sheet.
The above procedure was recommended by the house com-
mittee and approved by the board of trustees so that access
to the building would be better controlled.
The cooperation of all members of the temple is solicited.
We are neither revealing secrets nor are we presenting an
exceptional case by making facts known through this congregational
statement to its members. We are experiencing a state of com-
parative horror in this land. People have stopped taking walks,
especially at night; houses of worship like other public buildings
are utilizing the aid of special armed guards; merchants live in fear
and there has not been too much security in homes which are
traditionally people's castles and sanctuaries.
And no wonder—when the Nation's Capitol was turned into an
armed camp, when mere youngsters in many communities, including
Detroit's, resorted to looting and violence upon emerging in hordes
from their classes on the day after the death of the distinguished
leader of America's blacks—on a day which should have inspired
humbleness and instead created a spirit of hoodlumism. Such acts
defiled the very grandeur of Dr. Martin Luther King's magnificent
record as an advocate of non-violence.
Grave responsibilities rest upon our government and upon our
President. LBJ has been saddled with many duties, and the latest is
another measure of gravity which weighs heavily upon all of us.
May there come an awakening among the people from whose
ranks stem the acts of lawlessness! Only a law-abiding society can
atone for sins of the past, and abuse of the nation's peaceful in-j
tentions defers the amity we need so urgently among all faiths, all
races, all differing groups. Let there be an end to divisiveness!
*
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'Game of Names and .. . Matter of Life'
Wearing the mantle of Israel's brilliant spokesmen Abba Eban, his
successor as Israel's permanent representative at the United Nations,
Yosef Tekoah, has made a fine impression at the Security Council's
sessions. For an understanding of Israel's position, and in order not to be
misled by disruptive propaganda, there is at least one declaration made
by Tekoah that should be known. He spoke about "the concept that
governments of neighboring Arab states, which are bound by their obli-
gations under the cease fire, remain free to aid and abet armed attacks
on Israel through organized infiltration," and declared emphatically that
this 'is inadmissible." He charged such activities with constituting "a
continuation of warlike action under cover of the cease fire" and said
"the responsibility of governments concerned can on no account be
evaded or obscured."
He then offered this important evaluation of the raids and the
raiders whose actions caused Israel's retaliative acts:
"Attempts have been made to describe the raiders as enjoying
the support of the Arab population in areas under Israeli control.
This is contrary to the facts. Local Arab inhabitants do not support
these aggressive activities. The Arab population, like its Jewish
Measures of Security and
Striving for Fair Play . .
Kuchel on Jerusalem Status
By Philip
SIOMOVitZ
2 Concluding
Passover Days
neighbors, is weary of the 20-year-war. What characterizes the situ-
ation in areas under Israel control is, above all, the atmosphere of
BY RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
normalcy and coexistence between Jews and Arabs.
(Copyright 1968, JTA Inc.)
"The raiders, whether they be called marauders, terrorists,
What special holiday do the
saboteurs, are simply messengers of hate and death who come from last two days of Passover com-
the outside and whose aim is to undermine the possibilities of memorate?
understanding and agreement between the two peoples. Today it is
While the first two days com-
public knowledge that these raiders are organized, and para-military
units appear in miltary uniform, undergo military training with memorate the actual exodus from
the armies of Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Iraq, receive their weapons Egypt, the last two days are felt
from those armies and are commanded by regular army officers. to commemorate the miraculous
Jordan would like Israel to acquiesce in this type of warfare. Does occasion on which the Hebrews
Jordan really believe that any state in the world would do such a crossed the Red Sea in their flight
thing? By attributing different names to the marauders, does Jordan from the pursuing Egyptians. One
expect that it can change their character and status and the nature source (Seder Olam Rabba, Chap-
of their activities? What may be a game of names and words to ter 5) considers this event to have
Jordan is a matter of life and death to Israel."
taken place on the last day of the
There was an eloquent appeal by Tekoah when he addressed him- Passover.
self to Israel's antagonists and pleaded with them:
Rashi (Talmud Babli, Megilla
"To the Arab governments we say today: look what the 20-year
war has brought the Middle East and its nations. The people of 31a) contends that the reason we
read the Song of Moses from the
Israel remain beleaguered and embattled. Egypt has been plunged
into the abyss of a catastrophe. Jordan is in turmoil. Syria has Tora on the seventh day of Pass-
withdrawn into stagnation and international claustrophobia. For over is because it was on this day
twenty years Arab governments have mobilized their energies for that the song was chanted by the,
war and bloodshed, ignoring the welfare and happiness of their Israelites, who crossed over the
peoples. The continuation of this policy can only bring even greater sea safely.
disaster. Is that what the Arab people want, or is it being imposed
Another source (Pesikta Cha-
upon them by irresponsible leadership. Has not the time come to data, Beth Hamidrash, ed/Jel-
do some soul-searching and mending of ways?"
lenik, Vol. vi, p. 37) claims that
Of special interest is the comment Tekoah made on the issue in- this event took place on the Sab-
volving "aggression." He quoted a document containing a Soviet draft bath which corresponded to the
defining aggression, the text of which reads:
seventh day of the Passover. Being
"In an international conflict that State shall be declared the it was Sabbath, the Israelites were
attacker which first commits one of the following acts:
helpless until the Almighty or-
"(1) Support of armed bands organized in its own territory which dered them to go ahead through
invade the territory of another state, or refusal, on being requested the sea to escape the pursuing
by the invaded state, to take in its own territory any action within Egyptians.
its power to deny such bands any air or protection.
According to Josephus (Antiqui-
"(2) That State shall be declared to have committed an act of in-
direct aggression which, "(a) encourages subversive activity against ties 5:1:5), the city of Jericho fell
to the Israelites on the day that
another State, acts of terrorism, diversionary acts . . ."
Upon reading this Russian text into the statement which now is part corresponds to the seventh day of
of the UN documentary record of the debate on the Middle East situa- Passover. Tradition also claims
that on the seventh day of Pass-
tion, Tekoah asked:
"Does the Soviet representative suggest that this definition should over, Moses as a baby was placed
apply to all states except the Jewish State? I cannot believe that this is in a basket on the Nile.
an attempt to vindicate the old Russian saying: "to all except the Jews."
The latter words he pronounced in the Russian "kromye Yevreyev"
ness, or our hesitation to pro-
—a famous saying reminiscent of Czarist oppressive regulations.
claim our stand, given cause to
There was a resort to character assassination and to personal at-
continue Arab emotionalism and
tacks on Tekoah by Jordan's UN representative, and Tekoah treated it
hostility.
in this fashion:
"Honest policy is the best
"It reminded me of a well-known and ancient story about Rabbi
policy. Rat ional Arabs must
Gamliel who one day asked his servant to go to the market and
come to see that another conflict
get the best food available. The servant went to the market and
in the Near East could be all con-
came back with a piece of tongue. The next day, the rabbi asked
suming. The Administration must
his servant to go to the market again and to find and purchase the
take the initiative to make this
worst food available. Again the servant came back with a tongue.
clear. In avoiding collision, much
The rabbi asked for an explanation, and the servant gave a very
depends on the Soviet Union. We
simple one: There is nothing better than a good tongue, nothing
must have no illusions about her
worse than an evil tongue."
eagerness to dominate the East-
either
their
losing
It is fortunate that Israel's defenders are not
ern Mediterranean. Russians far
patience or their self-control or their sense of humor. By retaining their
before the Crimean War had a
equilibrium in the midst of attacks by. the Russian and Arab bloc, they
consuming interest in this area.
and to refute slurs.
Lately Moscow has done its best
are able properly to face issues
*
to take advantage of Arab hos-
tility towards our Israeli com-
Senator Kuchel's View of Jerusalem Undivided
Arab intransigence, as evidenced in the determination of the
mitment.
feudal rulers to encourage the chaotic and destructive campaigns of
"In the long run, the Soviet
the terrorists who are endangering the lives of Israelis, was judged
Union has much to gain from the
recently by a distinguished Californian.
peace in this area. She suffers as
Speaking at a function of Bnai Zion in New York, Senator Thomas
much as 'anyone from blockage
H. Kuchel deplored the "conflict psychosis" of the Arabs and urged
of the Suez Canal. Her desire for
them to "recognize their real needs." He declared that the continued
broader markets cannot benefit
raids by terrorists "serve no useful Arab purpose," that "they are
from continued fighting and brok-
the work of those who seek a vested interest in protracted war against
en communication. Surely, there
Israel, keeping alive the flames of enmity that render calm delibera-
must be some in the Soviet
tion and progress for peace impossible." He added this comment on
leadership who understand the
Israel's status:
risks of a global conflict touched
"Of all the divisions of the ancient world, none has been more
off by their Soviet arms given to
tragic than the separation of Jerusalem. In 1966, with my wife,
Syria and Egypt."
I wandered through the teaming, timeless streets of the Old City.
No American with any sense of history at all can escape the
Senator Kuchel's appeal to Rus-
welcoming sense of human struggle and of hope which remains sia is based on realism, and of ma-
jor interest in his declaration is
etched in those ancient stones.
"Jerusalem was divided then. It is not divided today, and the emphasis on the need to assure
must never be divided again. It must remain one city—as the Jerusalem's indivisibility.
capital of Israel, as a living and joyous center for the celebration
Sooner or later, the world powers
of harmony in the Western World. We all have a stake in that will have to concede that for the
cause.
first time in 20 years all faith enjoy
"As a member of the United States Senate, I strongly believe the right to worship in consonance
that the continued unity of Jerusalem both as capital and as a with their conscience. that there
world religious center must be a cardinal objective of our foreign is freedom of travel for all resi-
policy in the Near East. Unity, indeed, must be the touchstone of dents of Israel, including the new
our efforts. On June 5, 1967, I was the first member of the Senate, elements who are now in Israel-
in those early anxious hours of conflict, to lay before the chamber held territory, and that Arabs from
the awesome problem of polarization in the Near East, which the one end of the land to the other
Soviet Union's unrelenting support of the Arab cause had opposed have either been reunited with
There remains, my fellow citizens, a basic concern for America, previously divided families or are
and for those who yearn for peace."
able to visit them.
"There is a none too subtle threat in the Soviet proposition—
A new era has set in, but the
`you take Israel, we will take the Arabs and may the toughest
win.' I have no doubts about the outcome of such a struggle, nor "conflict psychosis" Senator Ku-
do I have any question about our firm commitment to Israel. The chel spoke of stands in the way,
response of the American public to last summer's conflict was and the United Nations is neither
clear. The people of the United States believed in her cause. In helpful nor does it encourage an
my opinion, the Administration has erred in trying to conceal this end to psychotic threats. And no
point from Arab nations, friendly or otherwise. We have permitted one knows how or when that threat
the so-called Palestine problem to move us, rather than striking can end.
the one firm position in which the people of the United States
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
believe. This has been no service to our diplomacy to Israel or
even to our few remaining Arab friends. We have by our unwilling- 2--Friday, April 19, 1968
'