THE JEWISH NEWS
IncOrporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
member American Association of English—Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial
ssociation.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit, Mich. 48235,
VE 8-9364. Subscription $7 a year. Fo ,..eign $8.
Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 17th day of Tamuz, 5728, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Num. 22:2-25-9. Prophetical portion, Micah 5:6-6:8.
Tora Reading for Fast of 17th of Tamuz, July 14. Pentateuchal portion, Exodus
32:11-14; 34:1 - 10. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 55:6-56:8.
Candle lighting, Friday, July 12, 8:50 p.m.
VOL. LIII. No. 17
Page Four
July 12, 1968
Apologists for Russia: Enemies of Israel
While there is every indication that the
anti-religious policies of the Soviet Union
affect Jews much more than any other faith,
and statistics prove quite conclusively that
cultural activities have been curbed among
Jews in Russia, there is now an outburst of
apologetics aimed at refuting the charges
and at claiming that there is no truth what-
soever in the accusation of anti-Semitism
in the USSR.
The visit of Moscow's Rabbi Yehuda Leib
Levin was a welcome indication of a possible
change in Communist attitudes, since it en-
abled the establishment of an exchange of
views and of a possible cementing of kinships
between American and Russian Jewries, yet
the aftermath marks - the resort to anti-
Zionist propaganda by Russian Jews who
are mimicking the anti-Semitic prejudices
of their cohorts in Poland.
The American Association for Jewish
Education had published an appeal, in the
form of an advertisement in the New York
Times, asking why certain basic rights en-
joyed by American Jews could not be ap-
plied in Russia. It has been challenged by
Menashe Mikhailovich, who, writing from
Moscow as chairman of the Board of Mos-
cow Choral Synagogue, makes counter-
charges that 80 to 90 per cent of American
Jewish youth "get no religious education",
declaring that "our American benefactors"
actually summon us not ahead but back
into ghettos, into the "Jewish pale" where
Jews had languished for centuries in artifi-
cial isolation," and appended a "No, thanks!"
to this assertion.
While the figures are gross exaggerations,
this could be interpreted as an endorsement
of the irreligiosity dominating Jews as well
as others in Russia; but the bigotry and
inhumanity which has infiltrated into certain
minds in Russia from the Kremlin is revealed
in the ensuing paragraph in the accusatory
letter from Moscow in which Mikhailovich
wrote:
"The authors of the advertisement enumerate
thousands of blessings enjoyed by the American
Jews. But how does this tally with the murders
of religious and public figures, with the threats
of death and obstruction to the invited co-
religionists only for the reason that they do not
share the Zionist views and that they tell the
truth about their country?"
By injecting the tragic results of crime
waves which are not peculiar to America
but to conditions that have sickened the
entire world—there is no way of knowing
whether all the truth about crime waves in
Russia could penetrate the tight censorship
lanes — the Jewish writer from Moscow
follows an unfortunate line that creates
enmities rather than friendships between the
peoples of Russia and America; and by charg-
ing that Zionism is responsible for an imag-
inary threat on the life of Rabbi Levin he
distorts. the truth.
This instance would be insignificant if it
were not for the related apologetics. A typical
example of distorted and biased views
emanating from Russia is contained in a
report from Novosti Press Agency which
quotes an answer to charges of Russian
discriminations made by Rabbi Israel Miller
of New York. The answer to the American
rabbi
by
.
. "poet Abram Gontar and prosaist
ail Lev, Jews by nationality„' as they
are described in the Russian news agency's
release, contains these assertions:
"They expose Miller's attempts to present the
Soviet government's condemnation of Israeli
aggression against Arab countries and the criti-
cism of Zionism by the Soviet press as 'outra-
geous anti-Semitism.' The authors of the article
emphasize that the wholesale identification of
the Jewish nation with Israel's military and
political elite and with the ideologists of Zionism
is insulting not only for Soviet Jews, but also
for many Jews abroad, including those in the
U.S.A."
In a single paragraph the Jewish defenders
of what is, indeed, an outrageous policy of
the USSR, as it has been exposed in the
debates at the United Nations, there is shown
the vicious attitude of a handful in the
Kremlin who , have set a policy of genocide
aimed at Israel in order to gain control of
the Middle East's waterways and to create
obstacles in that part of the world for the
United States.
It is questionable whether the mass of
the Russian people would approve of an
attitude, akin to that pursued in Poland,
which utilizes Zionism as a scapegoat. There
can be no doubt that the Russian spokesmen
at the UN had tongues in cheeks while
emitting hatreds for Israel and Zionism. But
"Mission Survival" is the story of the people of Israel, told by
Jewish spokesmen, acting as tools for the young
and old, in a variety of ways, depicting the glories of the most
extremists in the Communist Party, have recent achievements, the relief that came from last June's operations,
yielded to all the venom that has been the acquisition of security that emerged after the threats that could
brewed. Blinded by propaganda phrased for well have meant the nation's destruction.
them about "wholesale identification of the
Published by Sabra Books, a new
of the American-Israel
Jewish nation with Israel's military and Book Co. (38 W. 32nd, NY1), edited by division
Ruth Bondy, Ohad
and
political elite," these "Jews by nationality" Raphael Bashan, Israeli writers, containing scores of essays, Zmora
including
have ignored the threat to the very existence articles by eminent leaders and some of the world's most distinguished
of more than two million Jews in Israel. Their publicists, this may well be viewed as one of the most vital works that
adherence to the Kremlin policies of anti- have been produced since the June war.
Israelism which emerged as violently anti-
What actually is Israel's role today, a year after the last con-
Jewish in the course of the recent years and
frontation, and how is the nation's status affected by the results of
especially during the UN debates. certainly
a victory? What does the future hold for that nation? What are its
does not dignify their role as spokesmen for
hopes and how is its youth prepared to tackle the obligations? By
the Jews of Russia who, when they are ar-
linking past with present, by drawing upon the experiences and
mored with the truth, would certainly reject
titudes of the elder statesmen, this volume guides the readers to
an understanding of emerging issues.
them as interpreters of their attitudes.
Another Russian Jew, Yury Rozenbaum, a
It is not only the military man who expresses his views and ex-
researcher in the Institute of Law of the plains the events that had occurred in the many essays here — in the
USSR Academy of Sciences, writing to The articles by Yitzhak Rabin, Moshe Dayan and their associates; in the
Jewish News from Moscow, in reply to our descriptions of the achievements on the battlefields by Brig. Gen. David
May 3 editorial "Sad Status of Jews Behind Elazar, Colonel Yona and others. There are the social problems that
Iron Curtain," offers interesting data regard- find an echo here, the approaches to a high standard in attaining Arab
the comradeship with the Druzes, and scores of related
ing Jewish cultural activities in Russia. friendships,
issues.
Regrettably, he, too, follows a line of credit-
ing American Jewry's interest in Israel and
There is an essay by Yael Dayan and a deeply moving section titled
Israelis to a sort of suggestive charge of "Jerusalem Forever" contains a significant narrative, "The Dream of
dualism in American Jews' loyalties. These Col. Gur," by the eminent author, Elie Wiesel.
are unfortunate echoes, perhaps, of the Rus-
A "Calendar of Events," dated Jan. 1 through July 22, serves
sian unholy alliance with the Council for
as an added guide to events that preceded July 5 and followed that
Judaism which had brought Rabbi Levin
day in all its dramatic sequences.
to the U.S. It is a cause for deep regret that
It should be noted that this volume concerns itself not only with the
this un-Jewish Council which was branded
storms, with the preparation for war, the war itself, the
editorially in the Philadelphia Inquirer as gathering
people who were involved, but also with the aftermath, without which
being "dominated by insensitive fat cats" the story as related here would be incomplete.
should have been responsible for a visit that
In its totality, "Mission Survival" is a valuable documentary. For
had great merit. That Russian Jews should
it includes the address that was delivered by General Rabin
become the partners of such a destructive example,
on Mount Scopus towards the end of June 1967 when he received an
anti-Zionist element whose numbers are less honorary doctorate from the Hebrew University. It was a statesmanlike
than 10,000 out of a total of 6,000,000 Ameri- declaration by a man of war who seeks peace, and it reveals the char.
can Jews is deplorable.
acter of a man who desires amity while fighting for his people's security.
Meanwhile the facts are that out of Russia
A score of similar declarations has been gathered to assure for this
have come some very nasty evidences of volume a role as a source book on Israel's history during
and
spreading anti-Semitism, that the Russian challenging months. Diaries of soldiers and others are quoted, trying
radio and
press had been filled with anti-Semitic car- other public addresses were utilized by the editors, and newspaper
toons during and after the Six-Day War, that stories of special merit have been gathered here.
the pernicious forgeries known as the Proto-
views of Arabs have not been ignored, and by merging the
cols of the Elders of Zion are being distrib- views The
and sentiments of so many eminent spokesmen "Mission Survival"
buted from Cairo and from Russian sources becomes an important part of the literature related to Israel in 1967
and that even the atrocious ritual murder
Some of the human interest episodes that will be found in this book,
libel was given credence in Russia.
Yet, some Russian Jewish apologists for the heroism of youngsters and the devotion of university students, will
doubt be read for many years with keenest interest, elevating
their country's dominating party would have no
"Mission Survival" to a role of literary importance.
us believe that Russia is being maligned by
American Jews rather than that Jews are
being persecuted in the USSR. If we could
only get together on the basis of facts and
In "A Time to Speak," published by Jonathan David (131 E. 23rd,
truth — but these seem to be strange motives
and hopes for a nation governed by an in- NY10), Rabbi Seymour J. Cohen has incorporated 125 sermon vignettes
dealing with all aspects of Jewish life and with major problems affecting
herited anti-Semitism and a desire to sup- humanity.
press Israel in the interest of Arabs who
serve the Kremlin's purpose in acquiring
The brevity of the essays and their succinctness, the universality Of
rights to waterways that have been sought the themes, the vast coverage make this work stand out as a noteworthy
by the Russians since the days of Queen elaboration on incidents in a person's life.
Catherine.
Dr. Cohen is the rabbi of Anshe Emet synagogue
'Mission Survival'—Israel's
Story Embracing Many Aspects
Rabbi Cohen's Sermon Vignettes
of Chicago.