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
Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish • News Publishing Co.. 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit, Mich. 48235.
VE 8-9364. Subscription g7 a year. Foreign $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 25th—day of Heshvan, 5729, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Gen. 23:1-25:18. Prophetical portion, I Kings 1:1-31.
Tora Readings for Rosh Hodesh Kislev, Thursday and Friday, Num. 28:1-15
Candle lighting, Friday, Nov. 15, 4:52 p.m.
VOL. LIV. No. 9
Page Four
November 15, 1968
American Policy in the Middle East
In their eagerness to gain votes for their
candidates, politicians resorted to appeals
based on claims that the men they supported
were the great friends of Israel, that they
and they alone would have assured the
speedy release of Phantom jets to Israel,
etc., etc.
In our acclaim for one candidate for the
Presidency, our appeal was based strictly on
the basic internal needs because of our deep
conviction that all of the candidates who
represented the three contending parties fa-
vored aid for Israel; and because of our con-
viction that if there are to be other obstruc-
tions they will come from an antagonistic
State Department that will exert its influ-
ence upon whoever was to assume adminis-
trative control of our government.
An election period was not the time to
utilize the Middle East crisis for controver-
sial debates. Fortunately, except for reitera-
tion of pledges by all parties, debate on the
issue was averted. This confirms our view
that little stock was to be placed in campaign
pledges, since emphasis is required only on
the principle involved. And the principle is
acknowledged: that there is an existing
American-Israel friendship that must not be
disrupted; and that there is a threat to an
entire people—the Arab desire to extermi-
nate Israel in Hitler fashion—that must be
fought at all costs.
It is on the basis of the latter that all
fair-minded Americans, Christians as well as
Jews, now must reassert their right to de-
mand assistance in Israel's defense, and that
means fulfillment of the pledge to provide
Israel with Phantom jets. From this course,
of pleading in Israel's defense, we must
never swerve.
Russia's Nefarious Role in the Middle East
A "cease fire" is normally • • :
to end
warfare as an approach r peace. Thi •
not the case in the Mid. e East. Instead of
adhering to United ations regulations,
Egypt has introduced a n term: "preventive
defense." In a series of infiltrations into
Israel, Nasser's forces, laboring under the
impact of new terminology, have instigated
renewed warfare which has resulted in many
deaths, in retaliatory action by Israel, the de-
struction of Egyptian oilfields and the crea-
tion of a new crisis in the international or-
ganization.
Instead of contributing to peace, Egypt has
created handicaps for the peace mission to
which the UN had assigned Dr. Gunnar
Jarring. While discussions were believed to
have led to possible negotiations for peace-
ful agreements, especially after Israel's
Foreign Minister Abba Eban had outlined
a nine-point program, for amity, all efforts
towards good will have been undermined
and the UAR Armed Forces General Com-
mand has made it known that "from now on,
the initiative will be Arab"—in other words,
there will be no end to conflicts, since the
UAR forces also asserted in a statement
issued on Sept. 8 that henceforth "Eyptian
forces will launch offensive action." This
is how the term "preventive defense" is be-
ing defined.
That hopes for peace should thus have
been destroyed is calamitous in international
relations and in the Israeli-Arab endless
state of war. When the Egyptian forces
went across the Suez to attack an Israeli
guard, it became evident that trouble was
brewing anew, and there was cause for seri-
ous concern over the possibility of another
war developing so soon after Israel's success
in the third conflict that has become known
as the Six-Day War.
Since there is general agreement that Israel
today can withstand attacks, it began to
appear as if Nasser was pursuing the tactics
of the Russian Czars prior to the elimination
of the Czarist regime. Under the Czars,
it was common for the Russian imperial gov-
ernment to instigate a series of pogroms.
It was sort of a diversion, intended to divert
the Russian people's attention from their
hardships under Czarism and to create a
scapegoat upon whom a suffering but ignor-
ant people was venting hatred. Is it possible
that Nasser, against whom his general often
plotted, needed a spurt of heroism to con-
vince his people that he was not yet com-
pletely licked in his battles with Israel? Per-
haps what has happened, this "preventive
defense," is a kind of diversion which will
be temporary in the embattled Middle East.
But there is a more serious factor in the
trying situation—the role of the Soviet Union.
Had it not been for Russia's acquisition of
new naval power in the Mediterranean, per-
haps as a provocation to the United States
or as an intention to pursue an age old Rus-
siori hope for control of the Middle East,
there would have been peace in that area
long ago. But Russia instigates trouble, arms
the defeated, giving them courage to believe
that the victor in the Six-Day War must re-
main an object for annihilation.
The new American administration that
will assume governmental leadership in this
country will have the same problems that
faced the Johnson administration. It is the
East-West struggle that is more threaten-
ing in the Middle East than it is in the Far
East. The "hot line" used by President
Johnson in June of 1967 may be resorted to
time and time again, and those who hope and
pray for peace must hope that the firmness
of LBJ will be in evidence in our nation's
capital both for peace and for the prevention
of another war. This becomes an obliga-
tion not only in the best interests of Ameri-
can international relations but more especial-
ly that of peace for the entire world.
-
Assassins Who Gain Hero's Status
More than five months ago, an assassin ing others with poisoned minds who are
struck down a popular Presidential candi- motivated by hatreds to seek what appears
date. The murderer not only continues to to be an assurance of possible escape from
gain delays in court action, but he is dis- justice.
cussed as an "alleged" assailant even though
In England, a case like that of the mur-
he was caught in the act of killing, he is derer of. Senator Robert Kennedy would have
spoken of as a subject to be dealt with bi- come up for trial within weeks and would
ographically, and he is gaining the status of have been disposed of promptly. But in this
a hero. Apparently there are even sources country there are delays, dilly-dallying, plat-
of fund-raising for him. forms are provided for self-glorification and
Is it any wonder that other would-be to spread libels against a nation that is en-
assassins are collecting arms with an aim at dangered by war threats.
striking down public figures?
What we are experiencing is encourage.
The plot to kill our President-elect may ment to crime rather than speedy rulings
be the result of a system that permits mur- that should serve as warnings that murders
will not be tolerated.
derers to gain notoriety, thereby encourag
-
Third 'Pictorial History of Israel'
Emphasizes Link With Diaspora
To the vast amount of literature about Israel now are added sev-
eral new books of considerable merit.
From Thomas Yoseloff publishing house comes an impressive
large book, "Pictorial History of Israel," by Jacob A. Rubin and Meyer
Barkai, both eminently qualified to deal with a subject they have dealt
with in two previous editions, devoting this third printing, with many
addenda, to Israel's 20th anniversary.
Hundreds of photographs, many up-to-date in covering develop-
ments since the Six-Day War, complement the informative text. The
authors commence from the very beginning of Jewish history, opening
their text with the quotation from Genesis 17:8:
"And I will give to thee and to thy seed after thee the land of
my abode, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession."
From this point on, Jewish links with the Land of Israel, the his-
tory of the people of Israel through the ages, the events that led to
Israel's rebirth as a state, are represented here in pictures and ac-
companying stories.
The Zionist story starts with Moses Hess and Leon Pinker,
with the role of Sir Moses Montefiore, until the appearance of
Theodor Herzl and the organizational efforts in the World Zionist
Congress, the first having taken place in 1897 in Basel. The first
Jewish settlers in Palestine are depicted, and the reader gets an
idea of the beginnings of Zionist endeavors.
The value of this work lies in the historical record, in the review
of Israel's accomplishments, and also in the re-introduction of the
pioneers in Zionism as well as among the state-builders.
In the reviewing of past history, the reader gets the facts about
the halutzim and also about the role of the British and the obstacles
that were placed in the path of the early pioneers; about Arab as
well as British intransigence.
Providing details of Israel's rebirth, the authors tell about the
many contributions towards the state's cultural, scientific and eco-
nomic progress. United Jewish Appeal activities, the labors in
behalf of the universities and research institutes, the Zionist Or-
ganization of America's role in setting up the important ZOA House
in Tel Aviv, Hadassah's tasks, labor's share in the country's up-
building--all are reviewed in considerable detail.
While the military details and the triumphs in three wars are
given a full account, it is the creative effort to integrate Orientals with
Occidentals and the productive efforts of ' the settlers in Israel from
many lands that receives emphasis.
Thus, the achievements at the Haifa Technion, the Welzmann
Institute, Hebrew University, Bar-Ilan University and the newly-
emerging other schools of higher learning are recorded.
A chapter on "Culture and Sports" iS an addendum to creative
efforts in art, the film industry, athletics, the theater and related
Agricultural training institutes, Kfar Silver, ORT schools, institu-
tions sponsored by various movements are given due credit for their
contributions towards Israel's upbuilding.
The United Nations' role is not overlooked, and the authors pay
due attention to the position of the Arabs. Realistically, Rubin and
B
Ita s rk N ae iiga hn ba olr y s ze existing situations
in a chapter entitled "Israel and
•
Accompanying maps enable the reader to follow events properly.
Attention is given to Israel's coins and stamps.
In a concluding chapter about Israel's future, the Iwo authors
speak about the great scientific development of Israel which "will add
new dimensions to the position of Israeli Jews among the Jews of the
world." They emphasize the "mutual relationship between Israel and
the Jews in the countries of the Diaspora" and express hope in "the
Jewish spiritual and traditional values which Israel hopes to develop
and strengthen in the second decade of its existence, to become the
spiritual center of all Jewish communities throughout the world."