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 $7 a year. Foreign 58.
Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 16th day of Kislev, 5729, the following scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Gen. 32:4-36:43. Prophetical portion, Hosea 11:7-12:12.
Candle lighting, Friday, Dec. 6, 4:41 p.m.
VOL. LIV.
No. 12
Page Four
December 6, 1968
30th Anniversary of Major Philanthropy
Occurring at a time when the Middle East are in jeopardy if it should become neces-
is involved more seriously than ever in a sary to place all emphasis merely on the
state of near-war, the major Jewish philan- physical aspects of a people's role in life.
thropic agency, the United Jewish Appeal, The urgency of the present situation is the
prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary. need to perpetuate the basic legacies of
At the annual conference to be held in Jewry, the spiritual ideals, and these can be
New York commencing Dec. 13, spokesmen assured only when there is firmness in the
for the movement that provides major means realm of the protective in the struggle for
for the rehabilitation of oppressed Jews, self-defense.
The United Jewish Appeal can not be
for the rescue of those who are still linger-
ing under persecution behind the Iron Cur- spoken of merely as an instrument for fund-
tain and in Moslem lands, for the settlement raising for relief purposes. It has also as-
of the tens of thousands for whom homes sisted in the advancement of Israel's educa-
are being provided in Israel, are once again tional needs, in making available for Jewries
mobilizing to assure uninterrupted activity in backward countries facilities providing for
in the great work of mercy. the sustenance of orphans and the aged, and
The United Jewish Appeal represents the in financing the aims of ORT to extend voca-
conscience of American Jewry. As a post- tional training among the youth.
script to the era of horror under Nazism, In commending the aims of UJA, it is
after centuries of indignities imposed upon necessary also to take into account a local
Jews throughout the world, there is a new arm that gives the cause great aid—Detroit's
wave of hatred, Jews are begrudged the small Allied Jewish Campaign whose major bene-
area so vital to a people's survival, their ficiary is the UJA. The Allied Jewish Cam-
neighbors have introduced a wave of terror- paign is now moving into action here for
ism and sabotage, and the kinsmen of the another challenging year and there is need
people of Israel once again are challenged for immediate preparation for a great effort
to come forth with all the aid that is needed to make certain that Detroit's reply to terror-
to assure the protection of nearly 2,500,000 ism in Israel will be in the form of unparal-
leled generosity.
people whose security is at stake.
Much more is at stake. Involved in the
Let us honor the 30th anniversary of UJA
current crisis is the spiritual status of our with renewed dedication to great needs and
people. Great progress has been attained serious acknowledgment of responsibilities
in Israel in advancing not only the industrial that must again be met with honor and with-
but also the cultural life of the people. Both out hesitation.
Self-Restraint Dignifies Israeli Attitudes
It is to the credit of Israel's officialdom
and its people that self-restraint is practiced
and that terrorism is not counteracted with
reprisals. There is a strong feeling that Arabs
and Jews must live together in peace and
that the two kindred peoples' friendly rela-
tions must be encouraged at all costs.
Within hours after the horrible act of
Nov. 15, when 12 people were killed in Jeru-
salem, business was restored to normal, traf-
fic between Arab and Jewish areas was re-
sumed, and except for the police search for
the culprits, normal conditions were in
evidence.
When, therefore, correspondents for
American newspapers from the Arab capitals
keep pounding out reports about increasing
hatreds, they misrepresent or misinterpret
the actual situation. And when they keep
harping upon a restoration of friendly Arab-
U.S. relations they are not stating the exact
facts. The truth is that such relationships
have never been hindered, that even in in-
stances of Arab states having broken their
diplomatic exchanges with our government,
the Johnson administration has not demon-
strated animosity, and no one who views de-
velopments in the Middle East realistically
anticipates that the next administration will
alter policies intended to retain good rela-
tions by our government with both Israel and
the Arabs.
It is only from Arab propaganda mills
that the negative aspects are harped upon;
and it is only when an ousted official of the
anti-Zionist Judaism Council tours the Arab
capitals and speaks about "a change in
American Mideast policy" that there emanate
misleading impressions about a situation that
can develop into amity if it were not for
disrupting elements.
We hear a great deal about pre-election
pledges and about the proferred "changes"
—as if American policy were dependent
upon a single party or as if there were con-
flicting attitudes resulting from "Jewish
pressures." Nothing is farther from the
truth. American aid has gone forth to Arabs
to a much larger degree than to Israel, and
the former have been. aided.more extensively.
with military supplies than Israel. All Israel
and her friends ask is that there should not
be an overbalance of military power, stem-
ming from Soviet Russia's assistance to all
efforts aimed at Israel's destruction, and
that Israel should be provided proper sup-
port to retain her sovereignty.
There is need for truthful evaluation of
the facts, of a proper presentation of facts
and of a realization of Israel's serious aims
to create amity with Arabs now residing in
territory governed by Israel. The spread of
libels about oppression of Arabs by Israel is
a most serious cause for harm to whatever
hopes there may still exist for an end to the
sad and unnecessary conflict.
Responsible Arabs joined in the condem-
nation of the outrageous bombing of an area
frequented by civilians in the Jerusalem
market area. If only the true attitudes of
Israelis could be understood, it is possible
that the hatreds that are being fanned might
vanish. This is where an improved public
relations program could work to the best
advantage of the entire Middle East.
Return to Sanity?
If it should prove true and workable that
Egypt will abandon the policy of discriminat-
ing against tourists who are Jews, perhaps
it also will lead to the spokesmen for Arabs
and Israel conversing with each other.
Removal of visa restrictions by the United
Arab Republic is the most encouraging bit
of news that has come from Arab sources.
Lots of nonsense is being emitted by cor-
respondents an columnists who haven't
taken the trouble to check on the truth about
oppressions by Israel, with the Arabs emerg-
ing as saints.
But it is in Israel that Arabs have free-
dom of travel, labor, study, use of govern-
ment health and other facilities, while a Jew's
life isn't worth a penny if he should show
himself in an Arab country.
Removal of visa restrictions may also lead
to neighbors being .on, speaking terms. Ls it.
.panacean.and too much to
Dr. Chouraqui's Notable History
of N. African Jewry Issued by J PS
Prof. Andre N. Chouraqui, in "Between East and West—A History
of the Jews of North Africa," the newest Jewish Publication Society,
volume, presents an authoritative account of the Jewish communities
under review, elaborating upon the Jewries of Algeria, Tunisia and
Morocco.
He covers the various periods in the experiences of these communi-
ties beginning with the Carthaginian era, 813-146 BCE. In this volume,
translated from the French by Michael M. Bernet, Dr. Chouraqui, a
native of Algeria who settled in France, studied at the University of
Paris and later became Israel Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion's
adviser on integration problems, is an outstanding authority on the
historical facts with which he deals in this, his latest work.
Having been a leader in Alliance Israelite Universelle and an active
participant in Jewish activities in France, he is especially highly quali-
fied to deal with issues so closely related to communities that have
had intimate dealings with France and the French.
The author covers extensively the events that affected Jewish
life in the Byzantine period, and his study has special relevance for
those seeking data about Jewish life under Moslem rule. In the
section on Jews in the Maghreb, there is an excellent account of the
spiritual life of the Jews who developed rabbinical courts, and
there is an interesting reference to the emergence of superstitions,
occult practices and the veneration of saints.
The settlement of Spanish Jews in North America introduces
another interesting chapter in the history under review.
Amidst frictions, there also developed centers of learning towards
the end of the 14th Century.
The developments through the various periods under review lead
up to the present time, to the French period and to the emancipation
of Algerian Jewry.
As part of the over-all review of historical developments, the status
of Tunisian and Moroccan Jewries is elaborated upon, and Dr. Choura-
qui explains the ways of life among these Jewries, the trials and tribu-
lations they suffered, the climattic results of Moslem antagonisms,
especially after the emergence of Israel, and the migrations, mostly
to Israel.
Arabic-speaking Jewry is better understood as a result of the
historical data provided by Dr. Chouraqui, whose explanations of
the customs and folklore of the communities defined by him and
the history of North African Jewries are better comprehended.
Dr. Chouraqui's "Between East and West" owes its value also to
the documentation, to the factual records provided by him. Jewish
historical records about North African Jews are implemented by this
work.
Wiesner's 'The Tower of Babel':
Excellent Biblical Narrative
William Wiesner has produced a remarkable book which Viking
Press published for him under the title "The Tower of Babel." Brevity
in relating the biblical story and splendid multicolored illustrations
distinguish this large format book for very young readers.
Wiesner tells the story of Nimrod who drove his people to build
a very high tower. It was in the city called Babel and its king aimed
to have the tower rise to the great heights so that he might attain
immense powers.
But God watched his mad ambition and decided to confuse him
by making the people talk different languages. The confusion made
it impossible for them to follow orders in building the tower, and they
rebelled against Nimrod and drove him out of the city of Babel.
Then the people divided into groups that •understood the same
speech, they migrated and settled elsewhere and that's how nations
arose and new languages divided peoples.
Wiesner explains towards the end of his book: "The story
of the Tower of Babel as told here is based on the Book of Genesis
and on commentaries to this Bible story in the book 'Hebrew
Myths' by Robert Graves and Raphael Patel."
By its clarity, and the wonderful illustrations which depict the
days of-calm and the period of confusion in Babel, Wiesner has prod-
uced 'an' excellent book'for children of all faiths.