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.