Head of Christian Institute in Israel Speaks for Peace and Zionist Ideal
Uneasiness and uncertainties'
stemming from misinformation or spective, yet its students come
lack of information about what is from many different eccelesiastical
really happening in Israel-"held" I and theological origins and its lec-
territories seem to be on the in-1 turers include distinguished local
crease in certain circles in Amer. ' clergymen of a variety of theolog-
ica. It affects the moral and value ical backgrounds as well as noted
judgments of individuals and ; Israeli scholars from local tmiver-
groups not only to our detriment sities. Thus the Institute provides.
who live in Israel, but to the per along with its more academic ob-
sonal detriment as well as those jectives of archaeological, geogra-
who become party to the spread of phical, historical, sociological and
misinformation that hurts others. linguistic studies, an unusual on-
In the long UN debates about the-spot study and observation post
border incidents. refugees, and Is- and forum for the exchange of per-
raeli occupation since the Six-Day ' spectives in all the areas of mis-
War, accusations motivated by I givings and lack of objectivity
political considerations rather than noted above.
considerations of truth contribute
Our long and close observation in
to the uncertainty.
'Israel has brought us to certain.
Delegations of church groups, as understandings of the Jewish peo-
well as individual clergymen, have ple here and their intentions as
been coming for "inspections" that well as their acts, and of the prob-
last only a few days. Some of their lems causing uneasiness abroad. ,
reports, widely circulated even
There can be no doubt about'
though necessarily (for reasons of
the deeply religious character of;
the shortness of their visits) based
the average Israeli and in par-
on partial and sometimes even
ticular the young, the sabras.
faulty sources, add to the unrest
Their religiosity may not be ex-
being created. In fact, some church
pressed as we in America are
groups and clergymen who make
accustomed to seeing expressions
reports never even get to Israel,
of religion, nor obviously is the
but base their observations on in-
content of their faith the same
formation secured wholly from out-
as ours. It is Jewish, not Chris-
side and biased sources.
tian, and consequently there are
This statement is made in the
differences. The impact of the
interest of easing any tension that
Bible from Genesis to Malakhi is ;
might be developing and of invit-
everywhere evident. In person 1
ing Christians to come, stay for
and place names, in quotations 1
awhile, study the situation first-
by statesmen, in names of prod-1
hand and form their own conclu-
ucts and ideas, in Bible contests
sions. We Christians who live in
and study, in books and articles
Israel find life here as normal as
and in many other ways.
in most parts of the world. The
The Biblical records as well as
local tensions are not greater
1
uninterrupted
Jewish tradition'
than anywhere else in our 20th
century, and in some respects, I have created the Israeli feeling of
due to good control of law and deep roots in the land of the Bible
I and its history. These roots they
order, much less.
Who speaks? The American Insti- justifiably see as eternal since the
tute of Holy Land Studies is a 10- I Prophets from Moses to Jeremiah
year resident of Jerusalem, Israel. and Ezekiel reiterate it: "I have
It is an educational institution serv- given thee this land as an eternal
ing the churches of the world and possession." To state that modern
their schools in general, American Zionism (the hope of their own
and European in particular. It is government in the land God prom-
evangelical in background and per- ' ised them) is opposed to Judaism
is completely to fail to grasp Jew-
ish self-understanding and tradition
TESTS FOR ISRAELIS.
I and to twist Biblical statements.
This summer's Maccabia Games To take the promises made by God
in Tel Aviv will serve as an offi- to Judah and Israel and apply
cial trial for Israeli athletes in them to the church is an error of
selecting a national team for the hermeneutics of long standing in
Asian Games in Bangkok in 1970. some churches. The New Testa-
Israel won gold medals in basket- ment declares that "the building
ball and track in the 1966 Asian of the tabernacle of David" is after
Games.
"the calling out of the Gentiles a
people for God's name" and not
that they are the same things
(Acts 15) and thus makes it clear
that the church cannot absorb to
itself the good statements of God
sto Judah and Israel. God's prom-
ises to Israel must and do stand
yet.
The oft-repeated attempts to
anti-Zionist without being anti-
Jewish (anti-Semitic in that
sense) were shown to be erron-
eous by the complete solidarity
of all the Jews of the world in
June 11167. To say one is not anti-
Jewish but only anti-Zionist is
meaningless, since that June
showed a solidarity unimagined
before and demonstrates that
there is no real distinction be-
tween these terms for the vast
majority of Jews. This is a dan-
gerous distinction to try to make
in this age when anti-Semitism is
frowned upon, certainly in theory,
everywhere.
Religious and Biblically-oriented
people should not allow themselves
Phone:KL. 3-2110
to be moved to apprehensions by
such allegations as irreligiosity or
non-Bibleness among Israelis, not
even by the use (misuse) of Zionist
171
9
1c.
7 24 :
/
01
(30
charges.
Books and multitudes of articles
have been written on the "Pales-
24611 Greenfield
tine Refugee." We have found, con-
Southfield
trary to many of the conclusions
reached in these books and articles,
a great empathy between the Israel
and these people since so many, at
I
countries we here do not find oppo- be counted on the side of directly
sition to ideas of peace. Attempts negotiated peace.
to bring physical destruction on
Such lasting peace is possible
civilians by border incidents or by through wise action. Until we ham
schools
and
that
peace, however, we wish It
planting of bombs in
theaters, or to use women and chil- known that in this local situation
dren for political ends, are ideas we dwell and work in confidence.
that are abhorrent to the mentality with a real sense of security. I
of the people among whom we have
TIE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
lived here. To them the basic ques-
tion is peaceful co-existence, not 18--Friday, March 21, 1969
destruction. The problem is not one
of refugees, of occupations of bor-
OLD PHOTOS
ders. It is a problem of either
COPIED & RESTORED
peace or genocide of Jews. When
the area is ready for a genuine
peace, all outstanding problems
can be mutually worked out. And it
Photographers
becomes, not a cause for uneasi-
UN 41-87115
ness or uncertainty to Christians
abroad but rather a very deep
moral issue as to whether they will
lend encouragement to Arab na-
tions whose plans include more war
H is also erroneous to say "Jer- and possible genocide or whether
(
usalem has been overwhelmingly I they will use their influence for the
Arab from the seventh century I
negotiation for peace now. Now is
until the modern influx ..." His- I
the time for us all to stand up and
tarically, the opposite is true. The
Jewish population has been the
FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY ON THE '69 CADILLAC
m ajority in Jerusalem for many,
many years; long before modern
SEE OR CALL
times. To unify a Jewish majority
city after 20 years of its being
divided by others is surely no
cause for antagonism abroad.'
PERSONAL PICKUP & DELIVERY FOR SERVICE
Our churches damaged by wars
since 1948 are being repaired by
Israeli compensation funds. The
2151 EUREKA AVENUE, WYANDOTTE
extremely stringent laws protect- ,
RES. 642-6836
CALL: BUS. 382-7820
ing Holy Places and worshippers'
at them have ben consistently' — -
and strictly enforced. We feel at I
peace and at ease in our united I
city as Christians, with actually
ANYWHERE
EVERYWHERE
less fear of personal assault than
Coll
in other cities in which we have
lived abroad, such Is the force of
Israeli law and order being main-
15751 W. 10Y2 MILE RD.
tained. This may be said in spite I
SPECIAL
— FROM 11 TO 120 DAY TOURS TO ISRAEL
of the border incidents and occa-
FROM $399 and up
sional Arab terrorist acts.
least one-half of all Israelis, have
been refugees themselves, many I
from Arab countries. To speak of
"a great deal of pressure and not
a little force to 'encourage' the
Arabs to leave" Israeli areas is ;
sheer fabrication, vicious, and I
bound to contribute to feelings
uneasiness. The Israeli policy has I
always been, as she has done with
all who chose refuge here, that
they should be settled productively
in their host countries, in line with I
the settlement of similar refugee I
problems in many other areas of
the world, and that refugees should
not be used as tools to raise inter-1
national political sympathies. It is 1
ironical that this issue, maintained I
by Arabs, should be used by friends I
of Arabs to cause antipathy against
a people who have demonstrated so
much humanitarianism. 1
of
I
j) " c c et al d ie /
ANDY BLAU
PRENTIS CADILLAC
TRAVELING
YESHIVATH BETH YEHUDAH
Eve. 862-0963
353-6750
Contrary to the policy of the Arab
The Metropolitan Detroit B'nai B'rith Council
Proudly Announces
"CAMPAIGN 21"
in honor and
recognition of the
of the State of Israel
AN EMERGENCY MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN
ISRAEL BY STRENGTHENING B'NAI B'RITH
21st Anniversary
B'nai B'rith cordially invites you to become a member of B'nai
B'rith during "Campaign 21" (March 16-April 30) or participate
by enrolling a new member during this emergency campaign.
Use the convenient application blank below.
PLEASE MAIL TO: B'NAI ritITH
,
19951 LIVERNOIS
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48221
DISTRICT GRAND LODGE NO.
DATE
(NAME OF LODGE OR CHAPTER)
CUSTOM HOMES
CUSTOM
REMODELING
PROFESSIONAL
and OFFICES
&2 EiD
k
Saga- 3ayng-
19
NO.
STATE OR PROVINCE
CITY
I AM OF THE JEWISH FAITH AND PLEDGE MYSELF TO SUPPORT TIE
HIGH IDEALS AND PURPOSES OF WNAI MTH
NAME
—
DATE OF BIRTH
HOME ADDRESS * 0
BUSINESS ADDRESS . 0
(ZIP) ....
(ZIP)
HOME TELEPHONE
Let Us Bid
Your Plans
—
BUSINESS TELEPHONE
OCCUPATION
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A MEMBER?
WHAT LODGE OR CHAPTER? ... —
WIFE OR HUSBAND'S NAME
MEMBER OF B'hii•4 B'RITH?
PROPOSED BY
•Please Indicate Where You Wish Your Moil Sent.
DUES ATTACHED tN THE AMOUNT OF
I
SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT FOR MEMBERSHIP
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CAL. 341-0863
ar
2
CITY & STATE
Dr. G. Douglas Young, president of the American Insti-
tute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem, in a statement
issued in Israel repudiated attacks on Israel and Israelis,
defended the Zionist ideal and indicated that a lasting peace
is possible if Arabs will abandon unrealistic actions and will
not resort to terrorism. His statement follows: