THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of Engltsh-..lewish 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 $8.
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 19th day of Tamuz, 5729, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuch& portion, Num. 25:10-30:1. Prophetical portion, Jeremiah 1:1-2:3.
Candle lighting, Friday, July 4, 7:53 p.m.
VOL. LV. No. 16
Page Four
July 4, 1969
Beware of Irresponsible Vigilantes
There have been many occasions in Jew-
ish life when it was necessary to organize
Jewish defense groups. That was the case
in the years under Czar Nicholas II in Rus-
sia, when Jews were compelled to set up
guards to protect their communities. It was
a necessity in Israel when Arab gangs sought
to destroy Israeli settlements and the repre-
sentatives of the British mandatory power
in Palestine failed to act justly with the
Jewish settlers. Perhaps it could become a
requirement in American communities if
the crime wave should spread and police
protection should be reduced.
It is imperative, however, that level-
headed citizens should recognize that what-
ever lawlessness is in evidence has become
an American probl'em and is recognized as
such, and the moment private groups under-
take to establish vigilantes we'll have a
breakdown of the law enforcement agencies.
Our national agencies and some religious
leaders have criticized the formation of a so-
called Jewish Defense League, and their
position is justified. It is doubtful whether
self-respecting people will condone an appeal
that assumes many shortcomings in our
society and resorts to this type of argument:
"Nice Jewish, Christian, white and black
boys should create a society of justice and
equality in which people can get back to
being nice." If all these elements are in-
cluded in a rising need for defense against
hoodlums, the Radical Right and the Radical
Left, why speak of "Jewish survival?" And
if there is need to become newly concerned
about Jewish survival, why a° new organiza-
tion that seeks $10 and $3 memberships and
contributions of $10,000, $50,000, $1,000 or
any other sum?
There is no doubt that ADL is correct
in stating that the new group is self-appoint-
ed and the accusations that the self-styled
defenders of Jewish rights are spreading
panic by their appeal.
This type of propaganda is as wrong as
the methods used to get children to go to
camps on the ground that the streets are un-
safe. If they are unsafe during the summer
months, the streets are equally unsafe
throughout the year, and the aspiration is
to establish order in our communities but
not by means of uncalled-for vigilantes or
by spreading panic. By encouraging a feel-
ing of fear, we increase uneasiness and
often provide fuel for the fires of bigotry
that have been injected in our ranks. If we
approve of vigilantes, we might also have
countering groups of militants who stem
from the extremists.
Therefore the obligation is ,to strive for
peace in our communities, but not through
rile clubs or vigilante tactics. All citizens
are the defenders of justice, and the trouble-
makers are in the minority. If we abandon
faith in government, and in the functioning
police force, we will be yielding to and en-
couraging terror. Anything like the present
Jewish Defense League proposal should be
repudiated in the most emphatic terms.
Plea for Retention of Neighborhoods
A hit late to stem the tide of the vast
movement of Jews out of the large cities
into suburbs, the Orthodox Rabbinical Coun-
cil has made a strong plea for the retention
of neighborhoods now still heavily populated
by Jews.
The point is well taken that the changes
that have taken place involved not only
the psychological factors of a movement from
the large cities into the suburbs but also the
vast financial losses by the abandonment
of expensive synagogue and school buildings.
If the population shifts should continue,
then. as a result of the creation of extensive
expressways that shorten time of travel, even
the present suburban residential districts
could change, and the appeal from the rabbis
is timely and realistic.
But neighborhood movements are re-
lated to thd economic status of those who
shift residences. 13sides, it is not strictly a
Jewish trait to change residential areas, but
the American people is known to be shifting
and to be changing neighborhoods.
The problem has not lost its seriousness
by the rapidity of change into surburbia in
practically all of the large cities in this
country. There remains the need to hold on
to the areas now inhabited and to refrain
from continuing the wandering trend.
Responsibility for the educational efforts
to assure retention of neighborhoods does
not rest upon the Orthodox. It is a matter
of concern to all elements in our community
and it should be tackled on a basis involving
all who are concerned that the established
synagogues and schools should not be aban-
doned by a continuing trend of changing
neighborhoods.
Are Nazi Criminals Going Unpunished?
If there ever was a doubt about the com-
plaints leveled at West Germany's reluctance
to abandon or extend the statute of limita-
tions on punishment of Nazi criminals, the
figures available indicate the guilt and the
extent of escape of punishment by Nazi
criminals.
In the figures available as of Jan. 1,
1968—the completest available—only 6,192
accused Nazis out of cases filed against 51,677
were sentenced. Twelve were given the
death sentences before capital punishment
for the crimes was abolished; 90 were sen-
tenced to hard labor for life; there were 114
fines and 5,975 minor imprisonments.
Meanwhile, many of the major partici-
pants in the Nazi cruelties have escaped pun-
ishment, arch criminals are at large, and
justice is being ridiculed.
The demand for the abandonment of the
statute of limitations was not a matter of
seeking vengeance as it was the need so to
expose the crimes of the Hitler era that they
should not again be repeated. •
There are many judges in Germany who
are acting scruptilthisly and are determined
'Jewish Heritage' Remarkably
Defined in Rabbi Brasch's Book
Legend and reality, fact and fiction, tradition and law are packed
into a volume of great value and unusual interest—"The Jewish Heri-
tage: Its Teachings, Philosophy and Symbols," by Rabbi R. Brasch of
Sydney, Australia, published by McKay.
Every conceivable Jewish subject is touched upon in Dr. Brasch's
scholarly approach to the ii-sues under discussion, and the illuminat-
ing explanations assist the reader in an understanding of the basics of
Jewish beliefs, practices and, aspects that make a way of life for Jews
as a people.
One of the typical examples is the chapter on "The Covering
of the Head." It was not a law. Dr. Brasch points out that "Elijah
Gaon of Vilna (eminent 18th Century authority) could say,.'Actord-
ing to Jewish law it is permitted to enter a synagogue and to pray
without covering one's bead.' " Another authority, 16th Century
scholar Rabbi Moses Isseries, did not consider covering of the
head a religious principle; "It was merely a matter of good man-
ners, not of ritual law."
An interesting point is emphasized in Rabbi Brasch's definition.
He indicates the "determination to remain apart in the phenomenon
of Jewish survival" and delares:
"Jewish teaching throughout the ages has emphatically forbidden
the Jew to imitate other people, to 'become as one of the Gentiles.' This
was, however, no pretentious belief in 'Jewish supriority,' but a dire
necessity in the struggle for very existence. To stay spiritually alive,
the Jew had to remain apart! The rabbis, when translating the Chap-
ter of Holiness at the center of the Pentateuch (Lev. XIX), thus delib-
erately rendered 'You shall be holy' as 'You shall be different.' The
custom of covering the head in synagogue exemplified this principle.
As a means of differentiation, it helped the Jew in his fight for sur-
vival."
Because this is so controversial a subject marking the difference
between Orthodoxy, Conservatism and Reform, tthe head covering item
is selected especially for comment. But all other matters relating to
Jewish life and traditions are equally well delineated in this splendid
book.
The Chosen People concept has been a matter for debate and
wide discussion, with challenges on that score stemming from non-
Jews. Dr. Brasch inter alia makes this statement on the subject:
"That the Jews were chosen by God to be His servants did not en-
title them to any privilege, but rather imposed special responsibi-
lities and obligations."
that the guilty in the atrocities should not
go free. But there are political considera-
On this subject, Rabbi Brasch introduces again the famous verse
tions, there is the rising tide of neo-Nazism
mingled with which is the demand for com- by W. N. Ewer, "How Odd of God, to Choose the Jews," and he rates
as
much
more valid the "Reply," a stanza from Cecil Browne:
plete forgetfulness and the abandonment of
all efforts to search out the culprits. It is
But not so odd
against such a condition that those who are
As those who choose
determined that Nazism should be punished
A Jewish God
had met with obstacles.
The search for Nazis like Martin Bor-
mann, and his ilk, the need not to permit
those who participated in the mass murders
to escape punishment, remain major duties in
the aftermath of the Holocaust.
Last week's decision, after so much con-
troversy, to have the statute of limitations
for murder go into effect in 1979 instead of
Dec. 31, 1969, in some measure amelior-
ates the problem because so many of the
guilty will then undoubtedly be gone.
While the new decision is a compromise,
because of the limitations on those charged
with having acted on orders from superiors,
at least the chief offenders may , yet receive
.
due punishment.
Yet spurn the Jews.
Etiquette, derek eretz, tradition, observance, many matters of con-
cern to Jews are covered in this book. Of interest is this item entitled
"The Jew's 'Thank' ":
"When the religious Jew says, 'Thank you,' he uses no stereotyped
formula which, however sincerely meant, only acknowledges services
rendered. His thanks are a wish. But, far from being flattering or
obsequious, it contains almost a challenge. 'May your power always
be used justly,' is the meaning the Hebrew 'thanks'—Y'yasher Kok.
hakha. There could be no nobler desire for any well-wisher than that
his benefactor's capabilities should only and always be used in deal-
ings that are 'straight' (the literal meaning of the Hebrew word `just').
Far from feeling hurt, a person thus thanked gratefully responds,
'May you be blessed.' This is a vocabulary of etiquette worthy of a
social order where justice and rig4teousness prevail."
It is
. 04 _spirit
that qverx kspeci of Jewish experience is del*
udaic Heritage" a splendid book.
ea, making Rabbi Brisch's