40—Friday, August 1, 1969
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
GI Redeems First-Born in Germany
The resourcefulness of Jewish military chaplains served by the
commission on Jewish chaplaincy of the National Jewish Welfare
Board is demonstrated by the availability of the five Silver dollars (no
longer in circulation) shown being paid by a U.S. serviceman at Ram-
stein Air Force Base, Germany, in the traditional Pidyon Haben
(redemption) ceremony for his first-born son. Sp. 5 Harvey Klug (sec-
ond left), father, presents the coins to Chaplain Nahum Cohen, U.S.
Army Reserve Chaplain, as Mrs. Klug and Ramstein Jewish Chaplain
Sydney Hoffman look on. A frantic search for the rare silver dollars
involved the two Jewish chaplains, a Protestant chaplain and the staff
of the 25th Army Postal Unit.
Education of a Jewish Horseplayer:
Story About Sam (The Genius) Lewin
Since horseplaying is not limited the 60-day racing season.
to any one people or race or reli- 1 "The Education of a Horseplayer"
gious denomination but they are to traces Sam Lewin's life from the
be found among all peoples, a book time the lure of the track made
about a Jewish horseplayer de- him a law-school dropout to his
serves some attention, present position as a leading auth-
Every year 70,000,000 Americans ority on what makes horses win.
go to racetracks in all parts of the The book contains many inside
United States hoping—to win. Sam stories about famous racing people
(The Genius) Lewin has been going such as jockey Bill Hartack, trainer
to tracks almost every day for 40 Hirsch Jacobs, and fans like Al
years and has been winning more Jolson, Enrico Caruso, and J. Ed-
consistently than any other bettor gar Hoover.
in the history of racing. The Genius,
Some years ago Newsweek pub-
who received that sobriqbet for his lished a survey of the results of a
unerring ability, reveals the tech- one-month record of five major
niques he uses to select winners in newspaper handicappers. The rac-
"The Education of a Horseplayer" ing fan who might have followed
(Hawthorn Books; a Stuart L. Dan- their selections and placed $2 bets
iels Book).
would have incurred a loss of from
The factors that go into choosing $5.20 to $59.60. Only one handicap-
a winner at the track and the im- per showed a profit for the period.
portance of each factor are care- In contrast, Sam Lewin's published
fully explained, enabling the reader record for the Atlantic City racing
to make his own winning selection , . season in 1969 showed a profit for
Information is presented on how to the $2 better of approximately $94.
manage money. -
Frederick Klein, a reporter and
In addition to being a successful feature writer for the Wall Street
bettor, Sam Lewin is the manager Journal, assisted in the preparation
of a racing stable (Carolyn K.), of the book. When he began his
owns and races his own horses, and writing chores, Klein knew nothing
is the official handicapper for the about racing. He is now a racing
Atlantic City Race Track. In this fan and is selecting winners by
last capacity he gives the track using the principles given in this
patrons his selections each day of book.
Weekly Quiz
By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
Why does Jewish tradition pre-
fer, and sometimes insist upon,
olive oil as the fuel for the lights
of the Menora?
This is, of course, mentioned in
the Bible (Exodus 27:20). The com-
mentaries have given various rea-
sons. Some contend that the flame
and consequently the light which is
the product of olive oil is a much
clearer and cleaner illumination
(Shabat 23). Others claim that it is
because the olive oil is drawn
through the wick with more ease
and more continuity than other
fuels. For this reason there are
some who even prefer olive oil for
use in lighting the tapers for the
Sabbath. The Talmud tells us
(Berakot chapter 9) that one who
sees olive oil in his dream looks
forward to wisdom.
but that when they would be set-
, tled citizens and engaged in the
pursuit of their business and profes-
sion, they would have no time to
study the Tora.
The Almighty answered that one
day a week would be set aside
when business and trade would be
curtailed and restricted, allowing
the people this day for the study of
Tora.
This is why the commandment to
observe the Sabbath is preceded by
a statement telling the people "six
days shalt thou labor," etc. There-
fore the delight that the people are
supposed to find in the Sabbath is
the intellectual pursuit of the study
of Tora. It is for this reason that
the portion in the Book of Exodus
which describes how Moses gath-
ered the people contains a passage
regarding the observance of the
Sabbath (the portion called "Vaya-
khel"). The rabbis say that this in-
dicates that Moses especially gath-
ered the people on the Sabbath in
order to lecture to them about the
Tora. This supposedly set an ex-
ample for the rabbis of the future
and of all generations to gather
their people on the Sabbath in
order to teach them Tora.
Why has it become traditional
to have lectures and classes on
Saturday afternoon?
The rabbis say that the Tora
complained to the Almighty when it
was being revealed to the people of
Israel. It contended that the people
would study the Tora in the wilder-
ness when they had nothing to do
(Copyright 1969, JTA, Inc)
Israel's Revealing Economic Potential
By HAIM SHACHTER
In drawing comparisons between
Israel and the Arab world, it is
usual to raise the fact that Israel
has a population of only 2,500,000
Jews as against an Arab world of
200,000,000. On the face of it, what
chances of survival can Israel pos-
sibly have against such overwhelm-
ing odds? Compelling though this
comparison may be, things don't
look so black when other factors
are taken into consideration.
An inquiry into the economy of
the Middle East was made recently
by Dr. Eliezer Sheffer, director of
research in the Bank of Israel,
who also lectures on the economy
of the Middle East at the Hebrew
University. Israel's gross national
product last year amounted to the
very impressive figure of $4,000,-
000,000. The five Arab states: Egypt,
Jordan, Syria and Lebanon,
which have common borders with
Israel and Iraq, could show a gross
national product of only $10,000,-
000,000, which is only two and a
half times of Israel, while their
population is almost 20-fold that of
the Jewish state.
proportion to its population. It is
an economic tower of strength
surrounded by a vast undeveloped
desert. And this, when Israel has
been hard-pressed for the past 20
years, fighting for her very exist-
ence and, to her dislike, is in a
state of war with her neighbors.
It does not require a great stretch
of the imagination to visualize the
economic benefits that peace would
bring to all the parties concerned.
For Israel these benefits are clean;
drastic cuts in her security budget,
new export markets, a mutual tour-
ist trade, etc. The benefits for the
Arab states would be even greater.
Not only would they be able to save
on security outlays; they would
have a large uotlet for their prod-
ucts and Israel, as we have shown,
is a large importer: it imports an-
nually goods to the sum of $1,000,-
000,000 on. This is of tremendous
weight as far as the Arab states
are concerned, for their total ex-
ports amount to less than $2,500,-
000,000. Israel could provide tran-
sit for Arab exports, especially
for Jordan, which has no conveni-
ent facilities for transportation by
sea.
In the 20 years of her existence,
Israel has extended invaluable aid
to underdeveloped countries, espe-
cially in Africa. If peace came, Is-
rael would be able to divert her
technical experience and many of
her experts to the assistance of her
neighbors. If peace came .. .
Boris Smolar's
'Between You
and Me'
...
(Copyright INS, JTA Inc.)
A more compelling comparison
PERSONALITY PROFILE: The name of Isidore Sobeloff—who is
is that of industrial production; reaching his 70th birthday this month—stands high in Jewish communal
after all, a country's strength is life in this country. It is among the most respected names in Jewish
measured in terms of industrial
communal service. Mr. Sobeloff is one of
potential. Israel's industrial produc- the architects and builders of this service.
tion in 1968 amounted to $1,200,000,-
To many Mr. Sobeloff is known merely
00. That of the five Arab states as "Soby." This is the affectionate name
put together came to only $1,400.- bestowed upon him by his friends. It in-
000,000, or a mere $200,000,000 dicates the feeling of affection which
more. The industrial potential of many who have come In contact with him
tiny Israel is almost equal to that carry
for him. Some of the social workers
of all the five Arab states with who now
occupy leading positions in Jew-.
which it is in a state of war. These ish communities
in various cities pride
Arab states form only part of the themselves on having
worked with
Arab world, and their joint popula- "Soby."
tion is over 45,000.000. Yet, their
Mr. Sobeloff's greatest assets
imports amount to only three times are. Among
his deep knowledge of Jewish com-
that of Israel with a population of munal
problems
and his outstanding or-
2,500,00G.
ganizing ability. His major assets include
One of the most effective meas- his love for people. He loves Jewish com-
uring rods for a country's econ- munal work, and he loves the people en-
omy is the gross national product gaged in this work.
Sobeloff
per capita. In Israel, it amounted.
At national conventions he can be seen surrounded by delegates—
in 1968 to $1,425. Figures
lay
leaders
and
social
workers—listening
to
his
views
and consulting
for the Arab states are available
only for the year 1966, but the him on the problems which they face in their communities. There is
picture cannot have changed very hardly a Jewish community in the United States the problems of which
are unknown to Mr. Sobeloff. He is eager to listen and also eager to
drastically since then. For Egypt. help.
the gross per capita product was
•
•
•
$160; for Iraq, $270; for Syria,
CREATIVE DIRECTION: Isidore Sobeloff came into Jewish welfare
$180, and for Jordan, $220. Leb-
anon registered a considerable work some 45 years ago as a young man from Baltimore. This was the
advance over the situation in the time when Baltimore contributed to American Jewish life a number of
other Arab countries, with a gross able young people who later made their mark as national figures in the
national product per capita of Jewish communal system.
Included in this group was Dr. Joseph Schwartz, who gained a high
$480. If we strike an average of
the per capita product of the five reputation in the executive positions he later held in the Joint Distribu-
countries, it comes to about $200, tion Comittee and the United Jewish Appeal, and who is now the execu-
barely one seventh that of Israel. tive head of the Israel Bond Organization, Another of this group was
In one field alone the Arab states Maurice Bisgyer, who for many years was the executive head of the
are in a position to compete with national Bnai Brith until he retired a few years ago. The "Baltimore
Israel—in their security budgets. A bunch," as this group was fondly called when their roles in organized
comparison of the official figures Jewish life became more and more visible, remained close friends even
published by Israel and the Arab after they left Baltimore. They worked in different cities, but there was
states shows that whereas the lat- always a bond of intimate friendship that remained.
ter allocate about 13 per cent of
Mr. Sobeloff worked for several years in the Federation of Jewish
their gross national product to Philanthropies of New York, and later for three years as director of
security, Israel, by dint of circum- public education in the Welfare Council of New York. He then became
stances, is forced to devote as in 1937 the executive head of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit
much as 18 per cent for that pur- —a post he held until 1964, when he was invited to become the executive
pose. Examination of the absolute head of the Jewish Federation-Council of Greater Los Angeles.
figures shows that Israel's invest-
The years "Soby" directed the work of the Detroit Federation
ments in security amount to about marked the greatest development of the Jewish community there in
60 per cent of that of all the five fund-raising and in community organization, and also in bringing out
Arab states put together. This, of excellent Jewish leadership for local institutions and for national organi-
course, is due mainly to Israel's zations. "Soby" led the community from strength to strength. The
relatively high economic standard community has acquired an image envied by many other communities
rather than to the GNP that Israel in this country.
devotes to security.
Detroit also distinguished itself in supplying active leadership to the
Doubtlessly one of the best cri- Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds the central body 01
teria for the trend of future eco- all organized Jewish communities in the United States and Canada. The
nomic development are the annual CJFWF has grown, since its formation in 1932, to become the most
investments in a country's econo- important organ in Jewish life, and "Soby" played no small role in
my. In 1966, Egypt invested $850,- helping to cement its position. He was active in CJFWF in the early
000,000; in economic development; years of its formation and was a member of its board and its executive
Iraq, $400,000,000; Syria, $160,000,- for quite a number of years.
000; Lebanon, $220,000,000; Jordan,
• • •
$90,000,000. In all, the five Arab
MEETING NEEDS: Today, Mr. Sobeloff is engaged in helping to
states invested the sum of $1,720,- develop trained Jewish social workers who are so much needed in Jew-
000,000 in economic development. ish communal institutions and of which there is an acute shortage. He
On the other hand, Israel in 1968 is a member of the faculty of the School of Jewish Communal Service
invested the sum of over $800,000,- which is a part of the Hebrew Union College. The school is located in
000 in economic development. In Los Angeles and confers master of arts degrees in Jewish communal
one year tiny Israel invested as studies.
much as half the total sum invest-
Mr. Sobeloff is also a board member of the Joint Distribution Com-
ed by all the five Arab states put mittee,
National Jewish Welfare Board Jewish Telegraphic Agency,
together, or more than Egypt with National Foundation for Jewish Culture
and other national Jewish
a population of almost 40,000,000.
bodies. He served as president of the National Conference of Jewish
These dry figures prove beyond Social Welfare, the organization of all Jewish social workers in this
all doubt that from the economic country and was the editor of the Jewish Social Service Quarterly,
point of view, Israel's importance organ of that organization. Before he came to Detroit, he was also the
in the Middle East Is out of all editor of Better Times, a general social work publication.
,
,
.