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. , , .