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. 48295,
VE 8-9364, Subscription $7 a year. Foreign $8.
Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Edgier and Publisher

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ

Business Manager

SIDNEY SHMARAK

Advertising Manager

00000114 INS OM 4001E

CHARLOTTE DUBIN

City Editor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath. the second day of Elul, 5729, the following scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateucha/ portion, Deut. 16:18-21:9. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 51:12-52:12.

Candle lighting, Friday, Aug. LS, 7:15 p.a.

VOL. LV. No. 22

Page Four

August 15, 1969

Difficulty in Counteracting False Propaganda

Problems posed by anti-Semitism, revival
of libelous charges and accusations that have
no basis in facts always are accompanied by
the puzzle as to how to present the truth to
those who have been indoctrinated with
hatred.
For example: A circular aimed at spread-
ing suspicion in the race issue makes attacks
on Jewish organizations and indviduals, re-
vives an old bogey against Stephen S. Wise.
who was accused of taking instructions from
or having collaborated with the Communists.
The only ones who can be reached in an
effort to refute the charges are those leveling
them. and you certainly can't reason with
them. Distribution of such a circular in large
quantities in Detroit's downtown area is dif-
ficult to combat. Those who get the circular.
unless they are reasonable people who will
seek the truth, immediately fall prey to the
lies.
Or take another instance: One of the stu-
pidest brochures packed with lies is the so-
called "truth about the Talmud" in which all

sorts of nonsense is incorporated in an effort
to malign the Jewish people. Once such trash
reaches the uninformed, there is the danger

that the lies will be believed. Wasn't the worst
kind of propaganda believed in Orleans,
France, several weeks ago, about Jews con-
ducting a white slave trade?
Lies like the ritual murder accusation have
been spread widely, and from time to time it
is given circulation even in progressive
# arrus coo —4teme, PEACE
America. If those who are subjected to it
could be reached, they could be reasoned
with. But once the malicious circulars are
—JTA
distributed, it is impossible to counteract
the libels.
That's why the racist propaganda circu-
lated here last week is not easily counter-
acted: it hasn't a grain of truth in it. but it is
impossible to reach those receiving the hate
leaflets.
This is why, in a democracy, the liar has
Many factors relating to Israel emerge in clearer light from the
as free a platform as the disseminator of
truth, and the latter is all too often on the public pronouncements of the nation's leaders. The late Prime Minister
Levi
Eshkol's views remain of immense value as declarations that rep-
losing end of the game.

'State Papers of Levi Eshkol'
Emphasizes Major Israel Issues

Consular 'Wisdom', Religious Freedom

When the Armenian Patriarchate of Jeru-
salem arranged the exhibition of priceless old
treasures—including illuminated manuscripts,
gold and silver lamps, vestments and reli-
quaries—Bishop Shane Ajamian commented
that the display was a response to "the charm
of Mayor Teddy Kollek of Jerusalem, who
invaded the whole Patriarchate with his en-
thusiasm."
It was an unusual exhibit that attracted
widest attention. Its arrangements were the
result in part of the assistance given by a
Detroit Armenian leader, Edward Mardigian.
It won acclaim from people of all faiths, and
Israelis flocked to Jerusalem from all parts of
the country to witness it.
But the consular corps from several coun-
tries, including the United States, saw fit to
besycott it! It was being held in East Jerusa-
le.n, and to the representatives of the United
States, Great Britain, France, Turkey, Spain,
Belgium, Italy and Greece it became a poli-
tical matter.
These very people put on a sanctimonious

front of seeking religious freedom, yet they
would not join in a demonstration of interest
in a religious exhibition that was shown with-
out partisanship. •
It is no wonder that Mayor Kollek, an-
gered by what had taken place. will re-impose
municipal fees upon these consulates.
The consular "wisdom" is an echo of the
prejudices that are being enforced among
some people in dealing with Israel, and our
own representatives, on orders from Wash-
ington, assume a role Of men who speak
through both sides of the mouth— avowing
friendship for Israel, which is being misinter-
preted as partisanship towards Israel, while
practicing bigotries of an inexcusable nature.
These consular corps spout pleas for religious
freedom while ignoring the truth that never
before had all faiths enjoyed as much liberty,
in worship, in conducting their church affairs,
as they do now under the Israeli administra-
tion and the charm of Teddy Kollek.
It is from such "wisdom" that much of
our trouble stems today in the Middle East.

Plea for Cultural Rights for USSR Jewry

Persecution of writers in Russia whose
activities are being drastically curtailed, as
was evidenced in the case of the defector,
Anatoly V. Kuznetsov, poses the question as
to the possible effectiveness of the appeal by
American writers to the Soviet Writers Union
for the restoration of cultural freedom in the
USSR.
Writing from London to the Central Com-
mittee of the Soviet Communist Party. on
Aug. 1, Kuznetsov stated:

suffered from the Soviet prejudices, it is very
doubtful whether more attention will be paid
to appeals in defense of just rights for Jews
now than in the eras of domination by Stalin
and Khrushchev.

I have arrived at the complete rejection of

the conditions under which Jews are deprived
of their rights as an ethnic group may be
recognized and so that just dealings may be
reintroduced.
The smallest religious or nationality group
within Russia—some that number less than
250,000—have been granted cultural rights.

After much serious reflection over many years,

Marxism-Leninism.
I consider today that this doctrine is utterly
incapable of resolving the contradictions in society
today, and, what is worse, it has led, continues to
lead and threatens to go on leading to frightful
social tragedies.
I can no longer remain a member of the Com-
munist Party, which bases its policy on the doc-
trine. I request you to release me from member-
ship of the C.P.S.U.
I hereby withdraw from my duties as party
secretary of the Writers Organization of the
Tula region. I have left my party membership
card there.

Under circumstances which indicate the
suppression of freedom of expression of non-
Jewish' Writers as well as the Jews who have

Nevertheless, in the interest of public
opinion, and in the hope that the throwing of
public light on the doing in the Kremlin may
bring about a change in Russian tactics vis-a-
vis its Jewish population, the current protests
are vital. They should be expanded to em-
brace every element in American life, so that

The Jewish community has become spiritu-
ally impoverished, deprived of synagogues,

cultural centers, newspapers, the theater.
Perhaps the voices that have been raised

by some of the most prominent of American
writers will bring better results than the
appeals to justice that have been sounded
until now. Coupled with protests against in-
tolerance and oppression, these voices may

bring the succor' so urgently'ridedee" • • '

resented the views of his party and of the coalition government In
behalf of which he had acted for six years. There-
fore, "The State Papers of Levi Eshkol," edited {,
by Henry M. Christman, published by Funk and
Wagnalls, is a volume of considerable importance
for students of developing events in the Middle
East.
Christman took into account the basic issues
that confront Israel and the Middle East by draw-
ing upon the most important addresses that had
been delivered by Mr. Eshkol. In the texts be
quoted are comments on the economic, the poli-
tical and the military, and some of the issues
relating to the Six-Day War become especially
understandable from the definitive statements by
Levi Bread
the man who spoke for the government of IsraeL
As Christman indicates in his introduction, these complex problems

"are interrelated . . . all must be solved democratically . . . for it
must never be forgotten that Israel is one of the most lively and truly
dynamic democracies in the world, with a broad spectrum of political
viewpoints, zealous protection of civil rights and civil liberties, and an
outspoken free press. Israel, as a state and as a society, is dedicated
to the freedom and fulfillment of the human spirit."
In pursuance of the task of linking these issues, the editor of these
collected addresses and public statements utilized speeches to the
Knesset on the social situation in Israel and diplomatic relations with
Germany and the important declarations during parliamentary debates
preceding and after the 1967 war. Mr. Eshkol's speeches on water de-
salination, on festivals, on Independence Days and at the 1968 Economic
'Conference add to the value of this collection. Noteworthy is the
address be delivered to the chief rabbis of all Israel communities on
June 7, 1.967, with instructions on regulations for enforcement of reli-
gious liberties for all faiths.
Christman had readied his book for the press when word came of
Mr. Eshkol's death on Feb. 26, 1969, and he was able to insert an addi-
tional note of tribute to the man whose works he quoted and whose life
story be incorporated in this valuable work.

Iberian Peninsula's Synagogues

Two study tours of the Iberian Peninsula, in 1966 and 1968, enabled
Don A. Halperin to prepare the results of his research in a paperback
that has been published by University of Florida Press.
In "The Ancient Synagogues of the Iberian Peninsula," Halperin
surveys every bit of evidence about the synagogues that were estab-
lished in Spain and Portugal. He had gone into every community where
he could find traces of a synagogue, and be describes those that still
can be viewed as noteworthy structures as well as ruins.
He defines architectural forms used by Jews prior to 1506, when
Jews were exiled from Portugal. He reviews the contrasts be bad
found between the ordinary synagogue and those on the larger
scale. He tells of a disappointment is Lorca: "The last remains of
the ancient synagogue there had been bulldozed in 1964."
To assist the reader in following with him the adventure through
the Iberian Jewish houses of worship, Halperin -has written a brief
history of the Iberian Jews and has described briefly the origin of the
synagogue and the development of architectural form.
He brings back memories of a rich period In Jewish history, and
While tracing the ruins he takes his readers into communities nearly
forgotten in history. Where he finds remains, he offers interesting facts
he has gathered to assure an historical appreciation of a golden period
in history that ended with the cruelties of the Inquisition.
The return to the old sites and the reconstruction of synagogues
currently, as the rights for Jews to worship freely is being restored to
them, is noted in this interesting ateurhulation• of noteworthy historiCal.
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