J. Forest lloinors Apollo Astronauts Fortas Rejects High- Court 'Jewish Seat' Idea HOUSTON (JTA)—The crew of Apollo 12 and 36 other astronauts and their wives attended a "salute to the astronauts" dinner for 1.000 here Monday sponsored by the Jewish National Fund. For Capt. Charles Conrad Jr.. Richard F. Gordon and Alan J. Bean, it was their first appearance since being released from quarantine after their historic moon landing last month. The occasion was the announcement, by Texas Governor John B. Connally, of the establishment of a - U.S. Astronauts Forest" in Israel by the JNF. Herman L. Weis- man, national president of the JNF, pri_•sented each of the Apollo 12 crew with a tree Certificate. The three Apollo 12 astronauts are expected to visit Israel next spring to attend the planting' of the first trees in the Astronauts Forest. WASHINGTON (JTA)—Former Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas, the last Jew to serve on the country's highest judicial bench, rejected the notion that there should be a "Jewish seat" on the court, a Catholi.! seat, a Negro seat or even a "Wasp seal." The Historic Vatican Declaration: Its Significance for Israel Fortas said in a speech Monday before the National Press Club that members of the court should be appointed on the basis of merit with no reference to race or religion. Fortas, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by former President Lyndon 11. Johnson was later nominated by him for the chief justiceship, but resigne• - last year after a controversy over his financial dealings. THE JEWISH NEWS Michigan Weekly Commentary Page 2 J I Review of Jewish News Our New Offices are in Honeywell Center 9 Mile and Lodge Service Drive Phone: 356-8400 Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper — Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle Vol. LVI, No 14 z7 17515 W. 9 Mile Rd., Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 — 356-8400 — December 19, 1969 $7.00 Per Year; This Issue 20c Vatican Call for Closer Jewish Ties Lauded; Synagogue Council Parley Gives It 'Careful Study' State Department Labels Premier Meir's Criticism of Sec. Rogers Unjustified WASHINGTON (JTA)—A State Department spokes- man said Israel's criticism of America's Middle East stand as enunciated by Secretary of State William P. Rogers last week was unjustified. The spokesman referred to a caustic comment by Israel's Premier Golda Meir in Jerusalem on Friday that the American secretary of state was "moralizing" about expansionism but disre- garded Israel's serious security situation. Rogers' speech brought expressions of dismay from Israeli circles. They were especially disturbed over his proposal that Israel withdraw from the occupied Arab territories, except for some "insubstantial" border adjust- ments. The Israelis maintained that territorial questions are a subject for negotiations with the Arab states and that the U.S. is undercutting Israel's bargaining position. The State Department spokesman said Mrs. Meir . had "missed the point" of Rogers' speech. "When we talk of an Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories, We talk in terms of a binding Arab commitment to a permanent peace and acceptance of recognized political boundaries by all parties," he said. "On matters of basic security—on the prime gut issues —we leave the matters entirely up to negotiations between the Israelis and the Egyptians." According to a report from London. the American Middle East proposals presented to the Soviet Union Oct. 28 called for Israel to evacuate Egyptian territory within three months of a peace agreement. The report said that the secret text of the proposals indicated that the U.S. has moved substantially toward key demands Made by the Russians and Arabs. The U.S. proposed that Israel and Egypt, under the auspices of the United Nations peace envoy Gunnar U. Jarring, consider the questions of Israeli withdrawal. de- militarization and the possibility of an interim UN ad- ministration in the Gaza Strip, the report said. (Continued on Page 48) NEW YORK (JTA)—The Synagogue Council of America announced that it was convening its constituent agencies to give "the most careful and respectful study" to a new Vatican document that proposes unprecedented steps by the Roman Catholic Church to improve Catholic attitudes to- ward Israel and the Jewish people. The Synagogue Council is the representative body of the Re- form, Conservative and Orthodox branches of Judaism in America. The Vatican statement was made public Dec. 10 by Lawrence Cardinal Shehan, archbishop of Baltimore, in an address at a dialogue on the image of the Jew in contemporary culture held at Loyola College under the sponsorship of the Bnai Brith Anti-Defamation League and various Chris- tian institutions. Rabbi henry Siegman, executive vice president of the Synagogue Council, called the Vatican statement "a religious document of far-reaching consequences" which "requires the most careful and respectful study." He said "a document of this importance, which was months if not years in preparation, should not elicit a quick and easy response, particularly by the religious Jewish com- munity- whose central concern is the fundamental issues of faith that must remain central in any Christian Jewish confrontation." He announced that Rabbi Solomon J. Sharfman, SCA president, - was convening the SCA constituent agencies to study the document, "and the reaction of the Syna- gogue Council will be made public in due time." He said the council was meeting next week for what will probably be a series of two or three sessions. The World Jewish Congress hailed the Vatican statement as "a courageous and much desired implementation of Vatican II" which "augurs well for an even closer cooperation between Jews and Catholics." Dr. Joachim Prinz, chairman of the WJCongress governing council, said "We welcome this opening of a new gate for creative coexistence of the two religions which have common origins and common goals." The Vatican statement highlighted specifics essential to a better understanding by Catholics of Judaism and said teaching of such information "should be extended to all levels of Christian edu- tion," using catechetical manuals, history texts, and press. radio, films, television. Such programs "presuppose" appropriate training of teachers in Catholic schools, seminaries and universities. the statement said, and it urged "further research" on Judaism and Jewish-Christian relations. The statement also recommended joint worship services between Christian and Jews "when- ever possible and mutually desirable." It cautioned that Catholic liturgy should not present the Jewish Scriptures as an allegory of the Christian faith but also to view it as valid in itself. Teachers were warned not to make the Old Testament appear in opposition to the New Testament, as a re- ligion "of fear and legalism, implying that only Christianity possesses the law of love and free- dom." The "dignity of the human person," the Vatican statement said, "requires the condemna- tion of all forms of anti-Semitism" and creation of a true dialogue excluding "all intent of prose- lytizing and conversion." (Continued on l'age UJA Announces Largest Goal in Its History: Quarter-Billion for Jews Throughout World Israel's New Government Sworn I n: Coalition Representing Six Factions NEW YORK (JTA)—The United Jewish Appeal Sunday set the highest goal in its for humanitarian aid to needy 31-year history. It will seek to raise S250,000,000 in 1970 Jews in Israel and in other countries all over the world. The quarter-billion-dollar target was announced by Edward Ginsberg, of Cleveland, at the UJA's annual national conference here. Ginsberg was re-elected to his third term as the organization's general chairman. lie told the 3,000 delegates that unprece- dented levels of philanthropic assistance were necessary to insure Jewish survival in JERUSALEM (.TTA)—Israel's new government, a broadly based coalition of six political factions, was sworn in Monday before a full Knesset, in the presence of l'resi- dent Zalman Shazar and a gallery packed with dignitaries and visitors. Premier Golda Meir presented each of her 23 fellow cabinet members by name in alphabetical order. She then delivered the inaugural address of the new administra- tion, the theme of which was national unity and determination not to relinquish an inch of occupied territory until a genuine lasting peace with the Arabs is achieved. Mrs. Meir's cabinet was put together after more than a month of difficult bargain- ing and negotiations. It is the most representative iu the nation's 2I-year history. The six factions it incorporates cover almost the entire political spectrum and com- mand the loyalty of 102 out of 120 Knesset members-85 per cent of that body's membership. Her Labor Party again dominates the cabinet. Only the Orthodox Poale Aguda Party is not represented from among the old coalition members. Mrs. Meir's address was directed less toward the small organized opposition at home than to the Arab foe and "those nations that, standing from afar, keep the Arabs off the road to peace" and perpetuate their determination to destroy Israel. Israel and other lands. Ginsberg referred to reports heard by the delegates during the three-day confer. ence concerning the plight of Jews in Communist and Arab countries, where they are Oppressed or' endangered, and the difficulties that Israel is experiencing in trying to maintain its education, health, housing and other social services. Ginsberg said, "These reports indicate just how great the need is." Israel's foreign minister, Abba Eban, addressing the delegates, called for a know there are millions who "reaffirmation of Jewish solidarity." lie said, "We years of Jewish history would share with us the view that if Israel were to fail, 2,000 (Continued on Page 5) . • 5 (Continued on Page 7)