THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Associaton of Engish-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Association
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48084 75.
Phone 356-00
Subscription $7 a year. Foreign $8.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M.
SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 29th day of Adar I, 5730, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portions, Exod. 35:1-38:30, 30:11-16. Prophetical portion, II Kings
12:1-17.
Torah readings for Rosh Hodesh Adar II, Sunday and Monday, Num. 28:1-15.
Candle lighting, Friday, March 6, 6:07 p.m.
VOL. LVI No. 25
Page Four
March 6, 1970
Our Statesmen and the Cure for the Middle East
State Department policies seldom change.
There are set rules in handling foreign af-
fairs, and there are no deviations in the
efforts to retain friendships, even if they are
on the surface, or in strengthening economic
positions, especially when there are oil in-
terests. The latter factor affects Middle East
attitudes, regardless of claims that may be
be made to the contrary.
Nevertheless, there comes a time when
even a foreign ministry or a State Depart-
ment must take into consideration threats
that come from countries we are constantly
appeasing. Arab threats in recent times have
been to cut off oil supplies to the West, and
there hasn't been a single statesman or dip-
lomat—depending on the area of judgment
for public officials dealing with foreign af-
fairs—who was strong enough to call the
bluff. The fact is that the only power the
Arabs have is the money they get from the
West, and we know what would happen to
that source of their revenue if oil supplies
were denied to the West.
There are other bluffs to be called.
For instance, both the Arabs and the Soviet
Union's propaganda agents combined. imme-
diately after the outrages in European capi-
tals on civilian planes, to charge that it was
an Israeli and United States plot against the
Arabs. Was the attack on a busload of Chris-
tian pilgrims near Hebron also a concocted
American-Israeli plot to stir up trouble
against the Arabs and their darlings in
Moscow?
Because the Christian pilgrims whose bus
was attacked with such tragic consequences
were Americans, the State Department pro-
tested immediately. When an Israeli bomber
blundered and attacked a civilian plant near
Cairo, the State Department protested imme-
diately. When 47 passengers on a civilian
Swiss airliner were brutally murdered by an
Arab-planted bomb that destroyed plane and
passengers, the State Department promptly
kept silent.
Is silence always golden, or does it all
too often means consent? And to avoid the
latter, didn't our State Department owe a
responsibility to the nation and to the world
at large to declare, promptly, its sense of
abhorrence over what our dear friends in
the Middle East are doing to undermine every
semblance of morality in their feelings with
their neighbors?
There is a time for silence and a time for
speaking out. For us there was never justifi-
cation for silence. It is our duty always to
assert our determination not to permit ban-
ditry to rule over us. The principle of justice
does not encourage silence for any one who
claims to be a part of the civilization we must
uphold in times of crises.
Some have spoken firmly to French
President Georges Pompidou during his visit
here. It is to be hoped that the President
and the State Department officials have also
asserted themselves. While this is doubtful,
we nevertheless hope there was an effort at
informing the head of a state who is follow-
ing an antagonistic policy towards Israel and
Jewry that his thinking and actions do not
coincide with ours.
Time may heal the wounds that have been
inflicted upon mankind and upon Jewry in
the period during which Israel has been
forced into a defensive position. But healing
does not come without prescribed medicines
as well as the patient's determined will to
live. Israel is in the position of such a patient.
The sufferer needs help: the form the assis-
tance must take is well known to the White
House, and every means should be resorted
to to convince the President that the neces-
sary defensive weapons must be provided
for Israel. And then there is the patient's
desire for a cure: Israel has that will to live,
and nothing can suppress it.
Senate Must Act Against Genocide
American Bar Association , opposition to
ratification of the United Nations Genocide
Convention stems from the fears that existed
in the ranks of Southerners that the regula-
tions could affect segregationists' activities in
this country. With the wide acceptance of the
justice of civil rights legislation, and the
manner in which such new policies now are
upheld by the highest court in the land, it
would have been expected that the legal pro-
fession would change its attitude. But an
ABA vote taken last week still gave the scant
majority of four to the opposition to the
Genocide Convention.
Like President Harry S. Truman, who in
1949 urged the Senate to ratify the conven-
tion, President Richard M. Nixon now strong-
ly supports such a move, and the State De-
partment has gone along with him in urging
that this country join the large number of
nations, including the Soviet Union, in out-
lawing genocide.
There is now a strong movement to de-
mand positive action by the heretofore hesi-
tant United States Senate. It is to the great
credit of President Nixon that he joined the
supporters and has asked for immediate ac-
tion in behalf of an important humanitarian
international action. Now we hope that the
Senate will enroll on the side of humani-
tarians rather than yield to fears that out-
lawing of the crime of nation-destruction
will interfere with our own prejudices.
The Mystics of Safed
JPS's 'Tales in Praise of Arts'
Links Raviv Drawings to Legends
Art based on legends emerges in impressive form in the newest
work of the Jewish Publication Society of America. "Tales in Praise
of the Arts" revives an interest in the mysticism of Safed. It intro•
duces the reader to interesting Jewish folklore.
Translated from the Hebrew by Aaron Klein and Jenny Machlowtts
Klein, this notable work features the drawings of Moshe Raviv, one of
Israel's most dtstinguished contemporary artists.
The work is based on legends of the Middle Ages in Safed. A Ifttte
book, "Sefer Shivchai Ha-Ari," served as a basis for this translated
art work. The book contained the stories of the deeds of Rabbi Isaac
Luria Ashkenazi, and their preserved legendary form provided a basis
for the impressive Raviv drawings.
It is because Safed is the center of activity in these legends,
and because of the mystic character of the city and its traditions,
that this volume emerges in an especially vital role.
There is much charm in many of the legends. All of them, steeped
in the mysticism of the Middle Ages, based on faith, revolving around
the master who exerts influence upon disciples, carry with there
messages and are superb as parables. It.. -1 :‘
A very brief one among these legends gives some idea' of the caw
tents of this volume. We quote: : -
•
•
•
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It happened one day that the Master ordered one of his disciples
to leave him. He left and all that day felt as one who had been severely
chastised and wept and prayed to the Lord the entire day that his sins
should not cause him to be banished from the Master's presence.
The next morning he came before the Master, crying and pleading
to be told what wrong he had committed so that he might do penance.
The Master said: "This is because of the chickens in your house. Three
days now they have been without food and they cried out to the Lord.
Therefore you have been under a ban from heaven. Now, therefore, if
you will take it upon yourself and not depend on your wife, so that
even before your morning prayers, you feed the chickens, I will unloose
the ban." When the disciple accepted this judgment, he lifted the ban.
•
•
•
It came to pass on a day that the Master and his disciples went to
the memorial at the burial site of Shmaya and Abtalion. There he
meditated on the oneness of God. When he had ended his meditation,
he said, in the name of Shmaya and Abtalion, to his disciples, that they
should pray that Messiah, the son of Joseph, should not die in their
lifetime. In his great modesty he never revealed until the ' day he
died that he himself was the Messiah.
•
•
•
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Moshe Raviv, who studied in Vilna's university and Hebrew gym.
nasium, and in the Paris Art Academy, had his works published is
Paris. He was on a special assignment to Palestine in 1932, had works
relating his art to Zionism published, moved to Palestine in 1934. He
was one of the founders of the artists' colony in Safed in 1950. Many
of his works have been published. His most recent exhibition took
place in 1969 in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
Story of M. E. War
Major Duties: Allied Drive and Bonds
With the Israel Bond campaign dramati-
cally launched at the Miami conference last
week-end, and the great demands for in-
creased giving to the United Jewish Appeal
to assure the unhindered settlement of many
thousands of Jews who are either fleeing
from persecutions or who seek spiritual
abode in the ancient homeland, the responsi-
bilities of American Jewry are sharply de-
lineated.
Detroit's Allied Jewish Campaign, about
to commence but already in the process of
accumulating initial commitments, emerges
as so vital in this critical period in Jewish
history' that' the -generosity 'of this' comma
4E/WM
nity becomes a vital factor in Jewry's major
philanthropic undertakings.
At the same time, the Israel Bond appeal,
which will continue after the Allied Jewish
Campaign, will demand greater interest from
Detroit Jewry than ever before.
Investments through Israel Bonds, sup-
port for Israel's settlement program and at-
tendant education, medical, welfare and re-
lated needs provided for by UJA and financ-
ed by the Detroit campaign, are the immedi-
ate duties of this community. They are the
proper means with which to reply to terror-
ism and with which to uphold the hands of
the' builders of Zion redeemed. •
Irving's 'Battle of Jerusalem'
Emphasizes Prayers for Peace
"The Battle of Jerusalem" has been included in the Macmillan
Battle Books series. This brief but thorough review of 'The Six Day
War of June, 1967," by Clifford Irving, provides a good account tot
young readers of the events that transpired on Israel's borders.
The author does not limit himself to the events relating to the ♦ NT.
He traces the developments that preceded it, and he exposes the inten-
tions of King Hussein of Jordan who, on the crucial morning of June Si
when the Arab potentates believed they were about to crush Israel, said
over Amman Radio: "The hour of revenge has come - - ."
Israel's caution not to damage holy plaies is indicated, and the story
of continuing battles ends on a note of peace: "At the Western Wail in
the Old City of Jerusalem, as for centuries, the prayers were Mk
'Almighty GA; grant us peace.'"
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