'Bech: a Book': Satirical Philosophy Caroline Ann Zack Henry Bech, in the new John Updike novel - drama - philosophy - history, is a Jewish writer with a variety of experiences. If one is to judge this Knopf-published work ("Bech: A Book") by its conclud- ing line, after he gets to Heaven, in the simple words "Now what?", one could imagine him to be imi- tating Portnoy. But it is not as psychoanalytical as the Portnoy tribulation, yet it deals with so many Jewish aspects that one wonders about the inten- tion as well as the approach. There is, for instance, this ana- lytical thesis, "in the discovery that one is not being read" and Bech dramatizes a point: "He said he was sustained, insofar as he was sustained, by the memory of laughter, the specifically Jew- ish, embattled, religions, suffi- ciently desperate, not quite belly Eban Says Pope Is Seeking Peace JERUSALEM (JTA) — Foreign Minister Abba Eban has returned here from a four-day official visit to Italy where he conferred with Premier Mariano Rumor and For- eign Minister Aldo Moro and was visited' by a Papal representative at his hotel in Rome. Eban told newsmen on his ar- rival Friday at the airport that the dialogue between the Vatican and Israel has been enhanced by his meeting with Monsignor Agostino Casaroli, Vatican Secretary for Public Affairs, who informed him of Pope Paul VI's keen desire for peace and the preservation of reli- gious values in the Middle East. He said the Monsignor assured him that the Pope's interest was in no way political. Eban said that while Italy was ready to offer its services to reach peace in the area it is in no way prepared to act as a mediator of the conflict. Weak Jordan No Reason for U.S. Veto on Giving Aid to Israel Says Forster KIAMESHA, N.Y. (JTA) — An American Jewish leader declared that the weakened stability of the Jordanian government "should not become the excuse for the U.S. State Department to continue its veto of the sale of jet planes to Israel." According to Arnold Forster, General Counsel of the Anti- Defamation League of Bnai Brith, Israel needs the planes "not be- cause of the guerrillas in Jordan and Lebanon, but because of the Soviet intrusion" in the Mid East conflict. Addressing 3,000 delegates to the 118th convention of District Number One, Bnai Brith, which represents New York and the New England area, Forster ob- served that "The Palestinian guerrilla movement in Jordan) is generally more pro-Soviet and pro-Chinese than the Hashemite kingdom and is far more in- tractable in respect to the right of Israel to exist." Pointing to "the daily murders of civilian Israelis, the shelling of schools filled with children, and the destruction of civilian planes in the air over Europe as "the work of these same guerrilla or- ganizations," Forster said that "no one can expect such people to nego- tiate peace." He told the delegates "the shaky character of the Hussein govern- ment is a serious setback to peace in the Middle East. Forster described the situation in Lebanon between the establish- ed government and the trespassing guerrillas as being substantially the same as in Jordan. The guer- rillas, he asserted, "boast that there is no place at all on the Mid East map for the State of Israel." The greatest part of mankind have no other reason for their opinions than that they are in fashion. —Samuel Zohnson laughter of his father and his father's brothers, his beloved Brooklyn uncles; that the Amer- ican Jews had kept the secret of this laughter a generation longer than the Gentiles, hence their present domination of the literary world . • ." THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, June 26, 1970-33 to Wed S. C. Cooper End of Religious Appeals to Troops in Vietnam Asked by AJCongress NEW YORK (JTA)—The Am- . . can sustain you in your most erican Jewish Congress called on trying momenta." the Army to stop using religious In a reply to the AJCongress appeals to troops in Vietnam "as dated June 8, Col. C. P. Benedict, a means of advancing the goals of chief of the Army Personnel Serv- One wonders if this is satire or the state in carrying on the war ices Division, defended the Easter jealousy. In any event, It is an in- in Indo-China." teresting comment on the position message on the ground that the of Jewish writers. In a letter to the Department of same commander had also distri- the Army, George Solt, chairman buted a Passover message. The The passion in one of the Bech experiences with women is defined of the Congress' commission on Passover message drew a "paral- law and social action, rejected an lel" between the deliverance of in an exclamation by one of them: Army spokesman's explanation of the Jewish people from "the "You American Jews are so ro- a Vietnam commander's Easter slavery of the evil Egyptian mantic. You think every little dolly bird is Deliah . . ." and it ends message to his troops that coin- Pharaoh" and "your current lives pared U.S. intervention in Vietnam where you and your government with a sexy irwitation. with "Christ's own struggle to are engaged in a struggle to assist Perhaps more vital even than obliterate evil in the world." a nation of people in its deliver- the Deliah scene is another girl's admonition: "Calling me a Negress Solt said it was "highly improp- ance from an equally evil force." MISS CAROLINE ZACK is as insulting as calling you a er for a military or other govern- Although the AJ Congress was un- aware of the Passover message at kike." And when she pursues the Mr. and Mrs. David P. Zack of ment official to take on the role the time of its protest on the Eas- questions, "How do you feel about of interpreting the significance of Providence Dr., Southfield, an- ter message, Mr. Soil wrote 'Jewess'?" Bech replies, "Just as nounce the engagement of their religious tradition." The AJ Con- Colonel Benedict in a letter dated I do about 'Duchess'," gress first wrote to Army Secre- daughter Caroline Ann to Stephen tary Stanley R. Resor on May 11 June 17 that such a message was Thus Updike's "Bech: A Book" C. Cooper, son of Mrs. Mollie equally objectionable. Noting that touches on "anti-Semitic Semitic Cooper of Southwood Dr., South- to protest a message to his troops "there are many Jews who would sensibility." It may prove as field, and the late David L. Cooper. in the field from Major General differ with General Roberts' inter- E. B. Roberts of the First Cavalry puzzling as the description of The bride-elect, a graduate of (Airmobile) asserting that "Easter pretation of the Passover tradi- Bech's "curly hair and melan- the University of Michigan, is cur- and the promise of immortality ... tion," Mr. Soil wrote: "What is choly Jewish nose." rently working on her masters de- exemplified by the resurrection of most disturbing is that General Ro- Bech goes to Russia and to Ro- gree at Wayne State University. Jesus Christ nearly 2000 years ago berts, and apparently the War De- mania and in these and other partment, are prepared to use re- Mr. Cooper studied at Brandeis instances the Jewish role is para- ligion, both Christian and Jewish, University and the Hebrew Univer- mount. sity of Jerusalem. He received his Columbus Center Proceeds as a means of advancing the goals In the course of his Russian ex- undergraduate and law degrees of the state in carrying on the war With Saturday Use Of perience he is told: "Jews don't go from Wayne State University. He in Indo-China." He added, "The in much for Paradise. That's some- is on the executive board of the Outdoor Swim Facilities messages, no matter how well in- thing you Christians cooked up." Detroit graduate chapter, Tau Ep- COLUMBUS, 0. (JTA)—A deci- tended, were an attempt to 'em- It brings the natural reply: "We silon Rho Law Fraternity. sion to go ahead with opening of ploy religion as an engine of civil are not Christians." the outdoor swimming facilities of policy.' In both aspects, they were An August wedding is planned. At the outset, Updike touches the Jewish center on Saturday violative of the command of the upon the works of Jewish writers, afternoons, in accordance with a First Amendment." upon scientists and psychiatrists, West German Diplomat hotly-disputed decision of the cen- upon "Jewish Hollywood," and we ter's board, was announced by OPEN HOUSE SHOWING are treated to this: "Jewish brains Shocked at Shul Vandals center president David Roth, who June 29 Thru July 3rd projected Gentile stars upon a Gen- Promises Protection had previously taken "executive tile nation and out of their own action" to suspend the board elec- LONDON (JTA) — West Ger- immigrant joy gave a formless many's Ambassador to Britain, tion. 215 West 5th . Street, Royal Oak 399.2600 land dreams and even a kind of Karl Gunter von Hase, said that Members of the Columbus Daily 9 to 9; Sat. 9 to 5:30 conscience." Michigan's Largest Interior Design he was "deeply shocked" by a new Board of Rabbis and some Galleries So—mingled with the puzzling is act of vandalism committed against members of the center board the compliment. And the appeal is a synagogue in Munich. The am- and of the center, who attended in many directions ,with Bech truly bassador made his remarks in the meeting last month at which a Jewish hero, although Jewish reply to a note he received from the board voted for the summer readers will surely ask what's Harold Sebag-hlontefiore, president Saturday afternoon openings, Jewish about him. —P.S. of the Anglo-Jewish Association. strongly opposed such action as Now Booking .. . a desecration of the Sabbath. Ambassador Von Hase said, "Please accept my most sincere Other board members and cen- Arms Sufficiency ter members argued in favor feelings of sympathy and sorrow. Predicted by Peres This desecration is the more abhor- of the Saturday afternoon pro- and his Orchestra A resolution for the pro- p-am. rent as it follows only a few LONDON (JTA)—One of Israel's leading armaments experts pre- months after arsonists set fire to gram was approved 25 to 15, but Good Music Roth announced he was suspend- the Jewish old peoples' home in dicted that his country would be for All Occasions ing action while he met with virtually self-sufficient in the pro- Munich. My government as well members of the board of rab- LI 4-9278 as the German people most strong- duction of arms and ammunition —7-f- • bis to reach a better under- . •0"-*--2-1---0•7"--"Lf—*WS within a decade, including combat ly condemn this new outrage." standing. The ambassador said the Anglo- jets. YOUR CANDID COLOR He said the decision to go ahead Shimon Peres, minister of immi- Jewish leader's message has been grant absorption and a former passed on to the authorities in was made "when it became ap- parent that unanimity of opinion deputy minister of defense made Bonn. He said German authorities could not be attained. In the light his forecast in the course of an WILL BE interview with JTA editor S. J. would do their utmost to protect of this, consideration was given to Goldsmith here. He said that arms the Jewish community from fur- the feelings of many center mem- bers that they ought not to be de- ther attacks. self-sufficiency "would make life prived of their need for coming to so much easier on the foreign the center on Saturday afternoon WHEN PHOTOGRAPHED BY policy level" by reducing foreign NYC Orthodox Teachers by the opposition of others, and pressures and enabling Israel to Test Contract Time-Off that, since attendance was purely "make decisions more true to Is- Clause For Passover NEW YORK (JTA)—The Asso- voluntary, there would be no inter- rael's own vital interests." AND ASSOCIATES Peres conceded that there were ciation of Orthodox Jewish Teach- ference with those who wished to KL 1-8196 two major problems to be over- ers in New York Public Schools re- observe the Sabbath in their own come on the road to arms self-suf- ported that most public school way." ficiency—the problem of technical principals had cooperated with know-how in a highly sophisticated observant teachers who used for industry and the problem of Passover absences for the first finance. But, he said, both of them time this year a special clause in were "soluble." "The Swedes have the current United Federation of done it, and we can emulate their Teachers contract with the Board REMADE and REPROCESSED example profitably," Mr. Peres of Education. Under the clause, which was said. "In some ways we have al- ready' followed them on this road. negotiated by the union at the re- They have produced their own jets, quest of the 2,500-member associa- 342-9448 15144 W. 7 MILE RD. 3 Blocks E. of Greenfield tion, teachers may apply for three and so have we." Open 9 to 5:30, Sat. by Appointment He said Israel now produces days time-off annually for "per- sufficient ammunition to cover its sonal business" for absences on own military needs and a surplus such holidays. Previously, teachers for export. The Israeli cabinet taking time off to observe any minister disclosed that Israel has Jewish holiday, except the Jewish received "several large contribu- New Year, were docked in pay. tions" toward the implementation New York City public schools are of a plan he devised to improve closed for the Jewish New Year ,S the condition of Arab refugees in holy days. The three days off NIrf • ... . the occupied territories. "I can say available to teachers are deducted •", no more, the contributors are en- from each teacher's 10 days an- .;. titled to their anonymity," he told nually of sick leave, so that the absences are not actually free, but the JTA editor. Peres is visiting London in con- the observant teacher does not have to contend with immediate with his new book, nection "David's Sling," published June 25 loss of pay. 17540 WYOMING • TEL. 341-1330 • THUR., FRI. TIL 9. simultaneously in England and Classified Ads Get Quick Results Israel. House of Living Rooms BY POPULAR DEMAND! ED BURG ALBUM FINER WINER DOWN & WOOL QUILTS TRAURIG'S QUILT & PILLOW SHOP le; VI) Norman Allan& Tu.