I THE JEWISH NEWS Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951 Member American Amociaton of EWA-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Association Published every Friday by Thp Jewish News Puhllogeg Co., 17111 W. Nine KIM, Suite MC Southfield, Mich. MOTS. Phone SS69400 • lth. Subscription $11 a year. Foreign PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Editor. and Publisher CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ Business Manager CHARLOTTE DUBIN City Editor Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the 18th day of Elul, 5730, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Deut. 26:1-29:8. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 60:1-22. Candle lighting. Friday, Sept. 18, 6:18 p.m. VOL. LVIII. No. 1 Mankind Tested by Terror of the Desert Tragic lessons taught to mankind in the course of what . is being misnamed a social revolution must, in the course of time,-lead to adjustments and to a return to rational think- ing and normal action. The terror in the desert, which stemmed from permissiveness among civilized beings, must be viewed as a temporary experience. That which had occurred last week evolved from events that were permitted to escalate into major threats to the security of innocent people. It could have been prevented: yield- ing to blackmail. by Greece a short time earlier, under the direction of the Red Cross, with the endorsement of the world powers, made it possible for criminals to take addi- tional steps in the direction of defying the basic principles of civilized actions. What had occurred may occur again. There is no guarantee, even when airlines carry armed security guards, that fanatics may not continue their suicidal activities. But if and when proper measures are taken properly to punish terrorists and to declare hijacking an international crime, there will be hope for a return to sanity in human rela- tions. As matters stand, the Arab criminals have turned the scales toward insanity. As long as the world recognizes that when deal- - ing with the Arab terrorists it confronts in- sane people, there will be greater hope for a back-to-sanity future. What mankind must learn to understand and to acknowledge is that resort to piracy, hijacking, brutality of the sort practiced in the desert by the crazed criminals, all tend to encourage similar crimes elsewhere. But sug- gestion of such resort to terror might inspire the already irrational "rebels" in our own midst. There is nothing to prevent crazed peo- ple from turning their hearts and minds toward destruction and cruelty under the guise of false idealism—unless they are dis- couraged from viewing themselves as heroes. If the media Will play up a criminal young girl as a "beautiful" fighter for liberty instead of presenting her in her true light: as a poten- tial murderer, then we will be in greater trouble as time progresses. If the terrorists will be portrayed in any role as other than criminally insane, and those who are held as hostages will view their plight as an adven- ture, with compliments for the treatment they receive from the bandits, they will be adding encouragement to terror and to crime. There is only one way of judging these criminals: by describing their tasks in their proper fashion. Under no circumstances must terrorists be dignified as adventurers, and terror must be painted as the cruelty it enacts. The roles of many 'governments are sub- ject to scrutiny at this time, and the United Nations is especially subject to suspicion in view of what has been transpiring. The var- ious meetings of the Security Council at which there were advance assurances of bias against Israel did not help create sanity in the desert. The position of U Thant has seemed for long time to be tinged with prejudice against Israel and Jewry. The hopes we held out for a great humanitarian instrument imbedded in the UN have begun to vanish. The one hope is 'that a new generation will arise on New York's waterfront to alter the bias) that rules men's hearts in the world organization. Blackmail, hijacking, the threat to destroy Posthumously Published Work a sovereign nation did stir many people. Yet many of the eminent religious leaders have remained silent, the Soviet Union had an Roth's "Short History" Reissued opportunity to assert itself with a sense of First published in 1935, the "Short History of the Jewish People" compassion, but its leaders remained indif- by Dr. Cecil Roth was published in revised editions in 1947, 1958 ferent, the antagonism to Jewry and to Israel and 1967. The latest revised illustrated edition was completed before the may have continued to blind the sight of all passing of Dr. Roth on June 21 and has been released this week, too many human beings. The human factor posthumously, by Hartmore House, Hart- has not risen above the medieval spirit when ford, Conn. the fate of Jews was involved. It was only An impressive work, while it is listed when Israel reasserted its role of dignity and as "short" it is marked by a notable com- setflespect to admonish mankind of its indif- pleteness, and its final chapter is devoted fereifve to moral values that some voices to the Six-Day War. began to be heard. , .,, The thoroughness MAth which the late author compiled the basic his- What had happened was a great lesson torical material in presenting the for students of morality. It was a test of the record of Jewish experiences is espe- values that are preached on Sundays and cially evident, and the large ntnnber abandoned on weekdays—and perhaps not of photographs adds immensely to practiced even on the sacred days when our the value of a meritorious work. Psalms are read as part of an effort for Of special interest is._the prefatory spiritual uplifting. note Dr. Roth had written to the sixth We are through being tested. There are reprinted edition—it was the fourth illus- Cecil Roth many challenges ahead for all concerned. trated one—in June of 1967: "Thank God that I have been privileged Jews are challenged to remain firm in their to witness and to record the crowning mercies inadequately described in loyalty to their kinsmen. Humanity must the new pages now appended to this work." It was written in Jerusalem. There are 170 illustrations in this 500-page book •including the assert itself on the matter involving the fate of an entire people. Is there any one, any- prefatory comments). From the birth of the Hebrew people to the present in the eras of the Kingdoms and Prophets, where, in any civilized sphere,. who will sub- the Exile time—sandwiching Return, Hellenism, Diaspora, Reformation, Renaissance, scribe to a plan to destroy a sovereign state, Revolution and and Emancipation, Catastrophe and Resurrection, the State to aim for another extermination of Israel— of Israel—the story of the Jewish people is told here with skill. The the new Genocide that is the program of splendid style of the deceased scholar again inspires the reader, and Arabs who reject peace with Israel? the revised edition of his history is again a most welcome literary This is the basic question today. Jewry cnntribution. knows the answer: never again will another Auschwitz or Dachau or any form of Nazism Gittelsohn's Meaning of Judaism and Genocide be condoned. Now it is for mankind to speak, for the churches to assert themselves as they read Psalms and Prophecy Emphasizes Unity of Jews Differences between the three branches of Judaism and the areas in that speaks of the Redemption of Israel. Are we to witness a bankrupt humanity or a new which they disagree with the Christian beliefs are -outlined in "The glory for mankind that affirms honor, dignity, Meaning of Judaism" by Rabbi Roland B. Gittelsohn of Boston, presi- the Central Conference of American Rabbis. justice, respect for the civilization that has dent In of this Book of World Publishing Co., Dr. Gittelsohn emerged from the morass of the cruelty of draws upon Excalibur the classic works in Jewish literature to illustrate his the ages? presentations of the Jewish position in the world, the interest in Beware of Rumors That Harm Israel It is necessary, in the current critical situation affecting Israel and the entire Mid- dle East that people generally should be cau- tious not to be misled by false rumors, regret- table propaganda, appeals to hatred and dis- tortions that hardly lend themselves to an understanding of actual occurrences and political developments. It is most unfortunate that in the interest of a good story correspondents often are mis- led when they overemphasize the extremes without waiting for actualities. The destruction of four planes, the threat to human lives, the insanities that accom- panied the "fanaticism of terrorists," as the bad actors were described in most reports, were sad enough, Why the introduction of new speculations—the false report about Sir- han Satan, which only inspired more hatred and additional dangers that could have in- volved the United States more tragically int5i the entire issue; or the interpretation of ;s- rael's security measure in arresting 450 ter- . rorists as a bargaining scheme? The latter was among the indications of the failure to understand Israel's position. The Israelis are not out for vengeance, as his- toric events have proven, and merely seek amity and a measure of freedom to benefit all of the state's residents—Jews, Moslems, Christians. The most stupid thing Israel pos- sibly could do would be either to arrest hos- tages or to threaten their lives in retaliation for Arab bandits' actions. Yet the impression was given that Israel was on a path of ven- geance rather than peace. . There must be a measure of faith in Is- rael' s resort. to reason, accompanied by its determination not to permit destruction. And we must add all of our support towards that nation's will to live and our role as kinsmen in the battle for life. Neither terrorism nor the new form of Nazism that distinguishes Arab terrorism can ever survive as long as we stand by an Israel that will not accept either a death sentence or suicide. Israel, the otiservances that are traditional in Jewish life. It is the Jew in history as well as in the current streams who is depicted, and the basic laws are reviewed and defined. He does not ignore subjects like sex and marriage, and his account of Christian- Jewish relations, with emphasis on ecumenical trends, is noteworthy. He places great stress on the community in Jewish concepts and observances and in dedication of Jews to their past. He asserts: "Though only the rashest egomaniac would pre- sume to predict exactly what the Jew or Judaism will be, in order to be authentic, the future must be an outgrowth of the past It is reasonable to assume that whatever the detailed specifications, we shall continue to be a people difficult to define, eombialag national- ism, religion and ethnic traits in a pattern distinctively our own. We shall persist in viewing Deity, the universe, life and man as an essential Oneness, an Unbroken and Indivisible Unity. We shall allow neither the world nor ourselves to forget the innate potential goodness of humankind or the divine compulsion to live by our highest ideals." This unity and dedication to faith and people is additionally em- phasized in Dr. Gittelsoha's declaration: "While accepting and pro- moting the integrity of all men and groups of men, we shall struggle valiantly to preserve our own identity as an indispensable prerequisite for further contributions to civilization. We shall cherish our relation- ship to Jews everywhere, especially :hose in Israel. We who are so fortunate as to live in the United States shall simultaneously cultivate our love—on different levels—for both this nation and Israel, We shall strive for justice on our own behalf and for the sons of men every- where." (Macmillan Excalibur Books are edited by Dr. Carl Hermann You, eminent theologian, author and lecturer).