THE JEWISH NEWS Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with ismse of July 20, 1951 Member Americas Assectaton of Enitish-Jewlsh Newspapers. Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Associatioa Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075. Phone 4564400 Subscription as a year. Foreign IL CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ amino s hangar PHILIP SLOMOVITZ SSW and Paldannar CHARLOTTE ODIUM oft amter Sabbath Rosh Bode* Heshvan Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the first day of Heshvan, 5731, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portions, Gen. 6:9-11:31, Num. 28:9-15. Prop h etical portion, Isaiah 66:1-24. Candle VOL. LVIEL No. 7 ugmtas. Friday, Oct_ 38, 5:14 p.m. Page Four October 38, 1970 Obligation to Buy Israel-Made Products With the United Jewish Appeal and the Israel Bond drives receiving the inevitable priorities in fund-raising efforts in Jewish communities everywhere, there has emerged another great obligation in the task of sup- porting Israel and of assuring the economic security of the Jewish state. It is the purchase of Israel products as a major means of providing an assurance that exports will soon equal imports, from and to Israel, and that Israeli industries will be given such encouragement that there will be continuity in avoiding unemployment in Israel and in accisting in every possible way of keeping the state's standards on the high- _ est level. Israel needs tremendous funds to in- tegrate tens of thousands of newcomers an- nually, to provide housing, health and edu- cational facilities for them. If Israel's role is to be in the spirit of our people's tradi- tions, the intellectual aspects of the nation must be high-geared and for that purpose its universities must have all the means necessary to secure the best professors and to accept for enrollment all who apply as students. These purposes are in great meas- ure assisted by the funds provided by the United Jewish Appeal which is aided in Detroit by the Allied Jewish Campaign. There are other needs, especially those requiring the financing of the - armed forces. These absorb more than 6 per cent of the Israel budget, and the money for it must come from taxation. The burden upon the Israelis has been very great and has created many hardships. But this burdensome aspect of Israel's existence can also be eased if the economic position of Israel is strength- ened. This is where the expansion of Israel's export trade fits in. And this is where the obligation upon all Jews to purchase Israel-made products becomes so vital. The list of Israel-produced items is so large that it could not possibly be listed here. It ranks from razor blades to furni- ture, from various foods to the finest in clothing for men and for women, from men's ties and trousers to women's furs and formal attire, from wines and champagnes to elec- tronics and high-geared machines. A new appeal now goes forth to Diaspora Jewry, and it is emphasized in the slogan: Buy Israel-Made Products. It is believed that every American Jewish man, woman and child should average a purchase of $100 in Israel-made items every year. That would assure an impressive American participation in the industrial development of Israel. Representatives of the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce and of cooperating Zionist and other organizations are assist- ing in the local effort to make known merch- ants who carry Israel products and the type of Israel-produced items available in our com- munity. The response should be commensur- ate with the vastness of the need for the success of this task to encourage the pur- chase of Israeli products. Human Rights Fail ures in UN, U. S. Just before the U.S. Senate adjourned for a few weeks to permit its members to participate in the election campaigns, Sen- ator William Proxmire of Minnesota uttered a plea for ratification of the United Nations Genocide Convention which outlaws terroriza- tion of nations and murderous assaults on peoples,such as the Nazi mass murder of Jews. The Genocide Convention has, since its adoption by the UN in 1948, received the approval of nearly 60 nations. But the United States, due primarily to the opposition of the American Bar Association and the hesitancy of the U.S. Senate to act because of the in- fluence of the ABA position, has thus far failed to join those who have acted to outlaw genocide. Sen. Proxmire had this to say in the course of his remarks: Despite the fact that we are the major supporter of the UN, we have not given the UN our full support in its work in the field of human rights. It is true that we were very active in the drafting of the haus rights documents of the UN, in particular the Genocide Convention. In 1948, the then assistant secretary of date, Ernest Grosz, In a speech to the UN General Assembly said: "It seems to the U.S. delegation that, In a world beset by many problems and great diffi- culties, we should proceed- with this convention before the memory of recent horrifying genocidal acts has faded from the minds and consciences of man. Positive action must be taken now. Hy government is eager to see a genocide comes- lion adopted at this session of the assembly and signed by all member states before we quit our labors here." However, the United States has yet to ratify this human rights convention. I cannot think of a better way to commem- orate the 25th anniversary of the UN than for us to ratify the first human rights document produced by the UN. By ratifying the Genocide Convention we would effectively nullify the dis- parity between our words and our action. I urge the Foreign Relations Committee to bring the Genocide Convention to the floor of the Senate for ratification in Lbe near future. It is clear that this nation has not ful- the main the UN itself has been guilty of failures to interpret its charter properly. In his speech Sen. Proxmire quoted from the report of the President's Commission on the aspects of the 25th anniversary of the United Nations. He quoted from the report which stated that the UN "has facilitated the independence of hundreds of millions of people formerly under colonial rule; it has, through its developmental programs contrib- uted to the economic and social advancement of many nations; and has produced conven- tions on •human rights." It is true: the UN did facilitate the inde- pendence of hundreds of millions of people who had previously been deprived of just rights under the Hurcian Rights UN Charter. But in the matter of independence and hu- man rights for. Israel, the UN has been in- different, attacks on Israel's rights have been permitted, and whenever there was a proposal to rob Israel of her rights, it was certain of a majority at least in the Soviet-Arab domi- nated Security Council. When, therefore, we speak of the U. S. failure to adopt the UN Genocide Conven- tion, we can also supplement the charge that the United Nations itself is filled with so much venom that there isn't a chance for isolated Israel. Let guilt be assigned to whom it belongs. Qualified Balloting In the several days that remain before the election on Tuesday it is imperative that voters should study the issues so that they may reach the polls somewhat informed about the state's and the nation's needs. Important amendments are on the ballot. There is the duty to select the ablest men for the governorship, senatorship, congres- sional membership and the judiciary, as well as qualified men for educational posts, on local boards as well as our universities. Becoming acquainted with the issues and studying the qualifications of•candidates, we'll be in a better position to cast ballots for liberal-minded men and women, thus prevent- filled its duty in respect to the human rights ing the 'danger of emergence of any one decisions of the world _organization.. But in . either on .the. right. or .on the left. Legends of the Baal Shem Compiled by Noted Scholars Two noted scholars—Prof. Dan Ben-Amos of the University of Pennsylvania and Prof. Jerome R. Mintz of the University of Indiana —have combined their skills in the editing and translating of the earliest collection of the Hasidic founder's legends. The book, published by University of Indiana Press (Bloomington, Ind.), is entitled "In Praise of the Baal Shem Tov (Sbivhei ha-Besht)." This volume is distinct in many respects. The introductory essay explains Hasidism in relation to the theme of the Besht legends. The reader is guided by an explanatory note on translations, and the back- grounds noted in the stories become understandable in the explanatory analyses. The two authors' extensve labors become apparent in the fact that they provided a glossary of 10 pages, thus assuring fullest links be- tween reader and the founder of Hasidism whose legends have been compiled here. There is genuine scholarship in the editors' efforts, proven also by the 10 pages of listings of the sources of the legends and an addi- tional section of 16 pages of an index of motifs. These are in addition to the extensive annotations and to guidelines by printers. Among the legends is this one worth noting about "The Gentile Who Blessed the Jews:" Once the Besht prayed before the ark. In the middle of the prayer he stopped praying and went to the street before the synagogue where he saw a gentile selling wood. He bought a wagon load of wood from him, and the gentile followed after the Besht and carried the wood to the beth-hamidrash. The Besht told them to pay him for the wood and to give him brandy for carrying the wood to the beth•hamidrash. The gentile said: "Blessed be the God of the Jews who has such a holy people." Had a gentile bought the wood from him be certainly would not have given him anything. The disciples asked the Besht why he had stopped In the middle of his prayer to bay wood, and he answered that during his prayer he saw that in heaven there was an accusation made against the Jews who live in the villages that they cheated the gentiles in their accounts. He had to silence the accuser. As a result of the gentile's praise of the Jews, the arguments of the accuser were silenced. For students of Hasidism and mystic legendary themes, "In Praise of the Baal Shem Tov" will serve a distinct need and will add inval- uably to an understanding of the Hasidic movement and , its founder. 19 Sholem Aleichem Stories, One-Ad Play in Paperback A volume with some of the most notable of the Sholem Aleichem stories, and a one-act play, translated by a leading authority on the works of the great Yiddish humorist, has been reissued as a paper- back, by Collier Books, a division of Macmillan Co. Curt Leviant is the translator and editor of the 19 stories and the one-act play ("Agents") in "Sholem Aleichem Stories and Satires." With appropriate illustrations by Arthur Zaldenberg, the tales selected are among the best known of the humorist's works. • Tales about the holidays, humor of the shtetl, Old World tragi- comedies, the life in the isolated Jewish communities of Russia— these are the tales of Sholem Aleichem that lead to laughter and draw tears. The "scholarly introduction by Curt Leviant, whose authoritativeness on Yiddish literature and especially on the humorist of the ghetto have elevated him to a position of leadership In literary criticisms and as a translator, is especially valuable as a guide to students of Jewish literature. This paperback is an immensely important addition to the Yiddish literature pow_ available in excellent, English translation. .