THE JEWISH NEWS

Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with Came of July 20, 1951

Member American Anociaton of linglab-Jewish Ne
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Pu
year. Foreign $1.
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PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
'Whir and Publisher

pen, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Association
175111 W. Nine Mlle, Suite 665. Southfield, Mich. 46676.
Phone 556.400

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ

Swine= Manager

CHARLOTTE DUBIN

City Editor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections

This Sabbath, the seventh day of Heshvan, 5731, the following scriptural selec-
tions will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Gen. 12:1-17:27. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 40:27-41:16.

Candle lighting, Friday, Nov. 6, 511 p.m.

VOL. LVIII. No. S

Page Four

November 6, 1970

Basic Goal of the Annual Book Fair

Annual Book Fair of the Jewish Com-
munity Center, into the sponsorship of which
a score of Detroit Jewish organizations have
been drawn again this year, serves anew as
an appeal to our community. to take into
account the necessity for priority to cultural
obligations as means of keeping our people
fully informed on the history of our people
and what we can expect in a future that is
based on a rich past.
Book Fair encourages people to buy and
to read, and therefore also to possess books
and to build up home libraries.
This is one of the great occasions on our
communal calendar when the appeal to so
many is on an eaual basis—that of acquir-
ing knowledge, of giving priority to learn-
ing, of encouraging an interest in published
works—in the classics as well as in current
literature.
There is always the problem, while buikd-
ing up programs for such events, of choos-
ing the proper speakers, of dignifying only
the positive and the creative, of eliminat-
ing the appeal to the obscene that - has be-

gun to dominate over certain aspects of con-
temporary writing.
In our current program too, there is cause
for regret that some popularized elements
that do not in any sense elevate the Jewish
aspect of literary creativity have been in-
cluded in the list of speakers. But the posi-
tive, the creative, the illuminating predomi-
nate, and we should be grateful for that.
There is no doubt that many books will
be purchased during Book Fair at the Jewish
Center. This means that many more homes
will be enriched, culturally and spiritually.
Book Fair always draws large gatherings to
the many functions, and that is heartening
—especially at a time in our history when
there is such dire need to retain loyalties to
our numerous obligations—to the continued
progress of our basic domestic institutions Mrs. Mintz's New Poetry Volume
while supporting Israel and protecting the
rights of the oppressed.
The best in Jewish life is imbedded in Extols Israel and Its Settlers
functions like the Book Fair, and its objec-
Mrs. Ruth Finer Mintz, the wife of Prof. Yale Mintz of the
tives have earned the wholehearted coopera- University of California who is a visiting professor at the Hebrew
tion of all our citizens.
University, is already a winner as a poet, having received the Jewish

Communal Responsibility Ascertained

The reality of the double-giving cam- tinue to flee persecutions in backward coun-
paign undertaken to meet Israel's emer- tries and the assurance of employment for
gencies is ascertained by the actions of a them; and of establishing for Israel the eco-
nomic securities that can be made available
score or more of congregations which have through Israel Bond investments.
adopted the rule that to retain memberships
The new aims in the two drives—the
in synagogues they must be based on the philanthropic of the United Jewish Appeal
enrollees' willingness to participate as con- and the investments in Israel Bonds—are
tributors to the United Jewish Appeal.
attainable. It has already been indicated that
There has already been established the communities are responding generously to
practice of country clubs not to admit to the call for double giving.
membership anyone who does not share in
Communities like Flint, for example, al-
the duties towards the major Jewish philan- ready have accepted doubled quotas for their
thropic fund. Now, the adoption of a similar drives.
rule by synagogues gives the added assur-
The actions of synagogues in demanding
ance that the duties all of us owe to the UJA their members' UJA participation is another
and to Israel's needs cannot be shirked.
evidence of voluntary American Jewish in-
We are now in the process of enforcing volvement in the serious effort of protecting
an interesting experiment: that of giving Israel's position as a sovereign state, and to
basic priorities to the UJA and to the Israel assure the security of 3,000,000 Israelis.
Bond drive. Israel faces crucial tests which
These are encouraging factors in a corn-
can be met only if the state is relieved of munity as progressive as that of American
the duties involved in caring for immigration, Jewry, and we can feel greatly heartened by
the settlement of tens of thousands who con- all the evidences of genuine generosity.

Reactionary Threats to American Society;

Book Council award in 1966. Now she adds immeasurably to her record
as an able poet with her book "Traveler Through Time," which has
been published by Jonathan David.
There is genuine delight in many of her verses, and the variety
of the themes on which she writes enhances her work. Her "Love
Song" is an excellent paean to true joy. Her "Illumination" deplores
the anti-Semitism of a deluded boy and girl—the "Schwartze Cholera"
that causes the abused to wonder why the hatred. And there is surcease
in the concluding stanza:

But at school, on the assembly stage
they stood, small brother, big sister,
black as night, singing . .
'There is a balm in Gilead'
in golden tones so full of longing,
the sun and moon were made
and there was light!

There are recollections of Russia in Mrs. Mintz's poems, "Kiev,"
"Odessa," "Sertze Moya," about the Leningrad-Helsinki railway and
others.
Genuinely thrilling are several poems about Israel and Israeli
cities, about Israeli children and those who consecrate themselves to
Jewish devotions. There are her "Jerusalem Poems" and the "Kiddush
L,evana" marked as "blessing the moon . . . Haifa July for Saul, 19
years, fallen June 1967":

A thousand lamps for you in the curve of the shore
shaping below, the blessing,
for the pulse of the sea is the constance of our longing.
Our masts are for you, torches, -
as we stand on the watchtowers of longing.
Come to us out of the shadows, out of the circles of mourning.
Lost, lost to parents, to friends. Lost, lost to the beloved.
Come to us over water, for the. stars are a gust of gulls calling.
The sea ablaze is a rim of silver.
The sky ablaze is a rim of crystal.
Return us to yourself and we return
past the cup of salt and sorrow
to You, who are wine and water.
In the open places we set tables.
In flagons of pomegranate we store velvet fire.
For our desire has ripened,lipricot and almond.
Our children eat, grow beautiful on the mountain.

It is entirely too early to judge the re- ham portrays - an anti-Semitic, anti-Negro
sults of Tuesday's election either on a local candidate for the Presidency who promises
or national scale. On the basis of trends that to deal with a rioting crowd of Blacks with
have been creating concern over social and such arrogance that he wins the election for
economic developments, it is safe to revert to the Presidency when it is thrown into the
warnings that both the racial issues and the House of Representatives as a result of a
effect of unemployment upon the reactions of deadlock affecting three candidates. The
voters may have serious effects upon the moderate and the liberal are licked. The bigot
national election in 1972. is the victor—all the result of the fear that
Voters undoubtedly will be influenced by is portrayed in our social structure and the
Mrs. Mintz has caught the spirit of the time, and her "Golan"
the economic setbacks and a possible reces- danger from one extreme that caused the verses express it, thus:
sion. Republicans have much to worry about triumph for the reactionaries.
The earth weaves a curtain
on that score. But the more serious aspect
It would be sheer blindness to overlook
for the Ark of the Covenant in Golan.
of new developments in our society is the the lesson of that novel by an author who
For the retaken Ark, the earth weaves
crimson poppies, the blood of Saut;
social issue, the reactions to racial conflicts, was on the staffs of Adlai Stevenson and
yellow marguerites, the blood of Jonathan.
the bitterness that accompanies the feelings President Johnson and who was Senator
But David, Your Servant, is alive.
of insecurity resulting from what extremists Harold Hughes' campaign director. He wrote
Two boulders by the waterfall, a Nail and a lioness.
wish to interpret as a new revolutionary era. out of experience with mob reactions which
The rocks piled by the roadside.
In many areas we already are faced can lead to political anti-Semitism, to anti-
heads of Goliath.
with evidence of a definite trend toward Catholicism and to race hatred in the venom
White lace blossoms, blood of the Shulamite.
But David, Your Servant, Lives
the right in judging occurrences that have that is spread against the Blacks. -
and the purple thorn rises up.:
mounted to a state of panic in a number of
There are grave dangers on the horizon
A crown.
large cities. The fears that have been in- from extremists on the right who could well
White and golden, crimson and purple
The Song of Solomon tremours spring wheat,
stilled among many of our citizens are driving become a dominant factor in American world
the stalks bend their heads singing.
them to the r inks of those who, only a short affairs if the bigotries should gain sway over
Halleluyahl
time ago, ha.' not a ghost of a chance of the liberal forces. The democratic ideas and
Mak,e, way, for the grandson of David, Your Servant.
enrolling followers.
the liberalism Of the rationg-AnieriCans are
Your left hand wider his arm.
•
Your right arm over his head . .. through blossoining..fields
Out of the panic has emerged a craving- under challenge today. If these forces. do not
The Long road, the Hard way
still we wait. "
for strictness, iefined as law and order but act to perpetuate basic American ideals, we
going to grea . r extremes. In the Random may well face- a future marked by the worst
Perhaps this excellent collection of "poems will win her another
House novel :"ie Election," Sherwin Mark- reactions in our history.
award.