atorium on Harassment

JDL'S Kahane Promises

Mistimed from Page 1)
conduct. But be threatened that
"If we don't see any results, we'll
go back to harassing."
Will Maslow, executive director
of the American Jewish Congress,
said: "It would be gratifying to
think that Rabbi Kahane now con-
cedes that bombing Soviet offices
and calling Russian housewives
dirty names as they shop in the
supermarkets will not change the
Kremlin's policy toward Soviet
Jewry. Only an aroused world
conscience can do that — and only
if our actions are both militant
and non-violent will we continue
to win sympathy and support for
the courageous Jews of the Soviet
111n Union."
Dissatisfied with the militant
tactics employed by the Jewish
Defame Lessee, several thous-
and persons have formed a new
organisation called the "Jewish
Survival Legion," which is dedi-
cated to solving many of the
problems the JDL is attacking
but "within the framework of
the law," according to Allan
Mallenbaum, a founder of the
ISL, which officially announced
Its formation Tuesday.
Mallenhaum, who left the Jewish
Defense League a few months ago
after serving as its administrative
director, said that his organization
- already has several thousand mem-
'''. bets and would try to solve four
main problems: the protection of
Jewish life and property in urban
areas; aiding oppressed Jews in
Russia• supporting Israel; and
"reversing the identity crisis fac-
ing alienated Jewish youth."
"We can not criticize the JDL
for its actions. We feel that they
are taking a very strong and
positive approach to solve prob-
lems in the way they feel best.
We, unfortunately, cannot agree
with this and feel that we have
a better solution," Mallenbaum
declared.
Noting that seven New England
chapters of the Jewish Defense
League and their chairmen had
resigned from the national organi-
zation along with their New Eng-
land coordinator, Rabbi Marvin
Antelman, Mallenbaum expressed
his feeling that this was the start
of a new trend and that more res-
ignations could be expected. "Sev-
eral people who have held high
positions in the JDL have come
to us and expressed dissatisfaction
with the organization," said the
JSL founder.
He asserted, however, that his
group would not make an attempt
to undermine the JDL's influence.
"We feel that they have the right
to exist and to pursue their own
pariculir means of solving the
problems. We feel that it is not
'uelor us. however."
Mallenbaum disclosed that
chapters of the JSL have already
been established is Boston and
Worcester, Mass., Providence
and Pawtucket, R.I.; and Hart-
ford. Conn.
Rabbi Antelman, who spear-
headed the massive "exodus" of
New England members from the
national organization, was named
as a founder of JSL and reported
that many of his New England
staff have already been appointed.
Lazar Lowinger, criminal attor-
ney and fighter in the Polish Re-
sistance, was named as JSL's New
England coordinating officer. Rab-
bi Antelman revealed that also
joining the group in leadership
positions were Dr. Sanford Ger-
ber, professor of sociology and an-
thropology at Clark University,
Worcester, who resigned as JDL
chapter chairman in Worcester,
because of what he termed "irres-
ponsible" national leadership; Rab-
bi Hahn Raizman, spiritual leader
of a congregation in Pawtucket;
and Warren Shoag, identified by
Rabbi Antelman as a veteran of
the Iron, who resigned from the
JDL, according to Antelman, be-
"-ins* he felt their pursuits were
"publicity-seeking" than
to."

4S--Fridry, kmary 22, 1E71

"If these people will help the
Jewish community, then all power
to them."

He insisted however, that "these
alleged members did not come
from the ranks of the Jewish De-
fense League. From letters and
phone calls, our members have
shown total support for the lead-
ership of JDL and its policies. In
general, since last December, when
we started to accelerate our cam-
paign for Soviet Jewry, our sup-
port, which Is indicated by mail
and phone calls, has increased.
and has been overwhelmingly in
favor of us by members and non-
members alike."
The New York Board of Rabbis
denounced the Jewish Defense
League as a group which has
"greatly harmed the cause of
Jewry" by "its resort to harass-
ment and violence." The board
said the Soviet Union was "guilty
of cruel persecution and unjust
denial of rights in respect to its
Jewish population" but that the
JDL "has enabled the tyrant to
assume the pose of the victim"
and that it had given Soviet lead-
ers "additional fuel to stoke the
fires of their bigotry and an ex-
cuse to besmirch the name of the
Jewish people and Zionism."
Betar. a militant Zionist youth
group, told the Jewish Telegraphic
Agency that it was urging Ameri-
can travel agents to boycott travel
to Russia. Betar spokesman Ken-
neth Arfa said the group was pre-
paring a mass mailing to 900 travel
agencies in the New York area
and eventually to travel agencies
all over the country asking them
to refrain from booking travel to
Russia in protest against the cur-
rent mistreatment of Russian
Jews. Me said the travel agents
who joined the boycott would be
asked to give their clients the
reason for it.

Israel Divided on JDL
Harassment and Violence
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Sharp
differences of opinion have de-
veloped in Israel over the tactics
of harassment and violence em-
nloyed by Jewish militants against
Soviet personnel and property in
the United States and other coun-
tries. Such tactics were condemned
by the cabinet in an unprecedented
resolution declaring that the gov-
ernment "vigorously opposes acts
of terror" in the struggle for the
rights of Soviet Jews to emigrate
to Israel.
Immediately after the resolution
was made public it was angrily de-
nounced by militant nationalist
circles here. They told the Jewish
Telegraphic Agency that the gov-
ernment had no reason to adopt
the resolution because it had not
been asked to comment. They
claimed that for years the New
Left had "perpetrated atrocities
throughout the world but no gov-
ernment has gotten excited about
it."
The tactics of Jewish militants
abroad, notably the Jewish De-
fense League in New York and
other American cities have been
severely criticized by most Israeli
newspapers. But judging from cas-
ual conversations with ordinary
Israelis, it is by no means certain
that such opinions are shared by a
majority of the population, the
JTA correspondent reported.
Eight former Soviet Jews living
in Israel sent cables to American
Jewish leaders denouncing their
condemnation of the JDL and
denying that the JDL's acts en-
dangered Soviet Jews, The cables,
addressed to Dr. William A. Wex-
ler. president of Bnai Brith, and
Rabbi Herschel Schaefer, chair-
man of the American Jewish Con-
ference on Soviet Jewry, said they
were convinced that the JDL's
"policy and activities are most

TIE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

made any worse by the JDL
tactics.
(In New York, two JDL leaders
and a third man were indicted Jan.
15 by a federal grand jury for
using fictitious names to buy three
rifles. Under indictment are San-
dor Sternberg, 20, a Brooklyn Col-
lege student; David Sommer, 32,
a Queens high school teacher; and
Aaron Blumenthal, 22, a Philadel-
phia resident believed to be in Is-,
raeL According to U.S. Attorney
Whitney North Seymour Jr., the
defendants are charged with vio-
lating the Federal Firearms Con-
Dr. Goldmann said that during trol Law. Federal authorities des-
the three months since he was last cribed Sternberg as "director of
in Israel he met with a number defense" of the JDL and its chief
of prominent Russians, but he karate instructor. Sommer was
named only one of them, the Soviet described as a member of the
ambassador to Washington. Ana- JDL's national board and editor
toly F. Dobrynin. He said be of its newsletter, "Never Again.")
talked to Dobrynin before the Len-
In Brussels a Belgian Commu-
ingrad trial last month. He said nist leader condemned the trials
he would report on his various of Jews in the Soviet Union but
talks abroad to Premier Golda said there were "political com-
Heir, Finance Minister Pinhas plications" which "force the USSR
Sapir and other cabinet officers.
to be prudent" in permitting Rus-
Dr. Goldmann referred to the sian Jews to emigrate to Israel.
harassing tactics of the Jewish According to Marc Drumaux, chair-
Defense League in the United man of the Belgian Communist
States as a "catastrophe," and Party, if emigration were allowed,
noted "their intentions are good "Soviet citizens arriving in Israel
but their deeds cause unimagin- might find themselves fighting
Soviet- soldiers on the Egyptian
able harm."
side."
The tactics of the JDL appear to
Drumaux was a participant in a
have divided Jewish opinion in the special program on Soviet Jewry
Soviet Union, according to various broadcast over Brussels Radio.
reports received here A majority Other participants were Prof. Rob-
of Soviet Jews are neither actively ert Mizrachl of, Paris Sor-
trying to emigrate nor are they bonne, Yves Cau of the French
protesting JDL acts in letters to newspaper Figaro and Edwin Ey-
the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. But tan, Paris correspondent of the
they fear the JDL tactics will give Jewish Telegraphic- Agency. Dru-
Soviet authorities an excuse for maux acknowledged that anti-Semi-
anti-Semitic activities.
tism survives "in certain circles
But other Soviet Jews, mainly within the Socialist countries." He
those who have committed them- reminded the listeners that the
selves to an all out struggle for Belgian Communist Party had
emigration rights, seem to approve criticized the Leningrad trial and
of the JDL. They believe that the the death sentences, later com-
Soviets respect only force and in- muted, and had taken Soviet au-
sist that anti-Semitism is native thorities to task for conducting
to the Soviet Union and cannot be the trial in secret

world convention of Communists
parties next March will be de-
cisive for the situation of Jews
decisive for the situation of Jews
in the Soviet Union. According to
Dr. Goldmann, who arrived here
Sunday night for a two-week visit,
the Communist parties of the west-
ern world Influenced Soviet auth-
orities on the side of leniency in
the Leningrad trial, manifested.
by the commutation of the two
death sentences to prison terms
and the reduction of several other
sentences.

Lawrence Fine, executive dir-
ector of the JDL, told the JTA
that his group was not antagon-
istic toward the formation of the
new group.

HEIR KAHANE

effective." The group also attacked
Israeli authorities for alleged soft-
ness in fighting the Soviet Union
on the issue of Jewish rights.
One of the signatories, Dov
Sperling, claimed that the recent
cancellation of the Boishoi Ballet's
scheduled American tour was
forced by the JDL and hailed it as
the first public surrender by Sov-
iet authorities to Jewish pressure.
The wording of the cable implied
that the signers believed that fur-
ther straining of relations between
Washington and Moscow would
convince the Kremlin that it would
be more expedient to let Soviet
Jews emigrate than to allow rela-
tions with the U.S. to deteriorate.
The cabinet resolution did not
single out the JDL by name but
the target of its attack was clear.

Goldmann Assails League
Actions as 'Catastrophe'
TEL AVIV (JTA)—Dr. Nahum
Goldmann said here that the

Jorge Borges' Aleph' Creates Delight
in Fascinating Set of 20 Narratives

Jorge Luis Borges is the Argen-
tinian storyteller the charm of
whose tales is so infectious that he
gains best seller status whenever
and wherever his stories become
known.
This eminent South American
writer had the assistance of Nor-
man Thomas di Giovanni in trans-
lating a group of Borges'
stories. In "The Aleph and Other
Stories," published by Dutton, we
have a collection of gems.
It is interesting that the Aleph
becomes a symbolic factor in the
writings of Borges who in this
volume, emerges as knowledgeable
in Jewish folklore and linguistics
and as a lover of Israel.
Supplementing the 20 stories
in this book is a 60-page auto-
biography of Borges. There we
learn much about his Jewish
associations and his interest in
Israel.
We start as he does with the
Aleph. How does he explain it at
the outset? That an Aleph "is one
of the points in space that contains
all other points."
But this, indeed, is only the be-
ginning. He adds two other obser-
vations, on the nature of the Aleph
and on its name: "As is well
known, the Aleph is the first letter
of the Hebrew alphabet. Its use
for the strange sphere in my. story
may not be accidental. For the
Kabbala, that letter stands for the
En Soph, the pure and boundless
godhead; it is also said that it
takes the shape of a man pointing
to both heaven and earth, In order
to show that the lower world is the
map and mirror of the higher .. ."
Therefore as a commentary we
have this explanatory note on the
Aleph:

tial universe is to be found in a
tiny shining sphere barely over
an Inch across. When I wrote my
story, I recalled Wells' dictum
that in a tale of the fantastic, if
the story is to be acceptable to
the mind of the reader, only
one fantastic element should be
allowed at a time. For example,
though Wells wrote a book about
the invasion at Earth by Mar-
tians, and another book about a
single invisible man in England,
he was far too wise to attempt a
novel about an invasion of our
planet by an army of invisible
men. Thinking of the Aleph as a
thing of wonder, I place it in as
drab a setting as I could imagine
—a small cellar in a nondescript
house In an unfashionable quar-
ter of Buenos Aires. In the
world of the Arabian Nights, such
things as magic lamps and rings
are left lying about and nobody
cares; in our skeptical world, we
have to tidy up any alarming or
out-of-the-way element. Thus, at
the end of 'TheAleph; the
house has to be pulled down and
the shining sphere destroyed with

In his , autobiographical essay
Borges tells of his friendship with
Rafael Cansinos-Assens: "I still
like to think of myself as his dis-
ciple. He had come from Seville,
where he had studied for the priest-
hood, but, having found the name
cansinos in the archives of the In-
quisition, he decided he was a Jew.
This led him to the study of He-
brew, and later on, he even had
himself circumcised . . ." '
It's an interesting story that fol-
lows about this friend, his writings,
the Cansinos stories, novels,- es-
says.
"What I got from him," Borges
"What eternity is to time, the

wrote long and flowing sentences
with an un-Spanish and strongly
Hebrew flavor to them."
Autobiographically, Borges also
mentions • two bosom friends, both
of Polish-Jewish origin, Simon
Jichlinsld and Maurice Abramow-
icz: "One became a lawyer and
the other a physician. I taught
them to play truce, and they learn-
ed so well and fast that at the
end of our first game they left me
without a cent."
Especially interesting is the re-
port of Israel in this fascinating
autobiography:

"Early in INS, invited by the
Israeli governmeot. I spelt 141
very exciting days in Tel -Aviv
and Jerusalem. I brought house
with me the conviction of having
been in the oldest and the young-
est of witless, of having tame
from a very living, vigilant land
back to a half-asleep nook of the
meld. Since my Genevan days, I
had always been interested in
Jewish culture, thinking of it as
an integral element of our so-
called Western civilization, and
during the Israeli-Arab war of a
few years back I found myself
taking immediate Mks. While
the esteems was still uncertain,
I wrote a poem Ma thcbattle. A .
week after, I wrote another en

There is delight .1. 44 every phrase
of the Borges writings, and his
Jewish interests, his Mart On the
Aleph and his emphasis_ _on the
Sopb, link us with - U'remark-
able storyteller who is jut-the same-
Aleph is t• spree. In eternity, all relates, "was the pleasure of liter- time historian, philoserpiter lad
tims-11 14 present, and future— ary conversation. Also, I was stim- mystic. The: ingleDWRIon 'odds tO
coexists ;N 7. in the ulated by him to far-flung reading. the erlioymi•t lair reading his Aleph
Aleph, chi aim total of the spa- In writing, I began aping him. He and other Merles.—P.S.

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