THE JEWISH NEWS Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951 Member American Association of Diglish4ewish Newspapers. Michigan Press Association. National Editorial Association Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co.. 17515 W. Nine Mile. Suite MS, Southfield. Mich. QOM. Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription to a year. Foreign M. CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Business Manager Seliter and Publisher CHARLOTTE DUIIN City Edthar DREW LIEBERWITZ Advertising Manager Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the ninth day of Adar, 5731, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portions, Exod. 27:20-30:10, Deut. 25:17-19. Prophetical portion, I Samuel 15:12-34. Scriptural Selections for Fast of Esther, Wednesday Pentateuchal portion, Erod. 32:11-14, 34:1-10. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 55:6-56:8. Purim Torah Reading, Thursday: Exod. 17:8-16. The Book of Esther is read the night before and that morning. Candle lighting. Friday. March S. 6:03 p.m. VOL. LVIII. No. 25 Page Four March 5, 1971 Leadership Under Challenge Discord can be destructive. What hap- pened in Brussels could prove a blessing rather than the distress it seemed to create when Jewish spokesmen differed over the viewpoints of an opposition group that caused dismay. Perhaps the bitterness that emerged over an "uninvited guest" will encourage stock- taking in Jewish ranks and consideration of basic principles to be guided by in determin- ing policies to be pursued in the functions of our communities and those chosen to lead them. There is no doubt that the actions of the Jewish Defense League are objectionable. Overwhelming sentiments disapprove of ex- tremists, even in matters involving the Soviet Union. And it is equally acceptable that representation at democratically - organized assemblies must be based on recognized com- munal assignments in order that discord should be avoided. But it is also true that in a democracy even the unrepresented have the right to speak, and in a society like ours a person must be considered innocent before he is proven guilty. It is yet to be proven that the JDL had resorted to armed attacks on Russian emis- saries and their headquarters in this country. We join in condemning as repugnant window breaking and abusive tactics in dealing with Russians who are on official missions in this country, or any Russians visiting here. We believe that visiting musicians should be in- formed of our sentiments and should be asked to take back with them to Russia the protests of the Jewish people against their govern- ment's discriminations. On this basis we urge that every effort be made to condemn the Soviet policies. But we object to any sort of destructive means that have been or may be used against Russians or anyone we disagree with. On this score the JDL is as repugnant to us as the Jewish spokesmen in Brussels said about this movement. • • • There is another side to the coin. It is the matter of even a single person's right to speak, and the issue revolving around the necessity of assuring retention of democratic ideals in Jewish communities. On this issue it becomes necessary to express regret over the all-too- hasty actions in Brussels where a visiting American rabbi was arrested, his views were squelched, the extremists of the opposition to him evidencing a lack of good judgment at a time when unity was so vital in our ranks. Instead of adhering to the basic objectives of the conference in Brussels some Jewish lead- ers adopted methods which lead to witch hunts. We object to witch hunts wherever they may be introduced. We resent them when used against us by bigots. We oppose them when they are resorted to in political and social ranks.. They have no place in Jewish deliberations. What the experience in Brussels indicates is our impoverishment in what we desire to look to as Jewish leadership. Are we training leaders or politicians? Is leadership a term of honor or is it becoming a mockery? Does one become a leader because he can give a good gift to a deserving cause or is he (or she) one well trained to guide the people repre- sented along lines of highest principles in life, aimed at elevating standards, of estab- lishing democratic ways of protecting com- munity needs? Representatives of Jewish communities from more than 40 countries gathered in Brussels to seek relief for a persecuted com- munity of 3,000,000 Jews, and in addition to - preliminary rhetoric they yielded to fright, creating panic over the presence in their midst of a rejected self-appointed visitor who rushed to the sessions in order to present views that are opposed by a majority of the Jewish people. He could have and should have been listened to, he would have added a touch of basic democratic idealism to the conference. He surely would have been overruled, but there would have been a sense of honor and dignity and the Russians as much as we would have had a lesson in the highest principles of democracy. What occurred was regrettable and certainly deplorable. Holtz's 'Holy City' Anthology Emphasizes Glory of Jerusalem Timely and very meritorious is the newest in the Bnai Brith Perhaps the happenings in Brussels were Heritage Classics published by W. W. Norton Co. to have been expected. The entire issue re- Jewish Edited as a compilation by Prof. Avraham Holtz of the Jewish volving around Rabbi Meir Kahane and the Theological Seminary, "The Holy= City," containing the view of "Jews JDL was turned into a near-witch hunt. There on Jerusalem," this very interesting book is filled with historical data, was so much prejudice and bitterness over essays, songs, legends. the JDL's actions in the American press that With the assertion that "Jerusalem is the heartland of Judaism," it influenced many Jewish newspapers, in- the editor-compiler has succeeded in gathering material that empha- cluding the Israeli press, and there was more sizes this central theme. Impartially handled, this book is of equal value to Jewish, heat than light, more passion than reason, in Christian and Moslem readers because it contains data of interest the poll reported by Newsweek, in its study to all. "The American Jew—New Pride, New Prob- course, it is a natural for the compiler to take into account lems," which showed that 71 per cent of the Of latest developments, the Six-Day War's results, the redemption American Jews disapproved of the JDL, 14 of the Old City and its union with the New City of Jerusalem. per cent approved and 11 per cent gave quali- Also, it is natural that the Bible should be utilized for historic fied approval. We wonder whether this would background and that the biblical and the talmudic should be taken have been the result had the people polled into account. Therefore Prof. Holtz emphasizes that "the purpose of this an- suspected anything akin to what happened in thology Is to illustrate the centrality of Jerusalem in Jewish history Brussels. and tradition from earliest days to the immediate present." Now the Israeli press condemns the hate- The selections from the Bible with which the anthology com- provoked attitudes toward Kahane and JDL: mences serve as an inspiration to the reader who will expect the previously it joined the witch hunt, thus en- outline be complete, to take into account the beginning, just as couraging the shocking action that was taken the book to leads up to the present. The City of David, the era of Solo- officially by the Israel government—in a mat- mon and the Temple, the Prophetic Warnings—all are incorporated ter that was not its business—when it gave in •a volume that is so vitally needed today when the Jerusalem ques- expression to opposition to JDL's activities as tion is on the world agenda. Destruction of the Temple, the Maccabean Revolt, the building of if they deserved as much attention as the Russians sought to focus upon that group. the Second Temple and its destruction—all are reviewed in the quota- ; lions from historical records. – Instead of dealing with a very small minority By dealing with laws and legislations, taking into account the on the basis of principles and the need to TIsha b'Av tragedy and the views upon it of Malmonides and other formulate acceptable policies, inner dissen- scholars, the editor gives strength to a theme well compounded. sion was permitted, thus diverting attention The legends will be found especially appropriate. Drawing upon from the basic need of defending Russian the writings of Louis Ginsberg and others, Prof. Holtz has enriched Jewry toward rather undignified squabbles his work. that do not belong in a progressive society. The chapter "Song, Poem, Prayer" will prove equally inspirational • • • because of the traditional material utilized, the Psalms of David, the Perhaps youth is right when it says that Apocryphal writings, the Holy Day and other prayers inserted as part Establishment is bankrupt. Is our leadership of an accumulated record of the devotion of Israel to Jerusalem. Travel Literature, New-Old Jerusalem, The Six-Day War are bankrupt? Is it successful only in fund- titles that explain the supplementary material—including an raising? Have we failed culturally, educa- chapter addendum of such reading matter—that forms valuable literature tionally, socially, democratically? on a vast subject that makes "The Holy City" an outstanding book. Any one who undertakes to say NO to this question will have a tough time proving his place in our society. We are not producing knowledgeable leaders, else we would not Originally intended as a tribute on the 40th anniversary of his have the•iasco that was permitted in Brussels. association with Yeshiva University, a collection of essays by noted We are not teaching our basic ethical codes scholars now appear in a volume as memorial to Rabbi Samuel K. either to would-be leaders or the people at Mirsky, who died in October 1967. large. else even fund-raising would be easier. "Samuel K. Mirsky Memorial Volume—Studies in Jewish Law, What's it all leading to? We are inclined Philosophy and Literature" has just been issued by Ktay. Edited by Gershon Appel, with Morris Epstein and Hayips Leaf to believe that ,what happened in Brussels may be all to the good. It provides a lesson as associate editors, this volume has two sections in judging leadership, in training it, in select- with essays in Hebrew and in English. It is an impressive work, with studies by ing it, in accepting it. The very term leader- eminent scholars and a moving Hebrew essay, ship becomes anathema unless those chosen "My Father, My Father," by the son of the de- to lead are qualified. The term is unusable ceased Orthodox leader, David Mirsky. unless the heads of movements are people Aspects of Halakha, biblical and rabbinic steeped in knowledge and hateful of one studies, literary and historical perspectives are thing: ignorance. touched upon in this illuminating work. Let there be a new evaluation of our com- David Mirsky also is the author of an essay munity structures, of our synagogues, coun- In the English section on "The Fictive Jew in the cils, schools, of our establishments. There is Literature of England 1890-1920." Volume Memorializes S. Mirsky too much at stake. We must especially con- cern ourselves with our own great community. American Jewry is numerically one of the largest in Jewish history. Let it also become the most dignified, ready to accept the ideals that are our sacred heritage, always based on highest goals in the most glorified democratic aspirations that -will make us worthy repre- sentatives of Jewry and of America. There are tributes to the late Dr. Mirsky, In Samuel K. Mirsky additiOn to his son's, by Louis Bernstein and Rochelle Leventhal. In addition to the editors' essays, there are studies on various Subjects by. Bernard Bergman, Mendel Lewittes, Elazar Hurwitz, Jacob -I. Dienttag, Noah E. Rosenbloom, Walter S. Wuzburger, Nor- man Lamm and a number of other well-known scholars. Among the essays by:Rabbi Samuel K. Slinky reprinted In this volume is an autolsio*raphy„. In the . Hebrew section. - • A section on idea's and p'extatiiiiintleiliicluifee iitudii•ii .of the works of Malmonkles, Rabbi A. I. Kook, Isaac Hirsch Weiss and H. N. Bialik.