Purely Commentary

Prejudices Must Not Pollute Jerusalem Issue

Kollek
in
Clarified
Status of Jerusalem
Statement . . . Vatican's Position Deplored . . .
Tributes to Bernard Richards, M. Goldoftas

By Philip
Slomovitz

'Congress shall make no law abridging our rights . . .

Whatever fears had entered man's heart regarding abridgement of our rights are in
One wonders at times whether busybodies among news commenta-
tors aren't causing a lot of trouble with their speculations. The Rowland e e ssenceremoved by the justices who handed down a final decision on the right to know what
Evans-Rfbert Novak team is a typical example. They keep placing government does to control our destinies.
flies in the international as well as the national ointment. They are
There are times, when
when a nation's security is involved, when diplomacy must be sec-
especially hipped on the Israel issue, with an amazing concern for
Jerusalem. Even the Vatican, with its prejudiced attitudes on the retive. But statesmen must not prepetuate it. Only if it is temporary will justice be assured.
administration of Jerusalem, doesn't harp on the question as
Citizens must assert their views in matters involving the future generations and the .
jew i s h
&ow the Evans-Novak team.
effects that warfare has upon them. Only a free press can provide the basic facts for such
Their latest attempt at diplomacy is the prediction that Jordan will thinking, and royal dominations that stifle thinking have long ago been abolished by the acts
make an issue of Israel's role in Jerusalem at the United Nations and
with Gunnar Jarring. Both Thant and Jarring will undoubtedly sud- of man.
The Supreme Court decision to assure the right to publish may go down in history
denly be stirred by a great problem: after all, judging by Evans and
tackled
before!
So,
two
American
writers
have
hasn't
been
Novak, it
as the magna charts in man's communicative freedoms. It may prevent the secrecy in di-
suddenly discovered the Holy City !
plomacy which perpetuated injustice. It may contribute toward an end to wars.
But they are not alone. The London Catholic paper, the Tablet,
Secret deals may have been responsible for Vietnam. They aggravated the Middle
the organ of the archdiocese in that area, had published a diatribe
East
Situation.
They give power to the military who must not have absolute power that
- that demanded a reply, and Mayor Teddy Kollek of Jerusalem provided
could plunge us into other calamities.
it. Kollek wrote to the Tablet:
"I was amazed at your statement that Israel has no claim,
The right to know and to differ is vital to man's existence. The Supreme Court
other than military conquest, to 'Arab' Jerusalem. Was it so long decision does more than protect the freedom of the press: It strengthens the right of the
ago that the Transjordanian Arab Legion besieged and finally readers of a free press to be factors in creating a just society.
captured the Old City in 1948, that you have forgotten that this
conquest by force of arms was the Jordanian claim to sovereignty Bernard G. Richards, Eminent Archivist, Historian, Interpreter of Jewish Communal Needs
over the city recognized by only two o ther nations in the world?
Bernard G. Richards leaves a great legacy to the Jewish people. For several decades, through his
In fact, only for the Jews has Jerusalem ever served as a political
figures regarding
or spiritual capital. In Muslim eyes ft always took second place to 90th year, in cramped quarters on 57th St. in New York, he gathered facts and world
people asked
Jews
and
Jewish
communities.
From
all
parts
of
the
Mecca, Medina, Baghdad, Damascus or Amman, to Christians it
him
to
explain
happenings
affecting
Jewish
life
and
to
deflate
errors or
has been less of a religious center than Rome for many centuries.
to establish truths. From his little office, financed by himself—if he re-
"You empliasize the '13 centuries of unbroken occupation' of
ceived any help at all it could have been a $50 or a $100 annual con-
Jerusalem by Muslim and Christian Arabs, and yet ignore the
tribution from some welfare fund—he set people straight, produced his-
almost 30 centuries of Jewish settlement in the city, unbroken
torical data and enlightened scores upon scores who were wise to con-
except by the edict of the Romans in the 1st Century, by the
tact him when they needed information.
Crusaders (who expelled both Jews and Muslims), and by the
Only about two years ago, we joined with the late Joseph Brainin
Jordanians in the Old City. Similarly, left unsaid, is the fact that
in setting up a fund to preserve the historical collection Mr. Richards
for more than 100 years, since 1844, the Jews have been the
had accumulated in his Jewish Informaton Bureau. Its preservation
largest religious group of residents in Jerusalem.
assures for our people the retention of a legacy that is so vital for our
- "Where was your protest against 'jealous nationalism' or
archives.
Mr. Richards, whose passing serves to recall his many high qual-
against 'defiance of the international community' when Jordan
ities and his role in Jewish life, was one of our most distinguished archiv-
blatantly violated its international commitments by prohibiting
ists. He was a historian and also a distinguished essayist. He under-
Israeli Muslims and Jews from visiting their Holy Places? Why
stood Jewish life and he was concerned about the ignorance that pre-
did you not speak out against 'disregarding the feelings of others'
vails in some quarters—that is why he was so anxious that the facts
when the Jordanians destroyed Jewish synagogues and schools and
about us should be available in the interest of truth and justice.
desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives?
As the first secretary of the American Jewish Congress and one
In contrast to these acts of the past, which occurred while the
Richards
Bernard
G.
of its organizers, he worked closely with Supreme Court Justice Louis D.
world was silent, today the religious rights and sentiments of
Christians, Muslims and Jews are both respected and protected Brandeis, Stephen S. Wise, Julian W. Mack and the leading figures in American Jewry. He was prom-
in reunited Jerusalem.
inent in the Jewish delegation to the Versailles Peace Conference after World War I.
"We, of all people, are aware of our obligations to religion
These are mere details in paying honor to a very great man, to a lover of Zion, to a great Amer-
and history, and to the beauty and character of - Jerusalem. These ican and a great Jew—to a friend ! His labors will speak for him in the years to come, during which
are the considerations, and not those of 'Israeli chauvinism,' those who recognize the values of true service by dedicated Jews will know how to honor his memory_
which guide us in our efforts to make Jerusalem a better place
to live, work, worship and visit—now and in the future."
restraint in dealing with all social and human issues? Did it feel un-
It is true that what Mayor Kollek had written is repetitive of restrained to publish a hate-inciting letter in which the writer, refer- Jewish Guild for Blind
clarifying statements that continue to be made on the question of Jeru- ring to the Ellsberg issue and a News headline `Dad backs son tied Aids Minority Groups
salem and its status under Israel's administration. But the speculative to war links," permitted the publishing of a signed anti-Semitic ques-
NEW YORK (JTA)—Nearly one-
columnists, the prejudiced Catholic organs, the trouble-brewing that tion: "Would the father be equally, as eager and plead to back his third of the 2,000 visually impaired
emanates from the rightists and leftists who have combined to spread son for giving away Israel's top security secrets to the Arabs?" The and blind aided during 1970 by the
hatred against Israel, all compel unending refutation of the misrepre- implication is too clear to need explaining. There is sheer anti-Sem- Jewish Guild for the Blind were
sentations regarding Jerusalem. Let the facts be known so that itism in the published question which the News found necessary to Black and Spanish-speaking per-
adherents to the ideal of fair play will not permit bigotry to blind
print under the heading "Father rapped for backing son." Does a sons, the agency said in its annual
justice-loving peoples to realities.
paper that suffers from such sanctimony and ill judgment merit re- report last week. The 32 per cent
total was an increase of 8 per
spect for its definition of a free press? What license !
cent above the prior year in the
Pope Can Learn From Evangelicals About Jerusalem
Talk about license and ill judgment ! A Free Press columnist had
A Bnai Brith delegation recently gloried in sanctimonious state- the audacity to ask if there is "truth to the rumor that The Jewish number of such minority group
ments by Pope Paul VI. The report from Rome did indicate that the News plans to run its version of the Pentagon Papers which show the members aided by the agency.
Guild officials said that to help
pontiff had not commented on the Jerusalem issue. He made up for Six-Day War was masterminded by the Israeli underworld known as
such men and women benefit
it last week when, speaking to the College of Cardinals in Rome, he the Kosher Nostra?" The smart aleck heard a witticism that was used
from Guild rehabilitation serv-
referred to "the complexity of the situation in the Middle East" as by a prominent Jew in relation to "Our Crowd," but he does not know
ices and to be prepared for jobs,
making it "delicate and difficult." Which, as a generalization, mat- how to apply it. The Free Press man should utilize his current vacation
the agency started a special
ters very little. But then he spoke of Jerusalem and the Holy Places to study the difference between humor, satire, poor taste and lack of
remedial program last year to
and said "it is our right and duty to concern ourselves with the pro- judgment. There are limitations even to license ! With the F.P. man
- overcome the language barrier.
tection of the Holy Places." He asked a special status for Jerusalem, it turned out to be licentiousness !
Zhey reported such progress had
and it sounded like the Pope speaking in 1947.
been made for the minority group
But where was the pontiff during all the years when Jerusalem
members that the project is being
was barred to Jews, when the Holy Places were only for the handful Movsas Goldoftas: Educator, Jewish Civil Servant
expanded this year.
and for Hussein, when synagogues were destroyed in the Old City,
A man can be judged by the reactions he gets from children. An
when tombstones in Old Jerusalem were used to pave sidewalks for
educator is to be tested by the students' reactions to him. Movsas Israel Said to' Possess
Jordanian chieftains?
Goldoftas was loved by his many students, and he loved the children
Only a handful of prominent Catholics have spoken out in pro- he was teaching. Therein lies the great tribute the eminent pedagog Better Spies Than Cairo
test against such a policy. It's a pity that more Catholics do not had earned in his lifetime.
NEW YORK (ZINS) — Jai
know about the injustice of the Vatican stand on Jerusalem. If they
Also: in public life the test of a
Anderson, the widely read Ameri-
did, they'd endorse the statement that was made in Jerusalem last leader's abilities is in the responses
can journalist, writes on the basis
week by leaders of the Evangelical Free Church of America:
he receives from his fellow man.
of "unimpeachable authority," that
"Taking note that throughout history, Jerusalem has never Dr. Goldoftas was a warmhearted
Israel has a decided advantage in
been the capital of any people except for the Jewish people, we man who never failed to get co-
espionage over the Egyptians.
are struck by the fact that since the Six-Day War, all people are operation from the many he had
According to Anderson, Israeli„.
free to worship in the place of their choice, unlike the situation worked with. He was a genuine
agents are privy to every decis4;
civil servant whose dedication to
that pertained during the period 1948-1967."
taken by President Sadat
*
*
the causes he labored for and his
inner circle in the highest echelons
people
were
always
on
a
high
level
of government.
The News' Policies: Free Speech and Ill Judgment
of dignity and often of self-sacri-
At the same time, EgyptOs at -
There is a measure of courage in the Detroit News' editorial fice.
tempting to infiltrate the..:Israel -
position on "irresponsibility" in printing classified material. The De-
Not only the Labor Zionist move-
government, while the US‘Sit
troit News differs with fellow craftsmen who insist on the freedom ment and the Farband, but every
known to have included espiOnaee
to keep the people fully informed on what is happening in our govern- Zionist factor was dear to him and
agents among those Soviet. Jews
ment, contending that an unrested license to print secret documents benefited from his labors.
Movsas Goldoftas
who have been permitted to emi-
can be damaging to the nation.
He was a linguist. He loved Yiddish, was a master of Hebrew, grate to Israel.
This is a matter of judgment as much as of principle. In rela- was at home with both French and English.
In addition, Anderson continues, .
tion to judgment and propriety, since the News had taken so much
a
Soviet
spy ship is cruising 60
Movsas
Goldoftas
was
a
distinguished
educator
and
a
devoted
trouble to present its policy on a major issue in a front page editorial,
we pose a question: why doesn't the News exercise judgment and civil servant and in his 30 years in Detroit, after having labored for miles off Israel's shore, monitor-
Zionism in Lithuania and Belgium, he acquired affections from students ing all Israeli radio communica-
tions with the outside world.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS and co-workers that will long be remembered.
2—Friday, July 2, 1971

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