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September 03, 1971 - Image 1

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 1971-09-03

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

8,300 Clergymen Submit 'Statement of Conscience' in Behalf of Soviet Jewry

George Bush, U. S. ambassador to the United Nations, has transmitted to UN
Secretary General U Thant and the UN Human Rights Commission an appeal on
behalf of Soviet Jewry signed by 8,300 American Christian clergymen and church lay
leaders, the ambassador's office notified the Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith.
The appeal was presented to Ambassador Bush in June by an interfaith delega-
tion headed by Seymour Graubard, ADL national chairman, and Benjamin R. Epstein,

Irresponsible
Militarism
on the American
Jewish Scene

Anti-Semitic Virus
Among Nations

Commentary
Page 2

Vol. LIX, No. 25

ADL human relations national director.

Called "A Statement of Conscience," the appeal called upon Soviet authorities
to "eradicate every vestige of anti-Semitism, to permit Jews to live in accord with
their cultural and religious heritage, and to permit those Soviet Jews who desire to do
so to emigrate to Israel, or any other country, freely and without harassment
or 'arrest."

The Screen
That Bars
Arab-Israel
Communication

THE JEWISH NEWS
14

Michigan Weekly

Threats and
Defense Actions
by U.S. Jews

Review of Jewish News

Editorials
Page 4

Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper -- Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle

17515 W. 9 Mile Rd., Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075

356-8400

$8.00 Per Year; This Issue 25c September 3, 1971

Israeli-Russian Contacts Denied;
6-Man Mission Greeted Warmly

They Won't Talk to Jews !

Israel and the Arabs
Sign Communications
Pact, Stay World Apart

By JOSEPH POLAKOFF

(Jewish News Washington Correspondent)

Speakers at the birth of the permanent organiza-
tion for worldwide satellite communications rejoiced
over the technical, economic and political triumphs
that created it and hailed the participants as part-
ners. Yet all the oratory about science closing the
gap in communications among peoples didn't bring
the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors into contact
for even a single word although they sat only two
chairs apart for almost two hours.
"Did you have any conversations with the Arab
diplomats here?" Israel Ambassador Itzhak Rabin
was asked at the ceremony Aug. 20 in the State
Department's International Conference Hall. The
general smiled resignedly. "No," he replied. "We
have communications with our Arab neighbors—by
television, radio, even bullets." He stopped there.
HeSeemed to reflect the thought that the miracles
-of • science and noble speeches have not yet caused
Vie Arab political leadership to move even to the
brink of-.:basic communication—face-to-face talks
with neighbors.

Representatives of Algeria, Jordan, Kuwait,
(Continued on Page 5)

JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israeli officials deny that any contacts have taken place on a diplomatic
level with the Soviet Union aimed at restoring relations between Israel and the USSR. A report that
Gideon Rafael, director general of the foreign ministry, met with Soviet diplomats last week was labeled
"utter rubbish" by a foreign ministry spokesman. Rafael "disappeared" from Copenhagen for 48 hours
during a visit to Scandinavia. Subsequently, Israeli sources said he had gone to inspect a steel plant
in Swedish Lapland, 80 miles from the Danish capital but close to the Soviet border.
Newsmen recalled the similar "disappearance" of Premier Golda Meir from Stockholm last May
after she attended the Socialist International conference in Helsinki. Mrs. Meir visited a resort in Fin-
nish Lapland, close to the Russian border, and it was widely believed—but categorically denied by the
Israelis—that she met there with Soviet emissaries.
Michael Arnon, the government's secretary, told newsmen that the cabinet was not informed
of any talks held by Rafael. The Israeli official was in Scandinavia reported to give lectures. He is said
to be slated soon for an assignment as a roving ambassador for "special missions."

*

Four Holiday Closing Days
Set for Southfield Schools

Four holidays, on which all schools in Southfield
will close in order not to interfere with students' ob-
servances of Jewish festivals, were announced this
week.
All Southfield schools will now close both days of
Rosh Hashana, on Yom Kippur and the first day of
Passover.
Dr. ,Mervyn Lakin, president of the Southfield
Board of Education, confirmed these decisions. He
gave assurances to those who attend synagogue
services and have the proper excuses for absence
on other Jewish holidays, that no problems will be
created for them for such absenteeism.

Welcome in Moscow for 6 Israel Visitors

TEL AVIV (JTA)—Six Israelis currently visiting
the Soviet Union on the invitation of the Soviet Peace
Committee received .a warm welcome when they ar-
rived in Moscow last Thursday and had a "general
discussion on Israel-Russian relations" with Peace
Committee members, one of the delegates reported in
a telephone conversation from Odessa.
Prof. Dan Miron, of the Hebrew University's litera-
ture department, said the group met with Jewish
worshipers at the Odessa synagogue Aug. 28 and
had a talk this morning with the Odessa Rabbi. Israel
Schwartzblatt.
Their itinerary includes Kishinev, Leningrad and

Affluence Not the 'Norm in Detroit Jewry,
Poveity" and Near Poverty More Prevalent,
JFCS, Mo'os Hitim Experiences Indicate

conducte d by Mrs. a Anne
American Jewry's assumed "affluence" has been called "mythical" in a study recently
tha t
claim
Wolfe, sociologist and program consultant for the American Jewish Committee. Mrs. Wolfe's is nearly mil-
lian American Jews live at or near the poverty level.
In some quarters this figure has been disputed, and the view was expressed that this number might, perhaps, be

reduced
third. time, however, the Association of Jewish Anti-Poverty Workers contends that in New York the Jews
At by
the a same
the third largest poverty group after the Blacks and the Puerto Ricans.
What is the status of Detroit Jewry?
Samuel Lerner, executive director of the Jewish Family and Children's Service, who is certainly the best
informed
of "p overty" or the
ft
person on the conditions prevailing here, states that "there is no easy answer ither to a definition
ategorie s." He
"near-poverty" level, "nor is there an easy way of determining how many Jewish people fi
adds, however:
"It is important to explode the myth about the affluent Jew being the `norm'; and we should recognize that

gooly numer
b of those not so defind e hut who are considered 'mid-
there are large numbers of 'poor Jews,' and a d
, often above their heads; and they too have problems in
dle class' but are actually living on quite modest incomes
meeting the actual expenses of living."

Perhaps one of the direct ways of judging Detroit Jewry's economic conditions is by studying the figures of Jews
who received aid from the Mo'os Hitim Passover Relief Committee here of which Morris Dorn is president.
From 1936 to 1941, Mo'os Hitim provided aid for 1,100 to 1,400 families each year. During World War II the num-
ber dropped—to 329 families in 1945 and to 607 families in 1950. From 400 to 500 families were served in each of the

years thereafter up to 1960.
Hitim provided assistance to 537 families
Lerner points out: "A statistical summary for 1962 noted that Mo's
involving about 1,600 individuals. In 1969 provision was made for 378 cases involving approximately 860 individuals."

Dorn points to continuing needs for Passover relief among more than 500 families who were helped in the
past two years. He believes the total assisted includes more than 2,000 individuals—some of the families who received
aid are quite large. There are some, he pointed out, who are not on welfare but who are dependent upon Mo'os
Hitim for assistance. He deplored the fact that this year, for the first time, the $10,000 spent by Mo'os Hitim neces-
sitated going into meager reserves to fill the needs, the contributions having fallen short of the requirements to pro-
vide matzot, wine and other necessities for those on the Mo'os Hitim list.

The view of Lerner that it is mythical to consider the affluent Je wthe "norm" is corroborated by Mr. Dorn,
in Dearborn Heights, Grosse Pointe Farms and even
who points out that those getting Mo'os Hitim aid 'include residents .
(Continued on Page 48)

(Continued on Page 10)

Six Detroit Leaders Confer
With Golda Meir in Israel

Six Detroit leaders of the Jewish commu-
nity are guests of Prime Minister Golda Meir
in Israel this week on a special mission of
American Jewish leadership.

Abraham Borman, Max M. Fisher, national presi-
dent of the Council of Jewish Federations and Wel-
fare Funds; Samuel Frankel, Edward C. Levy, Sr.,
Paul Zuckerman, national chairman of United Jewish
Appeal, and William Avrunin, executive vice presi-
dent of the Jewish Welfare Federation, are talking
with officials of the Israeli government and the
Jewish Agency on the nonmilitary needs of its
people.
Special attention is being paid to the problems
of immigrants who are entering Israel at the rate
of approximately 4,000 per month and the services
which they must have to begin a new productive
life. Money raised during the annual Allied Jewish
Campaign-Israel Emergency Fund plays a large
part in supplying help for the immigrants who must
learn a new language, be housed, trained and cared
for until they can become self-supporting.

The delegation was received Wednesday
by Mrs. Meir at the Knesset for a briefing
on what financial help will be needed from
American Jews in the coming year.

A report on the mission will be given locally
to the board of governors of the Jewish Welfare
Federation at its September meeting.
Plans for the 1972 Allied Jewish Campaign will
be part of the review of this community's role in
behalf of the United Jewish Appeal at the annual
stag day of the Detroit Service Group, at Franklin
Hills Country Club, Wednesday.

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