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.