THE JEWISH NEWS
—
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor
lasissam:smi
• - •
•IrCe-72.= rZIttift Vial
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Associ-
ation Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co.. 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075.
Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices.
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DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Seleetions
This Sabbath, the seventh day of Tevet, 5732, the following scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Gen. 44:18-47:27. Prophetical portion, Ezekiel 37:15-28.
Fast of Tevet Scriptural Readings, Tuesday
Pentateuchal portion, Exod. 32:11-14; 34:1-10. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 55:6 - 56:8.
Candle lighting, Friday, Dee. 24, 4:47 p.m.
VOL. LX. No. 15
Page Four
December 24, 1971
Preaching Good Will in War-Torn WOrld
There are bright lights everywhere in our
immediate environment. Business is prosper-
ing. Gift purchases augur well for the ex-
change of salutations on the holiest day of
the year for Christians.
In some quarters there is the resort to
the expression of good will, and in the
churches there will be messages of brother-
hood.
This is the spirit of the present season
during which sentiments run high.
It is also the season during which many
Jews become concerned over the influence
of a religious sentiment that dominates the
atmosphere. Some are worried about the re-
sponses from their children and the relation-
ships with their neighbors.
The fact is that the exchange of greetings
will be linked with the approaching New
Year, that most of us will act in neighborly
fashion, recognizing that just as our Christian
friends wish us a Shana Tova—some even re-
sort to the Hebrew terms—in September, so
do we also greet them on their holiest of days
that distinguishes their faith.
As a matter of fact, in Israel, there are
official greetings to the Christian minority:
there, as here, they are neighbors, many are
fellow citizens of the Israelis.
There is really nothing to fear—unless it
is the fear that stems from an implanted ig-
norance in the youth. When there is knowl-
edge about the differences there need be no
fear. When there is understanding, there is
loyalty — Christians to Christianity, Jews to
Judaism.
Nevertheless, there is cause for concern,
the concern that comes from evidence of a
lack of sincerity when good will is preached.
There are people and _occasions when greet-
ings of brotherhood are limited to Yuletime
but are not extended through the year. Then
there is cause for fright. When there is gen-
uine good will, then there can be an end to
racism, an elimination of anti-Catholicism
and anti-Semitism. It is for such an ideal
time—a time without rancor and hatreds—
that all mankind must strive, whether it is
on Hanuka or Christmas or both New Year
days or Yom Kippur.
In this era of an aspiring Good . Will we
have another cause for serious anxiety. We
live in a war-torn world. Hundreds of thou-
sands are dying or have already died on the
Pakistani-Indian borders. There is trouble in
Southeast Asia. There are dangers in the
Middle East.
Is this, therefore, the season of Brother-
hood? What are we headed for? Is religion
exercising an influence over mankind to
strive for the elimination of wars, to seek
amity by negotiating with enemies, for neigh-
bors to sit together to discuss their differ-
ences, as Israel would wish it to be and as the
Arabs are saber-rattling to prevent it?
This is a time to preach Brotherhood—it
is an era beckoning for such an exchange
during the entire year. But it is marred by
mankind at war. If prayers help, perhaps all
of us will one day attain that unity that as-
serts a determination to defy hatreds, to seek
peace and to attain it.
What an Interesti ng Day at the UN!
What an interesting day it was at the
United Nations, on Dec. 13 !
There were several proposals for a re-
sumption of negotiations between the Arabs
and Israel. There was a pro-Egyption resolu-
tion and it received 79 votes. There were
seven nations who had the courage to be in
the minority with Israel. And 36 more ab-
stained: the American delegate abstained.
Perhaps it was a victory for Israel: our
kinsmen did not stand alone. They had seven
friends. It is many more than they often count
upon to sustain them- in hours of trials and
challenge. There were times when votes
against Israel numbered many more than 79:
Peace Instrument
Is has been proven: only a strong Israel
can prevent the multitudes of her enemies
from strangling her. A weak Israel would
have been eliminated lotqvagq.
It also has been pro rhadjsrael been
weak and vulnerable ' _ , there would
have been another full-scale- war which could
have spread into a world _conflagration.
In the interest of peace, it is vital that
Israel be given all possible aid to assure con-
tinuation of the existing cease fire that can
and should be perpetuated into a lasting
peace.
It is to be hoped, therefore, that the
efforts of Sen. Henry M. Jackson will not
be in vain and that Israel will get the assist-
ance so urgently needed frotn•her best- friend,—
the United States.
perhaps Dec. 13 was a day of victory: the
number of Israel's enemies was slightly re-
duced.
There were the fearful: our delegate among
them. But the abstainers did not act against
Israel, even if they lacked the courage to
speak out in defense of a people's right to
exist and to defend therriselves.
Pakistanis and Indians were cutting
themselves up while that vote was taken: in
the Middle East there was peace, primarily
because of the established fact that the little
one among the arms-bearing nations there—
tiny Israel—seems able to withstand attacks
—ark
Dr. Lamm Outlines Halakhic Laws
on Self-Incrimination, Privacy
Prof. Norman Lamm of Yeshiva University clarifies many halakhic
regulations in a most enlightening work, "Faith and Doubt," published
by Ktay.
He defines many ethical codes, touches upon legalistic problems
and provides valuable guidance involving theology.
Typical examples of his approaches are to be found in his discus-
sion of privacy in law and theology. He points out that "Halakha con-
siders intrusion and disclosure as two separate instances of the viola-
tion of privacy."
Slander, talebearing and gossip are listed under disclosure. "In
its broadest and deepest sense," Dr. Lamm writes, "disclosure is not
so much an act of instigating social disharmony as the invasion of per-
sonal privacy . . . The Mishna teaches that, after a trial presided
over by more than one judge, each is forbidden to reveal which of the
judges voted for acquittal and which for conviction. The Talmud relates
that the famed teacher It. Ami expelled a scholar from the academy
because he revealed_ a report he had heard confidentially 22 years
earlier."
Similarly, of general and unusual interest is Dr. Lamm's
chapter on "Self-Incrimination in Law and Psychology: the Fifth
Amendment and the Halakha." He explains: "According to tal-
mudic law, two categories of witnesses are disqualified in any
case requiring their testimony. The first Category is composed of
relatives of either the principals, other witnesses, or judges. The
second category, called 'pasul' (disqualified), includes primarily
those of unreliable character . . . The halakhic ruling on self-
incrimination, therefore, covers even those cases where the con-
fession merely disparages the confessant's character to the extent
of disqualifying himself as a reliable witness."
Thus, Dr. Lamm states, "the halakhic principle is contained in
the formula ern adam meisim atsmo rasha, which means, literally, a
man cannot represent himself as wicked."
The views of Maimonides, the RaDBaZ {Rabbi David il71) Zimra)
as well as Sigmund Freud's Death Instinct and others are discussed
by Dr. Lamm and he points to permission in Halakha for suspension
of rules "in case of emergency, in order to ensure the survival of the
people and the Halakha itself. He comments in relation to American
experiences:" "The abrogation of the Fifth Amendment because of
Communists or because of crime in he streets is ten:Mling indeed;
from 18 Arab nations. Yes, there now are 18 but
it is a dangerous amputation not to be risked wirelif•- - fabSolutely
of them in the United Nations, none older necessary."
than Israel, as Golda Meir reminded her fel-
--;
Dealing with faith and donbt, 'irom the_perspectivtOt
H traditional
low Jews at a United Jewish Appeal gather- Judaism,• Dr. Lamm states:
-
ing, and all begrudge little Israel her historic
e-law
to
Halakhit
"In the absence of a total commitment
land and seek her destruction
s its
and as the binding normative expression of Judaism,
value, and theological dideottrse beethiles - an' adineUng game
Oh, it was an historic day, just a dozen religious
played by spiritual dilettantes. The. 'Jewish intellectuals' who deal in
days before Christmas, when big powers the
coin of existentialist piety without investing in the hatalthic com-
feared to act, when a free atmosphere was mitment
are unwitting counterfeiterii. I say thilknotifrnrn tlie5koint of
polluted with a hatred for a little people that view of a parochial institutionalism, but witit:'isrefotind regret, The
refuses to die and keeps, stubbornly, reciting involved writing, the plaintive gesturing, the contrived inatRinalitY,
a Psalm that-says "I shall not die but live ..." the conscious mystifying—all of thfisd are iust1 an'aiihorati44iple1 if
life
And one day some of those who voted to oust they are never meant to result in a faith which functions' in
Israel may be reading the same Psalm, uncon-' as Halakha.
"Halakhic commitment, then, that which we have calla!' func-
sciously, because they love our Davidic and
Solomonic Psalter ! But as in so many other tional faith, must be absolute and unconditional, even while simultane-
instances in a war-infected world, when pea ously doubt plays its role within cognitive faith."
The eminent stholar concludes with this interesting declaration:
ple speak of peace, they have strife in their
"The way of the faithful Jew in this last third of the 20th Century
hearts. When people sav "I shall not dip 1311t
is
not
an easy one. Not for him is the facile 'peace of mind' of those
live . . . " they will not think of Israel that
for
whom
religion is but a psychological crutch; not for him is the
offered them that measure of encouragement perverse security
of the nihilist who has resigned himself to utter,
for mankind.
hopeless, meaninglessness. His way is not easy—but it is sublime, and
What a strange-world we live in ! Which it is sacred, He risks the 'bitter waters' of faith, bitter unto death;
-makes -IsraelopOSiti00.-41Weik,11
- 10re-AtFaligen—......but-Ises.-lanows.inkmust-poigiWitAqve,,untif 'there will shine upon him
the light of the King of all life'."
but always interesting !