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Purely. Commentary
Sanctity and Desecration, Need for Responsum
on Interfaith Amity . . _ Nixon Attitude on Aid
for USSR Jewry . . . Plight of 4,000 Syrian Jew s
Kurt Waldheim's Position vis-a-vis Jarring Middle East Mission
Ecumenism ... Good Will ... Sanctity and Self-Abnegation
By Philip
Slomovifz
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Kurt Waldbeim, U Thant's successor as United Nations secretary general, starts his career by creating
concern in Jewish ranks.
In his Face the Nation interview on Sunday, he not only endorsed the Gunnar Jarring policies for
the Middle East but also adopted in principle the Jarring demand upon Israel made by him on Feb. 8
which demanded Israel's withdrawal from all occupied territories before negotiations are to be pursued for
Many New Yorkers have gotten into the habit of watching the
Friday New York Times Religious Services Section which always
carries a special message from the Rabbinical Alliance of America as
a "Topic of Interest on Jewish Life."
Last Friday's topic, "Holiday," carried this warning:
to Israel-Arab conflicts.
"It is utterly wrong for Jews to participate in X-mas or New an end This
places Waldheim in the same shoes that Thant wore: footwear of animosity towards Israel.
Year's celebrations. This would only tend to 'secularize' these
The Feb. 8 Jarring demabd negated the Nov. 22, 1968 UN Resolution which allowed for negotiating
days, which are sacred to non-Jews. Jews should take pride in withdrawals but did not demand abandonment of strategic territories before negotiations.
their heritage by observing the numerous festive days, such as
This has become the root of existing trouble: because Jarring had created an impasse in hopes
Shebat and the holidays in the cycle of the Jewish yeaf."
By including the civil New Year, which is generally observed by for peace.
Now Waldheim approves the impasse. That's no good! It spells obstacles and it endangers peace.
Need more be said to express our distress over the position of the new UN chief?
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all faiths as a day of hilarity and rejoicing to usher in the calendar
day that marks the beginning of another year for business and
civil affairs, the Rabbinical Alliance created a puzzle. It so happens
that this year its message is applicable because the Sabbath rules
out participation by Jews in hilarity that mars the sacred spirit of
the Shabat.
On numerous occasions the late Dr. B. Benedict Glazer, as rabbi
of Temple Beth El, used to call us to express his dismay over functions
that were sponsored by Jews on Friday nights. He pleaded for effort
to encourage respect for the Shabat by Jews who must refrain from
planning public functions. He expressed the hope that Jews would
attend services on the Sabbath eve, and certainly make the begin-
ning of the Sabbath the time for family unity, for being at home
and respecting the holy day of the Jewish week.
Dr. Glazer's concern comcs to mind this year in relation to the
wonderful service some of the members of his temple rendered in
making it possible for Christians to observe Christmas Day by their
substitution for them at. a local hospital. For many years Jews have
rendered such services in post offices, hospitals, public posts—
without pay and as a gesture of good will for those who otherwise
were unable properly to observe their holiest day of the year.
But: is such a service sacred when those serving as substitutes
for Christians desecrate their own Sabbath?
Syrian Tragedy and the American Position . . . Persecutions and Refuted Denials
A new campaign of new distorting has been introduced by Syria and that nation's defenders. The
president of Syria, Lieut. Gen. Hafez al-Assad, has accused "world Zionism" of waging "a war of nerves"
against his country and, denying that the 4,000 Jews who remain in Syria are being persecuted, he called
the charge "Zionist propaganda."
A different story is told in eyewitness accounts of what is transpiring in Syria. A committee headed
by Gen. Lucius Clay, the high commissioner in West Germany in the post-World War II period, reports
a state of terror being practiced against Syrian Jews.
Recently, the German magazine Der Stern reported that the Syrian government had hired an East
German company to make a film aimed at portraying how Syrian Jews are leading "lives free of worry."
Der Stern charged that Damascus wanted a "neutral" country like East Germany to condemn publicity
regarding the persecution and the terror imposed on the 4,000 Syrian Jews.
(Some quarters set the number of remaining Syrian Jews at 4,500).
The Damascus trick is comparable to the tactics of the Germans under Hitler who used to clean up
a section of an extermination camp to prove that Jews were well treated, in order to impress emissaries
from neutral countries and the Red Cross.
The position of Syrian Jewry must not be overlooked and forgotten. It is true that the numbers of
that unfortunate community are small, but that makes their position more dangerous to life, limb and
property of a defenseless group that has become isolated from the civilized world.
Concern over the fate of this small community becomes more pressing because this country, the
friend of the oppressed, appears helpless in the matter. At the intercession of two Detroiters,
This is not a sociological problem, neither is it political or traditional
Rabbi
Milton Arm and Leo Feber, Senator Philip A. Hart received this explanatory note from David M.
ecumenical. Rather, it calls for a Responsum. Dr. Solomon B. Freebof Abshire,
State
Department assistant secretary for congressional relations:
specializes in Reform Response. Perhaps he'll consent to handle the
question: is the good deed of substituting labor for Christians sacred
I have received your communica- with Israel and allowing Jews to In the Middle East, we have found
and justified when it simultaneously calls for the desecration of one's tion of Nov. 15, 1971, convey- immigrate to Israel would strength. it prudent to avoid drawing undue
own Sabbath?
ing Rabbi Milton Arm's and Mr. en that country's economic and attention to our interest in the
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Leo Feber's letters on the treat-
ment of Syrian Jews.
The Department has followed
the situation of Jews in Syria
closely over the past years and is
aware of the discriminatory restric-
tions placed on them with respect
to such matters as employment and
emigration. We learned in Septem-
ber of this year of the arrest of
12 Jews by the S yrian gov-
0
The President's Forthcoming Visit to the Kremlin
All roads now lead to the USSR and to Peking, and the forthcoming
conferences there with the Soviet and Chinese leaders will place
President Nixon in a strategic position affecting the peace of the
entire world.
The Nixon trips may have a serious bearing on the developments
in the Middle East, in view of the antagonism both of the Russians and
the Chinese towards Israel.
It may well be that a desire for peace—at least, the urge to
avert an all-out war—may make the Russians and the Chinese more
amenable to peace than we begin to realize.
The President's attitudes often are reflected in the comments of
those closest to him, and one of them is the minority leader of the
U. S. House of Representatives, Congressman Gerald R. Ford of
Grand Rapids.
The Michigan congressman delivered what was considered the
major address at the Freedom Lights for Soviet Jewry Rally in Madison
Square Garden, New York, before an audience exceeding 20,000—the
overflow attendance having represented a sell-out many days before
the rally. Congressman Ford stated that, "As a fellow American
who is inspired by the deeds of Israel and the brave struggle by so
many Jewish residents of Soviet Russia, and as the person responsible
for the leadership of my party, the Republican Party, in the United
States House of Representatives, I want to join in lighting some
candles of hope." He stated:
"Earlier this year, President Nixon in a telegram to Max
Fisher, president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Wel-
fare funds, urged freedom of emigration for Soviet Jews as ex-
plicitly provided for by Article 13 of the United Nations Declara-
tion on Human Rights. He also called for cultural and religious
freedom for Soviet Jewry.
"It would now appear to me that the President of the United
States has an historic opportunity to serve a compelling human-
itarian cause on his forthcoming visit to the Soviet Union. The
President will be speaking with the prestige of our great nation.
The Russians will be seeking various concessions and com-
promises from the United States. The time would be ripe for
President Nixon to very appropriately raise the issue of Soviet
Jewry with the Soviet government.
"I will recommend very strongly to the President that he
consider this line of direct action. If the decision is made at top
levels now, there will be adequate time for planning and struc-
turing the most effective approach."
These are strong words from a very responsible man in our
government. Rep. Ford drew upon the record of the American posi-
tion in defense of the downtrodden and he called attention to a sign-
ificant precedent when he said:
"The President has a very clear mandate from the Congress.
Our Congress has adopted many resolutions and other expressions
requesting and authorizing the President to act on behalf of those
subjected to religious discrimination by the Soviet Union, as far
back as 1953, the Congress condemned the persecution by the
USSR of all minorities. In 1954 the Congress asked the churches
and synagogues of America to set aside a portion of their services
on Easter Sunday and Passover for special prayers for deliverance
of all those behind the iron curtain who are denied freedom of
worship. Perhaps it would be wise to repeat this in 1972."
ernment. According to our infor-
mation, these individuals were ar-
rested for attempting to flee Syria.
Emigration by Jews is not allowed
by the Government of Syria and
efforts by Jews to do se covertly
have been met with stern measures
from the Syrian authorities. Syria
rationalizes its ban on emigration
by Jews by stating Syria is at war
military capabilities.
With respect to reports about
physical mistreatment of Syrian
Jews, we have made inquiries to
third countries, as well as to re-
sponsible Jewish sources who close-
ly follow the condition of Jews in
Arab countries, but have received
no information which would con-
firm or deny these charges.
Unfortunately, we have no first-
hand sources of information, since
the Syrian government severed
diplomatic relations with the Unit-
ed States in June, 1961. Relations
have not been resumed and we
have no official American person-
nel in Damascus. In light of the
Syrian government's s t r o n g op-
position to United States' policies
Syrian Jews.
We believe that public evidence
of official American involvement in
alleviating the situation of Syrian
Jews, Wading public statements
by representatives of the govern-
ment, could prejudice them more
In the eyes of their government.
We have, however, urged a num-
ber of third parties, including gov-
ernments, private organizations
and international organizations, to
do what they can to ease the con-
dition of Byrian Jews. Unfortun-
ately, these representations have
been less than fully successful.
Nevertheless, we are continuing our
efforts to bring relief to the Syrian
Jewish community and are active-
ly seeking to be helpful in what-
ever ways are open to us.
A single sentence in this statement: "In light of the Syrian government's strong opposition to United
States' policies in the Middle East, we have found it prudent to avoid drawing undue attention to our
interest in the Syrian Jews," puts the issue in a nutshell. It means that whatever is done in defense of
Syrian Jewry must be conducted on the same basis as the protests against all other persecutions — by
mobilizing public opinion and making it known to the persecutors that terror imposed upon a minority of
helpless people can not be tolerated.
If we keep silent it will only encourage the perpetrators of the crimes to continue to blind public
opinions to the realities of existing conditions. Therefore, while continuing the appeals for Russian Jewry
—which already are bringing the desired results—we must not be silent when dealing with the status of
Iraqi Jews and others of our kinsmen who are persecuted in Arab lands.
ful situation that has existed in Russian policies of commiting dis-
sidents to mental institutions, the Ford speech earns quotation of
the following basic declaration he has made in his Hanuka Madison
Square address:
"Attorney General John Mitchell, on behalf of President Nixon,
has already disclosed that Soviet Jewish refugees could be admitted
to the United States under the parole authority provided by our im-
migration laws.
I might mention that the Voice of America has increased the
amount of the broadcasts in Russian, on Jewish subjects, beamed at
the Soviet Union. This is significant but I personally believe that there
$6 Billion in Bonds ! Would
That It Were True
Anti-Israeli Arabs wrote funny
letters to our morning daily news-
paper. One of them (he was a
Sirhan Sirhan lawyer) charged
that Israel sold $6,000,000,000
worth of Israel Bonds. Would that
it were true! Israel would have
been three times as safe economi-
cally.
should be Voice of America broadcasts in Yiddish. Not only would
The tax free charge is utterly
this tend to enhance the Jewish cultural heritage among Soviet Jews,
but it also would be a symbol of U.S. support for Jews in the Soviet ridiculous. Every coupon clipped
from
an Israel Bond has to be
Union.
on the income tax return,
"Your President has a long record of deep concern in these mat- reported
every Bond cashed in must be ac-
ters. As far back as 1459 when he served as vice president, Mr. Nixon counted for by those deriving in-
inaugurated a practice of presenting to Soviet leaders lists of names terest fro mit. So—quit kidding the
of Soviet residents, including many Jews, who were denied exit permits public, ye enemies of Israel!
to join relatives in the United States. In fact, Mr. Nixon innovated
this approach on a visit to Moscow in that year, 1959.
There is a basic problem involv-
"I would make a particular point with the President that he places ing editorial judgment:
high on his agenda the liberation from Siberian labor camps of all per-
Newspaper columns should be
sons jailed for Jewish activities."
The statements by Rep. Ford assume vital importance because open for all. But when truth is de-
Emigration to Israel has assumed increased proportions with the Michigan congressman usually enunciates policy. He interpreted filed the editor is obligated not to
more than 12,000 having settled in Israel this year. Now there begins the Nixon position in his address—and he also offered advice to the give a platform to muckrakers,
a period of Jewish migration from Russia to the United States. Many_ President. He aligned himself with the Mitchell role and he went on liars, distorters of truth, inciters
relatives of Russian Jews have applied for visas to enable them to record in favor of Yiddish broadcasts to the USSR by Voice of Amer- to hate. The two pieces about Is-
ica. He.condemned cruel treatment of political prisoners. He covered rael Bonds did all of that.
come here.
Because of his allusion to the opening of America's doors. to Soviet The American , resporiSibilities toward Jews and other minorities in
-
Jews, as well as his comments on the Voice of America broadcasts to Russia. Therefore, what we have quoted could well serve as a guideline
the USSR, as well as his review of the Nixon position and the fright- for future actions from our President and our government.
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THE DETROIT JEWIS11 NEWS
2—Friday, December 31, 101-