Jewish Life Goes On in Land of Esher
(Continued from Page
Ii
Esther there would be a deep-rooted Jewish spiritual life But while
the homes retain the Jewish heritage, it is a shallow one The very dedi-
cated Mrs. Azimeh Shoa, who directs the kmdereart•n, pointed to the
Shabat candle-lighting taught the younesters. the Hebrew songs they
learn, tht• initial study of Ilehrew: as means of bringing to their
families a kre.wledee of Jew,-h trada ions which was hitherto shaded
only by a fanaticism but _without an understanding of the roots of
Jew ish observances.
The children sane and danced exchanged elementary Hebrew
greetings with the visttot•s from Amerii a They showed how only a few
v. "uiis ago they cetehrated Shavuot an I the other festivals and Itchy
Da, s. and environmentally they are Jew ishly linked.
If they had nit been placed in Jew tsh ',hoots. they would, coin-
PUIS.1 . 11)
attend school from Sat arday through Thursday. The Sab-
bath would nee e r be sanctified.
The JDC stepped in to provide Jewish schooling. The children
ebserve the law of the land and their compulsory free day is the
Mus'im Sabbath—Friday. But they also have the Saturday Sabbath,
as a fric day for oh.erv: nee and the preparations for the Sabbath
as part of the school crrrtcula are on Thursdays.
Mrs Shoa expressed pride in the achievements? 'We bring the
Jewish idealism into many homes which previously had no basis for
traditional links with our people .We are saving a generatibn of Jews."
There are new, 248 Ifttle ones in these kindergartens-10
of them are Muslims. Because the government provides a mea-
sure of support for Jewish schools, the hospital, other media,
it is of vital importance that some of the students be Muslims.
This is true to a considerable degree in the very creative ORT
school in Tehran. Of the 850 boys and girls in this school, 10 ner
cent are Muslims. Many, many more clamor to benefit from ORT's
services. But the courses, in addition to vocational skills. French and
English, include the study of Hebrew, and this deters non-Jews.
Morris Romhre, tireless, clenamic, fully dedicated to every aspect
of .IDC work here, works under handicaps. The undertakings need
expansion the school population could he doubled, the hospital ser-
vices should increase But JDC provides some 60 per cent of the
budget, and the Kehilla—the Jewish community—only 40 per cent. The
community is becoming more affluent. yet its leadership, some very
well to do. fails to provide the means vital to communal functions_
Therefore the struggle.
OUT, too, needs greater support. It is not forthcoming. And on a
worldwide scope. pressed for funds, both JDC and ORT plead for
greater community interest. Mr. Rombro is hesitant to say it added
cooperation is unavailable.
Whenever tension emerves in the Middle East, there arises a
sense of fright here as to how the Muslim Population will react. But
many, like Rombro. keep thanking Jewry's lucky stars for the Shah
"As long as the Shah's determination remains to assure
peace for his people, and protection for the 75.000 Jews, there
need be no fears," Rombro said. "The king acts firmly. There
are extensive dealings with Israel. El Al flies here. There is an
Israel mission. Business relations are normal. In Shiraz, Israelis
are supervising the building of a dam. Soled llioneh supervises
building a Hilton Hotel annex. Thank God for the Shah. As long
as he rules. there is security here."
Equally kind words were uttered by Rombro — and his views
are generally corroborated—for Empress Farah • who has often shown
an interest in Jewish social undertakings.
It is the weakness of the Jewish fiber here that is deplored by
Rombro "The fiber is shwakh tweak). - the JDC director said
Having had social services exrerience in Baltimore. then for five
years in Morocco before coming to Tehran. Rombro's aims are
to strengthen the fibers, to assure an impreenable identity with
Jewry. and under his direction JDC's k here becomes symbolic
for the international movement.
To fully understand JDC functions here, one must become ac-
quainted will , the K K K Hospital's accomplishments. Under the
direction of Dr. David Bar-Kohana it services. in the entire area, a
total of 4.785 tallies of all faiths. On a regular basis, it provides medi-
cal aid for 725 Jewish families and 520 NIoeleni families. The ac•
tiyities. with Dr. Andre BenMussa and Dr. Cornelius Post as heads
of the functioning staff, render services on a family basis It is not
medical alone it is serial and economic. There is a dental clinic.
Immense serv],es were rendered 25 years ago during the epidemic
of typhoid, and infectious diseases have been eradicated.
Many still are poverty-stricken, but disease has been fought sin-
cessfully and infant mortality is very low. Dr. Bar-Kohana explained
A major illness among children is rheumatic fever, and re-
search is being conducted to reduce cervix cancer among women.
Jaundice is prevalent. and the Tehran Jewish hospital staff is
conducting research, in collaboration with the Tel Hashomer Hospital
in Israel which has Iranian patients. An important report on the study
is expected during the coming months.
The re is a school for practical nursing, and after two years of
studies the graduates receive government diplomas. When the K K.K.
Hospital's addition was built three years ago. Empress Farah attended
the dedication and gave a sizeable gift for the school of nursing.
ORT's activitie: are, in many respects, replicas of the 011T
achievements in Israel There is such a marked interest in the school's
worts among the students, that the attainments are rated among the
highest in educational circles.
Joshua Gabbai. who recently retired as head master of the Carmel
Jewish College in London. has just assumed the task as ORT's direc-
tor. succeeding Amrani Ashkenazy who has been so deeply beloved
by the pupils that - his departure was marked by sadness. There arc
500 boys and 350 girls studying in the various departments, and their
achievements are considered a hiih mark in diligence and the ac-
curacy of their specialized efforts.
A study of Iranian Jew ish services is incomplete
48—Friday, June 16, 1972
to the Hatif Ladies Committee whose volunteer labor, protide ac-
commodations far a youth club.
They have a student aid program which extends loans to Univer-
sity students, and there are classes for retardates under the ladies'
auspices. Half of the funds for these services are provided bYl JDC.
Heading the volunteers is an eminent lady. Dr. Azizah Beall, who
day.
directs the Hata' activities sometimes as many as 16 hours
There was a mass flights to Israel from rural Iranian iireas in
1948 and 1949, the early years of Israel's independence. The fanaticism
of the Muslims in the northern rural areas vitiated the dangers that
compelled the mass migration. •
Now there is an approach to affluence. A middle class i4 arising
with opportunities for money making, and fewer than 1.0(10 settle
in Israel from Iran yearly. But tension arising from insecuritit - exists.
and the sense of safety is only on the surface. Ask any - one 14garding
his status, and he'll say: Thank God for the Shahanshahl
As an observer views the effects of JDC philanthropic work and
the effects of American Jewish influences here, the feeling is that the
10,000 Jewish boys and girls who are taught in Jewish schools, thereby
being provided with their traditional Sabbath, while observing also the
governmental Muslim Friday regulations, must benefit greatly from
their studies that are partly Hebraic.
There is little known intermarriage. Family influence nia doubt
accounts for it.
And while knowledgeability is limited, there nevertheless is
the desire for affiliation with Jewry and benefit from h stork
traditions. The Purim story is especially pride-giving.
In Haradin, the city believed to have been the Shushar in the
Book of Esther. a monument has been dedicated to the Mordec i-Esther
dramatic tale that inspires faith in Jewish survival, and there are
pilgrimages to Haradari to pay homage to the heroes in the drama.
There are only a few hundred Jews left in Haradan, but thiy keep
the tale alive and draw the crowds.
The lessons of Tehran are enriching. Their effects are worth
studying. The revivalism in Jewish spirit is due to a great l agency
created by American Jewry, the affectionately-known "Joint_ '
JERUSALEM IsITA) — Over
opposition of the three National
Religious Party members, the
hinet approved the appointment of
its two representatives to the elec-
tion committee supervising elec•
lions to the chief rabbinate
The candidates approved by the
cabinet are known to favor the
election of Tel Aviv's chief rabbi.
Shlomo Goren, to the Tryst of AA)
kenazic Chief Rabbi of Israel.
The present chief rabbi, 1 , ` , 7
Yehuda Unterman, is reported To
be seeking another term althout_h
he is 86 years old,
The candidates submitted by
the NRP ministers are not open-
ly' committed to Rabbi Goren
and are believed to base been
chosen by the NRP in an effort
to avoid antagonizing Rabbi Un•
Lerman.
The appointments came after
the Supreme Court issued an order
calling on the government to show
cause why it should not appoint
its candidates immediately.
The order was obtained by a
group of young NRP members in
defiance of the party leadership
They sought to force the issue
because Premier Golda Meir ha s
been reluctant to have candidaP
appointed without aept•-vt.1
NRP Ministers
YOUR DREAM CAN COME TRUE
How often did you say to yourself and your frieLds, "I'd lore to speak Ilebre,1" .-
Now your dream can come true. if yo will tune in regularly on
CHANNEL 56
for the Television Course in f 'fictional liebreN%
"TO ISRAEL WITH HEBREW"
Tuesday; — 6:30 p.m.
Public Service of Zionist Organization of America
Detroit District
and The Detroit Jewish :Yews
'r1, Israel wishHebrew'' is
spo n sored and Produced by The Tarlosth Fotool•
for the
∎ thaneement of Hebrew Culture and the D•partmen of I.:ducat
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& Culture. Xm•rican
Section, world "Zionist Organization.
Vocabulary for Lesson 6, '4'uesday, June 2()
T EOUSAND
(ELEF )
BEDOUINS
(DEDVIM)
THURSDAY
(YOM
CAMEL )
(CA= ) (GMAL IM)
BUY
(LI1(NOT KON
WE SHALL GO, LET
US GO
CHAMISHI)
(NELECN)
TONIGHT
(HAL, YLA )
TODAY
(HAYOM)
CLUB
(MOADON)
WORK
(LAAVOD , AVCD
WA , HOT
(C 11;;1)
DE ',CEN1)
(LAIR CDET
TO SWIM
(L I SCHOT )
WATER
(MAY IM)
YORD M)
SPR
(i4:111YAN)
PALACE;
(Alti.:010
FORTRL SS
(I-IIVTZAR)
wi thout reference
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Cabinet Picks 2
to Oversee Vote
for Chief Rabbi