Purely Commentary

Do Advocates of Genocide Merit A Platform?

From Jerusalem: A Report on ldeolcgica Concerns
Over Jewish Needs ... Ambassador Rabin aired Foreign
Affairs Issue . - . Anti-Semitism and Duls of Press

By Philip
Slomovitz

Yacov Tsur's Concern About Youth Identification . . . Advocates Newer Zionist Ideologies . .

An anti-Semitic advertisement in the New York Times inspired so Israel's Problems and Sense of Responsibility in Trouble-Lade l and Embattled Area
many responses, including a defense of Israel and America's obligation
JERUSALEM—Israel's problems are always mounting. Not unlie any other modern and progressive
to support Israel, that the Times was compelled to offer an editorial
state, the obstacles that confront the builders of the Jewish homeland keep increasing. and it should be
explanation of its "obligation to afford maximum reasonable opportunity
emphasized
to the credit of its responsible leaders that they are not t eated with unconcern. The differing
to the public to express its views, however much opposed to our own.
elements in its large numbers of ;immigrants provide ;eonflicts that n ;.d a Solomon for solutions, but the
through various outlets in this newspaper including the advertising
very challenges drive away despair as well as any feeling of incapacity to tackle the serious issues at hand
columns.••
The Russians are coming and are bringing with them demand.; unmatched in previous experiences.
As charged by the Anti-Defamation League, in a full-page ad that
refuted the charges made in the anti-Semite's distortions, the original Ma^ hanies and professionals need retramino in order to fit into Israels . economy
With other newcomers. they must learr Hebrew and Israel's - way of life
"defamatory advertisement" which forced an explanation from -the
A But Americans are not immone 1 ,.;;n (lifficulties and tne problem -creating
Times, went beyond the bounds of good taste in smearing American
i factors involving the new society into %%loch they most integrate. The corn-
government officials—including the President—with innuendo, resort
with the aid of the Jewish Agence--the Sokhnut--and when they face (lift,
mg to half-truths and undocumented hearsay.
I culties they blame the Sokhnut. Ezra SI: piro, the new world coati -man of
The issue thus created by the Times haying accepted so vile a
Keren Hayesod, as an important funcO n ary ir. Sold-nut, told us that he
piece of anti-Semitism has a relationship to letters to editors which
compelled to spend 90 per cent of his me in efforts to adjust difficult:L. ,
appear in many of our newspapers under the guise of freedom of
that are faced in their new roles as oI m—as settlers—in Israel under the
expression, whereas the sentiments expressed appeal not only to hatred
direction of the Jewish Agency. After neir studies in the assigned ulpan,
but to the lowest instincts of man, since they often advocate violence.
and life in the absorption center, these n ew settler.: InL131 fa into new- jobs,
The Times editorial admits: "There are indeed limits: we would not
they must find permanent homes, trier
is the problem of being able ti
knowingly publish an advertisement containing a direct incitement to
support their families under Israel', t
ing standard of living. The:: are
violence or other illegal action, or a clear misstatement of fact or a
difficult conditions to adhere to and the ir is a flow of condemnation of tie
distorted quotation " Yet, many ads and letters to the editor contain
bureaucracy that undoubtedly exists. ut trie problems are no: insolubi•
such distortions, and the anti-Semitic ad in the Times to which exception
They are manifold for a very small n lion. 'out toe will to live and tn-
has been taken by hundreds of readers virtually advocated genocide .
itner, mac.-
courage to overcome danger, from with ut whit, facing LnoSe
The Times editorial outlines policies claiming that they "comprise
the Israeli spirit indomitable.
the essence of the freedom and the responsibility of the press." and,
Ezra Shapiro
To the credit of the Israeli, it s gild be said that toe res.pansibli•
quoting from an editorial policy statement published Dec. 28, 1961, leadership does not forget or overlook the ideological factors in the life f so important a Je'XiSdi commanoy
which it believes to be applicable today. declared:
that has emerged from oppression and humiliation into statehood. Y coy Tsur, one of tne nation's most
"Subject of course to the laws of libel and the bounds of decency
distinguished personalities, presently world chairman of tne Keren Kayemeth
and good taste and the requirements of factual accuracy, we think the
le-Israel—the Jewish National Fund—who aired respect for a notable care-'
principlefof freedom of the press not only requires us to report events
which included ambassadorship from Isra 1 to France. gave an incticati,e
and occurrences of which We disapprove . . but also imposes on us
the concern among Israelis for Jewish a tudes throughout the world
the obligation to accept advertising of books whose contents we reject
especially distressed by the failure of Oo• _ionist rnoverrient—a. wet: pr:,--
and of political parties and movements whose goals we despise . . .
ticaliy- all Jewish movements of merit—to a tract the you::: - That 1, - Sr mad- r
objective. - said Tsur. But he did not leiive it a: that Ilie s5tigh:
"The political and other opinions of The New York Times—that
Ziord
is, our editorial policies—are expressed daily and exclusively in the
of the problem, and his feeling is that th re is a wrong approachh.
ideology.
editorial columns on this page. Our policy on 'Letters to the Editor'
is to print communications from our readers of general interest and of
the late 184,Os and the f,r,; few;
He concedes the powerful appeals
all shades of opinion. Our news policy is 'to give the news impartially,
decades of the 20th Century, and he said v.- th admonishment to the ,rit;•-;:r•,t,;r=
without fear or favor, regardless of any party. sect or interest involved.'
of the Zionist idea in this period in Jewish istory: "Youth does not 1;nd.• ,- ..ta - 11
the conditions about which Herzl, Nordau, Sokolov—even Weizman-
. . Our policy with respect to political advertising is to keep our
columns open to those who wish to express a particular point of view,
discussing the state of affairs in world Jevviry. There are new needs The
no matter how widely divergent it may be from our own."
Yacov Tsur appeal is as strong as ever, but it needs ew interpretations. A new era n.,;
Any defense of freedom of speech and the press is basically correct, set in, demanding an entirely different evaluation from the one t at fills our Zionist library prior to
except when the claimed liberties are to "shout 'fire' in a crowded realization of statehood. There is a new challenge to Zionist leadersh , and it affects Jewish leadership
theater," as Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes viewed We dare not perpetuate ideologies that need revision."
certain situations, or the advocacy of terror, as the ad objected to did.
Author of several important books, nearly all written in either Hebrew or French—nearly all now
There were interesting letters taking exception to the appearance available in translations in a dozen languages—a new approach to Jewi h interpretive thinking to be applieO
of the anti-Semitic ad in the Times, one by Senator George McGovern, to action in behalf of Israel, Zionism and world Jewish needs can bq anticipated from a new Tsur work
who said he would not accept support from the type of man who uttered soon to be ready for publication.
the hatreds in that ad; and the following most interesting one from
Lt should not be out of order to indicate that Yacov Tsur is a personality to be reckoned with. When
Joseph Alsop:
there was a problem of finding a successor to Nahum Goldmann as president of the World Zionist
Organization, Tsur's was among the first names to be mentioned. When people speculate as to who might
To the Editor:
-
"A grossly irresponsible advertisement recently published in your succeed Zalman Shazar as president of Israel—with best wishes to Shatar—ad meah v'esrim shana—Yacov
newspaper has just been brought to my attention. It quotes me as Tsur is among the very first to be considered. He is a top quality world Jewish personality.
stating that "every liberal Senator receives more than half of his
campaign contributions from Zionist sources." I suggest that before
There are many new settlers in Israel from this country, and some from the Detroit area are making
permitting quotations of this kind to appear, even in your advertising their marks in various areas. •
columns, it would be desirable to check with the person quoted. In
Dr. Moshe H. Zirin, a sixth generation Israeli who lived in Detroit for a decade, earned his PhD
this case, at any rate, the quotation is an invention.
from Wayne State University and made his mark here as educator . and scientist, now is living in the
""The invention was based, I suppose, on a political analysis of Ramat Eshkol area of Jerusalem with his wife, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Jack Greenberg, and three
the liberal wing of the Democratic party, which I wrote some years children. Dr. Zirin has - been assigned a very important position—as director general of industrial research
ago. This report of mine contained neither the language quoted by administration cf the ministry of commerce and industry.
your advertiser, nor the implication suggested by that language.
Another Detroiter, Ed Kersh, now on leave from the Detroit City Planning Commission, is on his
It seems to me outrageous that this kind of faked anti-Israel propa•
way to Israel with his wife, the former Marcia Kobaker, and their three children—also on a special
ganda should be permitted, especially when I happen to be one of the
assignment in his field from the Israel government.
warmest American supporters of the Israeli cause."
Beverly Kent, daughter of Judge and Mrs. George Kent, is doing Social work for Israel in the Tiberias
This is the view of a responsible columnist who would not tolerate
misquotations and advocacy of violence. The objectionS to the published area. Wendy Heller, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Harry Heller, is a violinist with the Kol Israel Orchestra.
advertisements are that it contained such evident untruths that it Names of young people from Michigan who have undertaken assignments in Israel can be multiplied
many times.
rendered a serious injustice to Americans of all faiths.
As a basic principle, we could recommend the credo we follow:
Many from Michigan who have been on UJA and other missions and who have had the opportunity
that freedom of expression is granted to all, regardless of who they
differ with, including ourselves; but that platforms must never be to confer with Chaim Vinitsky will be pleased with the message of greetings he sends to his many friends
here. They will be interested to know that he is now on a brief visit with his children in Kansas City:
granted to those who quote lies or spread untruths.
A typical example of the lie. serving as the major weapon for he just became a grandfather, and he now basks in that glory in Missouri.
•
bigotry is the appeal to hatred inherent in the rumor being spread that
Israel has not recovered from the shock that was caused by the insane act of demented Japanese
Judge Stephen Roth is Jewish, which he is not. If he were, it would
not matter—because there are adherents and opponents of busing in murderers.
all ranks, Jewish and non-Jewish. But it's such a convenient way of
There is some consolation for Detroiters who are active in support of Magen David Adom—Israel's
inciting to prejudice if word is spread around that the advocate of counterpart of the Red Cross—that this agency is so vital in providing aid to wounded. Magen David staffs
busing is a Jew!
and their ambulances—among them some that have been contributed by Detroiters—served well in providing
Stations that conduct opinion programs reportedly permitted the first aid and in rushing the injured to hospitals during the senseless slaughter.
spread of this rumor over the air without correcting the lie. That's
The Detroit project—the first aid station of Magen David Adcnn at Ashdod—reportedly is nearing
when the innocent suffer and the lie serves the Hitlerian form of completion and should be dedicated in April or May of 1973.
hate-mongering.
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We would apply the Alsop statement to many of the letters which
TEL AVIV—Anger has not destroyed continuity in all tasks that 'make a nation throb with activity
editors publish indiscriminately- because they are sensational. The
sensations lie in their distortions and their resort to hatred. We could There is no reduction in travel as well as tourism. Some airplane reservations have been canceled after
the horror that was imposed on innocents by the insane trio from Japan. But the roads are crowded,
reduce bigotry by reducing the right of bigots to advocate violence.
both on the streets of Israel and the airways.
Air France was a target for attack because France blundered in not imposing thorough searches of
. Effect of U.S. - Israel Friendship
'Never Had It So Good'
passengers traveling to and from Israel. Now Air France. like all anilines, searches thoroughly, delays
Some months ago. Israel Ambassador to the U.S. Itzhak Rabin. flights if necessary, keeps the routes clear and traffic moving.
speaking at Cone Rnai Moshe in Detroit. commented that "Israel never
The fl.ght inaugurated to Hong Kong, taking in Tehran, Delhi, Bangkok, Saigon and other areas, is
had it so good." lie was referring to the assistance Israel is receiving
encouraging newly extended tourism. There may. as a result. es ve new business ventures between
from this country. Since then. other Israeli spokesmen adopted this
Israel and the Far East. Perhaps the Chinese, with an influence from eing Kong and the New - Territories
theme in expressing appreciation of the assistance Israel has gotten
may adopt a better attitude toward Israel. All these experience. , are pct of the pri,ire5s related to IsraC
during the Nixen administration An allegedly sirmi
ssertion by the
Israeli envoy ha-, created c,n , h•rn.ill ■ pn
new t)per es en
if
for any
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2-Friday, June 23. 1972

THE. DETP.ClT JEWISH NENS

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