JPS Volume Reviews Aspects
of '67 Battle for Jerusalem
On June 5, 1967, King Hussein
of Jordan committed a great blun-
der. He was given assurances by
Israel that he would not be mol-
ested if he stayed out of the war.
But he was the first to attack. He
shelled Jerusalem. Battles con-
tinued from June 5 through June
7. As a result, Jerusalem was
liberated.
These three days in June of 196'7
mark some of the most historic
incidents of the Six-Day War. A
native New Yorker who now lives
with his family in Jerusalem,
Abraham Rabinovich, collected the
data relating to these three days.
Ile stayed in Israel after working
for the Long Island Newsday to
report the Israel-Arab war, studied
Hebrew, interviewed many people,
and the result is a fascinating story
recorded in his book, "The Battle
for Jerusalem." just issued by
the Jewish Publication Society of
America.
Many of the stories recorded
in Rabinovich's book combine to
add an interesting chapter to the
history of the war that revol u-
tionized the Middle East by the
reopening to Israel of all ave-
nues to the holy places which
had been shut to Jews prior to
June of 1967.
Many details of the fighting,
episodes of heroism, the reactions
of young and old, religious and
non-observant, are told in this well.
related account of a people's ex-
perience in time of crisis.
It was the time when rabbis
gave permission to dig trenches
to provide defense for the em-
battled Jewish sector.
The compassionate attitude of
the Jewish conquerors is shown in
all its details, and Arabs were
puzzled. "These are not ordinary
conquerors," they said, when, after
Jerusalem was liberated, they were
given their freedom to go back
to their homes unmolested.
Hundreds were interviewed to
get a composite picture of what
had occurred and the vignettes
in this volume provide so many
human interest episodes that the
readers will find Rabinovich's
book informative and delightful
reading.
Rabbi Shlomo Goren appears in
interesting roles, the army's quick
actions, the alertness of the war-
riors who are impatient with their
military tasks, the keenness with
which issues are faced—there are
many elements which transform
the Jerusalem battle into a strug-
gle for humanism.
Hebron presented an especially
relevant case in studying the 196'7
conquests. Recollections of a blood
bath 38 years earlier caused con-
cern. Here is how Rabinovich
reconstructs the newest chapter
in history relating to Hebron:
"In 1929 a long tradition of
friendly relations between local
Arabs and Jews had been broken
by a massacre of 60 members
of the Jewish community and
the wounding of many more. The
city was considered fanatical,
even by Arabs. Its religic
on-
servatism obliged loc,
'h
to travel to Bethlehem
salem if they wanted to sc a
movie, because no cinema tiaS
permitted there. Among the
cities on the west bank, only
Hebron enforced Moslem injunc-
tion against liquor so strictly
that a non-Moslem visitor could
not get so much as a beer. The
Hebronites' penchant for ven-
dettas and bloodletting was un-
matched in Palestine.
an-
Fierce resistance was
ticipated — if not from the Arab
legion itself, then from irreg-
ulars operating from rooftops
and windows. During the night
Amitai brought up two battalions
of heavy mortars to cover the
town and its approaches. In ad-
Nasser Sought Peace—
at First, Says British Aide
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, July 7, 1972-33
Challenging Book on Faith of East
NEW YORK (ZINS) — Anthony
Nutting, a minister in the British
While "The New Religions" by
In this sense, the author's views
dition, two extra platoons of Government during the Sinai Cam-
Jacob Needleman deals primarily are challenging to the thoughts of
tanks had joined him. As the paign of 1956. revealed in his re-
with the religions of the East. it those interested in studies of re-
recon men prepared to move out, cently published book that in the
does not overlook numerous vital ligions.
a bearded figure climbed onto first years of Nasser's premiership
factors about all religions. Needle-
a jeep and called on the men to the Egyptian leader was not an
man's work has been reissued in
gather around him. It was Rabbi implacable foe of Israel.
a revised edition as a paperback
Goren. The rabbi reminded the
Nutting, who was responsible by Pocket Books. It was originally
Creative Party Planning
soldiers of the 1929 massacre. for the negotiations with Nasser
a Doubleday product in hard
mtludsng
'Don't forget what the Amale- on the evacuation of British forces
cover.
Candy Centerpieces
kites did to us.' (Amalek, the from Egypt, contends that the
The author of this book deals
tribe that attacked the Israelites Egyptian dictator "viewed peace
Pcrktostalt/cd Parts
during their wandering in the with Israel as a fundamental pre- with the question of reincarnation
i
and
states that "the Judeo-Chris-
desert, serves as the eternal, condition for the revival of Egypt
Ins italinn. and Part.
tian tradition as we know it re-
traditional symbol of the enemy and the Arab world."
%..cokkiortrk Inc all
jects the idea of reincarnation "
of the Jews.)
In support of this thesis, Nutting
"There was a blood debt, and discloses that in 1955 Nasser estab- He adds this to the discussion of
the Israelis were prepared to lished secret contacts with Moshe this question:
646-6138
"Christianity and Judaism re-
claim it as they started south, Sharett, who was then the Prime
the recon company and tanks Minister cf Israel. "Sharett." jected the exoteric idea of rein-
in the lead. But the Hebronites, writes Nutting, "was opposed to the carnation because it often worked
guided by a prudent mayor, re- aggressive policy of his predeces- as a distraction from the task of I -
clined to offer provocation. The sor, Ben-Gurion, and he (Sharetn one's present life. The thought of
streets were deserted when the offered the possibility of reaching numberless future lives numbed
man to the need for efforts in this
troops rolled in, and white flags a modus vivendi with the Arabs.
life. But. as with astrology. things
hung from every building. Not
But Vi hen Ben-Gurion returned to
a single shot disturbed the morn- power as minister of defense, and are different now, and the con-
ing calm. Goren swerved around after the retaliatory attack on temporary interest in reincarna-
the lead scout jeep and pulled Egyptian headquarters in Gaza tion is not at all oriented to the
future. On the contrary', it is now
to a stop in front of the Tomb where'38 Arabs were killed." Nas-
a sign of the general wish to un-
of the Patriarchs."
ser discontinued all secret negotia-
derstand . the meaning of spiritual
This is a mere sample of the tions with Sharett.
effort
in this life."
many important vignettes in this
Many interesting issues are de-
book, It is one of many informa-
veloped and ideas are advanced to
tive items about the Jerusalem
arouse interest and provoke de
battle and the events that accom-
Bobby
Fischer
is
not
Jewish.
.
bate.
The author asserts:
panied a struggle to end the Jor-
The
prima
donna
chess
genius,
"If 20,000.000 Americans became
danian domination that prevented
Jews from stepping into and wor- who is (maybe) to meet Soviet real BuddhiSts, that of (-our,
shiping at the holy places in the master Boris Spassky in Iceland would be extraordinary. But it
RUSSELL S.CHREIBER ASSOCIATES
old City that is now reunited with for the world chess title, is com- would certainly be no less extra.
AGENCY OF THE SHOW WORLD
the New Portion, making Jeru- monly believed to be of the Jewish ordinary a transformation of so-
• Orchestras • Entertainment
faith.
ciety if 20,000.000 Americans be-
salem united.
• Speakers • Concerts
According to internationally ' came real Christians or real
The complete story as presented
Downtown Detroit - 962-8000
here emerges in the realism of the known chess player Arthur Bis- Jesus,,,''
people's experiences in a trying guier, Fischer's mother was Jew-
week which ended in a restoration ish. However, by Fischer's own
of the historic citadels to Israel. It admission, he has never practiced
HAVING A WEDDING or BAR MITZVA!
is a commendable and most wel- Judaism and has jumped from
REGISTER YOUR OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS AT THE BEAUTIFUL
come addendum to the latest chap- one evangelistic Christian sect to
another.
ters in Israel's history.
Some would argue that Fischer I
was born a Jew—by virtue of his I
mother's Jewishness—and there-
Ideally Located
Mile From Northland
fore remains a Jew. But Jewish
COLOR TV - Heated Pool - Hi-Fi - Restaurant - Water Beds
law would counter that his renun-
ciation of Judaism removes him
NEW YORK — The average Is- from the Jewish fold.
Airport Transportation Available
Ben Halpern co-owner
raeli today sees the chances of
14380 W. 8 MILE. OAK PARK
permanent peace with the Arabs
548-1822
less likely than he felt one year Bukhara Jews Arrive
ago. it has been revealed in a in U.S. for Settlement
public opinion survey conducted
NEW YORK (JTA)—A family of
in Israel by Public Opion Research
four Soviet Jew's arrived at Ken-
of Israel Ltd. and reported here
nedy Airport as the first to be
by the American Jewish Commit-
granted exit permits from the
tee.
Soviet province of Bukhara, United
Two-thirds of those questioned
Bias Service reported.
said they believed that a peace
They are Avner and Alizavr•ta aft
treaty would eventually be signed
Alishaiev,
and
their
children. :n;
with the Arabs, but only 15 per Eduard, 21, and‘Zoya, 20. They
cent saw this as happening within were re-united with Mrs. Alishai-
10 years. A similar poll a year ev's uncle, Efraim Simhayoff of
ago showed that 47 per cent then Flushing, N.Y.
1 ;IV
expressed the belief that peace
A HIAS spokesman said the set- 7..1c:,
Famous Makers — Showroom 8 Salesman's ;3t:
would be achieved within a 10- tlement of the four newcomers
Sample Lines — Misses 8. Junior Sizes
year period.
will be provided for by the New
Eleven per cent of those queried
York Association for New Amer- .
now expressed the view that there
ica ns.
would be no peace "in my life-
The four are beneficiaries of the
time," as compared with 7 per parole authority of the U.S. attor-
cent who held this pessimistic view ney general.
one year ago. Further. 42 per cent
of those questioned today said they
did not know when there would Trepper Says French,
be peace, while only 33 per cent Poles Trying to Stop Suit
t. ‘
held this opinion one year ago.
N
COPENHAGEN (JTA)—Leopold
TO
Trepper charged that the Polish
Bloch Publishing Co.
and French secret services were
working in collusion to prevent
Moves to New Offices
him from bringing a libel suit
NEW YORK—Bloch Publishing against Jean Rocket, head of the
French counter-intelligence serve
Co., located on 31st St. since 1927,
has recently moved to new offices ice. The World War II master spy,
at 915 Broadway, corner of 21st. who has not been permitted to
Founded in 1854 in Cincinnati leave Poland, made the charge
by Edward Bloch and his brother- in a telephone interview with the
in-law. Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise JTA.
Ile said that collusion was indi-
(the founder of Reform Judaism
::II;
in America), the Block Publishing cated when Polish police confis-
AF
Co. is the oldest Jewish publishing cated all the documents relatin g
".4lways Prised At Tremendous Savings T9 You -
.1(*.
concern in the United States and to the.case from Trepper's French ilti,
. .
HOSI,
one of the oldest bookstores in • lawyer, Daniel Souliez-Lariviere, AV. •
Michigan Bankord
2965 W 12 Mile
10 o m
at
Warsaw
Airport
existence.
....11*
Master Charge
opposite Berkley Theatre
I,
. 1r:
Polish authorities have refused
*Now in its fourth generation un-
: • _
5 p
honored
Phone 399-3779
:•1[*:
der Charles Bloch, Bloch Publish- to permit him to leave the coun-
. H.: ,
•
,:-
Mon thru Sac
knows
too
-
try
on
grounds
that
he
ing continues to put out approxi-
mately 20 titles a year
MARCIA MASSERMAN
Humor Checked
Israelis See Slim
Hope for Peace
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