THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing ,nth issue of July 20. 1951
t ..n
Mernhor Amerman As...riot:on of English
Je wish !e. .papers, Miehrgan Press A- elation, National Editorial Aasoet•-
wiry Friday Iii The Jewish News Publishing ('o , 17515 W Nine Mile. Suite 865. Southfield, Mich.
48076
S.rondAla. Pci.tage Paid At Southfield. Siichugan and Additional Mailing (Mfices. Subscription
88 a year. Foreign
fa
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and
CAR/HI M. SLOMOVITZ
Publisher
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
DREW LIEBERWITZ
CIty Editor
Adv•rtising Manisgor
IS stifles. AA•nag•r
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
7 ; , r
•roil!
7 , 1111 In 07,
, .?,.•(/!,n/l;14,,
i ' Vntaren( • ;
; ,, /rtil//I,
tin?) n Eli 5732. the folio, tug scriptural selections
Dent 16 15 21 9
Prophetical portion_ Isaiah 51 12 52.12.
( andie l , ohtlne. Friday, Aug 11.
1.‘11.
No. 22
7 20 p Io
Page Four
August 11, 1972
Congressional Friendship for Israel
Senator Henry M. Jackson w a, not fooled
by the expulsion of Russian military experts
from Egypt Calling for adoption of an impor-
tant amendment to the foreign aid bill that
would assure extension of the life of the
measure which gives the President power to
give the necessary aid to Israel. Senator
Jackson explained that only by keeping Israel
strong can the cease fire be maintained and
hope retained for a possible peace. It was be-
cause of the defeat earlier of legislation for
military assistance that Senator Jackson, the
roost consistent/supporter of military and
economic aid' for Israel, introduced his
amendment.
In the course of his important address.
Senator Jackson stated that the provision
of the law tie was seeking to extend was
simply; that it authorizes the President to
transfer to Israel by credit sale such equip-
ment as may be necessary to maintain the
military balance in the Middle Fast. He em-
phasized This authority was first enacted
into law in October 1970 w hen my original
amendment passed the Senate by an over-
whelming vote That authority, signed into
law on October 7. 1970. formed the basis
on which the flow of vital Phantom aircraft
to Israel was shortly thereafter resumed "
-- Let me recall for my colleagues" Senator
Jackson stated, "the previous vote in this
body on the measure that I am seeking here
to extend, in point -of time. for another year.
The vote came on an amendment to delete
present authority largely on the grounds that
)
jurisdiction was lacking in the procurement
bill. The Senate. in its wisdom, acted to up-
hold my amendment by a vote of 87-7. Sen-
ators felt then. as I am sure they will now.
DAT
that the crucial authority I was seeking to
enact into law dwarfted in importance any
technical matter of jurisdiction."
Senator Jackson's proposal aimed at an
"avoidance risk" that deprivation of $300,-
000.000 of C.S. credit should not stymie
7/1
Israel's defensive. He considers uninter-
rupted flow of equipment essential both for
. 417k
Israel's needs and for the American position
in the Middle East.
There is- every indication that Congress.
always friendly to Israel. will be the bulwark
of support for the embattled nation and will
remain the basic force in assuring American-
Israel friendship. °In that effort. Senator
"Bernard Revel—Builder of American Jewish Orthodoxy" b!,
Jackson may well be considered a chief
Aaron Rothkoff, the newest product of the Jewish Puhlication Soci•t2.
architect.
of
America,
is a biography. But it must be viewed as having much wider
P'''
the results can not be taken for significance. The facts
gathered to describe the life of the disinguished
granted. An appeal has been issued by the scholar who was the first to direct
the destinies of
– ^"n"e.
American Israel Public Affairs Committee which has emerged into Yeshiva University, make
for approval of the pending foreign aid bill this hook a very impressive and valuable chapter
with the proviso for Israel. Its appeal pointed in the history of the development of American
to the danger that defeat of the Jackson Jewry.
amendment would be "a disastrous reversal
Dr. Revel's career is most interesting. It de-
of a program which has made massive contri- scribes his youth in Lithuania, his studiousness,
butions to the defense and economic devel- his devout outlook, his dedication to Orthodoxy,
opment of friendly U. S. allies everywhere." and his concern about the importance of the educa-
It is an American program that needs to be tional media for Orthodoxy.
What he established continues to serve as the
protected and it is hoped that Congress will
of the major Orthodox scholarly efforts
not interrupt a progressive policy which has cornerstone
in the past two generations. He gave substance to
helped many, with Israel as a beneficiary.
what is now Yeshiva University, and he chartered
Biography Honors Dr. Revel,
Builder of U.S. Jewish Orthooxy
the course of dignity for the great Orthodox educa-
High Morality in Social Planning
For more than two years. a serious crisis
existed in the planning of large housing proj-
ects in the New York Forest Hills area The
very large low-cost housing project that was
planned for that section of the New York
suburban -area which is largely populated by
middle class and professional Jews was be-
lieved to have faced destruction after many
years of creative efforts in establishing a
wholesome community. It w as feared that the
invasion of the area by many underprivileged
who. under the new scheme that did not even
provide for sufficient recreational facilities
for new settlers. might force another flight
of established residents who had. before com-
ing to Forest Hills. faced threats to their se-
curity in their earlier home sections in New
York.
Apparently. a new proposal, to cut the
original plan to half. at an increased cost
of operation. is meeting with some approval.
The Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith
is accepting the new idea proposed as a solu-
tion to a painful problem and hope has been
expressed that the residents who experienced
new fears will agree on a settlement and that
there will emerge an era of good will
The new and apparently acceptable pro-
posal was summarized editorially, under the
heading "Halving Forest Hills, by the New
York Times_ as follows:
"The mediator appointed by Mayor Lincfsas.
to review the controversial Forest Hills project in
Queens has submitted a. report laying the founda•
lion for reasonable compromise. Mario M. Cuomo
suggests that the project be retained in concept.
but drastically scaled down in size.
"Although this suggestion has drawn pre
die table denunciations from the chief ads ersarie:
on both sides of the dispute. it strikes a realist.
balance between conflicting interests. A cote nil
nit% has a legitimate interest in seeking to pre-
sers e its peace and character: the specter that
low-rost houses raises is that of sometimes do.
ruptive elements, difficult or problem families
requiring special supportive services. At the same
time, the city has an interest in providing decent
housing for all its citizens. Good building sites
are scarce and there remain about 150,000 fam-
ilies on the housing authority's waiting lists, fam-
ilies now living in substandard housing.
"The compromise being recommended seems
to recognize each of these points of view. By cut-
ting both the height of buildings and the number
of apartments in half, the project would more
closely conform to the concept of "scatter site"
housing for all its citizens.
"The inadequacy of existing federal formulas
is revealed in the ex:nal cost the scaled-down pro.
jest would mean for the city—an extra S2,100,-
000 in its own capital construction funds. If
to halve the Forest /fills project is to win broader
community support for it, however, this would
be a small enough price for the city to pay. We
urge both the city and the community to move
on the proposed compromise."
In a sense, the new development is a real
test in human relations and in a community's
ability to come to terms for genuine amity
The struggle was a serious one: the solution
must be one of good faith and of a desire to
mak., the American way of life function on
a basis of high morality. If politics can be
eliminated in such plannning the purpose can
be served all the better.
There still is serious doubt whether the
Forest Hills residents will accept the new
terms. While there is pressure for it from
many quarters, it is yet to be proven that
the community that has been affected by
debates that developed into race issues can
come to an end through a compromise of
imminalization.
Irdeed, elimination of political appeals
and emphasis on the morality of the issue
ria; bring a speedy solution to a tragic sit-
..a:um that threatens to become a pattern for
areas
tional values.
Dr. ttevel
He did not have fullest support from his Orthodox
colleagues. Some
programmatic aspects of his plan for the college met with opposition
from extremists. He adhered scrupulously to the basic Orthodox
halakhic principles, and there were points on which he served as a guide
for his generation. But he was responsible for important
innovations.
He encouraged introduction of sports at Yeshiva College.
Under his guidance the famous Scripta Mathematica publication
was created. He was the pioneer of a great idea soon to be an
acknowledged and generally accepted fact.
There remained the problem of Orthodox opposition to be over-
come, in view of charges that his educational program
did not measure
up to the concepts of the Agudas Harabonim. Introduction of secular
studies was not acceptable
to his opponents. Studies in gymnasiums
and universities were anathema to the objectors. It was charged that
time for secular studies took away needed periods for Torah studies.
Also. it was charged that secular studies required use of textbooks
written by nonbelievers.
Some visiting Roshei Yeshiva, heads of talmudic seminaries, re•
fused to lecture to Dr. Revel's classes.
There was a cleavage between the younger rabbis and their
elders in Vaad Harabonim. That's when the Rabbinical Council of
America was formed with members from Yeshiva
graduating
classes. It was a program that led to the eventual attainment of
Dr. Revel's dreams.
In this story of progress for the advancement of Jewish Orthodoxy
in America, the creative spirit of Rabbi Revel emerges in all its well
earned glory. Dr. Rothkoff, the young author of this biography, who
holds a doctoral degree from Yeshiva University and who row teaches
rabbinics at Jerusalem Torah College, states in tributg to Dr. Revel:
"In appearance, he looked like a typical East European rabbi.
In training, he was a modern scholar, the first graduate of Dropsie
College. In sentiment, he was a fervent Zionist and Mizrachi mem-
ber. In principles and standards, he was guided by his vibrant Or- .
thocloxy Above all, he was a man of singular vision and foresight: he
foresaw that it would be possible to build an American yeshiva which
would gain the respect of Orthodox Jewry the world over. Although
he received his own rabbinical training in the European manner, with
no simultaneous secular education, he nevertheless envisioned a 'har-
monious' course of study, consisting of both sacred and secular sub-
jects, for American students. To this vision of an authentic yeshiva
in an American context he totally committed his life and destiny."
Dr. Rothkoff gave added substance and interest to his biography
with an important chapter dealing with the Respom , a—the opinions that
yore expressed by Dr. Revel on important issues that faced him and
the institution he directed.
Ile had led American JeYii,h
Orthodoxy out of the chap: it , ,vas in
1906. and he led the movement to which he dedicated iiis life to great
sw•cf..-< This volume is a descripticr. of the triumph ('f Bernard 1:eve:
0 a Z.,!:e.L7e