TIIE JEWISH NEWS

Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue

-FAIRK0K,mtkRoK ON "THE WALL

of July 20, 1951

Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press A.sociation. National Editorial Assoei•-
tion PubiLshed every Friday hy The Jewish News PubLishing Co. 17515 W. Nine M,le , Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 413076
Seeond.Claa• Postage Paid at South!Lek!. Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription MI • year. Foreign 00

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Editor and Publisher

•

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ

CHARLOTTE DUBIN

Sus/miss Manager

City Editor

WHO IS THE l)1.1ESTOrat ALL?

DREW LIEBERWITZ

Advertising Manager

Sabbath Scriptural Selections

This Sabbath, the ninth day of Elul, 5732, the following scriptural
ill he read in our synagogues.

selections

Pentatenchal portion. Dent. 21:10-25:19. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 54:1-10.

Candle lighting Friday. Aug. 18. 7:10 p.m.

VOL. LXI. No. 23

Page Four

August

18, 1972

Federations' Role in a Calamity

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Speedy aid pro-
vided the thousands of sufferers from the
flood that dispossessed them from their
homes and ruined their businesses have given
an indication of the important role an or-
ganized community can senie in time of crisis.
The Council of Jewish Federations and
Welfare Funds, in its prompt reply to the
needy in an hour of needs, again indicated
the significance of its role as the established
force that is able to act in an hour of need.
Together with the Jewish Agency for Is-
rl, the CJF acted speedily in May of 1967
to mobilize American support for,Israel when
the Jewish state was under threats of anni-
hilation from Cairo.

•

Then it was the foreign aid that needed
attention; now it is the domestic calamity
that brought an immediate response from
the movement that truly represents Amer-
ican Jewry as its central philanthropic and
social agency.
The Jewish Welfare Federation of De-
troit, always prepared to join in the national
efforts that have guided the program of the
CJF, again is participating in the relief move-
ment to assist the Jews of Wilkes-Barre and
nearby communities. There is cause for deep
satisfaction that we never shirk our respon-
sibilities and that Federation stands ready to
respond to all needs.

Jewish Dev i ces' Unnecessary in Politics

Political differences are as normal as
cereal for breakfast or apple pie and cheese
for dessert; and the anger that confuses fel-
low Americans over preferences for candi-
dates is as human as any routine contest.
When it's all over, we are friends and fellow
Americans again. In the interim the frequent-
ly emerging bitterness adds flavor to political
wrangling, although extremism is always de-
plorable.
Jewish involvements have, all too often,
created anxieties over the use of the phrase
."Jewish vote." It is a debatable term, and
its application today is primarily valid when
Jewish concerns are aroused by interest in
Israel, or when anti-Semites enter the politi-
cal arena. In most such instances, however, it
is safe to say that no responsible politician
will endorse a bigot or an anti-Semite, and
all parties are committed to protect the se-
curity of Israel. Therefore, any exaggerations
on such scores must be repudiated as invalid
in political discussions.
It needs to be indicated, however, that
there have always been doubts whether Jews,
especially rabbis, should become involved in
political controversies. But when Stephen S.
%Vise and John Haynes Holmes combined
their energies to fight graft and political
corruption and to strive for social reforms,
there were commendations and recognition
of the validity of leadership involvement in
the community's and the nation's needs by
clergymen.
But another factor enters into the dis-
cussion. There is the matter of forming Jew-
ish committees or of linking Jews as Jews
with one candidate or party or another. There
have been challenges to those who assumed
to utilize names of prominent Jews for pol-
itical groups. When the names of Louis D.

Brandeis or Benjamin Cardozo were used
some years ago by Jews active in politics as
names for their political groups, there were
expressions of outrage. We recall condemna-
tions of such practices by the revered Jewish
leaders, the late Julian H. Krolik and Fred
M. Butzel.
Are we witnessing an unnecessary repeti-
tion of Jewish names and terms such as "Jew-
ish voters" and "Jewish committees"? Judging
by the statements of the presidents of Bnai
Brith and the American Jewish Congress, it
would appear that what irked a Krolik and
a Butzel in 1925 or 1930 is similarly discon-
certing the new heads of two large American
Jewish movements.
A former president of Bnai Brith has
aligned with a movement to form a "Jewish
committee" for one of the Presidential can-
didates. His successor deplores it. Indeed,
there is a division of opinion. But in prin-
ciple we are inclined to support the views of
the present heads of Bnai Brith and AJCon-
gress—that resort to "Jewish committee" for-
mations should be avoided in a major political
campaign.
We are fortunate: both candidates for
President are supporters of Israel; the plat-
forms of both parties are fair to all elements
of the population when social issues and re-
jection of racism is involved. If and when
anything bordering on prejudice will be in-
jected in the current campaign, we'll be found
on the human side of the combined forces
seeking social, economic and political justice.
Until then—and we do not expect to be
called upon to render such a service at this
time (the Atlanta anti-Semitic TV and radio
broadcasts were an exception}—we hope for a
decent political battle without resort to
ethnic, religious or race-inspired appeals.

Welcome for Israel Philharmonic

Cultural exchanges have become vital fac-
tors in establishing good relations between
nations. America's friendship with other
lands has been enhanced by an interchange
of musical talent, through book fairs, by
means of sports events.
The visit here last month of the Tel Aviv
Maccabi soccer team was means not only
of extending American-Israel cooperation but
also of marking continuity in kinship. between
American Jewry and its Israeli fellow Jews.

An event of major importance in assur-
ing continuity of such kinships is the ap-
proaching visit here. under sponsorship of
the Zionist Organization of Detroit, of the
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. The coming
here of the distaiguished group of musici-

ans is an event of gre ,.. snznifiiance
it emphasizes the v e

hr. mil >e

progress and affirms the equal interests Is-
raelis have in their fellow Jews in this coun-
try.
Of significance in the appearance here of
the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra on Oct. 7
is that the famous orchestra will be directed
by the noted conductor, Zubin Mehta. The
distinguished musician had become a hero in
Israel when he arrived from Paris during the
tense days of the Six-Day War to assume lead-
ership of the musical organization in Israel.
His direction has been thrilling Israelis and
those visiting Israel since June of 1967, and
the Detroit Jewish community will have an
equal opportunity when it comes here for
its concert on Oct. 7. It will be a welcome
opportunity to give due acclamation to a
distinguished organization of musicians who

have benonie the pride of our kinsmen in

Role of American Jewish Heroes
Described in Book for Children

Tales about American Jewish personalities, compiled by Deborah
Karp, form in their totality interesting chapters in the history of Amer-
ican Jewry. In "Heroes of American Jewish History," published by
Ktav as a large children's book, Miss Karp has included many notables
of Colonial times, eminent scholars, leaders in Zionism, scientists and
heads of philanthropic and other movements.

Edited by Benjamin Efron, the book is filled with important pho-
tographs, reproductions of historic documents and pictures of the
leaders under review. Sol Sharfstein is picture editor of the book.

Early Revolutionary leaders—Haym Salomon and others—and
members of Congress, creators of large merchant enterprises, Supreme
Court justices, rabbis of note, journalists and others are part of the
gallery of men and women who are included among the notables in
this work.

Because it is told as a running story, Miss Karp's book will prove
of great value as an instructive collection of stories for young readers.

William Safire's Interesting
Dictionary of Political Terms

Admittedly a master of his craft, William Safire may well be
considered a leader in the field of research in political terms.

One of the top speech writers for President Nixon, Safire has
gained wide recognition for his knowledge of terminologies that relate
to American diplomatic as well as domestic applications.

In "The New Language of Politics," published by Collier Books,
now out in a second revised edition, we are treated to nearly 800
pages of the most fascinating definitions of thousands of words and
phrases. It is "a dictionary of catchwords, slogans and political usage."

Many terms are used that are seldom understood. For example,
the knowledgeable will refer to the State Department as "Foggy
Bottom" and it will puzzle the average reader. Here is Safire's
definition:

"Robert A. Lovett, who served as secretary of defense in
the Truman administration, had been dubbed 'the Bald Eagle of
Foggy Bottom' from his earlier State Department days. State
Department offices were built on land that had originally been
called Foggy Bottom, and the name was re-applied because it
recalled a fogginess of official language."

A definition of "foot-in-mouth disease" is interesting. It refers
to a blunder by Governor Romney and his determination not to be

quoted again on the Vietnam issue, with this quotation from a New
York Post editorial: "This self-imposed quarantine may help arrest
his virulent attack of foot-in-mouth disease."

Then there is the item: "Footnote to History — a seemingly
insignificant detail, contributed long afterward to a great event or a
historic person's life. Samuel Rosenman felt that the story of Roose-
velt's use of language was important not only as a footnote to his-
tory, but as an aid to the better understanding of the leadership
exercised by Franklin D. Roosevelt.' By designating his information
as a footnote to history, the contributor strikes a modest pose; in
addition to the detail—most people, like it or not, find their eyes
dragged down to the bottom of a page by a footnote. The phrase is from
a book of that title by Robert Louis Stevenson. Criteria for a footnote
to history are that it be (1) hitherto unpublished. (2) from firsthand

knowledge). (3) illuminating of character or mood, and
pretentious "

(4 ■

un-

These are but samples of a vast amount of research that has pro-
+iced a magnificent informative. at the sanie entertaining, dictionary

ut polm,a1 terms. '

