_ k t \ •= 1 ._.7/7 i/ .4/Ata.t e t The New Year and Its A // "i l l' //// % =\\. THE JEWISH NEWS Challenges Bicentennial Assignment to Jewish Scholars A Weekly Review Editorials Page 4 Vol. LXII. No. 16 \ 7// • 1: 1 : X t Tribute to Heschcl • Eban's Newest Literary Product of Jewish Events Commentaries Page 2 Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper 41k•-• Fantasies Negate Realities in Middle East • 17515 W. 9 Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 356-8400 $8.00 Per Year; This Issue 25c December 29, 1972 World Public Opinion May Save Remnant of Syria, Iraq Jews Sinai Awaits 15-Ton Radiation Device to Treat Cancer Victims A 16,000,000-electron volt linear accelera- tor for the treatment of cancer will be deliv- ered soon to Sinai Hospital from its supplier in Japan. The 15-ton accelerator, a device which produces high-energy beams used to treat cancer, is believed to be the most powerful in the state. Toshiba International, the sup- plier, said it is the most powerful accelerator it has shipped to this country. Up to 40 cancer patients a day will be treated with high-energy radiation when all components are installed and operating. The linear accelerator, dubbed the "linac," will be installed in the Srere Radiotherapy Building, where a special room for such equipment had been included in building plans. The room has been reinforced with cement walls, floor and ceiling seven feet thick. It will require a special crew of riggers and en- gineers from Toshiba to direct the huge crane fitting the unit into the room through a hole in the wall. Sinai sent its radiological physicist to Japan where he suggested ways of increasing the electron energy of Toshiba's biggest ac- celerator model. Acquisition of the equipment and modifi- cations to the building were made possible through a grant from the James and Lynelle Holden Fund, a local foundation. JERUSALEM (JTA)—The World Zionist Organization has appealed to Jewish organizations through- out the world to increase their activities to ease the plight of Jews in Syria and Iraq. In a statement issued in Jerusalem, the WZO Executive declared that special attention must be directed to freeing eight young Iraqi Jews and the eight young Syrian Jews in prison in those countries. Shmuel Divon, political adviser to Foreign Minister Abba Eban, spoke of wide-ranging efforts that have been employed on behalf of these Jews in the recent past. After hearing the report, the WZO asked that a special greeting be sent from the organization to the Syrian and Iraqi Jews with the pledge that world Jewry would not rest until they were permitted to emigrate. Divon said that the continuing pressure of world opinion can ease the plight of Jews In Iraq and Syria as it succeeded In rescuing the Jews of Egypt. Ile said that the release of all Jews imprisoned In Egypt had been brought about by the pressure of world opinion "and other activities which cannot be revealed yet." He noted that all Egyptian Jews have emigrated, except for a few hundred who remained behind voluntarily, "for personal reasons." Divon said that reliable international sources report that thousands of Jews have left Iraq recently, and only several hundred remain behind. But, he reported, one Iraq Jew, Abraham Zayeg, was found dead in his home. The eight Jews incarcerated in Syria include Albert Elia, the president of the Lebanese Jewish community who was kidnaped by Syrian agents in Beirut last year. Divon said there was reason to believe that Iraq is sensitive to public opinion and that the atrocities of the past will not be repeated. However, emigration from Iraq is presently at a standstill despite Iraq's recent declaration at the United Nations that Jews were free to leave. Divon said he "shuddered to think" of the fate of Syrian Jews were it not for the efforts of "scores of governments and organizations and personalities." He said that most imprisoned Jews in Syria have been released and "the Syrian government has on various occasions shown signs of sensitivity to the pressure of public opinion." Dramatic Truman Chapter in Jewish History By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ President Harry S. Truman left an indelible mark in modern Jewish history. Ile was our Chief Executive in time of crisis for Jewry and for the emerging state of Israel. lie challenged the British on the question of ad- mitting displaced persons in Palestine after World War II. The doors to the Jewish Na- tional Home were virtually closed by the British, especially as a result of the hatre - I that was demonstrated against Zionism and the Jewish people by British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin. Mr. Truman proposed, he actu- ally demanded, that 100.000 survivors from Nazism be admitted to Palestine immediately. The British remained adamant and C0111.111L112(i to play the pro-Arab role. Then came the Israel Declaration of Inde- pendence. Within minutes after -the new state was proclaimed under the name-, Israel, Presi- dent Truman was the first to give S de facto recognition to Israel. The Soviet Union was second and Guatemala third to recognize There were many obstacles. At the very last moment prior to Israel's emergence into statehood, the U. S. delegation at the United Nations proposed trusteeship for Palestine. Israel's rebirth, with President Truman's blessings, ended the negations. Throughout his political life, and after he had left the White House, President Truman spoke out against bigotry, he con- demned anti-Semitism, he pleaded for jus- tice for all. In 1964, he expressed his views on anti- Semitism. He even took note of the fact that the actions proposed for the Vatican Ecumenical I'act on Jews and the Catholic church had been delayed As a document relating to American Jewry. written and spoken by one of the great Presidents, the 1964 Truman statement is among the most interesting of his utterances. In the course of that statement Mr. Truman declared "I would also call attention to a form of discrimination that has been troubling me for many, many years: how to overcome the had habit of discrimination and pers., cation of the Jewish people in so many places These people, our friends and gin at neighbors, are still being victimized in this 20th Century we like to i all it the century of liberation. "But where are those voices of strong protest against denial of equal rights 1. our Negro population, or the practice of another kind of discrimination—we know as ant Semitism? Why do we not hear them now , "Where were these people all the time that discrimination and exclusion were practiced against our Jewish citizens in so many insidious ways' - We seem to have little trouble in forgiving those who make war on us and :Jer;rel rate ravages and destruction against us Vet some carry a permanent grudge against the Jewish people. I find that hard to understand We did not hesitate to go to the aid of Germany after a terrible a ar. and in spite of the horrors they perpetrated. We dot it because we thought that it was the right thing to do—and events proved it was. Ili Harry S. Truman World Jewry Gays "What other people had been so cruelly mistreated as the Jews in the persecution y suffered in Czarist Russia, Nazi G•rmany. the Spanish Inquisition •and Honor to Trunlan Messages of condolence on the death of former President Harry S. Truman have been coming in the thousands from Jewish organizations and individuils from all parts of the world, it is reported from Independence, Mo. Tributes to the deceased, addressed to Mrs. Truman, have come from Israel, Great Britain, France and all segments of American Jewry. Messages from President Zalman Shazar, Prime Minister Golda Meir and other Israeli leaders are among the expressions of appreciation for President Truman's role in the rebirth of the state of Israel. All American Jewish organizations have issued statements of tribute. Among the first Detroit messages were those of the Jewish Community Council, Jewish Welfare Federation and of the American Jewish Committee. Tributes to the memory of the former President will be delivered in ser- mons at services in nearly all of Detroit's congregations this Sabbath. Report on Israelis' tributes on Page $ 11:7,4411,/,' to the. days of the Pharaohs" With the Communists now in control of }{1.LiSIa a hat about the situation of the Jew, there now? The Communists keep telling the world in their propaganda how . under the - new Order." there would no longer be any harriers or Ms-elimination against any race or nationality—and that henceforth the entire population would receive equal treat- ment. "But, we all know that it is not exactly the case. There is as much persecution of Jews in Soviet Russia now as there was in (Cautioned on Page 34)