Purely Commentary
Hasid. UnnotOlatn . . . The Saintly Who speak Out in Israel's Defense
Israel and Jewry keep suffering from abusive propaganda that completely distorts
the true conditions in the Middle East.
From a handful of misled young Jews, from prejudicial forces on the campuses,
especially where the Arab students inject their venom, occasionally in the press and
other media and among some intellectuals, credence has been given to charges that
Israel oppresses, enslaves, harms Arabs.
All this goes on while Israel has raised the standard of living in the occupied ter-
ritories, has provided freedom they never possessed for Arabs in the Gaza Strip, has
created an interchange of trade for farmers between Israel and Jordan that is an
undreamed-up achieiement.
In spite of the humanitarian Israeli policies, there are the constant abuses.
Fortunately, Israel foes do not have to refute the faleshoods alone. There continue
to merge the hasIdel umot haolam — the saintly among non-Jews—who speak the truth.
A typical example in the ranks of those who defend the truth is the declaration just
made by G. Douglas Young, president of the American Institute of Holy Land Studies in
Jerusalem, in a letter to the Jerusalem Post.
Dr. Young was commenting on a report from Bangkok that the Rev. Philip Potter,
the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, had condemned the U.S.-backed
anti-terrorist resolution in the UN and backed the objectives of the Palestinian refugees.
He referred to this statement by Dr. Potter: "Nearly one million Palestinian refugees,
who had nothing to do with the Jews, have been living in camps since 1948, and all the
nations chose to forget them. This is bound to cause despair on the part of the other
Arabs." Dr. Young's reply is so much to the point and of such great need to refute the
immoral campaign against. Israel condoned in many sanctimonious as well as academic
and non-religious quarters that it needs widespread circulation. He stated in his reply:
To our knowledge, Mr. Pot-
ter has not claimed to have
been misquoted though this
sometimes happens.
It is doubly tragic that
such a statement should have
come from near Bangkok
where admitted terrorists
just eight days earlier had
broken into the Israel Em-
bassy and held six of the
staff as hostages at gun
point. Did any church leader
at the Bangkok assembly
raise a voice of protest, one
wonders, at Mr. Potter's ili-
a d vis e d remarks? Since
church groups have been
blaming Jews for all sorts of
trouble for nearly 2,000 years,
one could hope that, at long
last, in this era of ecumen-
icity at least, church leaders
would be better briefed and
more accurate and temper-
ate in their pronouncements.
Mr. Potter could have been
told that not all the nations
forget the refugees. The UN
was working at the problem
from the relief-angle. He
could have known that the
"despair on the part of the
other Arabs" has nothing to
do with the refugees. These
"Arabs" care nothing at all
for the refugees. They have
used the refugees for over 25
years, using them as political
pawns in their game of inter-
national politics. If any his-
torical observation is clear
and obvious, that one is. Any
yeader of a religious group
could have and should have
known it.
Jordan. There may be some
wealthy leaders amongst
them who would like to see
that, but it is certainly not
true of the masses. The
Palestinians at long last know
how they were "used" by
those nations for too many
years and do not want it
again. Why should Gazan
Palestinians want to be con-
fined again to that small
strip as they were for 20
years when they are now free
under Israeli administration
to move where they please?
Why should West Bankers
wish to run the risk of what
happened to their peers in
Jordan in September 1970?
Obviously Dr. Potter does not
know the genuine Palestinian
but has accepted a non-
Palestinian line as propa-
g a t e d by non-Palestinian,
Arab nations.
With regard to terrorism,
should the Church condone
it? Should it use a double
standard in its approach —
pro-terrorist in Palestine and
anti-terrorist in Vietnam or
elsewhere? When any group
of innocent persons is being
dragged into political events
and made to suffer or even
to die, how can it be justified
anywhere? But perhaps the
Church has one standard for
Jews and Israel and another
standard for others?
Dr. Potter might have been
briefed that not Jews, but
Arabs started the war that
created the refugees. He
might have been told that
Arabs not Jews kept the
refugees in camps for over
20 years contrary to all ac-
cepted teratment for refu-
gees. (Actually none of the
camps were in Israel prior
to 1967 but all of them were
in Arab countries.) For many
decades now refugees have
always been productively as-
similated in their host coun-
tries. The Allies made Ger-
many assimilate some 9,000.-
000 refugees. Never has
it been international or na-
tional policy to send refu-
gees back to the country
whence they fled. What kind
of prejudice is it that, in the
knowledge that there were 40
million refugees made in
World War II and afterwards
who were never made to go
back. these and these alone
should be made to go back
to the place from which they
came?
If one must place blame, it
should not be on Jews or
Israel in this case. In fact
it is only Israel that has tried
in any way to better the lot
of the Palestinian refugees
by giving public services to
some of the camps, by break-
ing up the congestion, by
building new homes for ref-
ugees, by giving them work,
industry, union wages, etc.
Should not Dr. Potter have
taken this into consideration?
These efforts, and the free-
dom of movement granted to
these refugees only by Israel
have moved us all nearer to
peace with our Arab neigh-
bors and friends. Why should
outside church leaders, ob-
viously not knowledgeable in
the whole matter, be allowed
to destroy what is building
so well here locally?
So Many Problems . . . on the Domestic Front, Involving,
. All in Dire Need of
World Jewry, vis - a - vis Israel .
Rational Approaches, Rejecting the Emergence of Fear
•
We
By Philip
SIOMOVitZ
Have Faith . . . The 'Key to '73 Sensationalism'
Many years ago, when anti-Semitism tormented us on many more fronts, but
especially in the acedemic sphere, socially, on the bourse, it was suggested that Jews
were too successful, too smart, and that it aroused jealousy that developed into an in-
creasing hatred. So. we posed the question whether, in the process of fighting anti-
Semitism, shall we make fools of our children?
Now we have another issue — that of a religious crusade which supposedly is
invading Jewish ranks. The Key '73 business has created panic in some ranks, and
there is a controversy with Christians. It is as if there is a wholesale exodus of Jews
into the Christian fold, as if great danger threatens our ranks.
This Jesus cult scare was discussed by your commentator on Dec. 22 in a spirit
of skepticism, with a rejection of the fears as being unjustified and exaggerated. It
was stated in this column at that time:
"Insofar as the fad of a Jesus cult is concerned, we doubt whether it is much
more dangerous than the dozens of fads that spring up from time to time. We can't
delusions
and mental disturbance. We can hope to cure them. If we lose a few in
fight
the battle for Reason and Rationalism, it's part of being a minority amidst many
religious groups."
There is no reason for abondoning that attitude at this time, but it becomes nec-
essary to revert again to the issue because there is no end to the sensationalism that
accompanies the discussion.
Somehow, we hold fast to the conviction that any claims of Jewish defections are
as exaggerated today as they were centuries ago when Jewish defectors sought to cap-
ture Jewish souls, a decade ago—or at any time.
Just as we laughed at the idea of making fools of our children, so do we now
defy any claim that our children are fools. They are not taken in so easily. Some are
indifferent, some are not so loyal, but most of them will return to the fold with dignity.
Nevertheless, we are not ignoring the issue out of respect for our Christian fel-
low citizens. We are not laughing off a memorandum that was issued last month to
"All Ordinaries" by "The Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs,
Re 'Key 73," from the Washington office of the Secretariat for Catholic-Jewish Rela-
tions" of the Bishops' Committee. This memo stated:
Serious concern has been
"Key 73" program is directed
expressed by spokesmen of intent is merely to alert you,
toward a presentation of the
the Jewish community about in the event you are partici-
Gospel to the unchurched and
certain aspects of the "Key pating in "Key 73," to this
uncommitted and the re-
73" program, and several in- ecumenical aspect of the pro-
newal of the Church. This
gram.
We
believe
that
the
quiries concerning it have
may be accomplished without
been received by our Ecu- sensitivities of Jewish opinion
singling out Jews or any
menical a n d Interreliglous may be taken into considera-
other specific group. Cath-
Office. They fear that Jews tion without any way weak-
olics recognise the pluralistic
will be singled out in the ening participation. It is the
character of America and do
implementation of the prO- understanding of Catholic di-
oceses in the program that not seek a reaffirmation of
gram.
the over-aU objective of the the old concept of a "Christ-
In this memorandum our
ian America."
The Caholic friends are not alone in their assertions regarding the "Key 73"
business. Another example of Christian interest is a lengthy communication this com-
mentator has received from Carl Davidson, vice-president of Evangelical Friends Asso-
ciation (Quaker), who contrary to the Catholic view, offers advice. His message is,
nevertheless, worth reading. He states:
As a Christian, I find the
radio programs aimed by
mercenary preachers at con-
verting Jews to narrow and
simplistic forms of our faith
to be crass, shallow and in-
such people who are so des- want to respond to Our Di-
perate that they must earn vine Parent with inward ad-
a livelihood in this manner. oration, song, dance and a
Secondly, t h e rabbinate liberating happiness in being
should open the door to an called to share in His life.
authentic Jewish spirit-filled The psalter and sidur are
renewal of personal piety and permeated with this same
synagogue worship. Why not spirit of absolute praise and
plan a "Jewish Key '74"? enjoyment of the Holy Pres-
Bored affluent suburban ence. Perhaps a return to
youth are more prone to be neo-Hasidic simplicity of
converts to secular human- faith and a return to the
ism and drug-oriented groovy simple joy of sharing the
counter-culture than to any scriptures in a small com-
form of Christianity.
munity may be in order. A
Bureaucratic status- few years ago the Society of
conscious synagogues with Friends was dying out — in -
professionalized staff, con- termarriage, absolutized folk-
certized liturgy • a d gim- culture, spiritually hollow
micky programs are failing social activism and antiquar-
like many churches to speak ian preoccupation with tradi-
sensitive to the suffering en-
dured by Jews for centuries
at the hands of so-called
Christians. "Key '73" efforts
in Detroit have no relation
to these "Jewish missions."
It would be normally pre-
The real issue is peace, not
war, not fighting to get land sumptuous for any Christian
back, not terrorist activities to give advice to the Jewish
around the world, not a Pa- religious community. H o w -
lestinian people controlled by ever, I offer some sugges-
other Arab peoples — but tions. First, do not overreact
peace. This can come only to these "missions"; many
through negotiations, not ter- deserve to be totally ignored.
rorism or war. We are actu- There are a few very sincere to the condition of those who tion were evidences of de-
ally moving, internally in Is- Jewish converts to Christian- are surfeited by materialism terioration. Now, happily all
Was Dr. Potter informed
rael and the administered ity; but most of these mis- and search for spiritual over the world there is a new
that the Gaza Strip and the
areas, very fast in the right sions are slick business op- reality and religious kinship. dispensation of Spirit that is
West Bank Palestinians do
direction. Dr. Potter's way erations that rake in contri-
T h e charismatic renewal reweaving the basic fabric of
not want to be liberated only
can only make for a continu- butions from often very poor that is developing in Christ- our individual and corporate
to be put back under the
ation of war, terror and and simple-hearted Christian ian and Quaker circles bears lives. This can happen in
control of "outside" Arab
death. It is unfortunate that people who are easily a strong similarity to the Judaism. There may be free
peoples or nations again? I
he has not been able to think "conned." There are a lot of spiritual outpouring of 18th "pentecostal" Spirit-centered
have lived here for 10 years
it through to its logical con- fake "ex-rabbis" on the Century Hasidic pietism. It n e w worship communities
and amongst these Pelestin-
fringe of Christian funda- seems that this is a time in sprouting up. Young and old
clusion.
ians since 1967. I hear some-
Perhaps Dr. Potter could mentalism. We should pity history when we feel that we rejoice together in them.
times that they want their
find time to come and see
own entity as the UN in-
Having given the Quaker a platform, with thanks for his advice, we must remind
for himself. Why listen to ad-
tended in 1948, but never do
him that there is a rich literature in which our sages do not ignore the admonitions,
vice from obviously preju-
we hear that they want to be
even the rebukes to the non-observant, that come from the prophetic teachings. The
diced persons when one can
under any foreign Arab na-
Quaker correspondent also favored us with a poem, his own adaptation from a Quaker
so easily travel and visit
tion, especially Egypt and
spiritual. But he loses his effectiveness when he lectures us with this expostulation:
places first hand these days?
"'Israel must live' say the bumper stickers, but it must live not only as a Levantine
Dr. Young is not alone. There are other Christian libertarians who fearlessly political state, but as a spiritual entity worldwide."
Because this echoes the Quaker anti-Israel position which has rent a friendship
reject the prejudices that emerge in their own ranks. John Stanley Grauer, the cour-
ageous Christian minister who addresses college groups in Michigan this week, is another for several years — the Quakers had taken a position that was very damaging to Israel
example of courageous leadership in non-Jewish ranks. He started by risking his career — we are turned back by the message from Carl Davidson, spokesman for the Quakers.
Indeed, we are a worldwide spiritual folk. We also were the persecuted worldwide.
and his life on the steamer Exodus. He keeps calling for justice and for honorable
Even if only from a nationalistic and not the spiritual-cultural aims, which are basic in
Christian-Jewish relations, often at great odds.
Once in a while, the panic-stricken yield to the attacks on Zionism and become tools the Zionist idea, there was a need for a sovereign area where there could and should be
in the campaign against Israel, Jewry, the Zionist idea. Some youngsters, they could be security for the people the good Quaker takes an interest in. And this political state —
on the Wayne State or Harvard university campuses, often join the drive against Zion- how else can a state survive except as a political entity? — there is need for security
ism, that effort that the Kremlin has turned into an anti-Semitic movement. We do not for Jews who hold fast to the faith you can call by any name, Hasidic, neo-Hasidic,
believe there are too many such young people who are blind to the realities that have just traditional, prophetic — all combined! — there is need for international assurance for
been quoted from a hasid b'umot haolam. But if these misled can be brought to the safety. If the assurance can't come from a worldwide community, that state must pro-
right track, Dr. Young's passion for truth will have brought the desired results. A debt of tect itself. It does! The Quakers will do well to recognize the human need!
The upshot of the whole business is that we reject panic in dealing with the "Key
gratitude is due this Christian Jerusalemite, the president of American Institute of Holy
73" scare, even if millions are being poured in to advance it. We have faith in our
and Studies.
children. We have faith, period! The sooner the sensationalizing ends, the better for all
2—frithry, Feb. 16, 1973
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Americans who, in the long run, may be more amused than enlightened by this business.