THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newapapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Amoeba-
lion. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48071.
Seeemel-Clase Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription a8 a year.
Pe
Foreign
SLOMOVITZ
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Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
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Business Manaeitr
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City editor
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DREW LIERERWITZ
Ado ortlsing M
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 22nd day of Adar 1, 5733, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Exod. 30:11-34:35. Prophetical portion, I Kings 18:1-30.
Candle lighting. Friday, Feb. 23, 5:57 p.m.
VOL. Lill. No. 24
Page Four
February 23, 1973
Combating Erosions as Dangers to Survival
Panic seemed to have gripped Jewish com-
munities when an evangelical campaign
organized by Christians seemed to threaten
Jewish religious survival. It was our view
from the very beginning that the danger was
magnified, that it represented a lack of faith
in the loyalties of our youth, that it was our
responsibility to have greater confidence in
the good judgment of young Jews and in
their sense of identification with their people.
There is no doubt that we are threatened
by a lack of knowledge in the ranks of the
younger generation. It is something that has
affected the attitudes towards Israel and
especially in judging and evaluating the
importance of Zionism as a libertarian cause.
The primary concern over reactions from
our youth has been over the so-called Key 73
threat, and one of the results has been that
responsible Christian leaders have given
assurances that Jews were not the targets in
the evangelical efforts. One of the most re-
sponsible Michigan leaders in the Key 73
campaign has affirmed that "we have not
considered the Jewish community as a target
for Key 73." but he added in his assurance
that "this does not mean that smaller inde-
pendent groups feel the same way." Catholic
dignitaries have issued similar statements.
Yet the fear remained that individual Jews
may fall prey to the missionarizing. There-
fore something had to be done to Clarify the
Jewish position, and it came in proper orag-
matizing from the Synagogue Council of
America.
All religious factions in American Jewry
—Conservative, Reform, Orthodox—are rep-
resented in the Synagogue Council of Amer-
ica whose committee on interreligious affairs
has issued this policy statement on the Key
73 question:
"The Jewish community is justifiably
apprehensive over Key '73, the massive
campaign to convert Americans to Chris-
tianity. While it is our understanding that
Key '73 is not directed primarily at the
Jewish community, there is reason to fear
that marginal Jews who possess only a
tenuous bond to their people and religious
heritage may be lured away from the Jew-
ish community and embrace Christianity in
their quest for spiritual fulfillment.
"This challenge cannot be met by
opposing efforts of the Christian commu-
nity to advance its religious ideals. Instead,
the Jewish community should respond with
positive measures designed to confront
American Jewry, especially the young in
high schools and on the campus, with the
spiritual ideals and values of the Jewish
people.
"This task must be accorded the highest
priority, irrespective of whether the Jewish
community has to cope with the allure-
ments of secularization, or a competing
religious faith such as an evangelist Chris-
tianity. The real danger to Jewish survival
stems not from the gains of other religious
communities, but from the erosion of
Jewish religious commitment."
This is a valid and vital statement for the
elders as well as the youth. When we speak
of the younger generation being uninformed
we must not isolate them from their elders
who are in many respects equally lacking in
the information that is so vital to Jewish
existence. When the Synagogue Council
speaks of an "erosion of Jewish religious
commitment" it must include Jews of all ages,
and its current efforts will be valueless un-
less they are applied to all.
This has relevance to the serious issue
affecting Zionism and the abuses directed at
the great liberation movement by those who
would shelter themselves from the charge of
anti-Semitism. The Kremlin and the Arabs
have-avowed sanctimony in referring to Jews
and while practicing the most damaging
forms of anti-Semitism they have tried to fool
the public by maintaining that the Zionist
and not the Jew was their enemy. But a
Kuwait official, speaking to a Black leader
last week, stated categorically that he would
not grant the Jews a state even the size of a
postage stamp. While King Hussein has
spoken in terms of a possible peace with the
Israelis, his demands are no different from
what has come from a Kuwaitian who, bask-
ing in the glory of oil-producing wealth,
assumes to speak for "Palestinians," when, as
a matter of fact, Palestinians today are bene-
fiting not from Arab oil but from Israel's
liberalized policies in occupied territories.
Chuck Stone, who was a member of a
black group that visited Israel last month,
interviewed a consultant to the Kuwait min-
istry in Washington, and in a syndicated news-
paper column he Quoted him as being em-
phatic in declaring that Palestinians will re-
fuse to accent Israel's right to exist. The
Kuwaitian, who assumed to speak for the
Palestinians, told Stone: "We will not rec-
ognize even a postage stamp size state of
our land belonging to someone else."
It is necessary that any attempt to capi-
talize on a lack of knowledge of existing situ-
ations should be corrected.
It is important that the erosion referred to
in the Synagogue Council statement should
be fought vigorously. All other erosions
based on a lack of acquaintance with truth
should also be fought. That's how we can
assure the proper identification that rejects
allurements and distortion of facts.
Arab-Jewish Theatrical Group in Gaza
A few weeks ago, an Arab-Jewish theatri-
cal group, representing the Haifa Cultural
Club Beit Hagefon, appeared in a number of
performances in a new production, "The
Thousand and One Nights.
It may have been the first time that a
group of this type, composed of Arabs and
and Jews—from Israel—had performed in an
area that has been in the limelight for a long
time. Gaza had been portrayed as the ultra-
antagonistic to Israel, when, in fact, its
people were under Egyptian oppression. Now
its residents can move about freely, they can
visit _Arabs wherever they wish: they enjoy
the freedoms inaugurated by Israel. But the
terrorists abound there, too, and Arabs have
been murdered there and they still are
molested. Some Jews have suffered from
Gazan terrors, but Arabs in the main were
the victims of attacks.
A theatrical experience is only one of the
evidences of Jewish efforts to establish the
best relations with Arabs. It is generally
believed that if polled properly the over-
whelming reactions of Gazans would be in
Israel's favor. The truth in all its fulness,
however, may have to await complete peace
to be known. That's the price paid for factu-
ality and reality.
NO TRADE
MREEMENT
UNLESS THE
EmiqRAnow
RESrR ICTlONS
A E
ELIMINATED
The
Mills-VaniXBI
Israel, Zionism, World Jewry
Under Scrutiny in JPS Volume
Lessons directed at Israel and world Jewry from the experiences
of statehood and the last war are incorporated in a new Jewish Publi-
cation Society volume, "Israel at the Crossroads," by Dr. Eliezer
Schweid, who, after the traditional career as a defender of Israel with
the Hagana forces, now teaches philosophy at the Hebrew University,
his alma mater.
Dr. Schweid deals with many problems, with the religious issues,
with the doctrines of Ahad Ha-Am, with the Diaspora and Israel.
And he goes deeply into the roots of Zionist ideology and the snags in
the movement today. On this score his book deserves special attention.
He is very critical of present-day Zionist approaches, and he states:
"Zionism was not thinking only of adjustment. Its uniqueness as
a revolutainary movement in Jewish history lies in its intention to
have the Jewish nation resemble the rest of the segments which com-
prise the political system of modern times. And in this it was not suc-
cessful. After the rapprochement that reached its peak with the
establishment of the state, the swing back began. What had not been
and could never be achieved now became apparent. The tension which
had been relaxed through the effort of rebuilding the national home
by postponing problems now became recharged, once it was plain that
these problems were as real as ever."
Therefore, he declares it is "an obligation to best ourselves out
of the run of conditional arrangements and the routine of solutions,
the whole force of which is in the direction of disregarding realities
and providing excuses to postpone confrontation with problems because
the problems are too hard, or because of our fear of the conclusions
that will have to be drawn and apnlied practically. We must outline
new methods of education and new lines of political and social action.
And they must be based on the positive implications of Zionism and
on the real needs of the state. But they must not be founded upon
subordination or enslavement to the patterns of thought and action
that have already been shaped within the state and the Zionist move-
ment. As long as we show no willingness for this approach, we shall
not find a way out of the morass."
Since Zionist interpretations for the present generation, and espe-
cially for youth, seem to coincide with the thoughts advanced by Dr.
Schweid, it is puzzling to read his views as if they had not been con-
sidered by either state or movement. But his evaluations nevertheless
inspire new discussions in the directions outlined by him.
The author is critical of Israel's political aims which may have
given precedence to its inner needs over obligations and responsibilities
for all of Jewry. Thus he urged a more thorough identification of Israel
with the Jewish people.
'Way of the Upright' Notes
'Jewish VieWof Economic J ustice'
Ethical codes in Jewish tradition call for serious concern in deal-
ing with labor, in business, In matters involving tenants, in human
relations.
Rabbi Richard G. Hirsch sets forth many of the basic rules for fair
dealings In a brochure published by the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations. In the UAIIC pamphlet, published for its Commission
on Social Action of Reform Judaism, entitled "The Way of the Up-
right," Rabbi Hirsch presents "a Jewish view of economic justice."
"Social action should be more than a fulfillment of Jewish ethics,"
Rabbi Hirsch maintains. "It should be an instrument for motivating
study of Judaism."
Indeed, this pamphlet is like a textbook for the studies he suggests.
It draws extensively on prophetic teachings, on obligations imposed
in injunctions the hor quotes from the Bible.
There are ques',,,ns involving slavery, duties in private owner-
ship, conditions in employment, and other factors are under dis-
cussion. The Jubilee Year is under review.
The basics in social ethics are presented as an emphasis on just
dealings in a competitive world, and this instructive and informative
work adds immensely to the understanding of the emphasis
ish obligations toward their fellow men.
on Jew-