THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Associa-
tion. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48076.
Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription $8 a year. Foreign $9
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 26th day of Nisan, 5733, the following scriptural selections
will he read in our sunaaoaues:
Pentateuchal portion, Lenit. 16:1-18:30. Prophetical portion, Amos 9:7-15.
Rosh Hodesh Iyar Torah readings, Wednesday and Thursday, Num. 28:1-15.
Candle lighting, Friday, April 27, 7:08 p.m.
VOL. LXIII. No. 7
Page Four
April 27, 1973
Israel'sStatus:Social NeedsAmidProgress
Israel's quarter-century of independence
is filled with historic events, the compilation
of which would take many pages of printed
recording. At a glance, however, the Keren
Hayesod in Jerusalem, which functions on
the world Jewish scene as the United Israel
Appeal which performs most of the philan-
thropic duties in Israel, has condensed the
basic facts into the following:
1948 The State is declared on May 15; the War of
Independence begins.
1949 Immigrants pour in, over a quarter of a mil-
lion, aided by funds from the Keren Hayesod
—United Israel Appeal and UJA.
1950 Strict austerity imposed to enable absorption
of several hundred thousand more immigrants,
including some 45,000 from Yemen brought
on "Operation Magic Carpet."
1951 Israel is forced to build maabarot (temporary
housing) to absorb large numbers of immi-
grants. including 110,000 Iraqi Jews.
1952- New development towns built, scores of bor-
1955 der settlements established. new housing rises
to accommodate continued flow of immigration.
1956 Arab terrorism grows; Sinai campaign and
Israeli Defense Forces reach Suez in 100 hours;
opening of the Straits of Tiran.
1957- Eilat port and city develop rapidly, new set-
1960 tlements rise in the Negev and Arava deserts.
Hula drainage project in the north completed.
1961 One millionth immigrant arrives.
1962 Another new development town, Arad, rises
in the desert between Beersheba and the Dead
Sea.
1963- Another new development town in the Galilee,
1964 Carmiel is established, the new port of Ash-
dod is opened. Economy and absorption of im-
migrants take major strides.
1965- Drop in immigration; economic recession
1966 brin: s unemployment.
1967 War clouds gather: Six-Day War. World Jewry
contributes record to Israel through Keren
Hayeso I—United Israel Appeal and UJA.
1968- Econoriy prospers, marks record tourism, rec-
1972 ord immigration: Israel's population passes
3,000,000 mark; World Jewry continues to con-
tribute to Keren Hayesod at five and six times
more than pre-Six-Day War levels. Awakening
of Russian Jewry: growing number allowed
to leave for Israel.
1973 Israel marks 25th Anniversary with continuing
growth on all fronts but amid growing signs
of social unrest, and continued cultural and
economic gaps.
The progress achieved by Israel has
reached immense proportions. Industrially,
culturally, as a nation that welcomes its op-
pressed kin regardless of circumstances or
financial needs, Israel performs in what
could be described as unbelievable courage
and determination. Nevertheless, as the
Keren Hayesod analysis certifies, there is
social unrest that is perhaps more challeng-
ing than any other factor in a state in the
process of being reconstructed while under
fire from enemy neighbors and in constant
need of self-defense.
Israel's position is more serious internally
than on any other front. Every influx of new
immigrants brings with it renewed chal-
lenges. During the large migration of Jews
from Moslem countries there was the prob-
lem of integrating elements economically and
socially different and often inferior in prog-
ress to the Occidental Jews. Now there is the
problem of the Russian Jews who, during the
50-year era under communism, have assumed
habits and a way of life that causes conflict
with those among whom they are mixing who
have adopted new approaches to freedom
and to economic aspects of a young nation.
War threats keep uniting Israelis under
a banner of cooperation and tolerance on the
domestic front. With the Oriental Jews al-
ready believed to be in the majority, while
their participation in higher government
ranks and their numbers in schools of higher
education are still minimal, there is the con-
stant danger of an erupting struggle among
the differing groups. The needs of the na-
tion while it is under attack unite them. Un-
der differing circumstances the situation
could be altered problematically.
Those with vision must, therefore, take
into account the needs that are urgent—those
of providing the best education for the less
affluent, the compulsion to provide better
housing for the large Oriental families, the
need to assure a higher education for the
largest number of Israeli youths from all
ranks.
It is apparent that the urgencies can be
met if the proper funds can be secured for
the purpose. This is where the United Jewish
Appeal plays a major role in protecting the
state of Israel. As the provider of funds for
UJA from our community, our Allied Jewish
Campaign continues to be our great obliga-
tion.
On the eve of Israel's 25th anniversary,
one of the ways of greeting the Jewish state
with fervor is to fulfill our obligation to the
agencies that provide some of the means for
the state's security and uninterrupted ad-
vancement.
Few Remaining Crucial Campaign Days
Detroit's Allied Jewish Campaign is al-
ready assured a great success, the current
year apparently exceeding even last year's
triumph. But the complete success can not
be attained until every prospect as a giver
has been reached. With the very few days
remaining before the planned closing day
for the drive—May 9—it is important that
this fact should not be ignored.
A major point, emphasized by the drive's
able chairmen, Samuel Frankel and Paul
Handleman, and their associates, is that the
needs have _mounted to such great propor-
tions that it is vital that last year's subscrip-
tions should be measurably oversubscribed.
Israel's needs are greater, and so are those
of the local agencies. The domestic obliga-
tions must not be overlooked, and only by
increasing the income will the goals be re-
corded as receiving a response from a con-
cerned community.
Detroit has been setting standards in
philanthropy for the entire country. While
it may be judged as false pride, there has,
nevertheless, been great satisfaction in hear-
ing national leaders say that "as Detroit goes
so does the entire country."
We are among the first to campaign for
the United Jewish Appeal, the major bene-
ficiary of our Allied Jewish Campaign. If
we set new high standards in giving to UJA,
it will undoubtedly inspire other cities in
their humanitarian planning.
There are many yet to be reached, and
few days to do it in. Our volunteer army of
devoted workers has a great responsibility
to pursue its tasks with greater vigor than
ever. The past records give assurance that
the duties assumed by a responsible com-
munity will be fulfilled honorably and in
proper time.
Schoenbrun Family Trio Writes
Impressive 'The New Israelis'
David Schoenbrun, thy popular CBS news correspondent, has been
in love with Israel for many years. He has toured the land and has
lectured on his experiences, and he has been as popular on the lecture
platform as on radio and television.
He extends his interpretive labors in "A Report on the First Gen-
eration Born in Israel," in a volume filled with impressive data
(Atheneum), under the title "The New Israelis."
Interestingly, his co-authors are his daughter and son-in-law, Lucy
and Rcbert Szekely.
The intimacy of their approach, the factual as well as opinion-
laden contents, give this book by the family team of writers unusual
significance.
This book is not devoid of criticism. They do not hesitate to empha-
size, in their findings, that "many Israelis recognize the existence of
injustices and of the need to make compromises and sacrifices for
peace." With such an approach, the three writers have attained some-
thing vitally needed in portraying the new Israelis.
There are many views quoted in the book. The authors themselves
state: "We found the young Israelis to be among the least politicized
Jews we have met anywhere in the world." To give an over-all picture
of the experiences they gathered, their work contains views like the
following:
A young woman: "Let me tell you about the history of our home-
land. Golda's generation made the Revolution. My father's completed
it. My generation wants to live. We want to be normal."
A university student: "They were doers, rather than thinkers. That
is, our parents' generation. Our grandparents, the early founders, the
forefathers of Israel, they were intellectuals and great talkers, exalted,
almost fanatical. We are not like that at all . . . We are more pragmatic,
career-oriented, urban and, if we burn about any glory, it tends to be
literature or science, not closeness to the soil."
About Americans who come to Israel: "We don't have the kind of
alienation here, not at all. Maybe our biggest danger is the opposite.
You will surely find a good deal of conformism amongst Israeli youth.
The majority is more like your own 'silent majority' than like the SDS."
A young man in the air force, on the Six-Day War: "It was a great
victory, of course. Had we lost we would have been slaughtered. Israel
is the only country in the world that cannot afford to lose a war.
Germany and Japan were rebuilt by the Americans. Even the Russians,
with their heavy hand and police systems, have had to make an effort
to rebuild the countries of eastern Europe. But can you imagine the
Egyptians, Syrians and Iraqis rebuilding Israel? That is why we fight
so hard, that is why no sacrifice is too great for defense."
A 21-year-old sociology student: "Yes, convention is strong and
our generation, we are not rebels. I, right now, am not ready for mar-
riage. I'm only twenty-one. But, I admit that, in a few years, I'll be
ready and accept marriage as a true commitment. One must live by
laws. Children need parents, a family context. Even if I wanted to live
with a girl, I can't conceive of bucking my family—how my mother
would carry on!—her family, our friends. It's easier to get married.
Society makes you give in, in the end, so why fight it?"
A professor: "We have had a turbulent history. We have lived with
crisis. It is inevitable, I guess, that a new generation comes along that
wants normalcy. That could be healthy, but on one condition. It's some-
thing that worries me. If they are pragmatic, that's one thing. But if
they are indifferent, that's something else. I'm not yet sure where the
majority is going, to a cool, intellectual, responsible politics—fine!-----or
to a material acquisition of goods and comforts, leaving the affairs
of state to others, in search of the middle-class bourgeois life for itself,
then not so fine. In fact, that would be tragic."
A young man: "Maybe we are not interesting, so glamorous, so
majestic as Ben Gurion, Meir and Dayan. This is not an age of heroes.
But maybe that's just as well. Heroes are bad administrators. Heroes do
not make great diplomats. They can build countries, but can they make
them work?"
More than 200 Israelis and their parents, workers, soldiers and
teachers, were interviewed to secure opinions like these. Studies con-
ducted by the Institute of Applied Social Research were utilized in the
Schoenbrun family's compilations. It is no wonder that this new volume
on Israel is beginning to rise on the best seller list.