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 Asooela-
tion. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 480711.
Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription $8 a year. Foreign $9

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Sditor and Publisher

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ

CHARLOTTE DUBIN

Business Manager

City Editor

DREW LIEBERWITZ

Advertising Manager

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the second day of Sivan, 5733, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Num. 1:1-4:20. Prophetical portion, Hosea 2:1-22.
Shavuot Scriptural Readings
Pentateuchal portions: Wednesday, Exod. 19:1-20:23, Num. 28:26-31; Thursday,
Deut. 15:19-16:17, NUM. 28:26-31.
Prophetical portions: Wednesday, Ezekiel 1:1-28, 3:12; Thursday, Habbakuk,
3:1-19.

Candle lighting, Friday, June 1, 8:94 p.m.

VOL. LXIII. No. 12

Page Four

June 1, 1973

Shavuot ...Respect for the Law

Shavuot, celebrated as an agricultural
festival, is primarily the great occasion on
our calendar to mark the Giving of the Law
to Israel, and through Israel to Mankind.
There is a midrash about the Revelation
which describes the historic experience as
follows:
"When the Almighty was about to utter
the first word, nature stood still; the birds
ceased chirping; wings became motionless;
the streams stopped flowing; the leaves of
the trees ceased rustling; the angels stopped
singing hymns; there was nothing but sil-
ence, in Heaven and on earth. Out of the
silence came the voice of the Almighty:
`I am the Lord thy God.'
"All at once the heavens were opened;
the hidden depths of the earth were re-
vealed; so that the children of Israel might
see with their own eyes that there is none
like God either in the heavens above or
on the earth below.
"The Almighty, in his infinite wisdom,
desired to give His Law not only to the
generation that was worthy to behold the
Revelation, but also to all generations to
come."
How remarkably this applies to our time!
There is need to emphasize respect for the
Law—whether it is the capitalized obliga-
tion in the sanctified regulations or the de-
veloping rules that have been adopted in the

course of time by nations for their urgent
needs to preserve human dignity.
There are the duties, inspired by Shavuot,
to observe the principles inherent in the
ideals handed down to us in the Torah and
the Commandments that are basic to human
values.
Then there are the obligations that go
with the developing citizenships and the de-
mand for reverence for laws. But respect for
law also is rooted in human values, and the
fusion of the two is reflected in the experi-
ences now being so frankly unveiled in the
exposes in our nation's capital.
Scriptural warnings against false charges
(Exodus 23:7) and admonitions to pursue
scrupulous honesty are basic to the Law and
to the laws of civilized nations. These
obligatory needs for respect for legisla-
tive processes are at the root of what is tran-
spiring in the effort to erase the evils that
have developed into our national scandal.
It is unavoidable that whit is occurring in
our nation's capftal should be viewed in the
light of the ideals handed down to us as a
Shavuot lesson.
In the spirit of unabridged laws for un-
trammeled human rights and respect for
man's right to privacy, to his personal dig-
nity, to as much respect from those who gov-
ern as he must have for those who do the
governing, Shavuot again emerges as one of
the guiding spiritual festivals on the calendar.

T he Russian Is Corning... in a T ime of Crisis

This is a time of crisis, but it is not deter-
ring the Russian from coming to our shores
soon to confer with our Chief Executive.
Leonid Brezhnev and Richard Nixon have
scheduled their sessions in spite of the tur-
bulent times. Watergate is not a deterrent,
and the Kremlin's spokesmen have never per-
mitted the Jewish attitudes to interfere with
their international negotiations.
The validity of such meetings should not
even be questioned. It is a normal diplomatic
process.
Nevertheless, the happenings in Washing-
ton could cause embarrassment. But if the
President is not embarrassed on that score by
what is happening in senatorial inquiries why
should a foreign guest who comes to bargain
for benefits for the Soviet Union?
More challenging is the Jewish issue.
There is one in relation to the USSR, whether
Brezhnev or Nixon or any of the Jewish
spokesmen like it or not. It's in the course
of serious consideration—on the floor of the
U. S. Senate as well—and until it is resolved
there will be no peace on the international
arena. Unless there is an end to anti-Jewish
discriminations in Russia, the battle of words
will challenge the diplomatic schemes, no
matter what the economic effects through the
maneuvers of statesmanship.
The Brezhnev visit does present serious
problems. There will undoubtedly be some
demonstrations. There will be an effort on
the part of Jewish representatives to meet
with him and to present the Jewish demands
on behalf of our kinsmen.
It is to be hoped that the demonstrative
element will be dignified, that it will be de-
void of arrogance, that there will be no cause
for insults or violence.
Not to be forgotten are the experiences
of the American Jewish community during

the visit in this country of the French leader,
Georges Pompidou. The French guest and his
wife could not forgive American Jews or Is-
rael for the challenges hurled at them. Could
Jews have been silent at a time when the
French government was betraying its trust
and. had broken agreements with Israel, while
reversing an earlier friendship and providing
arms to Israel's enemies?
In Russia's case, how can we ignore the
vile anti-Semitism that has been sanctioned
by the Kremlin—in the form of anti-Jewish
novels, in the revival of the ritual murder lie,
in the persecution of Jews who have ex-
pressed a desire to go to Israel because they
can no longer tolerate the enmities expressed
in Russian actions?
Is there need to remind the visitors who
are due here of the courage of their fellow-
citizens of the Jewish faith who were among
the leaders in the battles against tyranny
and czarism? Russian Jews were among the
leaders in the revolutionary movement that
led to the present era. Are they to be be-
trayed?
Now Russian Jews are displaying the
same spirit of defiance in their demands for
liberties that are being denied them. Have
they earned anything other than respect and
admiration for their new courage?
It may be an unpleasant period—the days
during which Brezhnev will visit the Presi-
dent of the United States, the tours of Amer-
ican cities, including Detroit. We hope for
dignity in an expression of protest against
Soviet prejudices and persecutions. But for
the sake of justice we are confident there will
be no silence. Brezhnev will get what he ex-
pects: an affirmation of American Jewry's
unified expression of protest. He will hear
the voice of our organized community in de-
fense of our imperiled kinsmen in his coun-
try.

Archaeological Research

Avi-Yonah's 'Holy Land' Features
Architecture, Sculpture, Painting

An increasing interest in archaeology, the value of paintings in
describing historical developments and the constructive skills of pio-
neers, combine in emphasizing the glories inherent in the centuries of
developing in Israel.

Extensive research in architecture, sculpture and painting is in
evidence in "The Holy Land" by Dr. Michael Avi-Yonah, professor
of archaeology and the history of art at the Hebrew University, pub-
lished by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. The 169 color and black-and-
white illustrations are in themselves emphases on the extent of the
impressive data collected and the narrated text that covers the roles
of Jews, Muslims and Christians.

The special photography in the volume by Mario Carrieri, the
noteworthy dates in the Holy Land history from 3150 BCE until
1948, the lengthy list of museums and galleries in Israel, the loca-
tions of archaeological sites and monuments, the inclusions of names
and representative works of painters, sculptors and architects in
Israel—all serve to give the reader an encyclopedic access to all
aspects of Avi-Yonah's undertaking.

This work is a combination of history and artistic endeavor.
The author delves into the prehistoric, leading up to the mod-
ern era.

He takes the reader to Canaan, goes on to cover the treks of
Jewish history, devotes considerable attention to the Hasmonean period
and to the revolt of the Maccabees, then on to the destruction of the
Second Temple. He points out with reference to that time that "a
topographical revolution afflicted Jerusalem, the consequences of
which are still echoed in popular beliefs today."
This is introductory to the historical evaluations, to the author's
step-by-step tracing the numerous developments which throw light
on ancient structures, monuments, tombs as well as seaports and the
roles that were played by David, Solomon and their successors.
For example, the reader will learn that: "David's son Solomon
(970-930 BCE) made waceful moves in the wide area he inherited
from his warrior father. In alliance with the Phoenicians he estab-
lished a trade route from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea port of
Eilat and hence into Arabia and Africa. The wealth gained in this
way and the proceeds of heavy taxation enabled Solomon to build his
palace and the First Temple in Jerusalem. There is nothing now
left of these monument:,-, unless one considers as Solomonic a small
piece of walling excavated in 1966' just south of the south-easter •-
ner of the Temple."

It is in this fashion that one gets a glimpse into ancient his-
tory. Pictorially and textually, there is intimate acquaintance with
the aid of the authoritative author and archaeologist about Qum-
ran and Dead Sea, King Herod and the Second Temple, Judea
in the subsequent period in Israel's history, Jerusalem's destruc-
tion and the revolts against Rome.

Christian interest in this important book becomes apparent with
a study of the history and architectural developments in the Byzan-
tine period (324-640). Where necessary, misunderstandings are cor-
rected. For example, in relation to Zodiac descriptions, in the 4th
Century, the author points out that "the ignorance of the Hebrew
mosaicist' is shown in the sign of Aquarius, which is depicted the
wrong way round, from left to right."
An important period in Holy Land history was affected by the
Crusades (1099-1291) and the record for church-, tower- and road-
building in these years is well covered in the Avi-Yonah story.
Then there is the Ottoman rule, 1516 to the 19th century, with
the Turkish buildings and the mosques that arose then; followed
by the 19th century and the mandatory period and the Zionist era
with the emergence of the state of Israel.
This is a thoroughly documented volume and its worth becomes
apparent while the reader is under the spell of the fascinating photos
and the splendid text.

