Purely Commentary
New Jewish Center and Creative Continuity . ..Golda Meir's
Future and the Prophecy of Isaiah . . . President Katzir's
Resort to Scripture and Defense and Building in Nehemiah
By Philip
Slomovitz
Goal for Creativity
Hope for High Goals in New Jewish Center . • • Nostalgia Mingled With stay where they are and to help
In the process of planning construc-
tion of a new Jewish Center in what
a number of years ago would have
been considered far-off territory, the
concern of all factions in our midst
will be required to assure continuity
for one of the most important func-
tions for a wholesome community.
For a decade and a half, the Jewish
Center located in Detroit was head-
quarters for many significant events.
Allied Jewish Campaign dinners, Book
Fairs, lectures offered trilingually and
other events were conducted in the
location soon to be abandoned.
In the present Center, high stand-
ards were set for- Jewish program-
ing. Detroit's affiliate of the Jewish
Welfare Board earned recognition for
the most impressive cultural events
and for practical efforts in advancing
studies in the Hebrew language
through the recognized Ulpan meth-
ods.
Activities of movements to assist in
tasks in behalf of mentally retarded
children were sponsored with the
Center's encouragement.
These are functions that demand
uninterrupted attention, and for their
Golda Meir — She Sprints Before She Re-Enters the Race
Will Golda Meir remain as the head of
the memshala? She has made many con-
flicting statements, yet it is known that
her party wishes to avert a conflict, that
Mapai desires to keep Moshe Dayan out
of the prime ministership, and that skep-
ticism over the powerful role of Pinhas
Sapir remains a factor in the Israeli polit-
ical maneuvers.
All indications are that Golda will re-
main in power—because she will thus
eliminate both Moshe and Pinhas — and
that American Jews who are enamored
with her will be as happy as the over-
whelming majority of Israelis who have
indicated their preference or the 75-year-
old lady.
Yet many still are asking: "Will Golda
run?" Therefore we revive a cartoon by
Ze'ev in the Hebrew daily Haaretz which
I'm definitely not going to run."
was captioned: "I'm definitely not going
Haaretz portrays his disbelief.
to run." And even her doctors have said: Ze'ev
She is a good sprinter!
A delightful anecdote was related about Golda by Jerome J. Shestack,
president of the Jewish Publication Society of America, in his address at the
society's annual meeting.
At the recent Jerusalem International Book Fair in which JPS participated
with an exhibition of its books, Shestack presented the first copy of the beautifully
illustrated Book of Isaiah in its revised translation to Prime Minister Meir.
Shestack told the JPS board of directors, describing his conversation
with Mrs. Meir: "I noted that while there were many prophesies of Isaiah which
we hoped would be fulfilled, there was one that gave me pause. When asked by
Mrs. Meir which one, I pointed to chapter 10, verse 2: 'Speak tenderly . . . and declare
to her . . . That her term of service is over.' Mrs. Meir was much amused and also
most gracious in welcoming the JPS to Israel."
Puzzles: Ghost Like . . . Search for Realities
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Long ago—before the Herzlian period in Zionism—
Leo Pinker, in his essay "Auto-Emancipation" which had
such a powerful effect on subsequent Jewish activities
through the movement for national rebirth, explained how
Jews were regarded as myths, mirages, ghosts.
When one reads some of the comments on present-day
Israel, the thought occurs: are we still the ghosts of hu-
manity?
Note, for example, the. following editorial comment
(written in the first person, apparently by the editor), in
th leading article in "A Spectator's Notebook," in the
London Spectator:
Considering the courage and tenacity with which the state of
Israel has survived the first 25 years of its modern life—it cele-
brates its birthday this week—it is amazing that the diaspora last-
ed as long as it 'did. The Jews were driven away from Jerusalem
around about 70 CE, and althougn muoh later a handful crept back,
Jewry preserved itself for the subsequent 1,850 or so years in alien,
largely European soils. For a race, a religion and a culturg to have
lated so long without a territory of its own su4.gests a determina-
tion to survive, an enormous will to• live. certainly, but it also
suggests an 'acquiescence in foreign rule. It is odd that a people,
whose will to survive with its ancient traditions more or less intact
enabled it to put up with centuries of persecution and humiliation,
should suddenly, this century, become assertive and confident, and,
having avoided utter extermination at the hands of Hitler's Ger-
many, finally re-established itself in Palestine. Very odd indeed,
whether or not one takes the view that it was all God's doing.
The martial vigor of the state of Israel is its most surprising
attribute; its pleasantest, for me at any rate, is the way you can
talk to Isiaelis without making allowances and without feeling
that you should be making them. The state of Israel is in this, as
in many other regards, very much a civilized western European
state, which happens to be oddly sited.
KoSher for tourists
It may be this, helped doubtless by its splendid climate,
natural beauty and historical reverberations, which makes it such
a pleasure to visit. Not surprisingly, Israel's tourists are over-
whelmi•gly Jewish; but in my experience, very many Israelis pre-
fer non-Jewish visitors. American Jews. in particular, are unpopu-
lar or were the last time I was there. They carried on as though
they owned the place; and they also would insist that the locals,
as well as themselves and other visitors; observe strict kosher
rules which, back in the States. they would not dream of keeping
to. This is not a case of when in Rome do as the the Romans,
but of when in Rome see to it that everybody does as you think
the Romans should be doing. There is consequently a good deal
of anti-American-Semitism in Israel. Goy Englishmen are much
preferred. In Israel one does not think of the Israelis as Jews
but as Israelis. They are very like the Palestinians, and I hope
that in the next 25 years of Israel, an accommodation with the
Palestinians will be reached.
2—Friday, June 8, 1973
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
purposes the entire community must
aid in assuring success for the new
structure which, it is assured, will be
available for communal use in 1975.
The change in location for the Cen-
ter will create nostalgia for the build-
ers of former Center buildings. It also
will serve to arouse conflicting
t h o u g h t s regarding neighborhood
changes. These have been the result
of deplorable developments that are,
akin to experiences on a national
scale. Once again, there emerges a
hope that integration will become a
reality, that Americans will settle to
build wholesome environmental atmo-
spheres to the elimination of tensions
among races and creeds.
The new Center is a result of a
great need. It also carries with it the
hopes for a good future for the youth
as well as the adults who are to bene-
fit from it.
We live in hope, and a new Center
revives an aspiration for high goals
to be attained by a great community—
for the benefit of all the democratical-
ly 'minded and libertarian-stimulated
in our midst.
President Katzir and the Lesson From the Prophet Nehemiah
Like his predecessors, Israel's fourth president, Prof. Ephraim Katzir (Kat-
chalsky) knows and utilizes Scripture in quest for guidance in his new high
In his speech at the swearing-in ceremony, May 24, he said "as long as peace
not arrived, we shall be forced to act as in the days of Nehemiah—the sword in utie
hand, the plowshare in the other . . . " He was referring to Nehemiah 4:9-12:
8
"And it came to pass, when our enemies
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heard that it was known unto us, and God had
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turned all of us to the wall, every one unto his
work and it came to pass froth that time forth,
that half of my servants wrought in the work
and half of them held the spears, the shields,
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and the bows, and the coats of mail; and
the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
• •
They that builded the wall and they that bore
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burdens laded themselves, every one with one
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of his hands wrought in the work, and with
the other held his weapon; and the builders,
every one had his sword girded 'by his side,
and so builded."
•■••••■■•••
•--N
President Katzir had good reason to speak
in terms of self-defense and protection for his
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nation. In his inaugural speech he quoted his
rother, Prof. Aharon Katzir-Katchalsky, who
brother,
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among those killed in the Lod Airport
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massacre, who had said "There is no existence
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for us without the moral and humane values that
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are the very foundation of the state of Israel."
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Self-defense as a moral right and the high prim-
ciples of prophetic teachings continue to moti-
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vate Israel's heads of state.
An interesting period is to be anticipated under the presidency of Prof.
Katzir. He is concerned with defense and, like his predecessors, he is dedicated to
the advancement of Israel's spiritual-cultural progress.
Upon assuming office he said something very interesting. "My brother
Aharon," he said, "used to quote from Genesis, that the tree from which Adam
and Eve shouldn't have eaten was of both good and evil; the more we eat, the
deeper our knowledge of both good and evil. But we can't stop our search for
knowledge, we must hope that we will learn to use it only for the good."
From such a dedication, Israel can expect only the best.
It needs to be remembered that the anniversary of the founda-
tion of Israel is also the anniversary of the dispossession of the
Palestinians. In the long run Israel must come to terms with the
Arabs: in the long run, time is not on Israel's side. This is realized
well enough 'by most sensible Israelis (and very many Israelis are
sensible), and I think that within a decade or so,---certainly fn
less than a generation—a more imaginative, less doctrinaire policy
will be forced upon Israel's haw-ks by its doves.
We don't view this with anger or resentment. It is just
that we are puzzled that realities are treated as mysteries.
Neither do we object to the kashrut angle. As a
matter of fact, this comment about the kashered tourists
should serve as advice to the guilty to be more considerate
of existing conditions and human values among differing
communities. But insofar as the London Spectator is in-
volved, why didn't the editor also take into consideration
that there are many elements in both the Israeli and
American Jewish communities and that generalizing is a
bit awkward?
In any event, the discussions, even when they irk,
are interesting. Life is more fully energized—and also
amused—in this fashion.
Arabs in Histadrut . . . Free to Travel
There is always the regrettable need to correct mis-
conceptions. Those who charge Israel with cruelties fail
to acknowledge that Arabs are free to travel to and from
Israel, that 200,000 from Arab countries toured Israel
last year—and there'll be more this year, who will be at
liberty to visit the land without restrictions.
Has a single Jew been known to travel to and from
Israel to Arab lands as a Jew, without danger to his life?
Also: there is bias in an article by Nicholas von Hoff-
man in the Washington Post. It charged that Arabs were
not permitted to become members of Histadrut. Some
were, in truth, members for many years, and henceforth
all Arabs desiring to join the Israel Labor Federation will
have that right. Histadrut supported this decision over-
whelmingly.
Will there be an end to accusations that stand in the
path of peace?
Henry Ford II put it well in his speech in Tel Aviv
last week when he said: "If the nations of the Middle
East can find a way to compromise their differences, make
peace and work together, they will have an opportunity
to raise the standard of living and improve the quality
of life for all their people."
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7■
Only by sitting together to make such a peace will
this panacea be possible.
5,
* *
When UN Partition Resolution Needed Support
During the celebration of Israel's 25th anniversary, it
was natural for old-timers to reminisce, for those who
were at the United Nations during the 1947 and 1948 ses-
sions to recall experiences while the struggles were ex-
periences prior to Israel's rebirth and while the combined
armies of the Arab states were being defeated by the
poorly armed little Israeli state.
Boris Smolar, our distinguished columnist, the editor
emeritus of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, has written
about a midnight call he received from Moshe Sharett
(then Shertok) asking that he intercede with a promi-
nent Jew (he does not name him) who had influence with
the Latin American countries. Smolar gave the advice
that was needed to alert the person whose help was need-
ed in support of the pending UN Partition Resolution;
who was not a Zionist, who came through with glowing
colors; as a result of which General Carlos Romulo, chief
Philippines delegate, gave his unstinting aid for Israel's
redemption.
It's an interesting story, even if the man invd,
is not named. It is possible, however, to name names in
major experiences. This commentator, on the day the
Partition Resolution was adopted, was with a group of
UN correspondents who were having a hearty chat with
the late Bernard Baruch.
He had just returned from a fishing trip with the
Russian delegate to the UN, Andre Gromyko, whose
speech in support of the Zionist aims was one of the most
powerful heard at the UN.
Baruch was cheerful. He exuded confidence. The
fact was that he had enlisted some Latin American aid
in support of the Partition Resolution. He did not stay for
the UN vote that came up several hours after our chat
with him. He was quite certain of success for the Israel-
to-be on that day of Nov. 29, 1947.
There were several such experiences—involving Jews
who were not Zionists but who acquired a sense of justice
when they were needed.
Reminiscing helps fortify and corroborate history, so
long as the reminiscers are enouraged not to forget.