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. 48075.
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PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 21st day of Tamuz, 5733„ the following scriptural selections
will be rend in our sunnanoues:
Pentateuchal portion, Num. 25:10-30:1. Prophetical portion, Jeremiah 1:1-2:3.
Candle lighting, Friday, July 20. 8:47 p.m.
VOL. LXIII. No. 19
Page Four
July 20, 1973
Must Ratify Genocide Convention
Already approved by 75 nations, including
major powers like the Soviet Union and many
of the lesser countries like Israel, the United
Nations Genocide Convention has not yet been
ratified by the United States. While the latest
report is that 60 U.S. senators have pledged
to support it, it is expected that there will
be a filibuster, led by Senators Sam Ervin
and James Allen, when the measure comes
up for action in the U.S. Senate in late
August.
United Nations Security Council session in Panama
City, at which America was forced to use the veto
to prevent passage of a resolution challenging our
clear and legal title to the Canal Zone, are indicative
of the kind of treatment we can expect at the hands
of "non-partisan" international bodies. If possible,
the World Court, in which the Genocide Convention
places such confidence — and such power — has
proven itself to be even less responsible than the
United Nations. It is a measure of the strange times
in which we live that the United States Senate can
give serious thought to the passage of a document
such as the Genocide Convention. The Senate must
think again; the treaty must not pass."
From Dec. 9, 1948, when the United Na-
tions adopted the Genocide Convention which
was fathered by the late Prof. Raphael Lem-
kin as a step towards preventing the recur-
rence of the Nazi inhumanities, there has
been increasing support for the effort to de-
clare it an international crime to aim at the
destruction of national, ethnic, racial or re-
ligious groups.
Such arguments have already been refuted.
They represent the negation to the most pro-
gressive efforts to counteract the bigotries
that have caused the world tragedies of the
1930s and 1940s.
The universal appeal in support of the
Genocide Convention is recognizable in the
fact that it aims at the defense of all peoples.
Fathered by a Jewish idealist, it is not aimed
at defending Jews alone but at providing
security for the existence of all peoples and
their religious identifications.
Nevertheless, there are elements that have
become' concerned lest this Convention should
infringe upon domestic sovereignty — in the
case of the United States in matters involving
blacks and Indians; that the Convention might
give undue power to the federal government
in relation to state's rights; or that local of-
ficials could be prosecuted for genocidal
guilts.
These arguments have been refuted, and
authoritative declarations., by Senator Jacob.
Javits, former Supreme Court Justice Arthur
Goldberg and other responsible Americans
have indicated that action against genocide
is a matter of international concern, that
there are no threats to states' rights; that,
contrary to one of the objections raised by
Senator Ervin, denial of adequate welfare
benefits is not covered, in the Genocide Con-
vention provisions.
'Nevertheless, the fears that have been
engendered by misinterpretations of the UN
Convention's aims have bolstered an opposi-
tion that now includes a Jewish group. In the
ultra-rightist magazine "Ideas," which is de-
scribed as "a journal of contemporary Jewish
thought," the editor goes along with the
American Bar Association whose slim major-
ity in opposition to the Genocide 'Convention
— based primarily on the fear that some
foreign power might influence American ac-
tion — seems to have influenced the U.S.
Senate in the last 25 years. The editor of
"Ideas" seems to have panicked over the pos-
sibility that the Genocide Convention might
gain a 76th-nation supporter in the United
States, and he concluded his opposition edi-
torial by stating:
"The Genocide Convention is surely one of the
most ill-conceived and incompetently drawn treaties
ever to see the light of a Washington day. Its pas-
sage by the Senate would be a disaster. At best, it
could prove a constant source of embarrassment
and inconvenience to the United States; at worst,
it could — and does — seriously compromise Ameri-
can sovereignty and the rights of American citizens
to be tried in our own courts with full Constitutional
guarantees. The recent farcical carryings-on at the
A thorough study of the entire Genocide
Convention issue has been made for the
Institute for Jewish Policy Planning and Re-
search of the Synagogue Council of America
by Anne M. Foss of the staff of the leadership
Conference on Civil Rights and her conclu-
sions merit serious consideration. She states:
"Perhaps because the pros and cons of the issue
of American ratification are complex — and also
because the issue is largely symbolic as much as
practical in terms of current implementation — the
question has not really been called until now. The
Convention is the product of a post-war idealism
about the prospects for world peace and under-
standing through formal international organizations,
an optimism which has largely lost currency in the
subsequent period of Cold-War tension, Korea and
Vietnam, in which world organization was virtually
helpless. Currently, however, perhaps bolstered' by
a new spirit of East-West detente, there is signifi-
cant, real political interest in deciding the issue. The
fact that it is symbolic — American refutation of the
legitimacy of any attempt ever again to perpetrate
a Holocaust — should not diminish the interest of
American Jews in resolving the question of how to
reject genocide. It may be that the specific instru-
ment of the Genocide Convention is not the best or
ideal method of rejecting genocide, as its opponents
contend. But it is the instrument now on the table.
Seventy-five nations — all the other major powers,
and most of the world's democracies, including
Israel — have already approved it; it is clear, more-
over, that American ratification would add strength
to its credibility.
"The history of the Jews is replete with incidents
of • persecution and victories over persecution. But
the events of World War II reinforce the tentative
quality of some of those victories. The full moral
commitment of the world's nations, including the
United States and the Soviet Union, to prevention
and punishment of genocidal acts in the future might
just provide some security that there will be no
repetition. This possibility alone makes the issue of
American ratification of the Convention worthy of
serious consideration by American Jewry."
While a small group of Jews, under in-
fluence from the regrettable position taken
by the American Bar Association — an atti-
tude that is fast losing ground — is opposing
the most important proposals for humanitar-
ianism to result from the Nazi Holocaust, the
worldwide position is clear. The Genocide
Convention should and can be ratified by the
U.S. Senate. But the views of humanitarians
must be heard. The Jewish voice must be
loud in the matter. The coming month's de-
bate on the subject in the Senate must be
preceded by public expressions to induce our
representatives in our highest legislative body
to recognize the validity of this country's
going along with 75 other nations in affirm-
ing that anything akin to the Holocaust must
be prevented. Senate action for ratification of
the Genocide Convention will make such a
contribution to human rights on an inter-
national scale.
•
16th Century Mystic
Dramatic Story of Holy Ari,
Yitzhak Luria, Told in Novel
Last year, an important anniversary was marked in Israel. It
was the 400th year of the death of Yitzhak Luria. He became known
and has been revered since 1572, when he passed away at the age
of 38, as the Holy Ari. He was the Lion of Safed, where he inspired
the spiritual forces who created a heritage for sanctity.
Shalom Ben-Chorin, a well known Israeli journalist, authored
the mystic novel about. the Ari under the title "Hear, 0 Israel. - It
was published in Jerusalem by Marshal Publications. It re-creates
the life story of the saintly man who brought messages of hope to
the Jewish people.
Luria was an inspirational force in the Kabala movement, in
the mystic idea which then developed into powerful media of inspira-
tion for Jews, and the idealism stemmed from Safed where Luria
taught, studied, labored to raise the spirit of his people.
He became closely allied with Joseph Caro, the author of the
Shulhan Arukh. It started with a feud between the two, but Caro soon
recognized the spirituality of Luria and their joint efforts were assured.
This was in the time of the false messiah, Solomon Molcho,
who was revered by Luria, whose message was believed to be timely
and sainted.
The events of that period in history thus are reflected in the
Ari story, and Luria's indelible mark on history, religious traditions,
the kabalistic factors, are related forcefully and with splendor in the
Ben-Chorin novel.
The story commences with the devotionalism of Luria's parents
from whom he inherited the vision of better days for his people
and the elder Luria left his legacy in the upbringing of a spiritual
genius who is revered unto the present, after a 400-year span. ,
The spiritual-cultural giants of that era pass in review in the
novel on the life and activities of Yitzhak Luria. The hordes of fol-
lowers who came to Safed to learn from Luria, to study with him and
to be inspired by him, included some of the great names—Rabbi
Moses Alspech, Rabbi Abraham Halevi Beruchim, Rabbi Joseph Ha-
Maarabi Ibn Tabut, Elijah Falcon, Samuel di Uceda and many others.
A major role in the saintly developments was by Rabbi Moses
Cordovero.
This dramatic and moving novel is a combination of history and
biography, a review of noteworthy events of an important period in
kabalistic history.
The author, Shalom Ben-Chorin, born in Germany in 1913, has
lived in Jerusalem since 1935. His several books deal with the history
of the period of the Second Temple. For his life's literary work he has
been awarded the Leo Baeck Prize by the Central Council of Jews
from Germany.
'East Side, West Side'
New York: Pictorially Narrated
For young readers ; who love good stories and realistic 'pictorial
descriptions, M. Sasek's "This is New York," a Collier-Macmillan paper-
back, will be ideal for reading or to be read to.
An abridged version of "East Side, West Side, and all around the
town—This is New York," the Sasek story starts with the purchase of
New York, for $24 in housewares, from the Indians. Then come the
many New York features—the Statue of Liberty, the big store, Macy's.
and the smallest, the pushcart; the UN and the Empire State buildings
—and so much more!
The author should have known better than to say that the Basar
Kasher Hebrew sign over the kosher butcher shop was Yiddish. But
the inevitable factor in viewing the East Side of New York is thus well
represented.
The good illustrations, the selection of the most noteworthy features
and the proper guidelines make the Sasek picture story well worth
using for the very young children who hear about New York and
need just this type of introduction to the big city.