T1-II 'JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle cmnmencing
with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of E'nglish-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan
Press Association, National Editorial Association. Published every Friday by
The Jewl.sh News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield,
Michigan 48075.
Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing
Offices. Subscription $8 a year. Foreign $9.
Philip Slomovitz Carmi M. Slomovitz Charlotte Dubin Drew Lieberwitz
Editor and Publisher Business Manager City Editor Advertising Manager
Rosh Hashana Scriptural Selections
Pentateuchal portions: Thursday, Gen. 21:1-34, Num. 29:1-6; Fri-
day, Gen. 22:1-24, Num. 29:1-6.
Prophetical portions: Thursday, I Samuel 1:1-2:10; Friday, Jere-
miah 31:2-20.
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the third day of Tishre, 5734, the following scrip-
tural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Deut. 32:1-52. Prophetical portion, Hosea
14:2-10, Micah 7:18-20, Joel 2:15-27.
Fast of Gedaliah Scriptural Readings, Sunday
Pentateuchal portions, Exod. 32:11-14, 34:1-10. Prophetical por-
tion, Isaiah 55:6-56:8.
Candle lighting, Friday, Sept. 28, 1973, 7:04 p.m.
VOL. LXIV.
No. 3
Page Four
Septembet. 28, 1973
New Year Salutations of Hope
Every Rosh Hashana is marked by revivals of dedi-
catory pledges to faith, expressions of hope for renewal of
loyalties from all elements in Jewry and their more fervent
adherence to the principles embedded in Judaism.
These are natural, perennial recapitulations of prayer
and hope for renewal and continuation of community
strength. After all, as a community so many meet all too
seldom, and the New Year Day is such a good opportunity
to combine the pleadings for better days on a collective
basis.
Now the appeal is perhaps more urgent. We are a dif-
ferent community than we were two decades ago—even a
decade ago. We are fully assimilated into the American
community and are perhaps more American than most
Americans in our way of life, in our conservatism, in our
readiness to adopt the ways of our neighbors. Our names
have been altered. Our cuisines no longer differ from the
non-Jew. Kashrut is minimally observed, the Sabbath is
less sanctified, the horror over increased mixed marriages
is vanishing.
This is not an expression of panic. On Rosh Hashana
we must speak hopefully, and we shall. After all, there
has always been and there is a shearit Yisrael—a remnant
of Israel that observes, that holds fast to faith and keeps
the banners of loyalty fluttering.
Nevertheless, there is need for realism. There are more
skeptics than positivists, more doubters than devotees in
our ranks, especially among the youth.
Perhaps it has never been different. It is possible that
the indifference among the younger elements inevitably
sprouts forth when one ages a bit. A parent gets an urge
to give the child a Jewish education and to become an
affiliate of a synagogue in the interest of the emerging
new generation. That often leads the parent also to become
an activist in Jewish ranks.
Then there is the philanthropic factor. A concern over
Israel, an interest in a social service, the needs of im-
migrants from Russia, the cause of the aged and the im-
poverished—these and many other factors in a community's
obligations often bring back the straying to Jewish ranks.
That is not the issue. The basic factor for concern is to
keep the loyalties strong on a year-round basis for the sake
of the children. For a strong involvement, for a positive
affirmation of Jewish loyalties, there is need for a com-
plete appreciation of our historic role and for a thorough
adherence to our traditional legacies.
Serious duties devolve upon the educators and philos-
ophers in Jewish ranks to retain faith in Jewry. Often,
when it falters, it is anti-Semitism that revives courage
and loyalty. What is needed is sufficient strength from the
historic legacy itself to provide the strength for existence
as a people. Albert Einstein, who was himself a victim of
bigotry, once spoke out for respect to ourselves as a means
to gain the respect of others and he said: "Before we can
effectively combat anti-Semitism, we must first of all edu-
cate ourselves out of it, and out of the slave mentality which
it betokens. Only when we respect ourselves, can we win
the respect of others; or rather, the respect of others will
then come of itself."
It is not a question of fighting anti-Semitism but of
gaining, or regaining, our dignity that matters in retaining
self-respect as an entity. And the self-respect that is vital
to Jewish existence emerges as a challenge at this time,
when we think and speak in terms of self-testing at the
start of a New Year. Will we attain it? Its accomplishment
is the major hope as we usher in the year 5734. We pray
for its dignity and for recognition of the values of our her-
itage as we welcome the arrival of the New Year with salu-
tations of good wishes to the community of Israel.
Avalanche of Tests for American Jewry
All the energies of a strong community will be needed to counteract whatever dan-
gers stem from the oil interests and for the Arabian potentates who are utilizing threats
of oil curtailments to press demands for power on a worldwide scale. It is not the pres-
sure against Israel alone that is being utilizied in Saudi Arabia's warnings to the country
and to the West. Inherent in the procedure is the insistence upon domination of a posi-
tion that has been granted Faisal and others in the Arabian areas without preparation
for impending crises.
The energy crisis admittedly could have been avoided with resort to proper media.
Utilization of power from coal. resort to oil from Alaskan sources and other means of
providing energy could have clipped the wings of the Middle East monarchs who are en-
dangering the securities not of the United States alone but even more precariously those
of Western Europe. The neglect of a serious problem is inexcusable, and it will be even
more outrageous if it is permitted to continue.
It will be even more contemptible if it is permitted to emerge as a weapon against
Israel, as it is already being threatened. Not only is the emerged problem described as
a demand for even-handedness in the United States' handling of the Middle East situation,
but there are warnings that the developing matter will result in a revival of anti-Semitism.
These are two vital issues that are coming to the front as a New Year treat for
American Jewry. It's a danger that is coming home to roost—probably because those who
are considered as spokesmen in American leadership may have faltered in the preceding
months in handling the emerging situation.
In the first place, there has been a lack of firmness in tackling the so-called even-
handedness in the Middle East situation. Where are the knowledgeable representatives
to nail this claim down, once and for all, and to lead to an understanding of the truth of
the matter: that the vast American funds are being allocated primarily to the Arab na-
tions for military and other purposes? Israel buys defensive hardware and pays for it:
Israel's are purchases. Can't there be a clarification that will lead to an end to delusions?
The more shocking development, however, is the apparent threat that if Amer b
ican aid is continues for Israel and it aggravates the Arabs to a point of diminution of
oil supplies for this country, that it will be a cause of a revival of anti-Semitism. Are
we prepared to meet such nonsensical challenges? And if the danger becomes more real
than we would now admit, is there readiness to condemn it before it begins to sprout?
Reactionary elements have gained a measure of respectability on the American
scene. They were in evidence politically, they are heard in social spheres, they have ap-
peared at congressional hearings, they are menacing many of the welfare programs. Now
they are in the limelight again in one of the areas in which they frequently flourish: in
spreading anti-Semitism.
But it is not the anti-Semite alone who will capitalize on the Middle East issue. This
is where the Arab prejudice, the anti-Israel propaganda, can capitalize on hatred.
Many new problems are arising as a New Year begins. The anti-Semitic threat
may be a revival of hatred on a large scale, andto confront it may prove to be one of the
very serious challenges of the months ahead.
These problems have been tackled before, they will be confronted anew. What we
need is preparedness for all eventualities.