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Boris Smolar's
'Between You
... and Me'
Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, JTA
(Copyright 1973, JTA Inc.)
1974 OUTLOOK: Three major problems will preoccupy
the American Jewish community in 1974. They are: 1. Guard-
ing against energy crisis repercussions that could be damag-
ing to American Jews; 2. Raising maximum aid for Israel;
3. Stimulating greater interest in Jewish education which
has been on the decline during the last years.
The preoccupation over the possible utilization of the
energy crisis by anti-Semitic elements in this country is
on the minds of Jewish leaders. Efforts by anti-Semitic
groups to exploit the fuel shortage are already being made
in certain sections of the country. However, they are so
far ineffective. No attention, for instance, is being paid
by car owners to anti-Jewish stickers which anti-Semitic
elements are distributing at gasoline stations. On the con-
trary. Grumbling car owners are blaming the rulers of the
Arab oil countries for the shortage of gasoline. They are
also sharp in their criticism against the American oil com-
panies, accusing them of developing an oil shortage for the
sake of making greater profits.
With the quadrupling of oil prices by Arab rulers, it
now becomes clear to every thinking American that even
if Israel were to agree to withdraw its armed forces from
certain territories in Egypt and Syria, the Arab rulers
would not go back to their former prices on oil. Hence,
their excuse that they are reducing oil delivery to the
United States and other democratic industrial countries
to force Israel's withdrawal is now beginning to be taken
by many Americans as nothing but a camouflage for their
greediness.
American experts noW estimate that with the present
quadrupling of the prices on their oil, the feudal sheikhs
of the Arab oil countries will have an income of more
than one billion dollars a month. They also predict that
by the time the United States becomes independent of Arab
oil—in 1980—the Arab rulers will have amassed $80,000,000,000
This is a sum sufficient to enable them to acquire
controlling interest in numerous major industrial enter-
prises in this country as well as in England, France, West
Germany and other European countries. This would mean
that they will emerge as a third world power, next to the
United States and the Soviet Union.
AMERICAN MOODS: In Washington, there is quite an
awareness of the potential danger of the Arab rulers of
the oil countries to the United States and the entire demo-
cratic world. The Arab "weapon" of cutting oil supply to
democratic countries is therefore not looked upon as a
"weapon" aimed to force the withdrawal of Israelis from
Suez and Golan Heights areas, but as a clear test of power
against all the highly industrialized civilized countries in
the world.
Expression to this view was given by Congress when it
voted now $2,200,000,000 credits to Israel just when Arab
rulers seek to force the United States to coerce Israel.
This move by the Congress is a clear answer to the Arabs
as to how the American people stand toward their oil
blackmail.
Jewish organizations feel that they must remain on
the alert this winter lest the anti-Semitic elements in this
country, financed by Arab funds, exploit the inconveni-
ences caused by the fuel shortage to develop their now in-
effective propaganda against Israel and American Jewry.
Strategy to this effect is now -being worked out by a "think
tank" composed jointly by representatives of the major
Jewish organizations.
THE JEWISH SCENE: The other major task faced by
the American Jewish community in 1974, is to raise
$900,000,000 of which $750,000,000 is to go for Israel and
the remainder for Jewish needs in this country. With
$400,000,000 already raised even before the 1974 year has
started raising the other $500,000,000 is no smalLtask.
The third major task which will preoccupy American
Jewish leadership in 1974—to stimulate greater interest in
Jewish education—is one on which maximum action will
be needed. If nothing extraordinary will be done to bring
Jewish education closer in the hearts of American Jewry,
the danger exists that within a short time the basis for
Jewish identity will weaken considerably. The year 1974
is therefore looked upon as a crucial year in Jewish edu:
cation.
ws-wwwwwifyr...
Seminary May Move From NYC
NEW YORK — Within the
next few months, officials of
the Jewish Theological Semi-
nary will decide whether to
stay in the Morningside
Heights section of Manhat-
tan, its home for some 70
years.
Today, legal maneuvering
resumes in which the semi-
nary will try to get the civil
court to issue eviction war-
rants against four tenants of
adjoining apartment build-
ings owned by the seminary.
The tenants block construc-
tion of a 12-story building to
house a new library, class-
rooms and offices of the
seminary, seriously cramped
for space.
Seminary officials say the
institution will remain in
Morningside Heights only if
there are assurances that
building can begin soon. The
city has approved construc-
tion plans, but the legal prob-
lems raised by the remain-
ing tenants could drag the
case out for another year or
two.
The seminary, which has
studied some 30 possible re-
location sites in and out of
the city, is unwilling to wait
another year or two. Observ-
ers also claim that the fear
of crime in Morningside
Heights is a factor in the
considered move.
A respected professor at
neighboring Columbia Uni-
versity was murdered 15
months ago. Last August, a
seminary professor was
stabbed.
In a poll last year, 75 per
cent of the rabbinical stu-
First Homosexual
Synagogue in NY
Has Hanuka Rites
NEW YORK—Beth Simhat
Torah. "The House of Joy,"
held its first Hanuka service
Sunday as 95 men and four
women gathered at this city's
first homosexual synagogue.
The congregation. which
meets in the Church of the
'Beloved Disciple. was formed
about 10 months ago with
only 10 members. There are
no rabbis to lead the congre-
gation, but members who
serve in a "rabbinical"
capacity. During the service,
the members wear yarmul-
kas and read from a mimeo-
graphed prayer book.
The first homosexual syna-
gogue. Temple Beth Chayim
Chadashim. "The House of
New Light," was formed in
Los Angeles in March 1972.
Its congregation. which num-
bers around 70, has petitioned
the Union of American He-
brew Congregations (UAHC),
the Reform body, for mem-
bership.
If the petition is approved,
the congregation would re•
ceive formal recognition
from the UAHC and the
services of an ordained
rabbi. Rabbi Alexander M.
Schindler, president of the
UAHC, said recently he ap-
Standing Erect Before the World
There are many advant- er, better human beings and proved the petition, as long
as the congregation remain-
ages which Jews may derive more valuable citizens.
from a knowledge and love
But one service Judaism ed open to anyone who
wanted to join.
of Judaism. It can give them
a high, clear religious faith.
It can supply them with a
system of ethical values, per-
sonal and social, idealistic
and practical at the same
time. It can grace their lives
with poetic observances and
with the treasures of an an-
cient tradition. It can make
them, in, sum, nobler, strong-
performs for Jews which is
Members of Beth Simhat
often overlooked: it is the
first function of a human be- Torah are not as eager to
ing to respect himself, to apply for formal recognition,
stand erect and foursquare however. According to one
before the world, to injure of the congregation's "rab-
none, to help all, but to al- binical" leaders, the groups
low none to injure him—to needs "our own identity
be in sum, a man.—Milton realized before we make
Steinberg, in "A Believing serious overtures to another
Jew."
group."
dents said they wanted the
seminary to relocate because
of the "lack of community"
in the present locale. But
most of the faculty members,
including those who no
longer live in the neighbor-
hood, said they want the
seminary to remain where it
is.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
10—Friday, Dec. 28, 1973
Cohen told the New York
Times. "We have deep roots
here and we have built a
precious relationship with
Columbia. But we have to do
what's best for the 'semi-
nary."
NEW CADILLAC?
UY OR LEASE FROM
So does Dr. Gerson Cohen,
seminary chancellor, who
notes the close ties between
his institution and nearby
Columbia, as well as other
schools of higher learning in
the area of 122nd St. and
Broadway.
"This is our home," Dr.
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