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 Association.
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
IT'S AU. MINE FAMI LY
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 29th day of Av, 5734, the following scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Deut. 11:26-16:17. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 54:11-55:5.
Rosh Hodesh Elul Torah Readings, Sunday and Monday, Num. 28:15.
Candle lighting, Friday, Aug. 16, 8:13 p.m.
VOL. LXV, No. 23
Page Four
August 16, 1974
End of Sham, Emergence of Integrity
The Great American Tragedy was cli- that is represented by the similar, perhaps
maxed so dramatically that this generation even more effective, friendship President
will long remember its impact, its horrifying Gerald Ford has for Zionism and for Israel.
genesis, the emerging hope that the end will This policy of justice for the Jew and for Is-
justify the pride all Americang take in our rael has deepfelt appreciation in Jewish ranks.
traditional approaches to just democratic so-
The aftermath of the national tragedy that
lutions of all evils.
affected all Americans must also give new
This nation has been dragged through emphasis to the values of a free and inde-
muddied waters. The chief executive's long pendent press.
political career was filled with as much an-
It is the fearlessness of the major news-
athema as the positive achievements, and the
closing years of his services have been marred papers of this country, the desire of dedi-
by despicable. acts for which so many mem- cated reporters to arrive at the truth, that
bers of his official family are being punished. brought to light the conspiracy against polit-
Now the resigned president has punished ical honesty. It is a strong press that seems
to be putting an end to power-seeking and
himself.
What the messy Watergate case did was domination by cliques drunk with the powers
to offer a lesson in ethics and poltical moral- attained by overwhelming votes cast by de-
luded citizens who expected and should have
ity.
A nation sickened by what had occurred received the highest duties by elected officials.
A return to ethical practices, respect for
now demands that the great values of legal-
ism and morality shall never again be abused. the electorate, strict adherence to honest pol-
What has occurred was a disrespect for itics—these are lessons never to be forgotten,
even if some have to learn them anew as a
the electorate.
It all stemmed from abuse of power, from result of the Great Tragedy.
Prayerfully, confidently, all Americans
a group so drunk with a desire to dominate
that its stupidities overwhelmed common look forward to the dawning of a new day
for this nation.
sense.
The former president, as head of the gov-
A nation whose genius -is rooted in normal
ernment, admittedly bore responsibility for political evolutionary practices, whose trage-
outrageous performances.' The punishment dies are borne with as much courage as the
was due and appropriate.
greatest joys; a people that can change gov-
_ Richard M. Nixon will be remembered as ernments constitutionally rather than through
a staunch friend of Israel. Let it be recorded military coups—such a folk can feel heartened
that his friendship indeed coincided with an that its destiny is secure. This is one of the
established American policy, 'rooted in Amer- great lessons of the events of the past two
ica's vital role in the Middle East, where pro- years.
tection for a deniocratic state whose rebirth
To have inherited such traditions is an
was backed by the international action of the assurance of the support President Ford is
United Nations, needed the guarantee of certain to receive from constituents with
security.
honor and strength of character.
The American policy of defensive action
With pledges of loyalty to President Ford,
for Israel had and continues to have the over- a new faith will hopefully be kindled in re-
whelming support of both houses of Congress. pudiation of those who were rejected for
The gratitude to Mr: Nixon for his friendship striving to be above the law and in tribute
is, therefore, a link with the appreciation the to the new chief executive whose integrity
Jewish people has for the sense of justice guarantees an abiding lawfulness inherent in
rooted in Americanism.
a great democracy. The shams are rejected,
It is this root — the-support for Israel of the highest principles of justice again are
most Americans and of a friendly Congress— the objectives of the American heritage.
•
New Goal for Black-Jewish Relationships
An important step was taken recently, ly to the need for ethical rather than ethnic
in San Francisco, at the 64th annual conven- considerations of mutual accord.
This is a pragmatic view and if both sides
tion of the National Urban League, in the
direction of good racial relations and in re- can sit together, and jointly arrive at cooper-
establishing the traditional friendships be- ative methods of avoiding prejudices, danaer-
tween Jews and the black community.
ous confrontations could be avoided and bthe
In an address of major significance to American way of life, with benefit from the
Jewry, to •the blacks and to the entire country great Jewish ethical teachings, can, indeed,
—since the best racial relations among all' recreate the tradition for neighborliness, com-
citizens are vital to good neighborliness in munal friendships and common sense.
this country—the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, pres-
With faith in the American principles of
ident of Operation PUSH—People United to fair play, the issues that have plagued the
Save Humanity—called upon black and Jew- white and black communities in recent years
ish leaders "to resume our relationship."
—all, it is true, stemming from the sin to-
There was realism in the Rev. Jackson's wards the oppressed — there is justified
approach to the serious rifts that have been reason to believe that the Rev. Jackson will
evident in the two communities whose have, many fellow blacks in the ranks of his
friendly relations have symbolized the high- seekers of cooperation. Just as Jewish striv-
est idealism in American justice and fair ing for fairness must multiply, the oppres-
play. Recognizing the difficulties that have sions must end entirely, and the rifts among
resulted from the approaches to "affirmative citizens must not be tolerated.
action" which has created the threat of a
There can be only agreement with the
quota system that i's judged as endangering Rev. Jackson's assertion that "there is much
the Jewish position in universities and in in- to be gained by being together." Let that be
dustries, the black leader pointed dramatical- the motto for all Americtns.
AMMIMM
Ork
'Peace in Jewish Tradition'
Defined in Hirsch's Study
Rabbi Richard G. Hirsch selected an excellent period in history
for the publication of "Thy Most Precious Gift—Peace in Jewish
Tradition." The new 90-page paperback published by the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations covers the subject of shalom his-
torically, in the teachings of the Prophets, in the experiences of the
Jewish people.
Rabbi Hirsch is pragmatic. He deals with the ideals and with the
realities of the subject as it emanates from the story of the Jewish
people. He discusses "Criteria for Warfare Today," and touches upon-
"The Obligatory War" as well as upon "The Optional War." He traces
the ethical and does not ignore the inevitables of present-day Israel.
He makes a reference to the Midrash (Deuteronomy Rabbah)
which asserts:
"The greatness of peace can be gauged from the fact that, even
when dealing with war upon which one enters with sword and spear,
God said: 'When you go to make war, begin with proclaiming peace.' "
There are- defensive wars but the basic ideal prevails in Jewish
teachings, as Rabbi Hirsch affirms: "War and its instruments are con-
demned ,throughout the Bible. God Himself is pictured as despising
war." Thereupon Rabbi Hirsch quotes:
And I will break the bow and the sword and the battle
out of the land,
And will make them to lie down safely.—Hosea 2:20
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
He burneth the chariots in the fire.—Psalms 46:10
There is a qublation from Midrash Torah, Hillthot Rotzeakh that
emphasizes a basic Jewish ideal:
"If one is able to save a victim at the cost of only a limb of the
pursuer and does not take the trouble to do so, but saves the victim
at the cost of the pursuer's life by killing him, he is deemed a shedder
of _blood and he deserves to be put to death. He may not, howevr -
be put to death by the court because his true intention was to sc
life, he must be punished rather than put to death."
"The same reasoning," Rabbi Hirsch adds, "applies in the in-
stance of a person who is pursued and kills the pursuer, when maim-
ing a limb might have sufficed."
A vast area relating to the Jewish ideal of peace and the pur-
suance of it is covered in this volume.
In a foreword to the booklet, Albert Vorspan, vice president of
the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and director of the
commission on social action, states that "never has there been a
better moment to examine the Jewish teachings on peace" following
the fourth bloody war Israel has had to fight. Rabbi Hirsch's "prob-
ing of the rich vein of Jewish ethics;" Vorspan wrote, "helps to il-
luminate the human condition and to remind us, once again, that,
while we are part of the problem, we are also part of the solution."
Rabbi Hirsch, whose home is presently in Jerusalem where he is
the director of the World Union for, Progressive Judaism, has made
a valuable contribution to the study of peace movements with "Thy
Most Precious Gift."