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Anti-Semitism Raises Its Hoary Head Again to Make Jews tl he Scapegoat
An old canard—Blame the Jew!— may
be raising its ugly image again.
It may be the old story repeated: Blame
the Jew for Communism, Socialism, Capi-
talism.
If the Jew favors a home for the home-
less, he is an imperialist. When he adheres
to an established human rights regulation
of a person's justification to choose his
home, and therefore to have the right to
emigrate from persecution, he is interfer-
ing in the internal affairs of • a sovereign
state.
If the Jew accepts a place in govern-
ment, having been chosen for it on his
merits, he is suspected of being one of the
dominating Elders of Zion.
Are these poisonous experiences to be
repeated?
Is there a revival of vile anti-Semitism?
If there is such a new development in
civilized communities, then the Jew must
be prepared to revive his own methods of
overcoming the impending dangers by stif-
fening his resistance.
Views expressed in many quarters in
the past few days seem to encourage blame
upon the Jew for the Russian rejection of
the trade agreement with the United States.
The reiterated emphasis is that the USSR
is justified in condemning action by the
U.S. Congress in making the right to emi-
grate a condition for Most Favored Nation
status for the Soviet Union. Emphasis in
news and editorial comments is on the Jews
seeking the right to emigrate from Russia.
The fact is that Jews are not alone in such
desires, that Ukrainians, Lithuanians and
others ask the same rights.
The truth is that a dissident element in
Russia, a protesting academic community,
is demanding equalities denied to them.
The many Russian intellectuals who are
supporting free emigration rights have
earned a voice in the quest for justice. This
is the principle that motivated the action
of the U.S. Congress.
But the Jews are the targets, in spite of
the fact that a Jew, Secretary of State
Henry A. Kissinger, battles in defense of
the Russian position.
Then there is the energy problem. Is-
rael is under attack, the destruction of a
tiny Jewish state is the aim of the oil
magnates. But the entire world is endan-
gered by the Arabs' greed. But the Jew
is available as the subject sought for at-
tack. The sensible know the real danger,
the seekers for lines of least resistance to
a world menace find it easier to have a
scapegoat.
The historic scapegoat is on hand:
Blame the Jew say the panicked who find
it so easy to reconstruct the anti-Semitic
farce.
There were years of respite during which
anti-Semitism was dormant. But there al-
Youth: Its Problems as They Spill Over to Concern Everybody
"Wie es christelt sich . . ." is a formula applicable to many cultural and social
factors in life, and the schools, with emphasis on universities, are not excluded.
Drastic changes have taken place in the educational spheres in this country.
Curricula have been altered, students have freedoms that were inconceivable two
decades ago, curfews have been relegated to antiquity and the effects are questionable.
Since freedoms . are often abusive, what has happened is not always for the best.
That which affects universities may inject negations into approaches to religious and
other studies. Since it is accepted as a truism, "wie es christelt sich so judelt sich"
should not be overlooked as a warning to Jewish educators and laymen alike.
While it may be a bit far-fetched to apply the warnings of Dr. Steven M. Cahn,
head of the philosophy department of the University of Vermont, to Jewish experiences,
what he has written is nevertheless so serious that to ignore him would be self-harming.
"If at First You Don't Succeed, Quit" is the title of his N.Y. Times article in
which he asserts bluntly:
American higher education stands on the brink of chaos. Never have so many
spent so long learning so little.
The present crisis stems from the increasingly widespread acceptance among
faculty and administrators of the fatal educational principle that a student should not
be required to do any academic work that displeases him. If a student prefers not
to study science or history or literature, he is allowed to attain his degree without
studying any science, history, or literaure.
If he prefers not to take examinations, he either makes special arrangements
with his instructor or else chooses his courses from among the ever-gfowing number
that involve no examinations. If he prefers that his work not be graded, he arranges
in most or all of his courses to receive an undifferentiated pass or fail. If he is
concerned about obtaining high grades, he selects his teachers from among the many
who have yielded to student pressure and now indiscriminately award A's to virtually
everyone.
Cahn justifies his distress and goes deeply into analyses of problems that have
arisen in institutions of higher learning. He concludes with added admonitions:
It is not easy to read intelligently and think precisely. It is not easy to speak
fluently and write clearly. It is not easy to study a subject carefully and know it
thoroughly. But these abilities are the foundation of a sound education.
If a student is to learn intellectual responsibility, he must be taught to
recognize that not every piece of work is a good piece of work. In fact, some work is
just no good at all. A student may be friendly, cooperative, and sensitive to the needs
of mankind, but he may nevertheless turn in a muddled economics paper or an
incompetent laboratory report.
And that he means well is no reason why he should not be criticized for an
Israel Hits Fatahland Bases;
Syrians Positioned in Lebanon
TEL AVIV (JTA) — Three
Israeli task forces swept
through Fatahland for the
fourth time last weekend in
continuation of Israel's mini-
war against terrorist strong-
holds and communications
in southern Lebanon.
Israeli artillery 'suspended
firing on the terrorst strong-
holds Sunday to permit the
villagers who had evacuated
the place, to return for their
belongings and leave again.
The Israeli guns held their
fire at the special request
of Gen. Ensio Siilasvuo, com-
mander of the United Nations
Emergency Force (UNEF).
Meanwhile, a Palestinian
battalion of the Syrian army
has established positions on
the ridges opposite Har Dov,
a strategic spur on the west-
ern slopes of Mt. Herman
overlooking Fatahland which
is occupied by Israeli forces.
Defense Minister Shimon
2 Friday, January 24, 1975
—
Peres said that the entry of
the Palestinian battalion into
Lebanon was a "Syrian pro-
vocation aimed at torpedoing
any negotiations and arrange-
ments with the Egyptians."
The Defense Minister said
the Syrians were seeking a
foothold in the Har Dov re-
gion in order to threaten Is-
_
raeli forces there.
He attributed the recent
upsurge of terrorist activity
in the region to an attempt
by the Syrian authorities and
the Palestine Liberation Or-
ganization to create a mili-
tary provocation aimed at
sabotaging political negotia-
tions between Israel and
Egypt.
The Palestinian battalion
was reported to be well en-
trenched and to have road
communications with Syria.
Several reports indicated that
terrorists hit by Israeli forces
recently were part of the
battalion.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
ways were the warnings that the hatred for
the Jew will recur in a time of economic
declines. It has been said time and time
again that a depression will be accom-
panied by an ancient ghost: that of the anti-
Semitic escpapism from realities.
So—there is a return to the old groove..
The hatreds that vanished with prosperity
may be back on the scenes of a declining
civilization.
The reaction of placing the blame where
it belongs—upon the Russian-Arab clique,
may be of little help, save in a minority
setting.
The clock has been turned back again
for the Jew: he must be prepared to face
dangers from many quarters. Once again
the stubborn, stiffnecked Jew — the Am
k'shay oref—readies anew to reaffirm the
right to live.
Will the anti-Semite ever learn that
there's indestructibility in such a dedica-
tion?
inadequate performance. Such criticism, when well-founded and constructive, is in no
way demeaning, for the willingness to. accept it and learn from it is one mark of a
mature individual. Yet criticism of any sort is rare nowadays. As student opinion is
given greater and greater weight in the evaluation of faculty, professors are busy
trying to ingratiate themselves with the students.
A democracy, however, cannot afford to transform its educational system into
a Caucus-race, for the success of a democracy depends in great part upon the under-
standing and capability of its citizens. And in the complex world in which we live,
to acquire sufficient understanding and capability requires a rigorous education.
If we fail to provide that education, we shall have only ourselves to blame as mis-
guided policies in our universities contribute to the decay of our democracy.
These are ideas not to be trifled with. They relate to a lowering of cultural values.
Competence in professions is becoming a concern in a revolutionary age which should
produce improvements rather than inject degradations.
Instead of emphasis on studies there has been in evidence an anarchical resort
to absolute freedoms that relate to the sexes; and what has been termed morality in
the past is now shunned the moment morals 'are inferred.
Do Dr. Cahn's admonitions relate to Jewish scholastic needs and problems? If
lethargy is not involved then there is another element—that of competence—seriously
to be concerned with. For some years the appeals in behalf of Jewish schools dealt
with hopes for greater involvement of young people in the teaching profession. If the
ablest are not drawn into the Jewish pedagogical dedications then the danger of sinking
into ignorance will grow in our school systems.
There are other factors that were not touched upon by Dr. Calm. There are
the morals and the family sanctities. The home spirit, if it has not vanished, certainly
has not been elevated of late, and academicians may be as guilty as heads of house-
holds who have tacitly yielded to new pressures.
At the risk of being called "prudes," those concerned with the Jewish family
spirit and continuity in assuring retention of highest values in Jewish ethical principles
on sexual relationships, the developing conditions must be considered in all seriousness.
The new liberties in universities contribute to the spread of inter- and mixed marriages.
There is an assumption of freedoms that leads to indifference to the basic principles of
protecting the solidity of the Jewish family and communal structures.
Prudity or no prudity, the fact is that the new trends in open door policies in
college dorms does not contribute to the best in Jewish experience. It multiplies dangers
stemming from intermarriage. It contains a gesture of freehandedness that permits
anything that absolves youth from traditional duties.
Is there to be a submission to Dr. Cahn's "If at First You Don't Succeed, Quit"
or are the new trends to be fought vigorously? The challenge is too evident to need
additional explanations.
Secured in Israel
Prospects of a National Unity Government
no political option on the fu- who declare their aim to an-
By UZI BENZIMAN
(Copyright 1975, JTA, Inc.)
JERUSALEM — The pros-
pect of a national unity gov-
ernment being established
here has become increasing-
ly less remote.
Premier Yitzhak Rabin
seems to have abandoned his
previoUs absolute objections
to the idea and has adopted
a more pragmatic line. Re-
cently he noted that the de-
cision would have to be taken
by his party's institutions.
He also said that the Likud
itself had not expressed read-
iness to join the Cabinet on
its present platform.
These statements could be
interpreted as a cautious hint
to both his allies and to rival
politicians that the time is
right for new discussions on
the possibility of widening
the government base. Rabin
demands that the Likud de-
clare its readiness to adopt
present government policy
and implies that if this is
agreed there should be few
real obstacles on the path to
national unity.
While the Likud factions-
are united in their desire in
principle for the party to
join the Cabinet, they are
divided in their views on
the acceptable ideological
basis of such a step. Herut
demands that the Likud must
ensure that the government
platform does not contradict
Likud's own basic policies—
especially on the question of
the future of the West Bank.
Other components of the
Likud—including most of the
Liberals, the State List and
tre Free Center — maintain
that the establishment of a
national unity government
could be achieved by empha-
sizing the common approach
of the Zionist political par-
ties rather than stressing on
seeking to reconcile their dif-
ferences on this or that issue.
Those who previously sup-
ported the idea of a unity
Cabinet now argue that the
Rabat summit conference
and Yasir Arafat's speech at
the United Nations General
Assembly have substantiated
the contention that there is
ture of Judeaa and Samaria. nihilate it, the advocates of
a unity government argue.
This being so, they contin-
Those who are opposed to
ue, there is no reason why
the Likud should not share widening the Cabinet's base
in the burden of government. at this time claim that the
If the government truly in- Likud stood behind the il-
tends to foster an 'atmosphere legal settlement attempts on
of national emergency, it the West Bank several weeks
should gain the sympathy ago. A party which could
and support of all sectors of support unlawful acts does
public opinion. Therefore, it not deserve—or is not fit—
is essential to add the Likud to share the responsibility of
—which represents 33 per- administering the count -
cent of the voters—to the they claim.
government.
Secondly, the introduction
Thirdly, the enlistment of of Likud into the government
the Likud to the Cabinet's would inevitably harden Is-
ranks would assist the Cabi- rael's foreign policy and
net in its struggle to imple- would foil its efforts in the
ment the new economic pol- international diplomatic are-
icy. It would also raise the na.
morale of the army, where
Furthermore, the oppo-
Likud support is traditionally nents believe, it is still too
high.
early to conclude from the
Fourth, the establishing of Rabat conference resolutions
a national unity government that the political option on
would demonstrate symbol- the West Bank has ceased to
ically that Israel "means exist. But if Likud joined
business" in its declared de- the Cabinet it would acceler-
termination to fight for its ate the closure of the polit-
vital interest against those ical option.