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THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue of Al!! 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 Sil5, Southfield, Mich.
Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription $10 a year.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager
:Alan Hitsky, News Editor . . . Heidi Press. .Assistant News Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the second day of Elul, 5735, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Penta teuchal portion, Deut. 16:18-21:9. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 51:12-52:12.
Candle lighting. Friday, Aug. 8. 8:24 p.m.
VOL. LXV11, No. 22
Page Four
Friday, August 8, 1975
Polluted Ethics on Banks of East River
A massive structure on the banks of the
East River in New York has gradually invited
the danger of turning into an "empty shell." The
term is the coinage of the U. S. Secretary of
State and the culprits who are endangering the
world organization which had aroused the hopes
of all mankind for a lasting peace for all nations
now comprise more than two-thirds of the mem-
bership of the United Nations.
Not only the threat to expel Israel from the
UN but an accumulation of stupidities and so-
cial and political
. crimes are accountable for a
menacing situation.
Is it all the fault of the Third World nations
who have turned into a tyrannical majority? Of
course not! The guilt lies with "the world pow-
ers," the so-called enlightened democratic coun-
tries like the Scandinavian, the Western Euro-
pean and many Latin American.
It is because these nations are kowtowing to
the hatreds stemming from those who would de-
stroy a small nation that the tyrannical and bar-
barous have gained an open hand in the councils
of the nations of the world.
Israel's right to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness really becomes incidental to the
basic issue of justice as well as common sense.
The fact that bestialities, hatreds, inhumanities
had invaded the sanctum of the international or-
ganization marks a tragedy for civilization.
The developing prejudices are an indict-
ment of nations calling themselves democratic,
and of the blocs propagating the socialist princi-
ples. Whatever has been inherent in socialism
has been abandoned, and not an iota of courage
remains in the ranks of diplomats who are as
free with claims for humanism as the group that
has gathered at Helsinki. There is continuous
bartering for words and meaningless declara-
tions rather than for ideals that could truly end
wars and assure all peoples' rights to securityQ
Especially shocking in the decline of the
most elementary principles of justice, a decline
that has dragged the UN into a gutter, is the
failure of the Scandinavian and Western Euro-
pean countries to exercise the freedom of pursu-
ing a just course in relation to small nations that
are suffering from discriminations.
Only the United States stands out as the
land of freedom that would not deny liberty to
others. Only the American voice at the UN re-
tains a resonance that is rooted in the ideals of
libertarianism.
In the long run it may not matter too much
if Israel should find it necessary, under gravest
compulsions, to abandon her seat at the UN. The
air has already been polluted with poisonous
fumes at the UN Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World
Health Organization (WHO) and the Interna-
tional Labor Organization (ILO). Will the Third
World hatreds also invade the UN International
Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)? To all
these, Israel and her kinsmen, the Jewish peo-
ple, have contributed vastly with skills and gen-
erosity. The causes involved will continue to re-
ceive uninterrupted Jewish encouragement. Will
a conscientious mankind permit elimination of
active Jewish participation in the leadership of
these movements?
The United States has spoken firmly on
these issues. Israel will never again bend the
back that has been straightened with the resolve
that the bigotries of the past shall not be toler-
ated. If there is a decline in fairness at the world
organization, Only the United Nations and all
mankind will suffer.
40 Classic Hasidic Tales
Translated by Meyer Levin
Meyer Levin has gained fame as author of numerous works on
Israel and the history of the Zionist settlers in the redeemed Zion. His
novels have been on best sellers lists. Among his works was a collec-
tion of Hasidic legends which he was inspired to write in 1932.
He had been on the road from Jerusalem to
New York, in 1929, when, in Paris, he learned
-
from the eminent Jewish artist, Marek Szwarc,
about some of the notable tales handed down in
the writings of the founder of the Hasidic move-
ment, Israel the Baal Shem Toy, the Master of
the Good Name, and his grandson, Rabbi Nah-
m an. •
He commenced his translations of the tales,
from the Hebrew, Yiddish and German. Then, in
1932, he published "The Golden Mountain."
That notable collection has been reissued by
Penguin Books under a new title, "Classic Has-
idic Tales." The fascinating work has the added
attraction of the illustrations by Marek Szwrc
which, like the text, depict the Hasidic spirit.
There are 40 Hasidic legends from the works
.MEYER LEVIN
of the Baal Shem and his grandson and 11 sets of
notable Szwarc illustrations, the accompanying one being an example
of the illustrator's works that give emphasis to the Hasidic lore as
gathered by Levin.
.
Threat to Peace: World Falsettos
Something akin to a defiance that sounds Heights, nations were at odds in several African
like the warning: "You kick us out of the UN, areas, amity was dividing European nations.
we'll kick the UN out of our midst," was heard The UN was in danger of crumbling and human
in Israel last week. Now the commentators and nature was being tested while diplomats must
the news analysts can have a heyday and point have had tongue in cheek while signing worth-
to Israel's intransigence. Apparently it is per- less assertions.
missible to hound Israel, to pressure the little
nation, to make all sorts of demands upon her,
This is not a craving for skepticism. It is an
but the tiny country's statesmen have no right effort to be realistic while the peace of the world
to speak out against the avalanche of indignities was in danger and human rights were being
battered.
poured against her.
If Israel is an example, as she undoubtedly
"Enough, enough" seems to be the outcry of
many in Israel, and among many more of - her is, then the point is proven that there is a lack of
friends throughout the world, in the accumula- sincerity in tackling international needs for an
tion of onslaughts upon Israel's very right to be end of wars, for an assurance of security for a
very tiny nation, that the expansion of the muni-
master of her own destiny.
tions industries needs to be tested and must be
ended
quickly lest the dangers erupt from too
The new Middle East developments una-
voidably cause the direction of added interest in much military hardware. If there were an end to
the just-concluded Helsinki conference. It is nat- arming her enemies Israel, too, would be re-
ural to ask what has been accomplished, what lieved of the need for protective weapons.
truly are the intentions of the world's diplo-
Perhaps it is the world that is blind to reali-
mats, why the farce of meaningless proclama- ties because the statesmen are too concerned
tions, even if they have the signatures of spokes- with quest for power.
men for 34 nations, when peace is always at
Is this cynicism? Whatever it is, it is the re-
stake in many areas of the world.
sult of defilement of the ideas which are as old
While toasts were made and empty as The teachings of the Prophets in Scriptures
speeches were delivered at Helsinki, troops were whose vision of swords turned into plowshares
kept on the alert in Sinai and on the Golan remains both a dream and a sham.
The preface, written in 1932, which Levin has seen fit to repro-
duce in his republished work, serves immeasurably as an emphasis on
Hasidic lore, as a tribute to the inspired and saintly men who gave new
courage to Jews in times of crisis and served to give hope and faith to
Jews in eras of danger.
The legendary Taildic lore in his book is in pieces of a few pages
each, with a limited number of brief ones, and a sample of the tatter,
which gives an indication of the form Hasidism pursues in storytelling
is this story of "The Standing Sheep":
Once, when the Baal Sehm Tov was on a journey, Sabbath
overtook him on the highway. He stopped the wagon, and went out
into the field to perform the services that welcome the coming of
Sabbath, and to remain there until the Sabbath was ended.
On the field, a flock of sheep were grazing.
When the Baal Shem Tov raised his voice and spoke the pray-
ers that welcome the Sabbath as the coming of a Bride, the sheep
rose upon their hind legs, and lifted their heads in the air, and
stood like people listening.
And so they remained in wrapt attention for two hours, all the
while that the Baal Shem spoke.