THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
54 - friday; August 29,-1975
Christian's View of Israel
By CARL HERMANN VOSS
(Editor's note: Dr. Voss
is professor in the humani-
ties and chairman of the
humanities division at
Edward Waters College,
Jacksonville, Fla., and
former chairman of Chris-
tians Concerned for Is-
rael.)
DR. CARL VOSS
I have just returned from
my 12th trip to Israel in 28
years, having served as an
assistant conductor of an
83-member intercultural
seminar on Christian-Jew-
ish-Moslem relations which
was sponsored by the Na-
tional Conference of Chris-
tians and Jews.
It was an exciting, thrill-
ing- , informative, inspira-
tional and stimulating'fort-
night, filled, with intense
experiences and emotional
moments: but at the same
time, it had its depths of de-
spair, its hours of doubt,
and its clays of deep concern
about the fate of Israel so
beleaguered, so surrounded
by hostility; and so beset by
a host of problems: eco-
nomic, social, and political.
One marvels at Israel's
ability to survive with the
odds of all kinds stacked in
overwhelming array against
her. Yet it does survive and
grow, and gives a sound,in-
dication of continuing sur-
vival and growth. You see
this in the Cities, especially
in the lovely city of Jerusa-
lem grown so large and so
beautiful, but also in the
countryside, too, particu-
larly in the Negev where the
green fields continue to
spread southward and push
the desert further toward
Eilat.
Over and over again my
friends have said to me,
"Well, how was it? What'S
going on there? How do
the people feel?Are they
frightened? Are they
downcast, discouraged,
uptight?"
My answeres are always
the same: "There is without
a doubt an alarming crisis
at hand, both militarily and
economically. This is faced
realistically, much more
realistically than we Ameri-
cans face our problems,
ranging from the race issue
to inflation, from political
corruption to an inequitable
society.
"The Israelis are not
'downcast or discouraged or
uptight.' They are aware of
their problems, discuss
them openly and candidly,
and may he said to be coura-
geous and acutely conscious
of their historic role in the
restoration of a Third Jew-
ish Commonwealth and the
return of the People of the
Bodk to the Land of the
Book." In other words, one
can say, "Am Yisrael chai —
The People of Israel live!"
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From:
S 10 encic,ed
NEW YORK — Equality
for women is also making
considerable strides in the
armed forces. Last year, for
the first time, National Jew-
ish Welfare Board, the U S.
government-accredited
agency for serving Jewish
military families, hospital-
ized veterans, and other per-
sonnel, approved women to
serve as Jewish military lay
leaders.
The Jewish smilitary' lay
leader's role is to arrange
for services, holiday celebra-
tions, and educational and
social activities, in place of a
full or part-time chaplain.
Female Jewish military
lay leaders have been sta-
tioned in several overseas in-
stallations as well as in the
United States. Two of the
most effective of these
women served in Greece.
Ellen S. Philpott is a
captain in the U.S. Air
Force. She is a nurse, sta-
tioned at the Iraklion Air
Station in Crete. The Jew-
ish military community is
small — about seven ac-
tive participants and
about a dozen inactive
members.
Since the members of the
group work in shifts, it has
not been possible to hold
Sahhath services, but they
meet in the home of one of
their members for holiday
observance. Captain Phil-
pott and one of the other
members select the holiday
readings, in which all parti-
cipate.
With the use of Jewish
cookbooks, they have
learned to prepare Jewish
foods which are served at
the holiday meals. The men
help in the preparations for
Passover. They buy the
kosher wine, which is avail-
ahle at the base store, and
help organize the seder and
cook the meal.
Miss Philpott finds that
being a woman has created
no problems. Most of the
people know and like her as
a nurse and have cooperated
fully in the program. The
base chaplain and his wife
have done everything possi-
ble to he helpful.
Karen McKay Philips, a
captain in the U.S. Army
Reserve, served as the
Jewish lay leader in Ath-
ens. Now she and her hus-
band have made aliya. He
is planning to go into busi-
Israel—a Surprise
17515 W. 9 Mile Rd., Suite 865
CITY
Profile of Two JWB Women: Jewish Military Lay Leaders
ZIP
' The state of Israel is a
surprise, yet the modern
mind hates to he surprised.
Never before has a nation
been restored to its ancient
hearth after a lapse of 1 ; 897
years. This extraordinary
aspect is hound to carry
some shock to the conven-
tional mind, to he a scandal
to the mediocre mind and a
foolishness to the positiv-
ists. It requires reordering
of some notions.
Israel is a miracle in dis-
guise. Things look natural
and conceal what is a radi-
cal 'surprise. Zion rebuilt
becomes a harbinger of a
new understanding, of how
history is intertwined with
the mystery.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel
ness in Israel and she will
go back to school to work
on a PhD. -
About three years ago,
Capt. McKay was a
"founding mother" of the
military Jewish congrega-
tion in Athens. At that time
several families gathered
together to hold services,
study, and celebrate the hol-
idays together. Gradually,
the group gained new mem-
bers and under her leader-
ship carried on an active
program.
The group held Friday
vening services, followed
by an oneg Shahat and dis-
cussion. All Jewish holidays
were ohserved. They con-
ducted a religious school for
15 to 20 children, divided
into two age groups. The
curriculum included He-
brew, religion and history.
The mainstays of the Jew-
ish community — those who
provide the continuity and
strength to keep going in'a
transient millieu — are the
civilians. It is an interna-
tional group — from the U.
S.,- Greece, Israel, Turkey,
Britain, Canada and other
places. There are about 100
people in the group-30 to
40 families and some single
people. About 20 people
come to services regularly.
Mrs. McKay's success and
dedication is even more re-
markahle as neither she nor
her husband were horn into
the Jewish faith. Her con-
version to Judaism resulted
from study and a growing
conviction that Judaism was
the faith for her. The
strength of her convictions
are evident from the pro-
gram she built and from the
fact that she has decided to
make her home is Israel.
While some people may
still look askance at a
woman lay leader, they are
being- accepted. As mp „,e and
. more women achie ..i,;.osi-
tions of leadership i.,. '?ivil-
ian life, they will also
achieve these positions in
the military.
4,
Monument Unveilings
The family of the late
Fannie Blonder (Blinder)
announces the unveiling of a
monument in her memory
1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31,
at Torover Cemetery. Rabbi
Frankel will officiate. Rela-
tives and friends are asked
to attend.
The Family
of the Late
The family of the late
Sally Stein announces the
unveiling of a monument in
her memory 11:30 a.m. Sun-
day, Aug. 31, at Chesed Shel
Ernes Cemetery. Rabbi
Frankel will officiate. Rela-
tives and friends are asked
to attend.
The Family
of the Late
JACK
ALLWEIL
DAVID KLEIN
Announces the un-
veiling of a monument
in his memory 2 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31, at
Machpelah Cemetery.
Rabbi Lehrman and
Cantor Klein will offi-
ciate. Relatives and
friends are asked to
attend.
Announces the un-
veiling of a monument
in his memory 11 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31, at
Chesed Shel Ernes
Cemetery. Rabbi
Levin will officiate.
Relatives and friends
are asked to attend.
The Family
of the Late
DAVID 0.
EDELHEIT
The Family
of the Late
MAX
LEVITSKY
Announces the un-
veiling of a monument
in his memory 11 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 1, at
Oakview Cemetery.
Rabbi Lehrman and
Cantor Klein will offi-
ciate. Relatives and
friends are asked to
attend.
Announces the un-
veiling of a monument
in his memory 11:30
a.m. Sunday. Aug. 31,
at Machpelah Ceme-
tery. Rabbi Rosen-
bloom will officiate.
Relatives and friends
are asked to attend.
The Family
of the Late
The Family
CLARA
EISENSTEIN
of the Late
MAX
LIEBERMAN
Announces the un-
veiling of a monument
in her memory 10:30
a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31,
at Adat Shalom Me-
morial Park. Rabbi
Schnipper will offi-
ciate. Relatives and
friends are asked to
attend.
. Adat Shalom Memo-
rial Park. Rabbi Arm
will officiate. Rela-
tives and friends are
asked to attend.
The Family
of the Late
The Family
of the Late
JACOB (JACK)
GOLDSTEIN
MARGARET
MARTIN
Announces the un-
veiling of a monument
in his memory 2 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31, at
Hebrew Memorial
Park. Rabbi Arm will
officiate. Relatives
and friends are asked
.to attend.
Announces the un-
veiling of a monument
in her memory 6 p.m.,
THURSDAY, Sept.
11, at Hebrew Memo-
rial Park. Rabbi Za-
chariash will officiate.
Relatives and friends
are asked to attend.
Announces the un-
veiling of a monument
in his memory 11 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31, at
The Family
of the Late
RICHARD L.
NAKISHER
Announces the un-
veiling of a monument
in his memory 12 noon
Sunday, Aug. 31, at
Hebrew Memorial
Park. Rabbi Zachar-
iash will officiate.
Relatives and friends
are asked to attend.
The Family
of the Late
LOUIS R.
SCHWARTZ
Announces the un-
veiling of a monument
in his memory 3 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31, at
Nusach H'Ari Ceme-
tery. Cantor Vieder
will officiate. Rela-
tives and friends are
asked to attend.
The Family
of the Late
ROSE WEIDER
Announces the un-
veiling of a monument
in her memory 12:30'
p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31,
at Hebrew Memorial
Park. Rabbi Poupko
and Cantor Adler will
officiate. Relatives
and friends are asked
to attend.
Bessie Steigr
wife;
Daughters Rose and
Erma Penny Miller;
His Grandchildren
and great-grandchild
Announce the
unveiling of a
monument in
Beloved Memory Of
Joseph
Steigman
11 a.m. Sunday,
Aug. 31, at Bnai
David Cemetery.
Rabbi Poupko and
Cantor Adler will offi-
ciate. Relatives and
friends are asked to
attend.