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THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle coin mencing with the issue of1nly 20, 1951
A CLUN SWEEP
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. -N175:
Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription $10 a year.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
Alan tiitskv. News Editor . . . Ileidi
Press. Assistant Nel ■ s. Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 13th day of Adar 1, 5736, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Exodus 27:20 - 30:10; Deut. 25:17- 19. Prophetical portion, 1 Samuel 15:2 - 34.
Candle lighting, Friday, Feb.
VOL. LXVIII, No. 23
Page Four
13, 5:44 p.m.
Friday, February 13, 1976
Political Dissectors and the Media
Daniel Patrick Moynihan has become a sub-
ject for political dissection. News analysts have
acquired in him a topic for scrutiny involving in-
ternational issues and because of his role at the
United Nations the special emphasis is on
American interests in the foreign policies of our
government.
possibility of temptation by a possible presiden-
tial draft, why not Pat Moynihan's submissive-
ness to a senatorial offer? Both are friends of
Israel and the Jewish people. Would an oppo-
nent or opponents to either one claim enmity for
the Hebraic or the Gallic or the Slavic or even
the Islamic?
To some he is a genius, for others he is ana-
thema and a means of emitting spleen.
In the "Jewish vote" canard is imbedded dis-
respect for the votor. Taking New York as an
example, to be elected, any senatorial candidate
would need two or three times the votes that
might be accumulated by every available Jewish
voter in the state. Why, therefore, create a trav-
esty on common sense with the "Jewish vote" fa-
ble?
His flamboyance annoys some, and his
mastery of repartee and use of strong English in
tackling the indecencies that have been hurled at
the United States and at Israel by the combined
Arab-Communist bloc has had curious effects.
Perhaps it is not surprising that he should
be accused of seeking political advantage from
the popularity he has attained. The annoyed call
it notoriety. In the process of pinning uncertain-
ties on Middle East issues revolving around the
presidential election, there is the repeated refer-
ence to the mythical "Jewish vote." Moynihan
now is accused of seeking political advantages
from this voting group he is described as having
enchanted by his UN actions. Thus, even so logi-
cal a writer as Russell Baker, commenting on
Moynihan's sharp-tongued rhetoric, in a New
York Times column entitled "Dangerous Case of
English," linked Moynihan to possible Jewish
vote-seeking:
"Reporters who enjoy the hospitality of
State Department men and even of Kissinger
began. speculating publicly that Moynihan
was speaking English for base and selfish pol-
itical gain. In brief, that he was merely trying
to ingratiate himself with the Jewish vote so
as to launch a political career in New York."
This could be prophecy or speculation or
sensational gambling for newsgatherers' sensa-
tionalism. But what has that to do with the Jew-
ish vote?
Indeed, Moynihan, whose motivation for re-
signing as the chief U.S. delegate to the UN is
his desire to retain his professorial position at
Harvard, could, indeed, be drafted for the sena-
torial candidacy in New York. What's wrong
with that? If Hubert Humphrey admits to the
Year of Solidarity
Now, therefore, is the time for Jews to be-
come annoyed. Moynihan can defend himself.
He has given assurance that he has no present
political ambitions. If he has, it is his business.
There is no denying that he charmed many
Americans, not necessarily Jews alone. What
has occured at the UN, whose basic principles
are being undermined in villainy, calls for guts.
This country attained a strong representative
whose fearlessness boosted him into dominance
in front page headlines. If he can and wishes to
capitalize on such sensational attainments,
more power to him.
Factually, however, a man seeking a high
post in New York State would need many mil-
lions of non-Jewish voters. A senatorial or any
other campaign can not possibly be based on re-
ligious appeals. But when the religious label is
affixed to a candidate's intentions it can harm
t' group claimed to be his aspirants more than
ttr.-'candidate himself.
Perhaps it needs repetition to express re-
sentment at the excessive resort to a "Jewish
vote" influence and to the effects on peace for
Israel of a presidential election. If emphasis can
not be placed on the issues and on the personali-
ties then an American ideal is basically harmed.
The task for responsible news analysts is to
avoid such approaches which are detrimental to
American political dignity.
Aliya LaRegel
A multiplication of difficulties for Israel in to Israel so that the evidence of interest in Israel
the struggle to attain a status of modernism in should be in personal contacts with Israelis.
an area that is influenced by medievalism makes
That is why the LaRegel movement, the ex-
unusual demands upon the kinfolk who make up pansion -of Solidarity Year, must be applauded.
the Jewish people everywhere.
The encouraging El Al Israel Airlines re-
It stands to reason that every concerned and port shows that tourism to Israel is viewed in all
identified Jew must provide the means for Is- seriousness as a vital part of Jewish devotion to
rael's social program which would suffer with- the support of Israel.
out the supplementary aid for which Jews share
Meanwhile there emerges again the prob-
a great responsibility. The duty to assist in in-
vestments in Israel, in the purchase of Israel lem of Aliya, the need to encourage settlement
Bonds, as a means of boosting Israel's economy, in Israel. This appeal is primarily addressed to
the youth for whom there are so many oppor-
is equally understandable.
tunities for pioneering, for creativity, for valua-
ble
contributions to the advancement of prog-
There are other obligations. Tourism is ma-
jor in the program of cooperation with Israel. ress for Jews in an area of great challenge.
The tourist dollar is vital to Israel's economy
"Arise and Let Us Go Up to Zion" is the
and even more important is the urgency of as- Aliya LaRegel clarion call meriting the cheerful
suring continuity in kinship in the form of visits and dedicated response of American Jewry.
Britain's Early Bigotry:
Anti-Semitism Without Jews
The dreaded Yellow Badge as a symbol of hatred for Jews first
was in evidence in England.
The atrocious ritual murder libel was rampant in the land that
was later to become a beacon of light for the free world.
In literature the Jew was depicted most miserably in the English
language.
One of the major sources of anti-Semitism was the work_ of the
Bard of Avon, whose Shylock was used as an image to arouse dislike
for and prejudice against Jews.
Yet, Shakespeare wrote the "Merchant of Venice" at a time when
there were no Jews in England, and most of the other evidences of
venom were by people who did not know Jews because there were
practically no Jews in England from the time of the expulsion in 1290
until the last years of the 16th Century.
Many of the detailed facts are outlined in "Anti-Semitic Stereo-
types Without Jews" by Rabbi Bernard Glassman (Wayne State Uni-
versity Press).
Numerous plays and literary appeals to hatred are among those
researched in this excellent study of Jew-baiting in the land whence
Jews had been driven. The few Jews who were left were unknown or
were means for commercial gains in the land.
Dr. Glassman gives an account of the ritual murder libel that
became known as the High of Lincoln case that was drummed up
against Jews.
The guilt of the religious elements, of churchmen, in arousing
hatred of Jews, is told factually, in quotations from tracts of anti-
Semitism and sermons.
The notorious case of the falsified treason charge against Eliza-
beth's personal physician, Dr. Rodrigo Lopez, an apostate Jew who
was sent to the gallows, is similarly related here as an incident in
1590.
Then came the era of Cromwell and the resort to Jews as means of
aiding England's economy and the role of Menasseh Ben Israel who led
the appeal for the return of Jews to the British Isles.
Dr. Glassman defines the end of such bigotries and the later role
of Britain as a democratic country when he states in his concluding
analyses of a land of venom when those discriminated against did not
even know their oppressors:
Ultimately, the increasing secularism of the age, the
spirit of emerging capitalism, and the new social philosophiep
pushed many of these anti-Jewish attitudes into the bad >j
ground. It was not any significant change in Christian doc-
trine that er.couraged the eventual toleration of the Jew in so-
ciety. Instead, in the years that followed, forces beyond the
realm of organized religion brought this goal to fruition, and
they eventually made England a haven for Jews seeking re-
fuge from persecution.
The concluding summation on the interesting subject of anti-
Semitism even when the Jew is out of sight contains these evaluations:
The Jew, long associated in Christian teachings with the
devil, was the logical person to be branded as a subversive.
Along with the witch and the Catholic, he was the focus of the
irrational fears of the multitudes. Yet, with the exception of
the Lopez trial and a few less dramatic incidents, the actual
Jews living in England were left in peace.
Perhaps the main reason why England never had an or-
ganized anti-Jewish policy after the explusion was that there
were too few Jews in the country to pose a serious threat to the
religious establishment. Thus, scattered Jewish families were
not disturbed, even though theoretically they were forbidden
to live in the country.