Prayers in the White House and the Need to Apply Separation Principle to Schools HE JEWISH NEWS VOL. LXX, No. 9 of Jewish Events A Weekly Review Commentary Page 2 9 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield We Salute the President-Elect , Mich. 48075 424-8833 Fresh Air Society Anniversary Vital Adult Education Program * Israel and the Lebanese Editorials Page 4 $10.00 Per Year; This Issue 30c November 5, 1976 Israeli, U.S. Jewry Spokesmen View Carter Policy Reaffirming Friendship and Justice for Israel By JOSEPH POLAKOFF WASHINGTON (JTA)— With Israel's security assured by both major Presidential candidates and the platforms of both parties, Jews were considered by observers here to have generally voted like most other Americans — on the basis of economic circumstances, social outlook, and the qualifications and personalities of Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. Hyman Bookbinder, Washington representative of the American Jewish Committee, noted that the Ford and Carter commitments and pledges "neutralized Israel as an issue" and said "relatively few" Jews voted on who they believed was more favorable to Israel. "Israel was not a major issue" said David Brody, director of the Anti-Defamation League's Washington office. "Both candidates are committed to Israel." Men and women prominent in Jewish communal organizations were in both the Ford and Carter camps in large numbers and lent their names, energy and funds to their favored candidate. Both candida,tes also received high- marks from Israelis as essentially friendly to the Jewish state. Regarding Soviet Jewry, Carter appeared more aggressive in his statements to bring about a greater flow of emigration but that subject, in isolation, was not regarded as a major factor in the vote getting. Thus Jews faced the entire panoply of issues when they went into the voting booths. Traditionally liberal and supportive ardently of trade unionism, Jews in metropolitan areas considered the problems of unemployment, urban blight, racism, public education, poverty, health care and per- sonal social security. But a sizeable fraction saw inflation as a principal scourge and favored conservative methods to combat rising costs, crime, increasing taxation, and_ a growing bureaucracy. Like many other Americans, Jews considered whether NEW YORK — The executive com- trust was better vested in incumbents they knew or in new- mittee of the National Council of comers yet to be tested. Jewish observers thought more edu- Churches last Saturday "proposed cated Jews favored Carter than the trend which saw the that the Orthodox Church in America request its episcopal commission con- majority of college graduates backing Ford. Many elderly sider asking Archbishop Valerian Jews in crime-infested areas and the Orthodox who see their Trifa to refrain from executing his schools pinched for funds tended towards Ford, too. duties as a governing board member Small retailers in blighted urban areas hoped for a until church and civil proceedings are liberal victory as a step 'toward revitalizing their concluded." neighborhoods and thereby restoring their establish- I Observers say the action against ments. In suburbs and smaller communities, however, the the prelate, because of his ties with same classes of businessmen tended towards conservatism the fascist Romanian Iron Guard in as best for their interests. World War II and allegations that he In summary, therefore, Jewish observers felt that led a pogrom against Jews ill. Jewish voters acted as citizens like all other Americans Bucharest in 1941, will have little meaning. interested in the welfare of their family, community and Trifa's church is reported to be sol- country and voted in accordance with those interests. idly behind him and only the church Israeli opposition leader Menahem Begin challenged can remove him as its representative President-Elect Carter on Wednesday to keep his promises on the NCC governing board. to Israel. Churches Seek Trifa's Ouster James Earl Carter Jr. is the choice of the Ameri- can people for the Chief Executive of this nation. "Vox populi, vox Dei" — "The voice of the people is the voice of God" remains a powerful admonition to the electorate for acceptance of an irreversible verdict. In its spirit, the nation continues to strive for peace and for justice in amity and good sportsmanship that is so basic to the American idea of fair play in the majority rule. The American electorate has spoken. Whatever bitterness is injected in a political cam- paign vanishes with the verdict of Judge and Jury symbolized by the American Voter. Now the nation gets down again to the business of raising the standards of living of the less fortunate in our midst, of protecting the aged and providing for the handicapped and retarded, of assuring the highest goals for those aspiring to higher education. Now we get down to the business of creating good will among the nations and of retaining a role of lead- ership for the American people. While seeking peace and amity for the entire world, we continue our role as both peacemaker and as protec- tor of this great nation by assuring proper and sufficient military strength for the United States for the purpose of retaining lives and liberties and thereby protecting the dignity of America and Americans. The objectives for the four years ahead are clear and unshakable. We commence these years with con- fidence that the man chosen to lead this nation will not falter and will not abandon the high American princi- ples. For the attainment of that purpose we salute the next President, who has our blessings for years of dignity, courage and faith in the attainment of the high goals to which all Americans - aspire. (Continued on Page 5) (Continued on Page 18) Zionist Elections Ordered; May Delay World Sessions Syria Honors The Red Line JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Zionist Executive will follow the Zionist Congress Court order to carry out elections "in word and in spirit," the Executive decided by a wide majority Monday. Avraham Schenker, head of the Organization and Informa- tion Department, was asked to submit a timetable to the Execu- tive for carrying out the membership census and elections, and the date for the Congress will be determined accordingly. The final decision as to the convening of the 29th Congress will be determined by the Zionist General Council. It was also decided that in countries in which election dates have already been set, they will be postponed until a final date for the Congress is fixed. The Executive meeting followed a Zionist Congress Court which declared "unconstitutional" an amendment abolishing elec- tions for the Congress. WZO chairman Yosef Almogi said it was desirable that the Executive prepare the Congress properly. Jewish Agency treasurer Arye Dulzin said the court had saved the honor of the Zionist movement, and its decision should be regarded as an important turning point in the history of the movement. He added, "All of us owe thanks to the appeal by Herut (which was opposed by the American Zionist Federation) and the stand adopted by the WZO attorney which brought about this important ruling." JERUSALEM (JTA) — Syria has promised the U.S. it would not move its forces into southern Lebanon, the newspaper Haaretz reported Wed- nesday. According to Haaretz, this was in addition to an earlier promise that Syria would not allow Palestine Lib- eration Organization terrorists to enter this part of the country. The paper said the U.S. had con- veyed these promises to Israel, adding its own interpretation that for the time being Syria was sticking to the political course, and did not resort to a military option. According to the American analysis, the Syrian prom- ises opened the way for an interim ag- reement in the Golan Heights, or even a resumption of the Geneva confer- ence for an overall settlement. Political sources in Jerusalem, how- ever, regard with skepticism talks of Syrian moderateness.