THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 4 Friday, April 15, 1977 THE JEWISH NEWS Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue Qt . .Inly 2 ► . 1951 Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association. National Editorial Association. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 \V. Nine Mile. Suite Sii5, Southfield, Mich. -1S075. Second-Class Postage Paid at Smithfield, iN1ichigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription $10 a year. PHILIP SLOMOVITZ CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ Editor and Publisher A LA N Business Manager _ !Ts!. ). DREW LIEBERWITZ Advertising Manager :News Editor . . 11E11)1 PRESS. .1ssist an Neu s Editor Sabba th Serip ttlal Sel ect ions This Sabbath, the 28th day of Nisan, 5737, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Leviticus 9:1-11:47. Prophetical portion, I Samuel 20:18-42. Monday. Tuesday. Rosh liodesh lyar. Nu tubers 2 8:1-17y Candle lighting. Friday. April 15. 6:33 p.m. VOL. LXXI, No. 6 Page Four Friday, April 15, 1977 . I srael's Election , Jewry's Concern Israel's national election, scheduled for May 17,understandably dominates Israelis' concerns over the future of their govern- ment and the effects of it on the country's economic as well as political conditions. The dominant Labor Party in a sense is on trial because of some fraudulent ekperiences. Rational scrutiny would prove that there may be less of corruption population-wise in Is- rael than in any other democratic country in the world, but unethical practices are consid- ered abominations in a Jewish state and as sins never to be tolerated. It is therefore as- sumed that when Shimon Peres is called upon to form a government—this appears inevi- table—he will face a situation so serious that his cabinet will be formed on the basis of con- cessions which would ordinarily be viewed as unacceptable. This is what happens when a rul- ing party loses members, as the Labor Party is expected to do -at -the hands of the constituents. These are all internal problems. They are Israel's concerns. Nevertheless, there is the Diaspora concern, especially that of American Jewry, and the relationship can not be ignored. The fact is that Israel's largest philanthropic benefactor is begin- ning to think more seriously about a share in certain responsibilities in the handling of funds raised philanthropically. It is true that the dollars contributed by American Jews are not viewed as "charity funds," but rather as the share of kinsmen in a partner- ship that involves the welfare of fellow Jews. But just because of this basic princi- ple the right to judge disbursements is be- lieved now to be paramount. The fact is that in principle American Jews shunned the very idea of sharing duties. All they wanted, as it remains in many respects, was to be helpful, not to abandon the needy. Yet there is a feeling that Israel can be helped by American knowhow, that the American Jewish experts who have a long record in areas of social services, can intro- duce more practical, more efficient means of aiding Israel's needy, the elderly who are served in Joint Distribution Committee Malben Homes, the retarded who get a measure of support, the new immigrants who are assisted in becoming integrated, in learning the Hebrew language, in acquiring homes and jobs and whose children are given good schooling. Israel suffers immensely from economic setbacks, and in this sphere especially it is important that the partners from abroad should have an opportunity to provide both guidance and help. In the cultural-spiritual-educational tasks the help from abroad is vital, and there is no reason why leadership and a ministrative responsibilities should not shared by -Israelis and American Jews. The election in Israel undoubtedly carries with it a new aspiration for efficiency and abandonment of bureaucratic . dominations with which the dominant Labor Party has been accused and of which the new govern- ment must clear itself. Diaspora Jews have some rights in administering the functional social services they had introduced in Israel with their philanthropic dollars. At the same time, the Israelis should welcome also such aid as will remove the bureaucratic blight from Israel. The Israelis would do well to give serious thought to these prob- lems involving kinsmen's partnerships on the eve of the oncoming election. Beirut's Guidelines for Demonstrators It is not a bit surprising that threats of demonstrations within Israel by PLO sympa- thizers among Arabs in Israel administered ter- ritories should come from Beirut. The PLO con- tinues to operate from Lebanon, in spite of the Syrian assumption of power over the delicate peace agreement between the contending forces whose ,internecine warfare has nearly de- stroyed that land. Apparently PLO was not baf- fled by failures in Lebanon and succeeded in en- rolling supporters within Israel. They have caused much trouble, there were six deaths among demonstrators last year and the anti-Is- rael forces now are inspiring new outbursts. It is no wonder, therefore, that curfews should have been imposed frequently upon such trouble spots as Nablus (ancient Jewish city of Shechem)., Ramlah, Tulkarm, Jenin, as well as East Jerusalem, Hebron and other troubled areas. There are differing opinions on desirable action to be pursued in these areas and the form of resistance to be organized by Israel. The need to preserve calm and to prevent the spread of the demonstrations surely affirms the good judgment of Israel's authorities in im- posing military control upon the cities whenCe stem the pro-PLO sentiments. It may well be that only an eventual agreement for an end to the Israel-Arab struggles will, alone, provide a solution to this serious problem. Meanwhile Is- rael faces a grave situation, and the propagan- da that accompanies the PLO venom from Bei; - rut, to which often is appended the animosity often enacted towards Jewry as an entity, is one of great concern. Adding to this concern is the new form of anti-Israel hatred fanned by reports of alleged cruelties practiced by Israelis in the treatment of prisoners who are held in the hundreds upon their apprehension after terrorist and other anti-Israel acts. Some of the descriptions of al- leged Israeli barbarism are so patently the cre- ations of hate-inspired anti-Israelis that their propaganda is cause for even more serious con- cern than the mob rule in the cities where Is- rael's administration, in spite of efforts to as- sure peaceful relations, often result in violence. German Publication Americans from Germany' Lists Many Prominent Personalities An 80-page paperback published by the German Informa- tion Center in New York under the title "AMericans from Ger- many" contains brief biOgraphical sketches of many prominent Americans who were born in Germany. Edited and compiled by Gerard Wilk,. the biographies are brief and most of them are accompanied by photographs of the - notables selected for inclusion in this informative volume. The list dates back more than a century and includ- es among others the prominent participant in free- dom movements Carl Schurz. Einstein Albert Einstein is among the notables listed and accounted for with him are many other prominent Jews who figured in many walks of life. Prominence is given to Dr. Henry A. Kis- singer. Others who figure prominently in this book include Oscar Hammerstein, Manfred George, Abraham Jacobi, Ernst Lubitsch, Charles Steinmetz, Levi Strauss, Bruno Walter, Kurt Weill and many others. . Jack Benny, Highly Esteemed Genius in Entertainment World Jack Benny made many friends. Not only the audience of tens of thousands, perhaps the millions in many lands, - but his associates, his confreres ih the world of entertainment, loved him. That's part of the story related in the biography by Irving A. Fine, just republished as a Pocket Book by Simon and Schuster. There is an impressive tribute to the great actor by George Burns who states, among other things, that Jack Benny was "the warmest,. the most gentle, the nicest human being I ever met in my life." Many incidents in the life of Jack Benny, who was born Ber jamin Kubelsky, are told in thi. interesting story about one of the most eminent men in the world of entertainment. There was a con- test testing his popularity. Thei:e were 270,000 participants. Only three expressed anti-Semitic feel- ings. Jack Benny was popular in many areas. He was among the great attractions when he ap- peared on Israel Bond programs and for UJA. The esteem for him was shown by his associates on stage, over radio and television, and the Fine biography is a veritable en- JACK BENNY cyclopedia of actors and enter- tainers who played their roles in the entertainment world, who were Jack Benny's friends and who attested to the affections in which he was held. The Fine biography splendidly elaborates on the interesting life of an interesting personality.