THE JEWISH NEWS Incormwoting The 1)•t•oit Jewish (711 .0111'•• commencing with thi• issue o•.lnly 19.5! NIember American Association Of English-Jewish Newspapers. rMichigan Press :V.:SM . /al i on , Natifinal Editorial Associal:on. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co.. 17,1:, \V. Nine :11ile, Suite \rich. 1`07:). Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Adilitional /flices. Subscription SI2 PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Editor and Publisher MAN CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ DREW LIEBERWITZ Business Manager Advertising Manager iirrsto. l'ItESS. Nevs, Editor Sabbath Scriptural Selections This, Sabbath, the third day of Heshvan, 5738, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Genesis 6:9 11:32. Prophetical portion, Isaih 54:1 55:5. - - Candle lighting, Friday, Oct. 14, 6:35 p.m. VOL. LXXI, No. 6 Page Four Friday October 14, 1977 Holding Aloft Torch of Learning American Jewish communities can take heart in the knowledge that the distressing factors in world Jewish affairs are not obstructing the cul- tural aims and that the concerned elements are devotedly pursuing the tasks of encouraging increased interest in educational matters. On a worldwide scale there is much to be upset with. The Middle East situation is always challenging. In many lands there are fears for the future, specifically in Argentina. South Africa. Quebec. as well as behind the Iron Curtain. Yet, the positives take shape. Interest in Israel is not waning. Protective measures for those affected by decline in freedoms in several countries would surely arouse the interest and receive support for amelioration from Ameri- can Jewry. Then there are the strictly cultural factors. The Greater Detroit experience in the advancement of cultural projects is exemplary. So much is being accomplished in the support provided for educational institutions that this community is earning recognition in the cul- tural as well as the philanthropic spheres. The support that goes to the several theological col- leges links this community with the important religious duties from which responsible con- stituents can not shirk. The interest shown here in Israel's univer- sities continues as a heartening involvement and a commendable dedication. The American Technion Society, which aids the Technion- Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa. has the longest record of responsiveness by engineers, scientists and technicians to the great Israel institution of higher learning. Bar-Ilan Univer- sity in Ramat Gan has become a very strong factor here in behalf of traditional Jewish spheres in study and research. The Weizmann Institute of Science and the Hebrew University are high on the list of needs that inspire support here. The cultural aspirations at home now are gaining new ground as a result of the com- mendable planning of the Conservative Inter- congregational Adult Education Institute. The motto of the current season's classes to be con- ducted by this institute. "And the bush was not consumed." draws inspiration from historical experiences and advises the community to pur- sue, to never abandon learning, to make study the chief aspiration of one's being, to encourage others to study and to make enlightenment that comes from honoring one's being, to encourage others to study and to make enlightenment that comes from honoring one's heritage the greater part of one's life. The Conservative task of continuity in spon- soring the current year's cultural program draws added appreciation in the fact that last year's enrollment in a similar venture exceeded 400 and a larger number is anticipated this year. The rich program already prepared. the scholarship aspect assuredly anticipated, earn the cooperation of all elements in the commu- nity in the courses to be conducted in behalf of all Conservative synagogues at Ong. Shaarey Zedek. Indeed, "And the bush was not consumed." Reform and Orthodox congregational groups also combine their efforts frequently for joint tasks in support of educational programs. These efforts are commendable even if building a community culturally must be considered a rou- tine obligation. The numerous classes arranged by the com- bined Reform congregations. to be conducted jointly for all their memberships at Temple Beth El, is a certain sign of continuity of inter- ests. They embrace every aspect of Jewish spir- itual legacies and undoubtedly lead towards greater identification of congregants with syna- gogue and community. Israel's Literary Treasures Jewish Community Put to the Test American Jewry was put to the test during the several days of tensions caused by an utex- pected joint statement issued by the United States and the Soviet Union which gave empha- sis-to an endorsement of Palestinian enrollment in negotiations with Israel in a resumed Geneva Conference on the Middle East. Without doubt, it was the pressure that was exerted in the form of protests against that statement by pro-Israeli elements in this coun- try, non-Jews as well as Jews, that forced a resumption of meetings involving President Jimmy Carter, Israel Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan and Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. Were these pressures justified? Not only were they in fullest accord with American principles which demand fair and open consideration of all issues affecting this nation, but they were com- pulsory for liberty-loving people. If it is right for people to demonstrate for or against issues involving school busing, the ERA for women's rights, abortion, the Panama Canal and other matters, it is doubly necessary to be assertive when the fate of an entire nation is involved. It is dutiful for citizens to assert their views, even to protest against their own govern- ment, when there is the danger of an injustice being imposed upon people in distress. The pressures on the President and State Depart- ment were necessary. It would have been crimi- nal to be silent. The taunting of Israel in many quarters, the regrettably antagonistic views that have become evident in many newspapers, represent an additional challenge which can only be answered by expressions in the public forums and in messages to government leaders who must be alerted to the viewpoints of the Jewish community. These feelings cannot be hidden. . Israel's leading novelists, short story writers and poets are repre- sented in an anthology of their works in English translations emerg- ing as one of the most impressive of the recent books issued by the Jewish Publication Society of America. More than 30 writers are represented in "Contemporary Israeli Literature," and the works selected for inclusion in this volume offer the English reader a fuller understanding of what had been achieved by the growing cultural community of Israel since statehood. Excellent editorial guidance has been given the anthologists who gathered the works for this volume. The book was edited by Elliott Anderson. Robert Friend edited the poetry. An introduction by Shimon Sandbanl and an afterword by Robert Alter add immensely to an appreciation of the extent of the progress that has been made in • the literary field in Israel. Then there are the impressive illustrations by Oded Feingersh which serve well in lending value to a work filled with literary gems. The fullest appreciation of the merits of this book is provided in the impressive list of authors represented in it. The poetic section, for example, incorporates the writings of the leader in that field in Israel, Yehuda Amichai, whose seven poems in the poetry section are among his best known, including "We Shall Live Forever" and "Lament." Other poetic works are by David Avidan, T.C. Carmo, Raquel Chalfi, Moshe Dor, Anadad Eldan, Amir Gilboa, Zerubavel Gilead, Haim Gouri, Uri -Zvi Greenberg, YaLir Hurvitz, Abba Kovner, Dan Pagis, Gabriel Preil, Esther Raab, Dahlia Ravikovitch, David Rokeach, Tuvia Ruebner, Avner Treinin, Yona Wallach, Meir Wiesel- tier and Natan Zach. Yehuda Amichai, with his story "The Orgy," and Haim Goury with an excerpt from his "The Crazy Book," also are represented in the fiction section. Others whose works of fiction are quoted here in- clude Aharon Appelfeld, Yoram Kaniuk, David Shahar, A.B. Ye- hoshua, Yitzhak Orpaz, Uri Orley, Amoz Oz and Pinhas Sadeh. Many of these names have already become famous in this coun- try, their writings having been published in English translations. "Contemporary Israeli Literature" first appeared under the im- primatur of Northwestern University and then was issued as a Jew- ish Publication Society volume. Its editor, Elliott Anderson, is the edi- tor of TiiQuarterly, a Northwestern University literary magazine. Of special interest in this volume is a brief note on the page list- ing acknowledgements which states: "Special thanks are due to Irwin T. Holtzman without whose generous support this anthology' re would not have been possible." This is a tribut' Israeli literature a Detroiter who notably assists Israeli authors and publishers and who constantly assists American authors as well. Economic History of the Jews "Economic History of the Jews," already widely acclaimed as an authoritative work by noted scholars, appears as one of the new- est Schocken paperbacks. Edited by Nachum Goss, this volume has the distinction of fea- turing the analyses of the economic roles of Jews through many peri- ods by Profs. Salo W. Baron and Arcadius Kahan with additional data provided by other writers. Prof. Baron's contribution to this volume commences with the First Temple Period, reviews exile and restoration experiences be- fore turning to the Second Temple Period, and then develops the con- ditions in the talmudic period, those in the Moslem and Middle Ages and the Medieval Christian period. Prof. Kahan's studies are devoted to • the modern periods.