THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Capitol Unenthusiastic to Begin
Boris Smolar's
`Between You
. . . and Me
(Continued from Page 1)
Editor-in-Chief
Emeritus, JTA
(Copyright 1978, JTA, Inc.)
CJFWF STRENGTH: The Council of Jewish Federa-
tions and Welfare Funds — central body of the organized
Jewish communities in the U.S. and Canada — is going
from strength to strength with every year.
Its leadership is pursuing energetically, under its presi-
dent Jerold C. Hoffberger, the task of strengthening Jewish
communal life on all fronts. It is not discouraged by predic-
tions of pessimists that the Jewish community in this coun-
try is on the way to shrinking; it is engaged in action to
prevent such a'possibility. Actually, Jews today number
about a million more in this country as compared with the
year of 1932, when the: CJFWF came into existence. And it
is also worthwhile noting that the great majority of the
Jews in the U.S. today are not immigrants. Immigration
has long ceased to be a factor in the increase of the Jewish
population. -
Led by American-born Jews from its very creation, the
CJFWF endeavored steadily to secure expansion of Jewish
communal activities. It introduced modern methods of
strengthening Jewish communal obligations. It developed
innovative programs to meet the changing needs and to
assume excellence in Jewish service. There are still weak
spots in American Jewish communal life — Jewish educa-
tion is one of them — but the communities are aware of
them and are trying to do something about them.
FEDERATIONS AND ISRAEL.: The Council of Jewish
Federations and Welfare Funds is not a political body. It is
engaged primarily in activities serving philanthropic, so-
cial and cultural needs of the Jewish community. However,
it is deeply interested in the fate of Israel for whom the
federations in this country provide about $300 million a
year through the United Jewish Appeal.
A good deal of attention is paid in Washington to the
sentiments of CJFWF in connection with differences now
developing between the Carter Administration and the
government of Israel over the stalled Israel-Egyptian
negotiations. Leaders of the CJFWF were recently invited
to a private luncheon in the White House at which they
were briefed on the motivations of the American govern-
ment. They left not exactly satisfied with what they were
told.
In Israel, the CJFWF is consi-
dered "the partner" representing
American Jewry in the building of
the Jewish state. The partnership
between Israel and the American
Jewish communities was cemented
by Detroiter Max M. Fisher when
he served as president of the
CJFWF. He had also served as gen-
eral chairman of the United Jewish
Appeal. He spared no effort to build
a solid bridge between Israelis and
MAX FISHER
non-Israelis, with the result that in
1971 the Jewish Agency was reconstituted in a way that
the Jewish communities outside of Israel were given 50
percent of its seats.
The influence of the CJFWF in the planning and execu-
tion of the tasks of the Jewish Agency can now be seen from
the fact that Fisher is the chairman of the Agency's board of
governors which manages the affairs of the Agency and
controls its activities. Virtually all American members of
the board of governors are members of the CJFWF board.
Eighty-nine leaders from 45 communities in the U.S. par-
ticipated as delegates in the recent Assembly of the Jewish
Agency in Jerusalem.
TAKING A "HARD LOOK": Always eager for greater
achievements, the CJFWF leadership is now taking a
"hard look" at the composition of executive boards of feder-
ations and their methods of operation in order to re-shape
the boards into even more effective policy-making bodies.
Another "hard look" is being planned at budgeting proces-
ses of federations in the face of rising costs.
Special attention is also being paid by the CJFWF to
relations between synagogues and federation constituent
agencies, like Jewish centers and family services.
By virtually all ac-
counts, Begin's discussion
with 66 Senators, about four
times the number of the
committee membership it-
self, was less yarm and ef-
fective than his later meet-
ing with the Mae commit-
tee where the attendance
was basically its member-
ship.
"When Golda Meir in her
heyday used to come to the
Capitol," ati aide to a
senatorial friend of Israel
explained, "she was most
warmly received and she
could have anything she
asked. Begin doesn't come
across that way. Many
Senators don't feel close to
him. That's the main differ-
ence."
On the House side the es-
timate was that Begin was
"brilliant" and "surprised"
at least one Congressman
who was critical of some of
his politics and approaches.
Another said he spoke in a
"concerned atmosphere"
but "the important thing"
was that the "differences"
between the U.S. and Israel
"were expressed between
friends- rather than disputes
between enemies." But, he
added, "Clearly there was a
re-affirmation of the U.S.
commitment to Israel. The
differences were like those
in the family."
Passion Play Vote Reversed
LONDON — The newly-
elected village council in
Oberammergau, West
Germany, has decided to
overturn its predecessors'
decision of last month and
use an anti-Semitic version
-
of the town's "passion play."
The American Jewish
Committee lobbied exten-
sively to have the town use
an earlier version of the
play during the 1980 per-
formances. Detroiter Miles
Jaffe was active in those ef-
forts.
According to the London
Jewish Chronicle, the coun-
cil vote will be re-considered
in May.
bassador to Israel, attended
the Senate meeting.
Sen. Percy also stated
that the Senators stres-
sed that Israel's position
on retaining civilian set-
tlements in Sinai and on
the West Bank "has di-
vided Israel, divided the
American Jewish com-
munity and caused an
erosion of support for Is-
rael."
Sen. James Abourezk
(D-SD), who has attacked
Israel's incursion into
southern Lebanon, was also
present but asked no ques-
tions.
In both the Senate and
House meetings Begin
pointed out that he offered a
"forthcoming" plan for a
Middle East settlement. He
ad presented this to Carter
nd Egyptian President
Anwar Sadat four months
go. "Why, is what was
right in December not right
n March?" he asked. "Why
s what was flexible in the
winter considered some-
hing else in the spring?"
In response to a question
rom Percy that Iraq is send-
ng ammunition, trucks and
troops to the PLO, Begin es-
imated that some 500
armed Iraqis are in Leba-
non north of the Litani
River. "We didn't attack
them, because we do not
want to widen the conflict,"
he said.
Begin, who went from
A White House state-
an extended meeting
with President Carter to
the Senate, was generally
reported as physically
tired and presented his
view in a "low key." La-
ter, after a brief rest, he
was more vigorous in his
presentation to the
House members and was
described as "having
handled himself well."
While "no nasty" ques-
tions were asked, Begin was
pressed mainly by Senators
who were not members of
the Foreign Relations
Committee on his policy on
Jewish settlements. "There
is a mixed picture on this,"
and an opposition to the
Administration's proposal
to provide F-15 aircraft to
Saudi Arabia, a senatorial
aide said.
"There is no erosion re-
garding the PLO," one
Senator said. "On that score
Israel is as strong as ever in
the Senate. But people are
still confused about other
issues, particularly the set-
tlements." In this connec-
tion, a Senator pointed out
that 27 Senators have now
endorsed a resolution cal-
ling on Carter to cut off U.S.
aid within 30 days to coun-
tries supporting the ter-
rorist PLO.
Sen. Charles Percy (R-
Ill.) said later, "This is
probably the toughest
negotiation that any Israeli
Prime Minister has had
with a "President of the Un-
ited States." An indication
of Administration watch-
fulness of Begin's impact on
Congress was that Assis-
tant Secretary of State
Harold Saunders and
Samuel Lewis, the U.S. am-
*
.
ment following the first
meeting between Carter
and Begin said the two
eaders in their two-
hours of talks had "a
thorough discussion on
he issues that must be
resolved in order to en-
sure continuity and
progress in the peace
negotiations."
The statement said that
"In particular, they have
reviewed the status of
negotiations on a declara-
(Continued on Page 18)
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