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PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
ALAN HITSKY
News Editor
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Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the fourth day of Heshvan, 5739, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Genesis 6:9-11:32. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 54:1-55:5.
Candle lighting, Friday, Nov. 3, 5:06 p.m.
VOL. LXXIV, No. 9
Page Four
Friday, November 3, 1978
Sad U.S. Role in UN Travesty
Many a travesty on justice has emanated
from the United Nations General Assembly.
Particularly sinful is the continuing prejudice
against Israel and the Zionist movement, with
the Communist-Arab bloc and the Third World
backers of Israel's enemies blindly supporting
every move intended to harm Israel.
The support given to PLO hatred in the UN
General Assembly is especially repelling and
the latest effort of sponsoring a terrorist PLO
movie during the period of Israel's 30th an-
niversary is notably outrageous.
Adding insult to injury, however, is the buckl-
ing under of the White House and the State
Department to such propaganda. While 28 U.S.
Senators; including both from Michigan, and
many members of the U.S. House of Represen-
tatives have asked that funds supporting such
propaganda be denied, President Carter and the
State Department, even if reluctantly; have
conceded to the anti-Israel movie which is cer-
tain to add hatred to the venom already propa-
gated in the UN General Assembly.
Michigan Congressman William Brodhead is
among those who has attempted to exert influ-
ence upon the White House not to be partici-
pants in the latest UN travesty. Brodhead, reg-
istering his protest, stated in a letter to
President Carter:
"Last week, you signed . Public Law 95-426,
the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of
1979. I write to ask your immediate attention to
Section 614 of this law, which condemns the UN
Special Unit on Palestinian Rights which was
established under the UN Secretariat in De-
_ cember, 1977.
"Over the past year, this special unit has
acted as a propaganda arm of the Palestinian
Liberation Organization, a terrorist group dedi-
cated to the taestruction of our longtime friend
and ally, Israel.
"Besides using its half-million dollar budget
for pamphlets and newsletters propagandizing
PLO objectives with the sanction of the UN, the
special unit is completing a film, "Palestinians
Do Have Rights," which will be released in late
November of this year. This film will provide a
forum for PLO chief Yasir Arafat and attempt to
portray PLO terrorism as justified and PLO
goals as moderate.' Because the United States
contributes one-quarter of the UN's budget,
American tax dollars are being used to actively
promote PLO interests. I believe this situation
is intolerable."
The injustice is too apparent to need explain-
ing. Shocked by what had occurred, the
Jerusalem Post stated editorially on this subject
under the heading The UN's Sordid Joke".
The character of the killer-with-a-grin is not
unknown in film history. A movie recently pro-
duced by the United Nations centers around the
figure of such a one, by the name of Yasir
Arafat. He will be played by himself, as a na-
tional hero, aided by a large cast made up of the
dedicated assassins of his very own Palestine
Liberation Organization.
"This sordid joke has been perpetrated
through the efforts of a 'special unit on Palesti-
nian rights' set up by the General Assembly
last year. It will be unveiled as the main attrac-
tion of celebrations scheduled for Nov. 29, de-
clared an 'international day of solidarity with
the Palestinian people.' The film is to be titled
The Palestinians Do Have Rights.'
"To be sure, this mendacious version of recent
history should not come as any great surprise. Is
it not, it could well be asked, but the natural
expression of the mindless drift of the General
Assembly's loquacity on the Middle East? And
does this entire celebration matter one whit
when set against the opening of the Israel-
Egyptian peace talks in Washington, supported
as they are, in essence, by a full four of the 'big
five'?
"The answer is obvious. Yet it would be a
mistake to dismiss the 'Palestine day' affair as a
tempest in a teapot. Vileness such as this must
have consequences.
"In the U.S. Senate, a decision was taken to
deduct the costs of the affair, and its expensive
promotion, from America's annual contribution
to the UN. In the end, the State Department
persuaded the Congress to make do with an
expression of 'outrage.'
"There is no reason for Israel to so rest con-
tent. Israel is under no moral — and arguably
also under no legal — obligation to support with
its own funds propaganda aimed at undermin-
ing its very existence.
"But perhaps the time has come for some
more demonstratiVe measures. The General
Assembly might well be advised that Israel and
the Jewish People are not amused by the As-
sembly's shenanigans."
The outrage being perpetrated with the
endorsement of the UN General Assembly is too
apparent to need additional evaluation. It is
fortunate that the UN General Assembly prej-
udices do not extend entirely to the UN Security
Council where vetoes help allay fears of traves-
ties similar to the General, Assembly's. But the
General Assembly-and its unworkable decisions
receive the notoriety that causes trouble and
that is where the harm becomes destructive.
The Wall Street Journal also treated the sub-
ject with shock by stating under the heading
"Disturbing the Peace":
"Just possibly, if none of the disasters
endemic to the Mideast gets in the way, we may
be on the road to a peace treaty between Egypt
and Israel. To celebrate the chance of a peace
the United Nations is planning a day of official
bereavement, and will mark the occasion with a
new film promoting the terrorism of the PLO."
Indeed, at a time when there is so much
hope from an anticipated peace affecting at
least one of the Arab nations, it is deplorable
that amity should be undermined in the spread-
ing of lies leading to increased hatred. And
especially regrettable is the U.S. role of yielding
to the Arab propaganda by supporting one of its
worst hate-insurring methods. The protests
against the White House and State Department
actions deserve appreciation and commenda-
tion.
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4.0TA
Third Volume in Series
Zeitlin's Final Work on Rise
and Fall of the Judean State
Dr. Solomon Zeitlin left a great literary legacy in his seven decades
of creative efforts as author and teacher. His works embrace the most
important aspects of Jewish life.-He was historian, theologian, tal-
mudist.
He was the outstanding authority in the world on the Second
Commonwealth and was therefore qualified to challenge the an-
tiquity of the Dead Sea scrolls.
"The Rise and Fall of the Judean State" is among the encyclopedic
works that lend special significance to the literary achievements of
the late Dr. Zeitlin in the field of history. The appearance of the third
volume in this series is of special significance at a time when Jewish
statehood is a matter of international discussion. The posthumous
publication of this third volume in a great work that in a sense
summarizes the writings of the eminent scholar on the history of the
Second Commonwealth and also serves as a tribute to the Jewish
Publication Society for having given encouragement to the continuity
of research by one of the leading Jewish scholars_of this century.
Dealing with one of the most crucial
periods in Jewish history, 66-120 CE, Dr.
Zeitlin described the effects of the infusion
of the life-giving spiritual aspects provided
by Johanan Ben Zakkai who established
the centers for study in a time of political
collapse for the Jewish state.
Because the period under consideration
also marked the emergence of Christianity
and a parting of the ways between Jews
and the New Christians, the authoritative
pen of Prof. Zeitlin provided a very valu-
able text for an understanding of the most
revolutionary occurrence that affected
world history and the role of Jewry in the
world.
In this volume, Dr. Zeitlin produced
thorough interpretations of Halakhic
regulations and the influence of Halal
in Jewish living and observances. The3
ceive clarification based on the authoritat-
ive skills of the eminent scholar.
'DR. SOLOMON_ZEITLIN
The personalities in the era under re-
view, the crucial issues, - the emergence of Halakhic codes, the strug-
gle against Rome and the spiritual survival — these are factors in a
great work that keep alive the memory of one of the greatest Jewish
scholars of this century.
"The Rise and Fall of the Judean State" has an enriching
addendum in the form of an appendix, an essay on the life of Josephus
Flavius. An impressive index for the volume has been prepared by
Gertrude Hirschler, covering all three volumes of Dr. Zeitlin's works
on the Second Commonwealth.
The scholarly preface by Prof. Sidney B. Hoenig is both a tribute to
Dr. Zeitlin and a valuable summation of the book. It is an historical
essay of great merit.