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THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English - Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press - Association. National Editorial Association.
NoW WE VIANIE#
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Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield; Mich. 48075
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PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
Business Manager
ALAN HITSKY
HEIDI PRESS
DREW LIEBERWITZ
News Editor
Assistant News Editor
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 18th day of Heshvan, 5739, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Genesis 18:1-22:24. Prophetical portion, II Kings 4:1-37.
Candle lighting, Friday, Nov. 17, 4:52 p.m.
LXXIV, No. 11
Page Four
Friday, November 17, 1978
More Federation Apartments
roundbreaking for an additional structure,
king expansion of the Federation Apart-
tts project, adds pride in the appreciation of
ices undertaken here in behalf of the el-
y.
he waiting list for admissions both to the
eration Apartments and the Jewish Home
he Aged have been a source of concern. Even
• the completion of the additional Federa-
. Apartments building and the projected new
lities for the Home for the Aged there is
er an assurance that all applicants for both
find homes in them. For every successful
didate for a home in either there are dozens
pplicants.
Thatever relief can be provided, however, is a
se for satisfaction that the community con-
xs the needs of the aged and aging one of
wity in social planning.
Zany of the needs of the elderly have been
continue to be treated with great serious-
s. The Jewish Welfare Federation and the
Tish Family and Children's Service have the
aeration of the National Council of Jewish
men and other groups in efforts, such as
als on Wheels, in, assuring whatever services
ease the difficulties that go with old age for
numerous in need here.
'he task of providing added facilities in eas-
the housing problem continues to be one of
at concern. The new Federation Apartments
lding is evidence -of communal dedication
and a striving to solve a major human problem.
The groundbreaking for the new Federation
Apartments structure thus becomes an occasion
for jubilation both among the elderly as well as
for those who have assumed the responsibility
of fulfilling the serious needs for the aging.
Accompanying the action taken for the ex-
pansion of housing programs for the elderly, as
represented in the additional tasks to advance
the Federation Apartments program, is the
interest in and concern for the welfare of the
elderly on an over-all basis. With the aid of
federally-financed projects, the senior citizens
gain priority in social planning. Their needs are
not ignored. Yet, on a local basis, there is much
to be achieved. Federation Apartments are for
those able to fend for themselves. There are the
many who must be aided and for whom housing
must be a matter of supervision. For them the
necessity of homes for the aged continues to be
an obligation on a communal scale.
It would be ungracious to say that this duty is
being ignored. The need for such facilities is
vital, and its immediate attainment is far from
simple. It was not so easy to reach the point of
fulfilling the hope of having more Federation
Apartments. It is equally as difficult, if not more
so, to reach the goal of expanded permanent
housing for the elderly. Those who have shown
concern in the Federation Apartments field will
assuredly exercise equal concern in the. field of
permanency in housing-for the elderly.
Post-Election Obligations
Many grudges were aired, personality issues
re involved and by innuendo, rather than
bright, problems affecting human relations
d citizenship duties were juggled by politi-
ins during the campaign that just concluded
th last Tuesday's election.
Now the victors are confronted with the seri-
s obligations of dealing with major issues_
thout partisanship. The needs of the Ameri-
a people at home and human relations abroad
ist become the guidelines in actions involving -
e government of the United States.
Inevitably, candidates play politics and say
ings intended to appeal to the sentiments of
e masses. Having ended campaigning, the
acted officials now are duty-bound to be objec-
re and to deal with the issues pragmatically..
On the home front there is the economic chal-
ige, the matters involving taxes, the educa-
mal and health needs. If party politics will be
rmitted to influence the actions of lawmakers
an the nation is due for trouble. The needs are
great on many fronts, the inflationary trend
so threatening, the schools are so seriously
Cected by monetary shortcomings, that unless
perts step in to deal with the issues without
as there will be tough days ahead.
Candidates for national offices, either dis-
ssed the Middle East issues or alluded to
em. The fact remains that they will have to
al with them in Congress.
It has been the good fortune of the nations
volved that the war-threatened Middle East
as treated on a non-partisan basis. Israel's
needs were treated without prejudice. Leaders
of both political parties in Congress always
react to the crucial needs in the area by assuring
support for Israel's defense. This is one of the
basic foreign issues which call for restraint on
political divisiveness and adherence to impar-
tiality in treatment of the issues involving the
Middle East.
Regardless of the results attaining to the ap-
proaching Egyptian-Israeli peace, there may be
endless propaganda ploys aimed at portraying
Israel as an aggressor or as the recipient of too
much aid from the United States. The fact is
that the military assistance to Israel is barely
sufficient to match the arms the Arab states
receive from many sources, including the
United States. But the chief hope is that the
provisions that will be assured will be for
adequate protection for Israel. While the major
war threat is ending, there still are the nearly
20 other Arab states to deal with and until they
make peace with Israel the latter will need to be
protected against overwhelming odds,
This becomes a matter of justice to be dealt
with as a matter of right and of a human need to
prevent an incorrigible and inexcusable war. It
is ,on this score that legislators are asked to act
with pragmatism, avoiding the menace of false
propaganda.
Indeed, the political campaign has ended and
now begins a session for sensible approaches to
all issues. But the domestic and the foreign are
pressing and members of Congress will be held
responsible for failures they must avoid.
Oxford University Press
`War and Peace in'
the World's Religions'
Prof. John Ferguson, a noted authority on the classics, a leader in
the Christian Peace Movement, makes a notable study of the views on
war and peace in religious movements. In "War and Peace in the
World's Religions" (Oxford University Press), he offers thorough
analyses of the religious teachings of all faiths.
He shows how the quest for power is a dominant factor in many
approaches to religious practices, war predominating in many ages
and areas. There is the desire for power which often generates
animosities, and there also is the aspiration for human improvement.
He summarizes:
"Does religion matter? The answer in cold historical fact is that
surely it does. Not just as a comfort to the consciences of large-scale
kleptomaniacs and as an instrument for maintaining their power.
Religions have been so used, often in the history of mankind. But we
can see the pressures to social conformity and readily understand how
they come about. These are the pressures of society on religion. It is
the other call that is less easy to explain away, the challenge of the
prophet to society to change in the name of a higher morality and an
ultimate truth. This has mostly been proclaimed in the name of God or
Heaven or the Way. It still comes today."
In these impressively researched studies, Prof. Ferguson devotes an
important chaptei- to Tribal Religions, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism and
Jainism, Buddhism, Far East religions, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism
and Baha'i. There is an important essay on Judaism. It is an ana-
lytical study, pointing to eras of war and also to the peace tasks.
His essay on Judaism indicates how the sufferings of the ages have
led to a passion for justice. He emphasizes his comments on the Judaic
aspects of peace in the following excerpts:
"Across the centuries the Jewish people have suffered intensely
from persecution. From this has come the idea of a vocation to suffer-
ing, of the acceptance of suffering, not the infliction of suffering, as a
means of changing the world. One great rabbinic dictum was 'Be of
the persecuted rather than of the persecutors' (Baba Kamma 93a'
"So Rabbi Joshua ben Levi said, 'He who gladly accepts the suffer-
ings of this world brings salvation to the world.' So Judah Ha Levi in
al-Khuzari (11,44) in the 12th Century wrote that Israel has a mission
of suffering. Israel, the heart of humanity, the suffering servant,
bears the ills of all, and by this very fact allows God to reveal Himself
on earth.
"Simon ben Yochai said, The best which God gave Israel, he gave
through suffering.' God be thanked,' cried Sholem Asch, 'that the
nations have not given my people the opportunity to commit against
others the crimes which have been committed against it.' The voca-
tion of suffering is the theme of Andre Schwarz-Barth's Prix Goncourt
novel The Last of the Just:
`And praised. Auschwitz. So be it. Maidenek. The Eternal. Treb-
linka. And praised. Buchenwald. So be it. Mauthausen. The Eternal.
Belzec. And praised. Sobibor. So be it. Chelnino. The Eternal. Ponary.
And praised. Theresienstadt. So be it. Warsaw. The Eternal. Wilno.
And praised. Skarzysko. So be it. Bergen-Belsen: The Eternal. Janow.
And praised. Dora. So be it. Neuengamme. The Eternal. Pustkow.
And praised..