1 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Nov. 29 Marked as Peace Day JERUSALEM (JTA) — The 29th of November marks the date when the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish the state of Israel in 1947. This year, however, Nov. 29 has gained two additional meanings. In December 1977, a four-member UN committee declared it "In- ternational Day of Solidar- ity With the Palestinian People," as a means of promoting the "legitimate 'ghts of the Palestinian ;ople and furthering the Palestinian cause through- out the world." As a counter-effort, the newly-established informa- tion department of the World Zionist Organization proclaimed the same date "Peace Day" in an attempt to increase world Jewry's awareness of the manner in which the UN efforts are circumventing both the original meaning of Nov. 29 and the real Zionist yearn- ing for peace. The WZO has launched an international informa- tion campaign under the slogan, "Peace is the Way of Zionism," to try and present Israel in its pro- per light. The department is centering its efforts on the two focal points of peace and Zionism in a long line of activities planned throughout the world. "We don't want to pro- mote a clash with the UN efforts for Palestine Day head on," a WZO spokes- man said. "Rather, we want to utilize the subject of No- vember 29 as a means of stressing the diplomatic processes, which, in the end result, represent recogni- tion of the Zionist move- ment. Together with this, we will expose the motiva- tion which established Palestine Day for what it is." Prize Ceremony in New Location WASHINGTON (JTA) — Security considerations have prompted the Norwe- gian Nobel Committee to shift the site of this year's peace prize presentations from the Oslo University concert hall to a 13th Cen- tury fortress. The recipients, Premier Menahem Begin of Israel and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, will accept their awards in ceremonies at Akerhus Castle, built in ' 219 which overlooks Oslo's ,_aner harbor. The medieval _ stronghold is virtually im- pregnable to gate crashers. Revision Asked NEW. YORK The American Jewish Commit- tee, the American Jewish Congress and the Anti- Defamation League of Bnai , Brith have written a joint letter to the U.S. Equal Em- ployment Opportunity Commission asking for re- vised guidelines on reme- dial and affirmative action to eliminate job discrimina- tion. Friday, November 24, 1918 13 The Wall of Bitter Tears Kotel Ma'aravi Western Wall Blocks of granite row on row Built over 2,000 years ago Here David played upon the harp Here King Solomon sat in judgement In this hallowed sacred land Of Temple sanctified by the people's prayers Relic now of times gone by - Glory days of long ago. Now it stands here worn and weary Heavy laden with the sorrows Piled upon it day by day Here they come from all the corners Torn and twisted with pain and sorrow Engraved so deep upon their faces. Thru the ages doth it stand here Solid, constant, bare, foreboding Symbol of a people's faith As it looks down on its children Swaying back and forth in rhythm With the prayers that they bring here. From the lands, from all the corners Of the earth they do pilgrim To this holy site, the wall of prayers To pour out their hearts of sorrow To the point of overflowing Torment, anguish, torture bleeding That have gathered in their being From the time that they were smitten Feet that stumble, torn and bleeding Weighted with their heavy burdens Tatooed numbers burnt into them Like the cattle of the fields. Now they come here moving forward Forward to the Wall of Wailing Seeking out a place of comfort Just to touch this sacred emblem For a shrine to give them solace That has stood he•e'thru. the ages. Oh great symbol of our glory Look with kindness on your children Listen to their ailing heart beat From their torment as they speak out Tortured bodies do they bring here. Just to find in all their seeking One just moment, just to rest here And to pray in sweet contentment Seeking out a healing prayer -In this hallowed land of dreams. Oh Israel hear thy people As they sway here at the Wall Listen to their mournful prayers Prayers for the ONE and all Give them succor, give them peace Give them hope and then bestow Love and kindness for the future And gentle soothe their ever longing Once again they are back home In the land of their beginning. In our history dark and somber Came again a time of pain and bleeding The sacred WALL taken from us Stood a sentry with a bayonet Pointed at our weary hearts Blocked_ the road — the road to holy There the WALL - no longer ours. Then the sorrows grieving further Piled upon them, higher, higher Till the iniquity was shattered By our soldiers of this land. With their blood the path was opened To the entrance of our lands To the WALL of WAILING standing With welcome hands outstretched For the prayers that they bring here. Before this mighty wall I stood That I sought out in my main pilgrim so revered and blessed was it From the time of my first learning Remnant of the Temple of Solomon Sacred to a people's prayers. Here the prayers are everlasting As they bounce off the WALL To ascend to God directly From the souls who pray intensely Swaying to and fro in rhythmic prayer. All my life I had a yearning In my heart the wish was burning Year by year it grew and grew Unabated, undilated to stand here In this holy of the holies Bringing special prayers from my heart As I stepped to touch the WALL Not a word could I just utter Not a word came up from memory I just stood and in awed reverie Straight and rigid looking upward Transformed into another being That I did not know at all My heart stood there beating wildly As' I stood before my MAKER As he judged me at the WALL All my earthly feelings left me In the sanctum of the holies All the thoughts that now did shake me All the histories of my people Written on this sacred WALL All the sorrow all the tumult Our Father, Our King Have mercy on us Purify our hearts Open up the gates of Heaven to our prayers Have mercy on us Give us a life of peace a life of love a life of understanding Write us in the Book of Life Have mercy on us And on all the children of Israel and on all the children of mankind mercy. Maurice Croll, M.D. August, 1978 Gathered here throughout the ages I could see upon the WALL As I stood there, it was eerie As I looked into the heavens Then a shaft of light did find me Beaming gently on my face With the graces of the Lord No earthly tune did play here I just stood as in a trance As my heart sang out in prayer Prayer I could not say at all Yet I stood here, here as in commune As I reached toward the WALL There I saw the dew drops glisten Pushing forth from out the WALL Giant tears of bitter, are they Overwhelmed by all the sorrows The Waling Wall cries out in union With those prayers with them all. Here they stood, my great forefathers Praying here with all their souls From among them which I knew not Stood my fathers one and all. Now I stood here in their footsteps Praying as they did before So my prayers going upward Mingles in the heaven above. Soon a trembling overtook me As I looked up to the stars Then I saw my father praying In his ancient prayer shawl. For a moment he did smile down As my heart beat out with glee Names "Reb Hillel" was my father • Aptly named, a scholar he. Was it just a mental fancy Conjured up in my trance reverie So it could be, flightful fancy - Yet it was very real to me. - Slowly, slowly, ever slowly Did my body start to sway In the rhythm of the prayers That came singing up to speak. • Backward from the wall I stepped With my heart beat now at ease There I knew my prayers were coming As they flowed out in a torrent As my tears fell to the earthly Land I loved these many years "ERETZ YISRAEL".