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. Published every Friday by The Jewish NeWs Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 Postmaster: Send address changes to The Jewish News, 17515 W. 9 Mile Rd., Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional.Mailing Offices. Subscription $12 a year. PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Editor and Publisher ALAN HITSKY - News Editor CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ Business Manager HEIDI PRESS Assistant News Editor DREW LIEBERWITZ Advertising Manager Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the ninth day of Kislev, 5739, the following scriptural selections will .be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Genesis 28:10-32:3. Prophetical portion, Hosed12:13-14:10. Candle lighting, Friday, Dec. 8, 4:43 p.m. VOL. LXXIV, No. 14 Page Four Friday, December 8, 1978 Observing Human Rights Day Marking the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations, at San Francisco, three of the major religious organizations have issued an appeal for observance of Human Rights Day on Dec. 10 and of Human Rights Week, Dec. 10-17. United Synagogue of America appended its name to this appeal, together with the National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA, and United States Catholic Conference. Their ap- peal declares: "Whereas Dec. 10, 1978, marks the 30th an- niversary of the adoption of the Universal Dec- laration of Human Rights by the United Na- tions; and "Whereas the United Nations International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and on Civil and Political Rights strive ta_guarantee'the rights enumerated in the Uni- versal Declaration; and "Whereas more than 50 nations have ratified these Covenants, and President Carter has asked the U.S. Senate to approve them; and "Whereas we are daily reminded that people suffer because their human rights are unfulfil- led or violated throughout the world as well as in the United States; and "Whereas our religious faith calls us to affirm the dignity and worth of every human being and to struggle for justice for oppressed people everywhere; "Therefore now we call upon all members of the religious community, our nation, and our leaders to observe Human Rights Week, Dec. 10-17, 1978, as an occasion to renew our na- tional commitment to the advancement of human rights; and "Urge the President of the United States to declare Dec. 10, 1978, as Human Rights Day and Dec. 10-17, 1978, as Human Rights Week throughout the United States; and – "Commend the President for submitting the Covenants to the U.S. Senate on Feb. 23, 1978; and "Urge our churches,---s-ynagogues and reli- gious and other organizations to initiate a coor- dinated effort to inform the American public about and acquire favorable public support for these human rights covenants." The Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains a basis for pursuing the task of eliminating hatreds and of establishing accord between peoples for justice attained with dig- nity and without warfare. When the historic document was phrased and adopted by what was then referred to as the UNO — United Nations Organization — there was dedication to the basic human principles in support of which the international UN was formed. Sadly, there have developed deviations which have caused much agony for mankind from- the presently dominating UN ranks. The Soviet bloc, the negations stemming from the Third World nations, the Arab combine, all of them devoting more time to efforts to destroy Israel than to elevating the standards--of their own- peoples, have in many respects repudiated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is this unfortunate reversion to me- ievalism that caused one Protestant body, in its appeal for strict adherence to the basic prin- ciples assigned to Human Rights Day, to allude to Isaiah, suggesting emphasis on religious ap- peals 'for tolerance and humanism with em- phasis on Isaiah 61:1-4: And they shall build the ancient ruins, Raise up the desolations of old, And renew the ruined cities, The desolations of many ages. What is needed is respect for neighbors and cooperation with them to end the miseries that have divided peoples. The Human Rights prin- ciples are continually abused. Perhaps obser- vance of a special day for their elevation will remove the blight and will restore the aims and aspiiettions that predominated in the early years of the founding of the United Nations. Therefore, Human Rights Day retains •a jus- tification for universal adherence. If the peoples of the world could be induced to have the docu- ment read broadly there would emerge the hope for its being honored in all respects. This is the hope to be appended to the call for Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week obser- vances. Iranian Jewry's Dilemmas The crisis in Iran brings to mind the repeti- tiveness of history. Jews are in greater danger than the other elements in the Persia of old. In view of the religious conflict in that oil-rich country, it is not surprising that Jews should become the targets in a struggle for power as well as conflict in ideologies. As in other experiences, whenever a crisis arises posing the problem of a possible emigra- tion, there are those who hand out the olive branch, assuring Jews of safety, while the revo- lutionary outbursts create fears, causing many Jews to seek shelter elsewhere. That's the dilemma of Iran. It is the historic tragedy for the Jew. The Iranian problem is not being swept under a hiding place. National Jewish organizations, Israeli agencies and leaders in the Joint Distri- bution. Committee are showing concern. As a matter of fact, the annual meeting of JDC held in New York this week gave priority to the Iranian item on an important agenda, thus alerting the fund's supporters that a need may arise to formulate action to assist a com- munity in turmoil. There is no doubt that the coming weeks, possibly days, will offer clarifications of what is to be expected, and it is good to know that the Jewish community will not be found unpre- pared for action. DeBreffny's 'Synagogue' Covers Subject Historically "The Synagogue" by Brian deBreffny (Macmillan) is a classic in every sense of the word. It traces synagogal history from its begin- nings, it takes the reader on a world tour to see how Jews worship and how synagogual art has developed, and in the process the author narrates history. Traveling widely, searching for every available source of informa- tion about synagogues, seeing the new and tracing the background of the old, the author provides so much information in his impressive book that it serves as a veritable encyclopedia about the Jewish house of worship. This volume is an architectural history of synagogues. But it is much more. It is a social study of Jewish life as it found its roots in the synagogue. It gives an account of anti-Semitism, of Vatican prej- udices and obstructions, of the many ritual murder accusations that resulted in desecrations and threats to synagogues and to the com- munities they served. The historian deBreffny takes into account the affects of the Holocaust. He describes the contrasts in rich synagogues with those built as popular gathering places and he calls the trend "meshugothic." There is a summation in the final pages of his book that is especially impressive. He comments- inter alia: - "While rich congregations continue to build glamorous and impres- sive synagogues there are still in urban America small congregations who are happy to meet in an upper room or a converted shop or house that recalls the shtibl of the Hasidim of the Eastern European shtetl. In these unpretentious synagogues minyanim of friends and neighbors meet for the services. They feel no need of a 'particular religious building to convert them into worshippers; they regard the luxurious synagogues without jealousy but are apt to describe their style wryly as `meshugothic.' "The post-war German state assisted communities to rebuild their synagogues but the Jewish population of the country in the late 1950s had dwindled to about 27,000 — a dramatic drop from the pre-war half-million. So the need for these new synagogues was sometimes more symbolic than real .. . "Important synagogues are not a feature of modern Isra_ priorities in building are houses, factories, hospitals, roads_ an - e- fense installations. Little can be spared for luxurious synagogue- building, although precious funds have been spent on the beautiful restoration of the old synagogues in the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem which were wrecked during the period of Jordanian rule. In many places, a simple spare room or an unpretentious building has been adapted as a place of worship. The need for a community center in connection with the religious place of assembly has not, as yet, been felt in Israel, where the land itself is the place of assembly of the people. In time to come this may change if the religious authorities find a need to attract the young to study Toiah and worship, through the provision of social amenities in the same place." DeBreffny began his travels for the compilation of his book in Cordova with his photographer George Mott. The scores of photo- graphs include Greater Detroit's Shaarey Zedek and there is refer- ence to Temple Beth El. So much is covered- in this volume that the most practical sugges- tion for this work is that it be used as text for study courses and as a guide for students in high schools and colleges and seminars for higher learning.