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Friday, January 12, 1979
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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
U.S. Friendship for Israel
Officially Re-affirmed
in Brzezinski Declaration
Concern over American interests in the Middle East
and the friendship for Israel can not — must not! — be
minimized. The frequent negative references to Israel
Prime Minister Menahem Begin, occasionally accom-
panied by commendations for Egyptian President Anwar
Sadat, caused resentment. President Jimmy Carter was
not, is not, immune from criticism.
Columnists on occasion add to the contradictions with
interpretations that sound as if the American-Israel amity
was nearing collapse. There are prophets of doom who
encourage a view that sounds like an end to a traditional
American dedication to efforts assuring Israel's security.
The views of an important member of the Carter offi-
cial circle become especially significant at this time. Na-
tional Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski was ques-
tioned on issues affecting U.S. foreign policies for the New
York Times by James Reston and the American position on
Israel was presented by him in the following:
Reston: Well, this gets to the larger question in
- the Middle East. What is the future there? For
example, there is, I think, a strong feeling on the
part of our Israeli friends that there was a basic
change in this Administration in the sense that the
special relationship was broken, that the United
States' looking to its global responsibilities
changed that special relationship.
Brzezinski: I would categorically deny that. The
relationship between the United States and Israel
is genuinely organic and moral in its character. I
put that above any formal ties of alliance or
treaties. There are such direct personal links be-
tween America and Israel, and there is such a
sense of moral identification with Israel because
of what has happened in the last 40 years that this
relationship is as strong as ever and as enduring
as ever.
I can say this with
some fervor because of
my own awareness,
very personal aware-
ness, of what has hap-
pened in recent his-
tory, and because I
know how deeply the
President feels. How-
ever, what is impor-
tant to stress is that
this Administration is
very conscious of the
fact that, unless there
is a rapid and wider
resolution of the
Arab-Israeli conflict,
then the continuation
ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI
of this conflict will it-
self act as a catalyst for the more rapid radicaliza-
tion and for the wider penetration of the region by
Soviet influence.
Peace is in the interest of the United States, and,
as an official of the U.S. government, I have no
embarrassment in listing that first. But it is also in
the interest of Israel, of the moderate Arab coun-
tries and of the Palestinian people — who cannot
be ignored — that there develops a pattern of
regional cooperation ranging from Iran even all
the way to Morocco and from southern Arabia to
the shores of the Mediterranean with the West. If
there is such peace in the region, not only will the
Arab countries be able to modernize rapidly but I
have not the slightest doubt that Israel will be-
come the Switzerland or the Singapore of the
region, and, therefore, there is a real opportunity
for Israel to flourish the way its founders
dreamed.
The alternative is a beleaguered state in a sea of
radical hostility, with the inevitable cultural con-
sequences as well as rampant inflation and major
vulnerabilities.
It is not an attractive alternative,
■
and this is why President Carter, Prime Minister
Begin, President Sadat and others have been
working, I believe, with great sincerity and dedi-
cation to bring about peace.
This must be interpreted as an official declaration on
ene of the most vital issues involving the U.S. — the Middle
East. Perhaps it should serve as encouragement that a
position of friendship for the. Jewish role in the Middle East,
dating back to the earliest times of Jewish life under Tur-
kish rule, continuing with the Zionist aspiration under the
British Mandate and in the developing stages of the re-
emergence'of Jewish statehood as the state of Israel, is not
to be abrogated.
This does not mean that the Jewish voice is to be
By Philip
Brzezinski Outlines Policy With Hope's for Continuity
. of the American-Israel Friendship ... Intermarriage,
Parental Permissiveness' and a Christian Attitude
SiOMOVitZ
-,
silenced, that any and every expression of antagonism is to
be ignored. The need for vigilance, for assertion of Jewish
concerns in Israel's security and existence, remains intact.
Nevertheless, the Brzezinski statement is important in this
period of striving for realization of peaceful accords and for
the fulfillment of the aims incorporated in a peace treaty. It
is good to be able to speak with very heartening tones under
conditions that caused so much strife and anxiety.
The entire issue reverts to the factor of home influence,
its decline in Jewish as well as other ranks.
That's how the problem has grown. Is the problem too
difficult to solve?
Billy Graham Advises
Against Mixed Marriages
In the interest of strengthening Jewish ranks there is
the natural opposition to mixed marriages. Jews are not
Mixed Marriages and
alone in such an attitude of retaining group harmony. Billy
`Parental Permissiveness'
Graham expressed his opposition to marriages out of the
If the data gathered is correct, that one in every three faith in the interest of keeping the religious affiliations
intact by couples who are planning to merge their famil
Jewish marriages is with a non-Jew, then the intermar-
interests.
riage problem is becoming increasingly more disturbing.
In a recent column in the Detroit Free Press, Bill
The problem of mixed marriages if discussed in a vol- Graham offered his views:
ume to be published this year, "Issues in the Jewish Ex-
QUESTION — I know you have said several
perience" by Bernard Rosenberg and Steven Martin Cohen.
times that a Christian should not marry a non-
In a chapter printed in advance of publication in the Jewish
Christian. But I believe my boyfriend will change
Digest, the authors state, inter alia:_
his ways once we get married and I love him
Still other traits more typical of those who in-
enough to take the risk. Don't you think that's
termarry appear to characterize an increasing
reasonable? — B.C.O.
number of Jews. And as more Jews acquire these
ANSWER —I cannot
traits, we may expect an increasing number of
agree. For one thing,
intermarriages. For example, aside from the more
the Bible is clear on
advanced generational status of American Jewry
this: "Be ye not un-
and its consequently greater parental permis-
equally yoked to-
siveness, we also note the geographic distribution
gether with unbeliev-
of American Jewry and its migration patterns.
ers: for what fellow-
Most critically, Jews in the Far West have
ship hath righteous-
shown about twice the intermarrriage frequency
ness with unright-
of other regions of the country. Why this should be
eousness? and what
so is not at all clear, but the West is different from
communion hath light
other regions in at least one crucial respect. Other
with darkness?" (II
parts of the country maintain subcultures which
Corinthians 6:14). Why
place greater emphasis on religious ties (as in the
do you suppose God
says this? It is because
BILLY GRAHAM
South) or ethnic origins (as in the Northeast or
marriage — which He
North Central United States) .. .
IfAmerican society becomes less ethnic and less
gave us-- is a wonderful gift in which two people
concerned with religious attachment (two very
become one.
problematic "ifs"), we might expect Jewish in-
If there is not spiritual unity, however, then
termarriage and consequent assimilation to con-
God's purposes for marriage cannot be fulfilled.
tinue to rise. But if this is a trend, the national
Also, God knows that it is much more likely that
counter-trend is probably more pronounced.
you will compromise your faith and adopt the
Another characteristic of people who inter-
standards of your husband if you marry someone
marry is a strong intellectual and academic orien-
who has little interest in spiritual things. The Old
tation. Intellectuals and professors are more
Testament repeatedly shows us what happened in
likely to espouse anti-traditional views, to be
the history of God's people when they intermar-
especially critical of commitment and to ethnicity
ried with unbelievers. Usually God's people be-
or religious communities since analogous com-
came unbelievers themselves, instead of convert-
munities are often provided by their professions.
ing their unbelieving wives or husbands.
God's way is best. He loves you, and He wants
It is evident that the religious aspect is vital, and there
the best for you. Be patient and wait for the per-
is great significance in the warning about "parental per-
son of God's choice.
missiveness."
For Jews, retention of family unity within the faith is
Sociologists will assert that there is permissiveness in
many spheres. It is doubtful whether they are as effective even more vital. As a minority in the general society, mixed
marriage threatens disappearance from Jewish ranks.
elsewhere as they are in the marriage problem.
Isn't it a fact that the parent now says, "If my son or Only the conversion of the non-Jewish entrant into the
daughter is happy, I accept . . ."? Isn't this the concession to marital state can offer a solution to the threat of the Jewish
partner being swallowed into the majority.
mixed marriages that emphasizes permissiveness?
.
By 'Holocaust' Author Gerald Green
Volume Collects The Artists of Terezin'
By ELAINE TREISMAN
Most of us saw the tele-
vised production of "The
Holocaust," or read the
book. In it there is a poig-
nant scene concerning
several concentration camp
artists. It portrayed these
inmates at Terezin, sketch-
ing the Nazi atrocities. In
secret they witnessed and
recorded, in spite of the
knowledge of inhuman re-
prisals that would be visited
on them were they caught.
Still they drew.
Gerald Green, the author
of "The Holocaust," now
gives a book presenting the
facts behind these scenes —
"The Artists of Terezin"
(Schocken).
The place is Terezin. It
was the model ghetto. It was
a propoganda front, which
visiting dignitaries, the Red
Cross, or the press, could
come to see how well Jews
were treated. It was the
camp for the priviledged.
The formerly wealthy,
stripped of their pos-
sessions, were herded
into these barracks.
There were former Ger-
man colonels, generals,
doctors, musicians — the
elite. All with one thing in
common — they were
Jews.
Terezin was the main
concentration camp in
Czechoslovakia. Behind the
facade of cafes, markets,
bakeries, concerts and plays
were torture, agony and
death.
Terezin was the false
hope of the Jews, the final
swindle. The author tells of
Dr. Weinberg, chairman of
the consulting board of I.G.
Farben. Weinberg, an im-
portant executive, had
given his full approval to
the Nazi party. Dr. Wein-
berg was a Jew — and still
not quite convinced of the
Nazi brutality and inhu-
manity, died at Terezin.
Some 112,000 Jews that
passed through that camp
perished. Out of 15,000
youth only 150 children
survived.
The artists were gathered
at Terezin to draw charts
and propaganda posters for
the Nazis. These artists also
secretly recorded the suffer-
ing, starvation, agony, tor-
ture, and death around
them. In "The Holocaust,"
the artists caught were
brutally dealt with. This
was based on fact. Mr.
Green tells us something of
these artists and shows us
examples of their works.
Otto Ungar, caught,
and put into "The Little
Fortress," an isolation
prison for hard cases at
Terezin — had his hand
mutilated and crushed
before he died. Bedrich
Fritta and Felix Block .
died as a result of beat-
ings. Dr. Karel Fleishman
was gassed. The list goes
on. Leo Haas, incredibly,
survived.
The artists had to expose
the lies and monstrous
fraud that they knew Tere-
zin to be. Their wo .
screams for the world to see.
To describe the sketches,
drawings, watercolors and
poetry presented in this
book, one might use the
term "haunting."
The importance of this
remarkable book is that it is
a first-hand, graphic record
of the painful truth of the
Holocaust. Hidden in walls
and buried in the ground,
these works survived.
Through the talent and
sacrifice of a handful of ar-
tists, the lesson of history
survives. Lest we forget!
Lest we begin to think this
never happened or could not
happen again.