THE JEWISH NEWS (USPS 275-520) 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. Nine Mile, 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 _;49 a, ttru ofyktt tcti*-4)tr7ttfits r od, 4 P W i5 o t)ct f) " 5 4.5 .11 4 4 CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ Business Manager DREW LIEBERWITZ HEIDI PRESS Advertising Manager Assistant News Editor Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the 10th day of Nisan, 5739, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Leviticus 6:1-8:36. Prophetical portion, Malachai 3:4-24. Wednesday, Fast of Firstbo'n, first Seder Wednesday evening Thursday, first day of Passover Pentateuchal portion, Exodus 12:21-51; Numbers 28:16-25. Prophetical portion, Joshua 5:2-6:1-27. April 13, second day of Passover Pentateuchal portion, Leviticus 22:26-23:44; Numbers 28:16-25. Prophetical portion, Il Kings 23:1-9; 21-25. Candle lighting, Friday, April 6, 6:45 p.m. VOL. LXXV, No. 5 Page Four Friday, April 6, 1979 Passox/er: Freedom's Test Passover attains an added role of significance in this year of peace- making. What had been the festival marking the Exodus from Egypt augurs auspiciously as the beginning of some sort of return of Jews visiting Egypt, of the removal of a curse that emanated from the years of oppression which caused the flight of tens of thousands of Jews from the land of the Pharaohs and their reduction in numbers from an Egyptian Jewish community of 75,000 in 1947 to the present 300. This figure relates to the tragedy of Poland whose 3,500,000 Jews of the pre-war era have been reduced to the 7,000 today. The modern Egyptian Jews, it is true, were not massacred; they were permitted to leave their native land, but they were shorn of their wealth, they lost their possessions, they loved Egypt and were forced to acquire new allegiance. What has just occurred is a blessing for Israel as well as Egypt; it is a glorious hour for the world. For Egypt it is especially blissful because of the economic gains certain to be gained by Israel's previous enemy. There is much more, however, to be considered and judged in a situation involved in_a framework of peace. There is the moral issue, the abandonment of warfare, the extension of hands of friendship between neighbors. It is because there will be no more war between Egypt and Israel that the former, having lost 100,000 of its youth, and Israel, her ablest in the ranks of the youth sacrificed on the battlefield, will be able to plan the raising of the standards of people who, instead of planning defensively, now can build and - create jointly. It is the Passover that offers the opportunity to judge events in the concept of freedom. Passover' was the introductory human festival for man- kind's freedoms. It is from the Passover experience that the liberties aspired to by the human mind gained its roots. * * * Yet, there is a testing of time. Just because the very idea of freedom is preferred does not mean that it will be adhered to, that it will not be shat- tered, that it is not continually endangered. At this very moment the liberties offered to the peoples in the Middle East are being threatened. In addition to waving the saber at Israel, Egyrs kinfolk and co-religionists, the PLO and the war-seeking Arab states, are menacing Egypt. This means that they are menacing the entire Middle East. That's how the freedom offered in peace-making is being tested. It is one of the tricks of time that freedom is always tested. Now the testing is even more furious, more antagonistic. * * * In a sense, the Passover of this generation is more testing than ever. There were few periods in history to be called comparable to the present, in view of what had occurred only aiew days ago in Washington, on the lawn of the White House. When the peace pact was signed, all eyes, from all ends of the earth, were on the American capital. There was the jubilation that comes from an antici- pation that there will be no more war in that part of the world. And if war can be outlawed, in the spirit of two peoples, in-one part of the world, why can't it be copied elsewhere, on a -worldwide scale? • With the testing of a peace plan there is also the speculation over the fate of man's hope for- the liberties that are endowed for all peoples. Therin, Passover enters as the testing power. * * * Will the test be met? Can the true lovers of decency and humanity induce those who have not yet committed themselves to a just world to accept the decisions of fellow humans who are laying down their weapons? Freedom is being tested by time. Passover's message once again is under Scrutiny. Those who love freedom will adhere to peace and struggle to make it real. This is the message of Passover of the year 1979-5739. The Seder Beckons to the Family Concern over the future of the Jewish community is heard more often, the anxieties are growing, the search for the influencing of youth, for youth to be more identified with their people, is be-coming more urgent. It is not only the increase in mixed marriages that is causing anguish. The indifference towards matters Jewish has created a shock to the minds of those who hold positions of leadership. Therefore, solutions are sought, there is more talk about- supremacy for Jewish education in communal planning, and the first reply to the need to create solidarity for Jewish aims is the strengthening of the Jewish school. • Because the issue is so crucial, there is now a digging for the roots. Now there is an ever greater desire to see the family ties and influences strengthened. Now it is conceded that a breakdown in family loyalties is a cause of defections. from Jewish ranks. What is meant in the judging of the weakening of the family ties is that the spiritual world is vanishing from the family circle. There is the regret that what had once been a Jewish spirit in the home may have either been reduced to a minimum or has vanished. There had been holiday observance and adherence to tr of such in environments.-. homes. The charge is that it is now felt only in the fewest- adition most Jewish flow can it be restored, if that really is the cause of the indifference in Jewish ranks towards matters Jewish? It must once again be attained in the school. Unless the home becomes a center of inspiration made possible by learning in a family circle there emerges the need for a return to the classroom by parents who will thereby attain the ability to share learning with the children. It is the unity of the home that is vital to the concerns over defections in the Jewish fold which lead to mixed marriages and other actions'leading to reduction in Jewish loyalties. Perhaps the strengthening of home ties can begin and gain strength from the Seder. The Passover family gathering has always been a compel, ling factor in home-strengthening. It must gain new power with time and by attaining the influential factor in Jewish living it can give strength to Jewry and help reduce unconcern. The home is basic to Jewish communal strength. Its links with the schools' must be made unbreakable. When these factors are accepted - as duties they become the means for advancement in Jewish home and community functions. . Let the Seder retain its great family influence and it will lead to greater loyalties in Jewry. Let there be a unity for the raising of the standards of Jewish spiritual advancement. The attainment of these objectives will give to all Jewry the blessings of a happy Passover.