2 Friday, May 11, 1919 • THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Purely Commentary The American Red Cross and Israel's Magen David Adorn American Red Corss leaders have proven that the principle of fair play is not dead in this country. The invitation extended by the American Red Cross to Israel's Magen David Adorn, the equivalent of the Red Cross, contributes towards righting a wrong that has irri- tated relations between Israel and the International Red Cross. While recognizing the Red Crescent, the Moslem Red Cross, and other similar movements, Israel's Red Cross movement undoubtedly was discriminated against by the lack of recognition from the world Red Cross ranks. There is cooperation between the two and the Interna- tional Red Cross operates in Israel. But it seems as if the American Red Cross is the only branch of the great move- ment to have extended a hand of friendship to the Israeli confreres. This is not the first gesture of friendship and coopera- tion to have been proferred to Magen David Adorn by the American Red Cross. In Michigan, a leading executive in the American movement, Duane E. Johnson, has appeared on platforms of the MDA. He has propagated and pleaded for MDA's inclusion in the world Red Cross ranks. He has befriended the greater Detroit Jewish community and has cheered its support of the Magen David Adorn. It is from such efforts that the eventual acceptance of Israel's Magen David Adorn in world Red Cross ranks is certain to be achieved eventually. The Death Penalty: The Jewish Rejection of the New Trends An angry world is reacting to the crimes that have dragged mankind into the jungle. Therefore the apparent endorsement of the death penalty as punishment for the many cruelties that have turned humans into beasts. Horrified by the bestialities perpetrated by Arab ter- rorists, Israel's Prime Minister approved the adoption of capital punishment and the idea was approved by the Israel Cabinet. It was not a unanimous vote. It recalled similar proposals to the Israel Knesset in the early 1950s. Pro- posals for resort to the death penalty were made and with- drawn several times. Only in the instance of Adolf Eichmann's guilt as the Nazi who put into effect the mass murder of Jews under Hitlerism was the death penalty put into effect in July of 1962. Britain's Premier-elect Mrs. Margaret Thatcher made capital punishment one of her campaign slogans. It will be recalled that a campaign to abandon the death penalty was instituted in England by Arthur Koestler. He wrote a book on the subject, pleaded against the penalty of death and succeeded. Will the British action of some 20 years ago be re- versed? Will the Knesset endorse the decision of Begin's Cabinet? The debates will be interesting, public opinion will be divided, the ultimate actions may again be against legislat- ing to take life for life. It is true that the Israeli proposal is to impose the death penalty upon those responsible for cruelties, for the ex- tremest acts of terrorism. Nevertheless, there are basic Jewish principles not to be ignored or forgotten. While there were indeed, four ascribed methods of punishments by death, in ancient times --stoning, burn- ing, slaying_and_strangling — basic Jewish idealism rejects resort to the death penalty. There is a basic principle, and it affects all our actions. It is affirmed in Mishna Makkot (1:10), which is quoted below by Prof. George Foote Moore. It is related in the traditions set forth in the Talmud that the death penalty had not been imposed in ancient Israel since the year 30 of the present era — some 40 years before the destruction of the Temple. Even according to the strictest interpretation of ancient Jewish law which prescribed death for various offenses, such a verdict could be rendered only by a court of 23 judges and if one of them dissented the sentence could not be imposed. The law also required that two witnesses had to be produced who actually saw the criminal commit his crime. Discussing codes of justice in Jewish traditions, Prof. Moore, in his classic three-volume "Judaism," reviewed ancient procedures followed by Jews, and he also referred to the mishnaic comments we have quoted. He made these interesting analyses of the penalties, convictions and the imposition of the death penalty: "In the deliberations of the judges considera- tions tending to acquittal were given precedence. The decision was by a majority; a majority of one acquitted, but for conviction there must be a - majority of at least two. Even when the con- demned man was on the way to the place of execu- tion, if he or anyone else had anything to offer in defense, he was recalled and the new evidence taken. Once acquitted, however, he could not a second time be put in jeopardy, whatever new American Red Cross in Ranks of Justice-Seeking in Behalf of Magen David Adorn ... Death Penalty Again an Issue for Decisions in Britain, Israel,. evidence against him might come to light. "It is clear that with such a procedure convic- tion in capital cases was next to impossible, and that this was the intention of the framers of the rules is equally plain. The Mishna itself brands a court which executes one man in seven years as ruinous. R. Eleizer B. Azariah said 'one in 70 years.' R. Tarfon and R. Akiba said, 'If we had been in the Sanhedrin, no man would ever have been put to death,' on which R. Simeon ben Gamaliel makes the obvious reflection, 'They would multiply murderers in Israel.' It should be observed, however, that when the court was con- vinced of the guilt of the accused, though the evi- dence did not warrant his conviction and execu- tion, they might imprison him on bread and water. There are the phrases "obvious reflection" and "the intention of the framers" in the explanatory notes by the eminent Christian which indicate the firm intent of the rabbinic procedures against the death penalty. Prof. Moore's interpretive comments add weight to our conten- tion that capital punishment had no place in Jewish tradi- tions, and the intentions of Jewish courts of law were to rule against it. How will humankind react to the pressures for reinstitution of the death penalty? Would the people of Michigan, for example, who have reason to be proud of the fact that this state pioneered more than a century ago, in outlawing capital punishment, re- vert to it because there are more crimes on the police blot- ters? Hopefully, the extreme in punishment will not be re- sorted to in efforts to curb crimes. There are many other compelling ways of dealing with terror and terrorists. These are interesting times, and the debate over the death penalty will add to the human factors that control the minds of human beings. By Philip Slomovitz During the ensuing years, Berry shared in respon- sibilities to his synagogue, to the educational agencies, to the Jewish National Fund, to Israel Bonds. Now the Hebrew University honors him for many de- cades of devotion to Israel and Jewry. The Scopus Award is well earned by this year's Hebrew University honoree. Louis Berry's Creditable Record as a Leader in Philanthropy On the occasion of the presentation of the Scopus Award of the Hebrew University to Louis Berry, the hon- oree's record as a leader in philanthropic activities can be interestingly recorded. This marks the 30th anniversary of Berry's chairman- ship of an Allied Jewish Campaign. When he was chosen to head the 1949- Campaign, in that cruciaLsecond year of Israel's sovereignty as a national entity, Berry was the bearer of messages from the displaced persons who had survived the Nazi terror. He had visited the DP camps with the late Joe Holtzman, and the two emerged among the most inspired leaders in the Greater Detroit Jewish community. Their inspiration stemmed from their experiences in witnessing the death camps, in meeting with the survivors and then from their visit in Israel during the trying years of the new state's welcome to hundreds of thousands of immigrants, the obligations to house and feed them and to integrate them into an-economy that could only flourish with the aid of American Jewry. Charles Angoff, the Jewish Patriot in Literary Ranks Charles Angoff was so deeply devoted to his people that he could be described as a leading patric4 in Jewish literary' — ranks. His seven novels were mostly autobiographical and his self-analyses were as a Zionist, as one totally fascinated by Jewish teachings, by the ethical codes in Jewish life. He did everything that could be expected from a loyalist: he opposed intermarriage, he urged aliya to Israel, he pleaded for Jewish education. He was popular on the platform and Jewish audiences loved him. He was often in the company of Meyer Levin and both shared a Jewish idealism. Having worked closely with H.L. Mencken, as a co-editor of American Mercury, he knew his boss well. In his descrip- tion of him he sensed the anti-Jewishness of his boss who judged him as a great editor. About Charles Angoff it can be said "olov ha-sholom" — peace unto his memory, with a Jewish connotation: because he was the most Jewish among American writers who are Jewish. And he was, at the same time, a good American. Olov ha-sholom! Orthodox Vaad's 50th Anniversary: Its Pioneering Personalities Greater Detroit's community history is interestingly annotated in the recollections of the growth of the Vaad Harabonim, the Council of Orthodox Rabbis. Reconstructing the half-century of activities, at the 50th anniversary dinner next week, the role of a number of noted personalities will be recalled. The Vaad's organizers included the then nationally prominent Rabbi E. Ashinsky, who was a national Mizrachi leader and a spokesman for American Jewry. Ezekiel Aishishkin, another organizer, was popular as an orator of brevity. Rabbis Moses Fischer and Joseph Eisenman were scholars and activists and their participation in the founding of the Vaad was significant. Only one of the pioneers who were among the founding rabbis is still among the living. He is Rabbi Isaac Stollman who now resides in Jerusalem. With his brothers, Phillip and Max Stollman, he was a co-founder of Bar-Ilan University. He served as national president of Mizrachi, the Orthodox Zionist movement. Scholar and orator, he is one of the most revered leaders in American Orthodoxy who continues his devo- tional labors in Israel. The Vaad has many programs in behalf of traditional Judaism which will receive their earned acclaim at the anniversary banquet. Fresh Air Boosting Israel Tourist Industry By DAVID SCHWARTZ (Copyright 1979, JTA, Inc.) • Oxygen may breathe new life in to the tourism indus- try of Israel. It should be said that tourism in Israel at present is vital even without it, but any increase is valuable. Tourism in the past year is reported to have netted Israel some $600 mil- lion. Recently the New York Times ran a story about psoriasis. It reported that many Europeans with that disease are experiencing miraculous cures in the Dead Sea area. The cures there are attributed to the high oxygen content of the Dead Sea air, and the treatment has no side af- fects. Oxygen, of course, has been around a long time, but no one seemed to take much notice of it until about the time of the American Revolution, when La Voi- sier in France and an Englishman, Dr. Priestly, who later immigrated to America, discovered it. The discovery of oxygen really started the science of chemistry. Israel seems to have some affinity for that sci- ence. Dr. Chaim Weiz- - mann, the first President of Israel, was a world re- nowned chemist and Ep- hraim Katzir, a more re- cent President, is also a distinguished chemist. Oxygen, of course, is available for other things than skin disease. Heart conditions are aided by oxy- gen. It is valuable for our lungs. It is the prime essen- tial of the body — an all- around health requisite. It is good to see Israel be- coming something of a health resort. Many people are visiting the Dead Sea area. After all, the prophets of Israel not only looked to the ideals of social justice and peace, but also to medi- cal improvement. Isaish spoke of the time when if a person died at 100, people you don't need an overcoat. Sometimes some single would say "an infant has thing may spur great de- passed away." When the first Jewish velopment. Cotton changed settlements in Eretz Israel the whold picture of the were made — in the pre- southern states in America. Herzl days, there was much Cotton was unknown in the talk of finding some article South in the days of Georg( which would bring some Washington, but a genera- foreign exchange to the tion later it dominated the country. At the time, the South. general opinion seemed to In 1849, some gold was be that the solution to the found in California and problem might be the de- there was the Gold Rush velopment of the wine in- from all parts of the coun- dustry. At least it was hoped try. Most of those coming that good Jews throughout found no gold, but coming, the world would prize the they liked California and it Israeli wine. grew rapidly. Later, the settlers The development of turned to the cultivation tourism will also help the of the citrus fruits. Israel general cause of peace. began to supply many na- Many going to Israel will tions with Vitamin C. also go to Egypt. In fact, After that came 'Vitamin today we hear of many See' — the development Israelis anxious to visit of tourism. Egypt. Egypt needs the Israel has many assets for spur of tourism as much the development of tourism as Israel. — there are the religious, A little oxygen might do the historical associations, the climate attractions — wondrous things.