NIP 62 Friday, June 15, 1979 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Readers Forum Appeal for Falashas Editor, The Jewish News: We, a group of Ethiopian Jews (Falashas) who fear for our families in Ethiopia, are turning to the Jews of the world through this mes- sage to help save our families. We, the undersigned, have turned to the Israeli authorities many times for assistance in saving our families, who are in direst straits, as soon as possible — indeed, before it is too late. To our great sorrow both the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency have failed to act or even at- tach great importance to the lives of those Jews of Ethiopia- who have aspired for thousands of years to re- turn to Zion, to be redeemed from the bitter and difficult exile which has been their lot. We, who have fought for the state of Israel in her difficult wars, are today disappointed in the Israeli government be- cause it has failed to take urgent action in response to our appeals. Our fam- lies, many of whom are in prison and are known to the Israeli authorities, address this message to you: "Save us! Save us! Where is our Holy Land that we have dreamed of for genera- tions? Where is the Torah that speaks to us, her chil- dren of Zion, the Holy Mountain? Where is the Jewish people that is corn- manded to ransom its brothers who are found in distress of soul and body, a distress we cannot describe to the present generation?" All this our brothers and sisters call, and yet no one comes to save them. The authorities in Israel do not seem disturbed by our families' plight, but the final judgment we will leave to G-d and the Jewish people. At this crucial time we turn to you, dear brothers and sisters, with no choice but to beg you to help us save our families in any way possible. If you choose to pressure the Israeli gov- ernment, press hard. If you can help save our families in a more direct way, know that to save the life of a single Jew is the equivalent of all G-d's mitzvot. We hope and wait for a response to our appeal. And we thank you. . Ben Baruch Ishaiahu, Tirunesh Mengistu, Adega Ezra, Eshayahu Abraham, Solomon Ezra, Tsege Bayauohu, Ahnelih Truneh, Bicha Dina, Bicha Menachem, Baruh Shabaton, Ben Baruch Sara, Truneh Esther, Esayas Aragaw, Matatihu Fenta, Asaf Adane. Writer Criticizes Editorial Stand Editor, The Jewish News: and deliberate cruelty was It is difficult to explain comparable to the enemy's the reason for the seeming technique of the big lie — tenderness with which you the greater the crimes the treat West Germany, more apt is its memory to be (Purely Commentary June shunned. And perhaps, 2, 1979), unless it be your judging from current condi- humane policy, generally, tions, the enemy has not and allegiance to our teach- failed. And it may well be ings of non-vengeance and held that the Germany of no-grudge-bearing. The today is not adverse to this crimes that the Germans result. It may not be out of committed against our range of possibilities that people cannot be the effort being made by encompassed by the human neo-Nazism to deny that the mind and is beyond the crime had ever occ.A.irred has power of description, for the the tacit if not the active enormity and the vicious- support of the present Ger- ness of what was done to our many. It is not for any of us to people by German hands, in the words of Gerald Green, think in terms of our feel- author of "Holocaust," de- ings in the matter when we feats syntax. Indeed, the de- deal with West Germany. signation "Holocaust" is the Rather we should ask our- product of linguistic es- selves what would our men, capism. We are just unable women and children, done to face up to the mass car- to death by German hands, nage of our helpless breth- have wanted to say in this, ren, defenseless men, had they been articulate. women and little children. One thing may be certain The crimes thus commit- they would not be willing to ted, designed and carried forgive. M. Manuel Merzon out with diabolical methods Materials submitted to the Readers Forum must be brief. The writer's name will be withheld from publication upon request. No unsigned letters will be published. Materials will not be returned unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is enclosed. Rabbi Warns 'Caveat Emptor' on Kashrut, Health Foods Editor, The Jewish News: A broad misconception prevails that "kosher means clean." This false notion finds its roots in Christian translations of the Bible, where the words tamei and tahor are rendered "unc- lean" and "clean." A better rendition of those passages where the Torah speaks of permitted and forbidden foods ("tamei hu, lachem") would be "it is unfit for you." The rendering "clean" and "unclean" have given the impression that as long as something is clean, it must be kosher; something that is unclean is necessarily un- kosher. The word kasher itself ac- tually appears in Scripture only once, in the Book of Esther (8:5), where it has absolutely nothing to do with food. While it is true that cleanliness will certainly contribute towards an appreciation of kosher food, kosher does not mean clean, and cleanliness will not re- nder otherwise non-kosher food fit for Jewish consump- tion. The terms "clean" and "unclean" have recently come into common usage in the health food indus- try, and it is important to point out that many foods highly praised by prom- oters of the new health- food fad may be forbid- den by Jewish Law. Jews are generally concerned with health and good liv- ing, and many are drawn to the health food stores because of the promise they hold out of a longer, healthier life. Caveat emptor. Let the Jewish consumer, who is con- cerned with the dietary laws, be aware that not all that_ is "clean" is kosher. It is well-known that cheeses must bear the stamp of rabbinic endorse- ment because they are made with rennet, which is usu- ally derived from non- kosher sources. A new line of rennet-less cheeses have made an appearance in the health-food stores in recent years. One may reason that, if the main objection to cheeses is that they contain non-kosher rennet, these rennet-less cheeses must be kosher. Unfortunately, this is not the case. While the rennet-less cheeses do not contain rennet, they do con- tain other enzymes, such as Jews Have Bigger Stake in Energy Crisis Editor, The Jewish News: The oil problem has be- come serious and acute for our country. At the same time it has become a prob- lem of survival for the state of Israel and for Jews. We, the American Jews, must lead the fight against the steady increase in oil con- sumption and against the oil pushers. Much time is wasted in discussion of whether the present oil crisis is real. Frankly, I don't care. It is real for me and should_ be real to all Americans and especially American Jews because oil consumption means dependency on Arab power. It seems obvious that individuals can't do any- thing. Group action might bring positive re- sults and even become in- fectious to other groups. What can we do? We all know we must reduce gasoline consumption. We must decide together that we will drive cars only for very important trips. We must stop listen- ing to the powerful oil pusher's propaganda that Americans will pay any price for gas. Must we have unlimited supply of gasoline if the price is the survival of Israel and perhaps all Jewish sur- vival? H.L.P. and other lipase coagulators, which need not be listed among the ingre- dients on the label. These enzymes render such cheeses non-kosher. The health-food addicts have high praise for fertile eggs, claiming that they are more nutritious than the conventional infertile eggs that are generally avail- able. While this may be true, fertile eggs are, almost without exception, blood- spotted and, as such, are forbidden to the kashrut- observant Jew, "A plain vegetable salad is certainly kosher," one often hears. Not so! When a food establishment is not kosher-endorsed, and the same knife is used to slice treife cheeses and vegeta- bles with a sharp taste, the innocuous salad becomes unfit for the kosher con- sumer. Most health food estab- lishments which serve meals also sell packaged goods, such as snack foods, vitamins, and many "natural" foodstuffs. One should not presume that the concern with "health-foods" is any guarantee of kashrut. A recent inspection of one of the newest and largest of these stores' showed that items offered for sale con- tained a wide variety of for- bidden ingredients, such as ox bile, lard, gelatin P non-kosher stabilizers emulsifiers. In conclusion, one should never presume that because something is called "clean" that it is kosher. Rabbi Jack Goldman Monument Unveilings The family of the late Zal Aaron announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 11:30 a.m. Sun- day, June 24, at Nusach H'Ari Cemetery. Rabbi Leo Goldman will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. * * * The family of the late Julius Berkowitz an- nounces the unveiling of a monument in his memory 11 a.m. Sunday, June 17, at Beth Moses Cemetery. Rabbi Schnipper will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The family of the late Jennie Glassman an- nounces the unveiling of a monument in her memory 12 noon Sunday, June 17, at Machpelah Cemetery. Rabbi Gruskin will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. * * * The family of the late Florence Lan announces the unveiling of a monu- ment in her memory 12 noon, Sunday, June 24, at Hebrew Memorial Prak. Rabbi Goldschlag will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late SOPHIE KATZ Announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 1:15 p.m. Sunday, June 17, at Machpelah Cemetery. Rabbi Stanley Rosen- baum and Cantor Louis Klein will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late RUTH SCHURGIN * * * The family of the late Fay Epstein announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 11 a.m. Sun- day, June 24, at Machpelah Cemetery. Rabbi Nelson will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late ALEC BEAR Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 11 a.m. Sunday, June 24, at Turover Cemetery. Rabbi Goldschlag will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. I The Family of the Late MOLLIE BLOOM Announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 11:30 a.m. Sunday, June 24, at Nusach H'Ari Cemet- ery. Rabbi Nelson will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late PEARL FARBER Announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 17, at Workmen's Circle Cemetery (Turover Sec- tion). Rabbi Arm will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. Announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 11 a.m. Sunday, June 17, at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Rabbi Gorrelick will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late JOSEPH MEHR Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 24, at Ch- esed Shel Emes Cemet- ery. Rabbi Milton Arm will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late REBECCA MILLER Announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 12 noon Sunday, June 24, at He- brew Memorial Park. Rabbi Gruskin will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. Phyllis (Musket) Rosenberg announces the unveiling of monuments in memory of SAM MUSKAT AND DUDLEY (PETE) MUSKET 12 noon, Sunday, June 24, at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Rabbi Spectre will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. N The Family of the Late HARRY SCHWARTZ Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 3 p.m. Sunday, June 24, at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Rabbi Rosenbaum will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late SAMUEL SOLOMON Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 11:30 a.m. Sunday, June 24, at Machpelah Cemetery. Rabbi Sperka will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late LEON WEBERMAN Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 24, at Beth Abraham Cemet- ery. Rabbi Schnipper will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend.