ha 11
q 11,
, THE, DETROIT JEWISR , NEWS
'2 -Friday, June. ii;1919
Purely Commentary
The Settlements and the Public Stirrings, the Democratic
Tendencies of Israel in a Continuing Trend ... What the Tongue
Can Do, Nothing Else Can Undo, Unless Record Is Protected
By Philip
Slomovitz
The Navon-Sadat incident was most interestingly de-
concerns for Israel's existence. For every utterance of a
possible erosion there should be a dtmonstration of friend- scribed in the Jerusalem Post by Judy Siegel, whose article
ship. This is the belief in the triumph of such a friendship, read in part:
In a 20-minute conversation in Arabic and
in the interests of a secure Israel and an eventual accord
English at the Beersheba Municipality, President
Warnings of accumulating erosions in American with her neighbors. Those who deny erosions will contrib-
Yitzhak Navon and President Anwar Sadat
friendship for Israel cannot be treated lightly. Critical ute to both.
cleared up a misunderstanding that had induced
treatment of the Israel government's policies on new set- Etymology and Speech: Peace
the Egyptian leader to depart from the written
dements is especially in evidence in the sentiments of the
text of a speech he had delivered shortly be-
State Department and the White House spokesmen, and Often Hangs on a Single Word
forehand.
they have certainly affected the treatment given Israeli
Atheist USSR President Leonid Brezhnev may have
Observers of the state ceremony outside the
positions in the media. While there is nothing new in the ruined the entire Communist-Marxist philosophy when he
municipality noted that Sadat's reaction to Na-
antagonisms that have thus been uttered, the increasing said, in Vienna, prior to the signing of the SALT II agree-
von's speech was visibly stiff.
tendencies are especially challenging in a situation linked ment, "God will not forgive us if we fail." Its utterance has
The reason for Sadat's reaction was his misun-
been denied, he is now credited with having resorted to a
with the peace processes.
derstanding of a single word in Navon's address.
A diminution in such expressions will no doubt depend Russian proverb, to the effect that the verdict of history
He had said a'dana — meaning "We have returned
on the ultimate resolution of the issues by Israel herself. would be unforgiving if the talks with the American
(El Arish)"; but Sadat had heard a'ataina — mean-
The attitudes of Zionist and Jewish Agency conferees in President fail.
ing "We have given (ElArish as a gift)." As a result
Brezhnev would have been helped greatly had he been
Israel, now assembled in -Jerusalem, may have an impact
of the misunderstanding, Sadat departed from his
on public sentiments. While, Israel's actions are that na- guided by a Jewish folklore which describes the tongue as
written English text and proceeded to deliver a
tion's perogatives, the best minds in Jewish and Israeli the powerful human organ: misusing a single word can
response to what he thought Navon had said.
ranks are confronted with responsibilities to reach an ac- 'mean a person's destruction.
When the two presidents went to the office of
By a mere slip of the tongue, Brezhnev created a stir
cord in the best interests of the friendliest relations with
Beersheba Mayor Eliahu Nawi, Navon sensed
the Arab community was well as with the government of requiring official defense.
tension and asked what was troubling Sadat. The
the United States. Both are strongly and inseparably
Is this applicable to President Jimmy Carter and the
Egyptian president then explained how sensitive
linked with the obligations vital to an effective peace in three-letter word which similarly caused a stir? Because
Egyptians are about "our land," and noted that
deliberations with Egypt and the hopes of eventual enroll- the three letters directed at Senator Edward Kennedy are
Israel had not "given" it to Egypt.
not permissible for quotation on TV but are printable when
ment in peace efforts with the other Arab nations.
To prove that he had indeed said "returned,"
Especially urgent is the duty of effecting friendliest a newspaper or magazine chooses to record them verbatim;
Navon showed Sadat his own copy of his address,
relations between Israelis and the Arabs residing in the the curiosity was increased. Since a direct quote during a
and the Egyptian president apologized for the
Jewish state. An avoidance of conflicts among them is more presidential interview cannot be stopped and therefore is
misunderstanding and for departing from his
imperative than any other factor in an embittered situation inerasable, the Carter resort to a three-letter term is a
text.
matter of record.
that has developed recently.
The chat,---which was observed by Prime Minis-
All such efforts to cement human relations in Israel
ter Menahem Begin, Deputy Prime Minister
A much more interesting episode involving the spoken
and their effect on the American Jewish community compel word was curiously overlooked when it occurred recently.
Yigael Yadin, U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus
consideration of another aspect in warnings about erosions. When Presiden Yitzhak NavOn of Israel delivered a speech
Vance, Egyptian Prime Minister Mustapha Khalil
When the prognosticators of an eroding trend express the greeting Egypt's President Anwar Sadat, when they met in
and Egyptian Vice President Hosni Mubarak,
fear that there may also develop a decline in Jewish senti- Beersheba, the Egyptian was angered: he thought he had
was reportedly very friendly and intimate, with
ments towards Israel, it is time to take stock and to view the heard Navon say "a'ataina" meaning that Israel is giving
Sadat often patting Navon on the shoulder.
situation in its utmost seriousness.
Solomon ben Judah Ibn Gabirol (1020-1057), famous
up the land. Navon produced the text of his prepared
Such a possibility, too, is not new. There were many speech to prove that he used the word "a'adna," which Spanish Jewish poet and philosopher, had a warning for
occasions when critical attitudes in government and the means return. A controversy was averted and it proved the public speakers when he said: "Before I speak I am master
media created panic in Jewish ranks. Perhaps this, too, is wisdom of the one-time candidate for the U.S. presidency, of the word; after I speak, the word is master of me." .. .
now part of the course of events in the Jewish-Israeli ex- Governor Alfred Smith of New York, who said when offer- "The less you speak, the less you err."
perience of a partnership that had been considered as a "We ing facts: "Let's look at the record."
Take heed, all in public life.
Are One" folk while despair appears as a menace to a
partnership that is vital to the sovereignty of the Jewish
state and at the same time to Jewish dignity everywhere.
Two facts are undeniable: that Israel's policies are the
duty of the state, and that Jews who have important links
with the state, historically and in the process of assuring
the nation's security, cannot obviate concern which de-
The new test is particu- enabling obstetricians to
Developed by Prof. Meir
REHOVOT — It used to
velops into criticism of matters related to Jewish-Israel
larly significant for mothers proceed at the optimal time
Shinitzky
(Membrane
Re-
be
a
calculated
risk.
Doctors
relationships.
with delivery.
It is difficult to believe that Israel will be indifferent to who contemplated the arti- search Department) in con- whose medical condition
It is also invaluable in
(diabetes,
for
instance)
re-
junction
with
Prof.
David
the attitudes of Jews outside Israel. Criticism, when it is ficial induction of labor
conjunction with experi-
quires
that
pregnancy
be
Serr,
Drs.
Gad
Barkai
and
whether
on
medical
or
per-
constructive, becomes part of realistic friendships.
mental therapies now being
Unfortunately, some criticisms have often become de- sonal grounds, had to weigh Shiomo Mashiach of Sheba ended as early as possible, used to accelerate fetal lung
structive. When they are based on giving the platform to the compelling reasons for Medical Center, near Tel but not before the baby is maturity before birth,
those who condone the participation in Middle East affairs premature delivery against Aviv, the test alerts doctors able to survive on its own. whenever very early termi-
of elements advocating Israel's destruction, they are not the possibility that the to insufficient fetal lung de- This critical determination
nation of pregnancy is es-
the acts of friends but of destroyers of the peace efforts. newborn baby might resul- velopment when artificially can now be made available
sential.
thanks
to
the
definitive
test
induced
labor
is
planned.
tantly
develop
hyaline
They are not many, but they are vociferous, and they be-
come damaging to harmony in the confrontations that call membrane disease, the res-
piratory distress syndrome
for wisdom in statesmanship.
The democratic process unfurled in the Israel Supreme which is the major cause of
Court ruling on the settlements is a continuity of the death in normal premature
Jewish state's civilized way of dealing with serious affairs infants.
Over the past two years,
of state, and in the present instance it raises the standards
necessary for responsible action and encourages the faith however, the lives of hun-
dreds of infants have been
Israel earns from her friends.
The American Jewish community has a record not only spared, according to an arti-
of generosity but mainly as a strong moral supporter of cle in the Weizmann Insti-
Israel. The historic factors and the modernly human ac- tute of Science magazine
count for such a loyalty to the fullest realization of redemp- "Interface." A diagnostic
tion which is imbedded in the fulfillment of prophecy and test for measuring fetal de-
velopment in pregnant
the aim of ending Jewish homelessness.
There are and there will be differences of opinion in women is responsible for
many matters involving Israel. These do not justify ero- this achievement.
The approach, which de-
sions. The Jewish experience does not confirm the view that
termines
whether fetal
there will be drastic decline in Jewish attitudes towards
Israel. Israel's security is dependent upon Jewish loyalties. lungs will function properly
Fulfillvaent of the modern Zionist dream is an echo of the after birth, is expected to be
hopes milennially entertained for Israel's redemption. The adopted universally now
sufferings of the ages demanded rebirth of statehood. Israel that two years' of testing
provided an address for the millions of Jews who were have shown it to be com-
helpless, whose position in an unfriendly world was hope. pletely reliable.
The original research
less. To abandon this ideal would be a disgrace to Jewish
instrument,
especially
historical developments, and therefore anything approach-
ing an erosion in Jewish concerns for Israel's future would modified for routine lab-
oratory measurements of
be calamitous.
The warning has been issued. There is a threat of an fetal maturity, is now
erosion. It may be evident to a degree. It can never be manufactured and mar-
granted acceptance. This is a generation of builders of Zion keted by Elscint Scien-
tific Instruments of Haifa
and it will not yield to obstructions.
Israel needs help: she will get it. Israel benefited from a under the trade name,
An infant is shown in the fetal lung maturity analyzer developed by the
friendly U.S. Congress: one would have to lose faith in Fetal Lung Maturity
Weizmann Institute of Science.
Analyzer
(FELMA).
humanity to believe there will be an erosion in Christian
In the Best Interests of Peace,
Talks of Erosions Must Be Silenced
With Friendships for Israel
.
Fetal Development Test Will Determine
Breathing Ability of Premature Infants