3 20 t , Friday, July 6, 1919 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 'Israel Must Open Doors to Viets' Action for Jerusalem Urged REMEMBER THE BLUE BOX AND EVERYTHING IT STANDS FOR ON EVERY IMPORTANT. OCCASION. . 557-6644 4y. By ALON BEN-MEIR The Israeli government's recent decision to accept an additional 200 Vietnamese "boat people" (over the 160 who were admitted earlier this year) was undoubtedly made on humanitarian grounds. After all, who would or should understand better the plight of the per- secuted and expelled than Israeli Jews themselves? BAD CHECKS!! DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS!! LET US COLLECT FOR YOU FOX & ASSOCIATES 23777 Greenfield, Suite 277 Southfield, Mich. 48075 1-313-559-9600 Mr. Elias DESIGN SHAPE BRILLIANCE Creative JeAders 29173 Northwestern Hwy. / Southfield, MI 48034 / (313) 356-2525 While Israel's action came to symbolize what other nations could and should do (the thinly popu- lated, rich Arab countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Libya), Israel's decision ought to be more than a symbolic gesture. Israel, as a state created to offer a refuge for the op- pressed and persecuted Jews, must be able and will- ing to offer a refuge for many thousands of Viet- namese whose only "reli- gion" is sheer survival. If, for argument's sake, Israel accepted several thousand Vietnamese and estab- lished new settlements in the northern Galilee (which is very thinly populated with Jews), would these Vietnamese who have been saved from death ever change their loyalty? The basis and the foundation of Judaism is humanism. Now that Israel is offered the opportunity to implement Judaism in its true sense, indeed, it must go beyond symbolism. It must open its hearts and arms to those who have seen nothing but misery, pain and hardship. I believe that Israel today has an historic opportunity. It must seize the opportu- nity and capitalize on both its short and long-range im- plications. In the short run, Israel will demonstrate to the whole world that it is pre- pared not merely to pay lip service but to take extraor- dinary measures for the sake of humanity. In the long run, Israel will be able to help build a community of Vietnamese who will have come to the "promised land" under the auspices and pro- tection of the Israeli gov- ernment. This community will grow and thrive, learning Hebrew, developing the same habits and sharing the same fortunes and misfor- tunes as other Israelis. In short, the Vietnamese will become an integral part of Israeli society. Whether they will maintain their current religious affilia- tions or elect to become Jews will hardly be relev- ant. There are a number of minorities in Israel with different religious affilia- tions, such as the Druze, who are staunch supporters of the state and among its most loyal citizens. I maintain that 20,000- 30,000 Vietnamese could settle in the Northern Galilee or in the Negev. These are people with an agricultural background who are willing to work, and work hard. They will be an asset to Israel, particularly since that country suffers from a severe man-power shortage and is willing to import workers to perform various jobs in agriculture and other farming indus- tries. The American experience is a good measure of this argument. Almost all of the more than 250,000 Viet- namese who have come to the U.S. during the last sev- eral years have become 7- productive, self-sustaining members of American society. The very few who are on welfare (less than 10 percent of the total) con- sider that to be denfeaning and are seeking ways to find employment. To finance the Viet- namese in Israel would not be as complicated as it might seem at first glance. Other than direct support from the U.S., world Jewry can and will mobilize the necessary funds. It must be remembered that if, by Di- vine decree, 20,000=30,000 Jews were to land in Israel overnight, the Israelis would find an adequate means to cope with such a "blessing in disguise." The difference, then, to- day, is that the boat people are Vietnamese and not Jews. Should that by itself stop the Israeli government or people from opening their gates to newcomers when Israel itself is suffering se- verely from a population drought? The intrinsic truth of Jewish religion and its commitment to human rights and dignity may very well work as a compelling force and a reason for many of these Vietnamese to con- vert to Judaism. Judaism has the inherent dynamics to offer these people exactly what they are seeking — a faith in man. There is no time to be lost if Israel — and world Jewry — are not to lose this unique opportu- nity. * * * Olympic Overcoat® is the amazing latex house paint specially made to go over the old paint on your house. Flows like cream. Wears like iron! 23061 COOLIDGE HWY., OAK PARK, AT 9 Mt. TEL AVIV — Bir Zeit University authorities on the West Bank say that Is- raeli military government officials told them that the order closing the university since May will be rescinded in a matter of days. Officials said the univer- sity will_re-open in Sep- tember, rather than the usual start of the school one's hands and nails when reciting the blessing over the candle on Saturday evening (i.e., at the Havdala service). Generally speaking it is assumed that the blessing over the candles is one of those blessings which one pronounces before making use or enjoying anything in this world. Thus, one has to show that he used the light of the candle for some pur- pose after pronouncing the benediction over its light. One reason for holding up one's hands to the light is to be able_ to discern, by means of the light, the difference between the fingernails and the flesh (i.e., something that could not be discerned without light). Another reason is that one concentrates on one's year in October, to make up for the time lost. Israeli, officials charged the school with being an in- stigator of pro-Palestinian rioting on the West Bank. School officials said the graduating class of 93 seniors at the university completed their course work in Jerusalem and Ramallah while the school was closed. obvious in their growth and growth is a sign of blessing (i.e., hoping the new week will bring the blessing of growth). , If you eat the fruit of the labor of your hands, you will be happy and prosperous. Group, Plans Workshops MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — The inroads that Hindu cults have made among Jewish youth has prompted the Jews For Jews Organ- ization to schedule a n-a-- tional series of workshops titled "Jewish Meditation — The Answer to TM." Rabbi Rubin R. Dobin, national head of Jews for Jews announced that Dr. Chaim Rosen, noted an- thropologist and expert on Hindu Cultism will lead the workshops. For information on spon- soring a local workshop, contact Rabbi Dobin, PO Box 6194, Miami Beach, Fla. 33154. 0000000000000000000000000000 BRODY'S Boys' & Young Men's Wear OF OAK PARK Viets Compared to Nazi Refugees NEW YORK — Philip Klutznick, president of the World Jewish Congress, last week compared the Vie- tnamese "boat people" to the boat loads of Jewish ref- ugees who fled the Nazis. Klutznick said the plight of the boat people should be the urgent concern of the in- ternational community. RABBI BERKOWITZ so as to show to all that the Jewish people have a real, actual stake in Jerusalem. What a tremendous victory it would be for us to see the planting there of a minimum of one million trees, meaning one million American Jewish links with the universal Jewish capi- tal." Havdala Blessing Ritual Explained It is customary to look at flingernails because they are • Bir Zeit U. Will Re-Open Your White House Deserves Olympic NEW YORK — Rabbi William Berkowitz, president of the Jewish Na- tional Fund, recently issued a statement calling on Jews everywhere to "stand up for Jerusalem." Concerned that re-united Jerusalem will be the next battle in the Israeli- Egyptian peace negotia- tions, Rabbi Berkowitz said: "I believe it is the sacred duty of American Jewry to become the vanguard for Jerusalem and stand up and declare the truth about her. Moreover, if we truly love Jerusalem, then we must begin now and not wait until the last minute. "My suggestion is for a three-pronged program of information, involve- ment and identifica- tion ... "Let each and every American Jewish family plant a tree in the Holy City IS HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THE OPENING OF THEIR SECOND LOCATION 0 0 IN WEST BLOOMFIELD PLAZA 6736 ORCHARD LAKE RD. JULY 5TH COME IN FOR YOUR SUMMER CAMP NEEDS AND BACK TO SCHOOL FASHIONS IN SLIM, REGULAR, PREP, AND HUSKY SIZES FREE GIFTS WHILE SUPPLY LASTS WITH PURCHASE OF $25.00 AND MORE — 543-4115 851-6232 OAK PARK — WEST BLOOMFIELD 000000000000000000000000000