U.S. Congressmen Ask Argentina to Release Jacobo Timerman NEW YORK — Eighteen Congressmen, representing a wide political spectrum, have spoken out in the House of Representatives for freedom for imprisoned Argentine publisher Jacobo Timerman. The bipartisan effort is aimed at "demonstrating the.sin- cere and strong support of the U.S. Congress for Jacobo Timerman, . . . (who is a) champion of the cause of human rights in and outside of . . . Argentina," Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman (R-N.Y.) told the Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith. The ADL awarded Timerman, founder of the Buenos Aires daily La Opinion, its Hubert H. Humphrey Freedom Prize on June 17, an award accepted by the publisher's son, Hector. Rep. Gilman is one of several Congressmen who have met the publisher since his arrest. Other Representatives who criticized Timerman's continued imprisonment include, Robert F. Drinan (D-Mass.), who met the publisher prior to his arrest. He said that "It is incumbent upon us to do everything we can to benefit Mr. Timerman and his family." Rep. Drinan said it is his hope that the publisher, with Congress' help, would soon be able to accept the ADL award "personally." John H. Rousselot (R-Calif.) noted that both the Argentine Supreme Court and a 1.itary tribunal had dismissed all charges against Timerman. He said the U.S. "must 11113 ke it known" to Argentina that "we are aware of their actions and that America is going to continually be alert to those kinds of injustices." Robert J. Lagomarsino (R- Calif.) said that "by restoring Mr. Timerman's freedom, the Argentine government will have taken a big step toward fairer treatment of human beings . . . ." Day Schools: Their Growth and Vital Educational Imperatives Frank Thompson, Jr. (D-N.J.) noted that "despite the blindness in one eye and the deteriorating condition in the other . . . it is in fact vision that makes Jacobo a prisoner . . . . He has presented his insights in his highly regarded newspaper . . . . As publisher and editor, he supported the truthful reporting of the news without fear of those to whom the truth might be distasteful." Mrs. Gladys Noon Spellman (D-Md.), reminding her colleagues of the Holocaust era, declared, "Once again we are witnessing the tyranny of a government as it singles out a segment of its people for abuse. Jacobo Timerman is but one example — one symbol. Will we remain silent again? Never again can we ignore the plight of our brothers and sisters. Never again." Gus Yatron (D-Pa.), chairman of the subcommittee on inter-American affairs, said he is "hopeful that the Argentine government will act expeditiously to release Jacobo Timerman into exile." Other representatives who spoke on freedoni for the publisher are: Silvio 0. Conte (R-Mass.), Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), Charles F. Dougherty (R-Pa.), Willis D. Gradison, Jr. (R-Ohio), Norman F. Lent (R-N.Y.), George M. O'Brien (R-Ill.), Richard L. Ottinger (D-N.Y.), Peter A. Peyser (D-N.Y.), Benjamin S. Rosenthal (D-N.Y.), Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) and Lester L. Wolff (D-N.Y.). Remarks of the Congressmen and other material pertinent to the Timerman case make up 10 pages of the June 21 Congressional Record. A Major Task at Michigan State University HE JEWISH NEWS Commentary, Page 2 •A Weekly Review of Jewish Project 'Hope' for Russians Events Editorials, Page 4 VOL. LXXV, No. 22 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 424-8833 $12.00 Per Year: This Issue 30c Aug. 3, 1979 Pol_icing Sinai Issue Delayed Concern Over Carter Pledge Moslems Invade Vacant Synagogue in Holland AMSTERDAM (JTA) — The vacant former main Ashkenazi synagogue in The Hague has been occupied by some 100 Turkish Moslems who want to use it as a prayer hall, particularly during the month of Ramadan. They claim that the prayer hall they now use in The Hague is unsuitable and moreover a fire hazard. After the occupation of the synagogue by the Turkish Moslems last Friday afternoon the prayer hall burned down. It is suspected that some of the Turkish Moslems set fife to the hall themselves. The municipality will allow the Turkish Moslems to stay in the vacant synagogue for the time being. They are prepared to leave if they are offered -other accommodations. Meanwhile, they have re- moved the pews and placed them in the courtyard and covered the floor with prayer carpets. The synagogue, which is more than 150 years old, was abandoned a few years ago since it was too large for the present Jewish congregation. In addition, most worshippers had moved to outlying neighborhoods. The Ashkenazi congregation bought a former Protestant church in Be- zuidenhout for use as the synagogue and community center. The Ashkenazi congregation had intended to cover the costs of the purchase and alteration of its new building by selling the old synagogue but as this was on the list of government protected monuments which cannot be demolished, it was unable to find a buyer. JERUSALEM (JTA) — Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan will go to Washington next week instead of this week as originally announced, for talks with Secretary of State Cyrus Vanfce on the nature of the future peace-keeping force in Sinai. He delayed his departure, officials explained, in order to exchange views with Egyptian Foreign -Minister Boutros Ghali who is due in Israel next week for a session of the autonomy negotiations. Dayan was invited by Vance for the purpose of resolving the dispute between Israel and the U.S. over the proposal to substitute a United Nations Truce Supervisory Organization (UNTSO) force for the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) to oversee Israel's phased withdrawal from Sinai. Egypt was also invited to participate and Ghali is expected to join Dayan in Washington for the discussions with Vance. Egypt has not yet accepted the - invitation. Meanwhile, the joint Israeli-Egyptian military committee, meeting in Tel Aviv, agreed to extend its functions to cover all activities that would have been entrusted to UNEF or another multi-national force. The joint committee also agreed to establish better communications between the Israeli and Egyptian generals that head it. They will be connected in the future by a telephone "hot line" and there will also be direct telephone connections between the Israeli and Egyptian commanders in the field. The Cabinet had approved Dayan's trip. Most ministers are deeply disturbed by the planned replacement of UNEF by UNTSO which the Security Council endorsed on July 24 after the UNEF mandate expired under threat of a Soviet veto. The proposal emerged from behind-the-scenes negotiations between the U.S. and the Soviet Union at the UN. Energy Minister Yitzhak Modai summed up the Cabinet's opinion when he said the Sinai issue was seen as a vital test of American credibility. He noted that President Carter, in a letter accompanying the Israeli-Egyptian peace (Continued on Page 5) • • • .New U of M President: In Era of Academic Justice By DR. WILLIAM HABER (Adviser to the executive officers and former dean, College of Literature, Science and the Arts, University of Michigan) The selection of Dr. Harold Shapiro as president of the University of Michigan is an exciting and significant de- velopment. Dr. Shapiro, is of course, an academic personal- ity of exceptional competence and his performance at the University of Michigan since he joined the faculty over a decade ago has been most impressive. The action of the Board of Regents was therefore, "natural" and in the view of many observers, including myself, was expected. What is especially to be noted is the fact that Prof. Shapiro's religious affiliation did not seem to enter into consideration. The selection was made on its merits, and the qualms of yesteryear about appointing a Jew to the highest post in one of the most distinguished universities in the country was not an obstacle. That fact alone should be of more than passing interest to the American Jewish community. A vast change has hardly an obstacle to his appointment and the number of Jewish professors in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts and the other 15 colleges in the university prob- ably exceeds 250. When I was desigriated as dean of the Literary College, the largest in the university, in 1963, the appointment received national attention and it was noted in the Jewish communities since Jews, especially those involved in Jewish affairs, were not chosen for top academic appoint- I recall that when I came ments. Now the president of this university is a Jew and is to the University of Michi- identified as such and active in the Beth Israel Synagogue. The Michigan development is not isolated. The past gan as a full professor in 1936 I was only the third president of the University of Chicago and the present Jewish professor on the fa- president of the University of Pennsylvania are but two_of culty. Prof. Isaiah Leo the considerable number of academic institutions whose Sharfman was chairman of top post is held by a Jew. What is true of top academic leadership is no less true the Economics Department, the only Jew who held such of professorial appointments. Their number is significant a high post in the univer- and gives strength to our hopes that the criteria of merit is sity. Today, the religious af- less downgraded by . religious and ethnic considerations filiation of a - professor is than in the past. taken place in a few decades. When I came to what was then Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) in 1927 as an associate professor of economics, I was the only Jewish member of that • institution and my "Hebrew origin" was a problem which delayed my appoint- ment. DR. HAROLD SHAPIRO