Friday, September 28, 1919 41 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Many See Fonda, Redgrave Through Filtered Lenses By RABBI MICHAEL MENITOFF (Editor's note: Michael Menitoff is the rabbi at Temple Ramat Zion in Northridge, Cal., and also hosts a Los Angeles tele- vision show, "Rap with Rabbi Mike." During his upcoming sabbatical Rabbi Menitoff will di- rect the Jewish Media EDWARD AND JUDIE BURNSTEIN & FAMILY Wish all their family & friends A Happy, Healthy New Year BEST WISHES for a Healthy and Happy New Year to all our relatives & friends. HENIA & MIRIAM CIESLA A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS New Year to all our family & friends PAUL & SARAH FOX Saul, Ellyn Fox Aaron & Scott Fox A Healthy, Happy New Year to our friends & relatives VICKI AND RAYMOND GOLDBAUM Rebecca & Yael "Wishing all of our relatives & friends the happiest & healthiest New Year" MR. & MRS. HARRY J. GOSS MICHAEL & KACY MAX & CARLY Wish all their relatives & friends a very Happy Healthy & Prosperous New Year MARTY & FAE WEINSTOCK & FAMILY Wish Family & Friends a Happy and Healthy New Year Project of the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles.) Many observers have seen the California State Senate's rejection of Jane Fonda's nomination to the California Arts Commis- sion and the selection of Vanessa Redgrave to play an Auschwitz survivor in an upcoming CBS telefilm based on Fania Fenelon's "Playing for Time," through screens they have imposed on the reality of these com- plicated happenings. The members of the entertainment industry are understandably concerned about blacklisting. Hol- lywood bore the brunt of Senator Joseph McCarthy's paranoid preoccupation with national security and internal subversion. All too many artists were deprived of their livelihoods and had their reputations bes- mirched because of this ob- sessive and myopic concern with "Marxist" social com- mentary and "subversive" political associations. But to speak of the ac- tion of the State Senate in disqualifying Jane Fonda from the proposed appointment to the Arts Council as a witchhunt or as reminiscent of or a pre- lude to blacklisting like that of the 1950s is an exaggerated and ill- advised response which does injustice to those who were in reality de- prived of their rights and freedoms. The manner the Senate did it was terribly insensi- tive. There is no question in my mind that Fonda would have made a contribution to the Arts Council commen- surate with the kind of con- tribution she has made to the motion picture industry through her remarkable acting. And the fact that Fonda has had the courage of her convictions to speak out on the important issues of the day, in some instances taking unpopular stances and putting herself on the The Hirsch's Henry, Caryn, Stacey & Ryan sincerely wish all their relatives and friends a happy and healthy New Year TRUDY and MARVIN STEARN wish all their friends and relatives a happy and healthy New Year LOIS and LOUIS ZAHLER Southfield wish all their family and friends a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year Happy New Year e WS A DO UNDERWRITERS, INC. Alex Lipson Ken Lipson Insurance 15919 W. Ten Mile Southfield, Mi. 48075 phone (313) 559-4440 line, would have been an even greater asset than her acting abilities themselves had her appointment been confirmed. Notwithstanding all of Fonda's qualifications and the fact that the Council is the lesser from being de- prived of her involvement, the Senate has the right to refuse her confirmation. It is unfortunate, though, that it did it in the way it did. The fact that Fonda has lived her life as a passionate defender of causes might not then be seen so readily as_irrelevant to the decision, but rather as a point in her favor. I may disagree with some of her stances: for in- stance, as one whose con- gregation, along with many other synagogues and churches, is involved in the sponsorship and resettle- ment of Vietnamese boat people families, I wish Fonda would decry the cruelties and injustices of the Hanoi regime with the same vehemence and forth- rightness, (and without reservations and hedges), with which she spoke out against the war effort. Be that as it may, she is a woman both of courage and of ability who has spoken out on important issues. Vanessa Redgrave's anti-Zionist credentials are well-documented. Last year, many of us caught a glimpse of "The Palestinians," a film pro- duced, narrated, and fi- nanced by Redgrave, the opening scene of which portrays Redgrave lithely dancing with a gun in the midst of PLO admirers, implicitly invit- ing its use, and the finale of which was altered for viewing by American audiences, the original transcript of which has PLO chief Yasir Arafat advocating the destruc- tion of the state of Israel with no demurrer from the onlooking Redgrave. Redgrave unsuccessfully strove for a cultural boycott of Israel by British Actors Equity. And, in her moment of glory, at the Academy Awards of last year, upon receiving the best support- ing actress Oscar for her performance in "Julia," she told her audience, "I salute you . . . and you should be very proud that in the last few weeks you've stood firm and you've refused to be in- timidated by the actions of a small bunch of Zionist hood- lums, whose behavior is an insult to Jews all over the world." Only one of limited intel- lectual ability would accept Redgrave's sophistry whereby she attempts to distinguish her anti- Zionism from anti- Jewishness. It's clearly un- fashionable to mouth diat- ribes against Jews, but against Zionists say what- ever you will. Redgrave identifies herself with and is supportive of those who wish to destroy the Jewish state and in so doing exter- minate the Jewish people, mental gymnastics to the contrary notwithstanding. With the above as a backdrop, it is clearly the height of insensitivity to cast Redgrave in the role of the protagonist in the three-hour CBS-TV drama about the experiences of a half-Jewish prisoner who was saved from extermina- tion when she was picked to play in an all-women or- chestra in Auschwitz. As Producer David Wolper, who himself has diSplayed courage in with- drawing a special project from CBS in protest, has asked, "Is there nobody else to play the role of a concen- tration camp survivor than Vanessa Redgrave?" The selection of Redgrave shows callous disregard for the feelings and sensitivities of concentration camp sur- vivors in Israel and around the world. It desecrates the memories of the martyred Six Million. The Holocaust is the greatest tragedy of our time and the whole world shares in responsibility for it. As such, unique sensitivity must be shown to its survivors. The Redgrave selection runs counter to these concerns. CBS has defended its choice of Redgrave as one of the most able people suited for the Fenelon role. It has suggested that to fire her from this project for her political views would be blacklisting. How incredul- ous! Is it because of blacklisting that Redgrave has never appeared on American television? The actress herself has ex- pressed grave concerns about the quality of tele- vised drama and concomit- ant misgivings about her involvement in it. Are there a dearth of roles being of- fered Redgrave? The remarks of the CBS network brass have been puzzling. Fred Rappaport, director of special programs for CBS Entertainment, who had been surprisingly silent during the opening rounds of the furor which enveloped the Redgrave casting, now speaks of CBS' launching a new effort toward programs of social significance, such as the Fenelon autobiography, which will have impact on the lives of viewers. Does he consider the nature of that impact on many of us? Bernie Sofronski, CBS vice president, special pro- grams, remarked, "I'm aware and sensitive to peoples' feelings, but there are other points of view. I cannot position myself on the side of hatred." How disdainful and scornful he is of the reactions of those within the Jewish commu- nity and the entertainment industry who have _spoken against the Redgrave selec- tion. Is this protest to be dismissed as "hatred?" Come on, Mr. Sofronski. And one of the staunchest defenders of the casting has been playwright Arthur Mil- ler, author of the screenplay, who has ob- served, "Having been blacklisted myself in time past, I have fought against the practice abroad as well as here, and cannot participate in it now." While I can em- pathize with the feelings, I feel Miller has lost a sense of proper perspec- tive in this instance. Is it by chance that there are no Jewish heroes on TV? Where are the heroes for Jewish children to root for? Whatever few portrayals come up are often negative stereotypes or serious mis- castings. Would that more Jewish voices in the indus- try come out of hiding and denounce this serious error of judgment in the instance of the Redgrave casting. A Very Happy & Prosperous New Year to all our friends and family HERB & FAY GUSSIN & CHILDREN HOLIDAY GREETINGS TO ALL OUR JEWISH PATRONS MR. & MRS. HARRY KOMER BERKLEY THEATER A Happy and Healthy .New Year to all our Family and Friends MR. & MRS. ERWIN W. KEPES A Happy and Healthy New Year to all our family & friends MR. & MRS. ERNEST J. STECKER President Joseph Milgrom and the entire membership of the DETROIT CLUB OF NORTH MIAMI BEACH extend their best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to all our Detroit relatives and friends Wishing all our relatives and friends a very happy and healthy New Year - HONORA and ALEX LIPSON NANCY and KENNETH LIPSON and AARON wish their family and friends a year of good health and peace A happy and healthy New Year to all our friends and relatives TILLIE and SAM MYERS MRS. NATHAN P. (FRANCES) ROSSEN of Oak Park wishes to extend sincere good wishes and holiday greetings to all my relatives and friends MAY THE NEW YEAR BRING YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES ALL THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE, GOOD HEALTH AND PROSPERITY HY & MARILYN JACOBS TIWIR111 inva MID '31 crIntin larynsum 111'131 ,rinyru 11"11 ilT1`21.13 eRatti and Aci.. cSoLomon 1. guiskin and gamily EXTEND TO YOU HEARTIEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 23600 Kenosha Avenue Oak Park, Michigan 48237