THE JEWISH NEWS USPS 275-5201 Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue of July 20, 1951 Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Association Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 Postmaster: Send address changes to The Jewish News, 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription $15 a year. CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ Business Manager PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Editor and Publisher ALAN HITSKY News Editor HEIDI PRESS Associate News Editor DREW LIEBERWITZ Advertising Manager Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the second day of Tenet, 5790, is the eighth day of Hanuka and the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Genesis 41:1-44:17, Numbers 7:54-8:4. Prophetical portion I Kings 7:40-50. Sabbath candle lighting, Friday, Dec. 21, 4:45 p.m. VOL. LXXVI, No. 16 Page Four Friday, December 21, 1979 UJA AND PEOPLEHOOD A new era of identification and solidarity seems apparent for American Jewry. It is evi- denced in the aftermath of notable assemblies at which responsible spokesmen for Jewish communities throughout the land spoke freely and acted firmly on issues which in earlier de- cades were imbedded in controversies and were affected by fear lest anything declaratory on Jewish needs be interpreted with suspicions. The evidence of a new approach to Jewish responsibilities became exemplary at the Pan- American Zionist Conference in Miami and the General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Fed- erations in Montreal. Then came the added em- phasis on frankness and realism at the annual conference of the United Jewish Appeal and the yearly meeting of the United Israel Appeal in New York early this month. In their combined approaches to the duties incumbent upon American Jewry were expressed the deter- mined will of a people acting together and determined that the human factors which united them for a common purpose shall not be sacrificed to fears and doubts. It is in the culmination of these attitudes, at the UJA sessions, that the will of the people concerned was expressed. The fact that a spokesman for the Jewish Agency could challenge American Jewry to be loyal to the partnership for Israel's progress and security was in itself a mark of realism and firmness. The brotherhood and partnership exists, the fulfillment of duties must be adhered to. The trend of events at the UJA sessions was especially notable in two challenging develop- ments. The demand that Jews leaving Russia on visas designated for Israel should adhere to that .destination was emphatic. The concession is for the humanism of uniting families, of making it possible for emigres from the USSR to join their relatives in this country. Otherwise there is a pledge to be adhered to and Israel expects those with visas for that land to go there. Then there was the matter of the Falashas. There may well have been an uncalled for delay in action to assist these unfortunates in Ethiopia in escaping from tyranny. The demand is clear, the response is spontaneous. The many hundreds representing hundreds of com- munities know to what causes they are linked and are obligated to be active partners. That is why all that was aimed for culminated in an oath of solidarity. It assumed a spiritual note in the form of a responsive prayer. With actor Lou Jacobi as narrator and the more than 1,000 responding, the pledge drew upon Psalms and Isaiah, and proclaimed: UJA Convocation's Oath of Solidarity "He who performed miracles for our fathers and for us, and redeemed us from slavery to freedom, may He speedily send us a complete redemption and gather our exiles from the four corners of the earth, and let us sing a new song before Him. Hallelujah." (Prayer) Let us reaffirm our solidarity — one to another, one Jewish community to another, and our eternal commitment as people to all mankind. Let us proclaim to ourselves and to the entire world: "If I forget you, 0 Jerusalem, let my right hand wither, Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you If I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joys." (Psalm 137:5-6) Let us believe in the Jewish people United like the fingers of one hand, A hand that can clench in strength, Yet a hand that reaches out for peace. (Haim Hefer) Let us proclaim that we are our brother's keepers. "In the end of days it shall come to pass That the mountain of the Lord's house Shall be established as the top of the mountains ... "And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks... "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war any more ..." (Visions of Peace, Isaiah 2:4) But they shall sit, every man, under His vine and fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: (Micah 4:1;4) Ani Maamin! I do believe! In this proclamation of solidarity is incorpo- rated a duty to be fulfilled in many actions, and primary among them is the UJA, whose work cannot be performed, whose obligations cannot be attained, without the means necessary for the purposes aimed at. This is where philan- thropy steps in. This is where the financial as- sistance is important, nationally to UJA, in this community to the Allied Jewish Campaign, in which the UJA is the major beneficiary. Such is the duty of the hour, in a program of solidarity for all time. ‘177:1" Pates `The Messiah Texts' Historically Documented The vast literature devoted to the subject of messianic hopes and the Messiah fills many bookshelves. A thorough study of the subject, made by the eminent authority, Dr. Raphael Patai, is included in his "The Messiah Texts" iAvon Books). The reference in the title to many texts accounts for the many areas, many languages, all faiths concerned with the important sac- red and legendary works on the subject. Dr. Patai does his own translating of manuscripts from Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, German, Hungarian and Latin. The messianic ideology is fully defined in these works. The Jewish historical aspects are given fullest consideration. Messianic events are recorded, many of them affecting notable eras in Jewish history. There are many delightful folktales, fantasies, parables as well as historical notes, linked with the legacies in recorded Jewish history and folklore. The views of noted authorities are drawn upon. The interpreta- tion of Maimonides forms an important chapter in the Patai book. The Epilogue to "The Messiah Texts," which has been issued as a paperback, contains this important addendum to the collected histor- ical data: "And for 2,000 years the Messiah sustained the Children of Is- rael, and they kept the Messiah alive by their fervent faith and their unceasing hope that he would come any day. Throughout that long period, the gentiles accused Israel of having killed the Messiah. They hounded and persecuted them, forced them to flee and to wander from country to country, tortured and slaughtered them. "Finally a new era dawned. In some countries light spread, and Israel was allowed to sit down at the table with the gentiles. The food they offered them was sweet on their tongue, and as they gorged themselves they began to sing gentile songs, and forgot Jerusalem. And they no longer yearned for the Messiah. Consequently, the light of the Messiah grew dimmer and dimmer and dimmer. Not long thereafter, the gentiles assembled in a great conclave and decided that, after all, Israel was not guilty of killing the Messiah. And the Holy One, blessed be He, observing sadly the doings of His world, said: "'My children, you surely did not kill My Messiah, even though you did lose faith in him. If his life depended only on you, he would be no more. But I shall reveal to you a secret: I have never ceased longing for My Shekhina, and I, too, am waiting for the Messiah to reunite Me with her. My longing alone is enough to sustain him. Your ancient sages taught that the Messiah will come only in a generation which is either all pious or all wicked. No such generation can ever arise. But he will come, not for your sake but for Mine.' " Guide to Israel Programs guidF eofrorthse ization has issued a ,thneWosrltd udZyioini n sit rO areglan tu1dts desiring to It also serves the purpose of directing attention not only to the universities and related educational media but to the archeological and historical factors that encourage tourism, participation in ltibutz and nodthheerrres leatttel edmaecn tits and for Diaspora activities aspoora. Jews accommodating to Israel and Appearing under the title "Guide to Israel Program," the 100- page brochure deals with job opportunities, seminars for educators and community workers, Hebrew language study, high school and college programs, yeshiva studies and educational tours.