THE JEWISH NEWS
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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
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PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
ALAN HITSKY
News Editor
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
HEIDI PRESS ,
Associate News Editor
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 13th day of Adar, 5740, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion. Exodus 27:20 - 30:10, Deuteronomy 25:17-19. Prophetical portion, 1 Samuel 15:1-34.
Sunday, Feast of Purim
Book of Esther is read Saturday night and Sunday morning. Sunday Pentateuchal portion, Exodus 17:5 - 16.
Monday. Shushan Purim
Candle lighting, Friday. Feb. 29, 6:04 p.m.
VOL. LXXVI, No. 26
Page Four
Friday, February 29, 1980
PURIM'S MULTIPLE ROLES
Purim had its origin in Persia. It symbolized
the hatreds that are generated by xenophobia,
the dislike of the unliked by jealousies and the
craving for power at the expense of the weaker
and of minorities.
The festival had its lessons for the genera-
tions. It admonished the endangered not to
submit to fears. It called for courage. It taught
the descendants of the Mordecais and the Es-
thers in the Purim story that even out of the
greatest dangers there often develop the free-
doms temporarily denied to the victims of anti-
Semitism.
History's lesson is repeated through the gen-
erations in the verdict that was meted to Ha-
man. His fate also was the fate of Torkiemada
and Pobedomostziev and Hitler. In the historic
records every anti-Semite is portrayed for what
he is worth, as the beastly and cniel, as the
rejected by mankind.
.This Purim the eyes of the world are on the
new Persia, on Iran. The Jews who only a year,
ago may have read the Megilla, the Book of
Esther, in their synagogues, with relish, may
now be compelled to read the book in secret, to
glory in the triumph of Esther and Mordecai in
silence. Knowing their history they must be
aware that the suppression of this day can only
be temporary.
Yet, the tragedy cannot be ignored. Of the
80,000 Jews in Iran a decade ago, only half that
number remain. They are not heard from. They
cannot even appeal for help from their fellow
Jews. They may be regretting failure to take
advantage of the opportunities they had for a
number of years to emigrate to the freedom of
Israel.
World Jewry, however, does not forget them.
Wherever the Purim gragger sounds a curse for
Haman, there is also a thought for the people
who now are in the position that was Persian
Jewry's before Esther had fulfilled her uncle
Mordecai's instructions to plead for the welfare
of her people.
With Americans held as hostages in Iran, and
with their government helpless in the attempt
to rescue them for so many weeks, how can an
oppressed Jewish group entertain hopes for lib-
eration? Yet, it must come and history's lessons
cannot be relegated to the jungle.
The rejoicing over a triumph of old will be
intermingled in the coming days, at the world-
wide Purim celebrations, with the undying hope
that the unfortunate will regain their right to a
free life. May it come very soon!
MIsHIAOAK H MANOT
This is the season of gift-exchanging. Mis-
hloakh Manot, the gift tradition for Purim,
commonly paraphrased as "shalakhmonos," is a
chief objective of the oncoming festival, in the
social sense of the festival's observance.
This is where the group sense, the family
spirit, the communal link fits in. Having ex-
changed gifts with family and friends, the added
satisfaction must come from the wider scope,
the unforgetfulness where the klal, the com-
munity has a place in everyone's life.
Purim occurs at a time when the community
is engaged in the process of acquiring the means
with which to provide for the needs of the less
affluent, of assisting newcomers to new
environments — refugees to Israel and the
United States from lands of oppression; making
it possible for the senior citizens to attain a
friendly nod from among those with whom they
live, encouraging the cultural and educational
programs without which Jewish life becomes a
void.
Upholding the hands of those engaged in
tasks to be attained through the Allied Jewish
Campaign becomes a duty at this time, and the
Mishloakh Manot tradition serves additionally
to encourage assistance in this annual effort.
The Allied Jewish Campaign is being con-
ducted at a time when inflation cuts sharply
into the.workable dollar. The funds sought are
the necessity of the hour during the celebration
of Purim. Without the generosity of Mishloakh
Manot the joy of the festival becomes marred.
This is the opportunity, therefore, for every
citizen of this community to be a participant in a _
vital cause while giving emphasis to the joys of
an important festival.
What a glorious exchange, in Purim gift-
giving to the major philanthropic appeal, to
know that: a new settler in Israel benefits from
aid in acquiring freedom in the historic Jewish
homeland, to have the satisfaction of knowing
that the children in our community are being
trained for knowledgeability of their heritage,
to be assured that those in need of recreational
facilities, especially the elderly and their like,
are provided with means for sociability on a
communal scale.
'BUDGETARY STRAINS'
Allied Jewish Campaign, Jewish Welfare
Federation and United Jewish Charities offi-
cials point to the compulsion of asking for at
least a million-dollar increase over last year's
contributions for the current fund-raising tasks
in order to overcome "budgetary strains."
Such "strains" are understandable under in-
flationary conditions. Besides, there are addi-
tional obligations which must be met, especially
those of providing for the increased number of
Russian emigres settling in this area.
It is to be hoped that in addition to "Mis-
hloakh Manot" offerings there will be the addi-
tional generous responses to the Allied Jewish
Campaign to fulfill the needs. Thereafter, it will
be of the Utmost importance that the dedicated
concerns with the duties towards overseas and
local agencies should be reviewed periodically
with the objective of overcoming strains
whenever they may occur. Taking the commu-
nity into its confidence, the agencies' leadership
will find meeting the obligations much'easier.
Essays by Noted Scholars in
Dropsie Anniversary Volume
Dropsie University's 70th anniversary is the occasion for cultural
and historical enrichment with the publication of a volume contain-
ing essays on major Jewish topics by the most distinguished Jewish
scholars.
Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Solomon Zeitlin, who died Dec.
28, 1976, "Essays on the Occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the
Dropsie University," published by Dropsie University Press, covers a
vast area of interests.
The volume was originally planned by Dr. Zeitlin who was a
Dropsie alumnus and a teacher on its faculty for six decades.
An introductory essay by the recently retired president of the
university, Dr. Abraham Katsh, and Dr. Leon Nemoy traces the
history of the university which commenced as Dropsie College of
Hebrew and Cognate Learning. It was established with funds pro-
vided by the Philadelphia lawyer Moses Aaron Dropsie.
The list of contributors to this volume attests to the importance of
the collective works, and the subjects they dealt with add up to an
immensity of scholarly attainments.
Exemplary is the essay by Dr. Solomon Grayzel, "Popes, Jews alnd
Inquisition From Bichut' to "rurbato.' " This is authoritative writing
and is the result of notable research.
Dr. Jacob B. Agus authored "Continuing Creativity in
Maimonides' Philosophy." It adds to the prominence of research em-
phasized in this volume.
The unusual variety of topics covered in this volume is given
added emphasis in the essay by the venerable Dr. Louis Finkelstein.
former chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
His topic: "Egyptian Faience or Glazeware."
Isaiah Friedman, an authority on the subject, wrote on "The
Policy of the German Government Towards Zionism, 1897 to 1918."
This is the type of study that enhanced historical knowledge.
Dr. Katsh is the author of an important essay, "Unpublished
Cairo Genizah Talmudic Fragments From the Stonim Collection in
the Saltikov-Shchedrin Library in Leningrad." Dr. Katsh is the sole
scholar who had Russian permission to do research and to make copies
of important Jewish documents in the Russian libraries and archives
and this is one of the results of his research.
Shim L. Khayyat authored the article on "The Interrelationship
Between Jews, Christians, Moslems and Others as Reflected in
Arabic Proverbs."
There is a summary survey by Guido Kisch on the topic, "The
Contribution of German Jews to Law and Jurisprudence."
Philip Klutznick, now U.S. Secretary of Commerce, is author . , f
the essay The Voluntary American Jewish Community."
Other prominent scholars participated in the making of this
volume which serves so well as an added tribute to the memory of
Prof. Solomon Zeitlin.
Publisher's Autobiography
Thomas Yoseloff is a name popularized by the many works he
published under his name. In "The Time of My Life," published by one
of his associated publishing companies, A.S. Barnes, Thomas Yoseloff
deals with the realities of the revolutionary age, when radio became
an important factor in life, when the 48 hour week became a way of
when synagogues and churches exerted their influence and i n-
n-
spired the faith that gave substance to American life.
A native of Iowa, Yoseloff describes his progressive emergence
from a hard life into the creative tasks he achieved in the publishing
field. Yoseloff tells of the resistance to Nazism when the Hitlerites
sought to invade U.S. universities. His story, in spite of hardship. is
one of notable achievements.
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