THE JEWISH NEWS .755201 THE MARATHON Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue of July 20, 1951 T 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 . , AUTONOMY TARGET PATE • DREW LIEBERWITZ Advertising Manager Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the ninth day of Sivan, 5740, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Numbers 4:21-7:89. Prophetical portion, Judges 13:2-25. 011' A.74•4 0 4.,,:44.7 tk.! 0 Candle lighting, Friday, May 23, 8:35 p.m. VOL. LXXVII, No. 12 Page Four Friday, May 23, 1980 THE WILL TO LIVE Because so many obstacles keep piling up on Israel's road to security, to normal living for a people, the term "survival" has gained a new place in the vocabulary of the many who are testing Israel. Perhaps much too often the ques- tion is posed, "Can Israel survive?" Which, in turn, brings the reaction repre- sented by a stiffening of the inherited resistance and the unchallenged will to live. Marvin Cetron, who heads Forecast Interna- tional Ltd., conducted a study which lasted a year, digesting 63 basic indicators of Israel's stamina, including population trends, nutri- tional levels, employment, energy and natural resources, water availability, scientific and technological developments, internal religious conflict and international standing. Cetron computerized his 63 conjectures and the conclusion is that Israel can crumble in a decade or two. Eliahu Salpeter, the distinguished Israeli foreign correspondent, who was among those responding, commented that a 64th point was overlooked, that of the Jewish "will to live." Unless this factor is taken into consideration, all conjectures are false, and the computer fails, no matter how powerful the mechanism. Objective studies of the Jewish experience, of the historic trials and tribulations of a people that had been reduced to a million a century ago and defied all obstacles to survival, should con- vince others that the people tried by many forces is not so easily removed from the world scene. This is the only way of judging the new prophecies: that the test is not for Israel the state alone but for Israel the People. Whatever happens to Israel is an affectation for the entire Jewish people. Jewry did not battle for national redemption in vain. It sought a role of freedom and a Return to Zion. It is the Return, the Redemption, that made the Zionist ideal the leader in world liber- tarianism. Therefore, the logic that responds to a com- puter's judgment of crumbling — that a people's will to live is powerful enough to overcome all obstacles, to confront all enmities, even to cor- rect the people's errors. Even these are many and they won't last. It is the accumulation of errors that must eventually vanish so that the people's best judgment will spell out in the fullest measure the reality of the will to live. THE BONDS WITH ISRAEL Diplomatic blunders abound everywhere. Embassies and the lives of statesmen have be- come insecure. The quest for power is wide- spread and the oil magnates seek and. appear to be acquiring greater domination. In spite of it all, Israel remains the scapegoat. Regardless of the shortcomings on all fronts, the moment Israel's role is portrayed there is the negation in sentiment, the criticism, the attack. The Middle East is seething with horror, yet there is always the danger that the moment any member of the Soviet or the Arab bloc intro- duces a resolution of condemnation of Israel it is a near-100 percent certainty it will be adopted. Only the United States remains a factor in rejecting the abounding prejudice. This was in evidence again two weeks ago when, ignoring all other dangers to the peace of the world, the UN Security Council acted on an anti-Israel resolution. Four of the Western na- tions, each of whom should have voted in opposi- tion, abstained. The United States vetoed the proposal. The American voice could have been stronger and more outspoken. All of which proves how fragile is Israel's role on the international scene. It emphasizes anew the obligation of Jewish communities to stand firm in Israel's defense. One element in Jewish actions in Israel's be- half needs special attention. It is the Israel Bond movement, the need to provide the Jewish state with funds for industrial development and for the strengthening of the internal position of the Israelis economically and socially. Israel's life and security, her role as a creative force in the world, entail international obliga- tions to keep her influence vital as an assurance of civilizing prospects in an area that had be- come devoid of progress for many generations. For the Jewish people everywhere that duty is uppermost. It is not enough, therefore, to treat the needs merely philanthropically. It is important that the economic needs not be ignored, that all as- sistance be given the state in the advancement of its industrial enterprises which can well be a boon for the entire area. The Israel _Bond movement provides means for economic participation in the life of Israel. The dollars provided have been and continue to be fully protected. They are investments. Their flow must continue. The United Jewish Appeal funds already having been provided by this community through the Allied Jewish Cam- paign, the time is ripe for increased interest in and support of the Israel Bond effort. The in- vestment is as vital as the contribution and should be treated with equal devotion in the best interests of Israel's security and dignity. AVOIDING PANIC Every antagonistic sound berating Israel makes the headlines and raises the voices of radio-TV commentators. Simultaneously, Jews who hear it begin to panic. Hasn't the lesson sunk in — that attaining justice for Israel, that arriving at a solution leading to peace, cannot come easily? Hasn't the Jewish experience been that the road to liberty for the downtrodden and justice for the embattled in the cause of freedom is always strewn with thorns? Anwar Sadat first agreed to pursue negotia- tions with Israel, then renegged, and a few days later began talks for new talks. That's how it works. If obstructionists would stop spreading suspicions the situation would never be as harsh as it often appears. Primarily, however, it is vital that there should be less panicking. It is when Jews submit to fears that the situation becomes threatening. The advice: avoid panic! British Publication Zionist Year Book Features World Jewish Documentation World Jewry's current status is documented in the current "Zionist Year Book" published by the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. While the directories are primarily of Zionist groups, agencies and their status, the Year Book for the year 1980, 5740-41, includes data about Jews everywhere. The volume again was edited by Jane Moonman. Listing Jewish population figures, the Israeli diplomatic and consular corps, related factual material, this volume has noteworthy merit in the special features that give it status as a literary factor in evaluating Zionism and the problems affecting Israel. Shimon Peres, the leader of the opposition in Israel and the titular head of his country's Labor Party, authored the leading article for this volume under the title "After the Peace Agreement." His hopeful comment merits the attention it deserves in his declaration: "The peace we seek is not aimed at gaining an advantage nor at overriding the freedom, independence or security of our neighbors. We would far rather fulfill these aims without bloodshed, enmity, sacrifice or refugees so that neither Arabs, Jews, nor anyone else will be forced to live in fear or submission. The peace which is materializing before our very eyes can and should be a turning point for World Jewry as well. The realization of this precious goal can create new depths in the relationship between World Jewry and Israel. "The artistry of peace has just begun. Now its scope must be strengthened, broadened and deepened. This is an historic opportu- nity which must not be missed." Jane Moonman's interview with the new Israel ambassador to Great Britain, Shlomo Argov, is among the major features in this Year Book. A chronology, "The Zionist Year: A Digest of Significant Events," by Josef Fraenkel, has special merit. A genuine contribution to demographic studies is contained in the article by Dr. Roberto Bachi entitled "The Demographic Evolu- tion of World Jewry in Modern Times: Expansion and Decline." Re- viewing Jewish population figures since 1750, Dr. Bachi projects a decline in the Diaspora Jewish population, although he believes there may be an increased fertility in the latter part of this century. Michael Gurfinkiel is the author of an important essay, "The Situation of the Jews in France Today," touching upon the anti- Semitic trends there. A revived list of "Who's Who in Zionism" is among the importan listings in the book. The Year Book contains a 42-page section entitled "Who's Who in Zionism." This is like a miniature encyclopedia, listing the names of all the prominent personalities in the British ranks in the movement. This list will be of great value to British Jewry, since it contains the basic facts, no matter how brief, about the enlistees in Zionist leader- ship. What this list suggests is that if it could have been expanded to include the national leaders it would have additional merit. While it is a product of the British Zionist Federation, the current Year Book has much value for Jews and Zionists throughout the world. -