I
2 Friday, June 21, 1980
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
Robert St. John's J'Accuse:
Much More Than a Confessional
In his speech accepting the American Jewish Press
Association's annual Golda Meir Award, Robert St. John
the popular author and lecturer, reminisced about his
youth and told of his experiences when college youth dis-
played inherent anti-Semitic attitudes. It had brought him
to the fold of the protesters who condemned prejudice and
later led him to a life devoted to fighting the vile hatred for
Jews.
His recollection sounded like a
confessional. It had much stronger
effect. It was a J'Accuse directed
at all who subscribed to the hatred
that has polluted the thinking of
peoples everywhere. He sounded an
appeal in support of Israel. He
called for an end to the anti-Semitic
prejudices, a task to which he, con-
tinues to dedicate himself.
To his credit it should be re-
corded that he makes such appeals
_ as often to non-Jews, in his writings
S.T. JOHN
and lectures, as to the Jews. He has
a record for fair play that will always be appreciated in
Jewish ranks.
Pelavin's Leadership: Motivated
by Devotion to Art and Culture
Morris Pelavin left inerasable marks in the record of
Flint Jewry, and his leadership was equally notable on a
national basis.
He was a dedicated Zionist and his Jewish devotions,
unlimited in scope, were influential in eliciting
enthusiasism from a large constituency.
Among his most notable interests was a concern for the
advancement of Jewish cultural projects. He inspired many
efforts for the advancement of Jewish art and literature.
Befriending the late SauLRaskin, the popular Jewish artist
whose illustrated Haggada and other Jewish claSsics re-
main memorable in the record of Jewish artistry, he made
it possible for the distinguished artist to complete and to
publish his "Avinu Malkenu." He visited with the popular
artist, organized a committee as an encouragement to him
and then proceeded personally to finance the last book in a
regular and deluxe edition. It is a highly-prized volume.
As a leader in the United Jewish Appeal and in many
educational causes, Morris Pelavin for years held the role of
one of Michigan's outstanding Jewish leaders. His interest
in civic movements added glory to his notable career that
covered a rich life-span.
Balfour Brickner as Rabbi of Free
Synagogue of New York: Reminder
of Two Eminent Personalities
For the clergy, the naming of Balfour Brickner as rabbi
of the Free Synagogue of New York is, undoubtedly excit-
ing news. In the general community the backgrounds both
of this synagogue and the personalities involved this an-
nouncement may pass as an ordinary bit of news. The
predecessors to the newly named leader of what had once
been one of the most challenging ethical, social and politi-
cal centers in this land invite recording the recollections of
an era when rabbis displayed unusual courage confronting
issues of concern to Jews and to Americans.
The Free Synagogue was
founded by Dr. Stephen
Samuel Wise, the fearless
advocate of Herzlian politi-
cal Zionism, the man who
never flinched when a social
or political issue had arisen.
He was a Zionist in Reform
Jewish ranks when such a
designation invited abuse
in the ranks in which he had
been trained for the rabbi-
nate. He fought the as-
similationists in Jewish
ranks and the corrupt in
politics in New York. He
advocated social justice. He
helped raise the standards
RABBI BRICKNER
of Jewish identifications.
Among his contemporaries in the Reform rabbinate
was another giant, Barnett Brickner, the father of Balfour.
Dr. Barnett Brickner was another remarkable man. He was
a passionate Zionist and a fellow-leader with Stephen Wise
in the Zionist Organization of America. They were the
contemporaries in the movement with Supreme Court Jus-
tice Louis D. Brandeis, Judge Julien Mack, Dr. Abba Hillel
Silver and a score of other noted leaders in the era of
Henrietta Szold and her associates.
Barnett Brickner had a booming voice. He loved Yid-
dish, spoke, it, resorted to it, took delight in telling Jewish
stories. He was a great storyteller.
By Philip
Slomovitz
Dr. Gruen Expertly Defines the Position. of Iranian
Jewry in His American Jewish Committee Analysis .. .
Robert St. John: Staunch Opponent of Anti-Semitism
Because this Commentator was on terms of first names
friendships with these two men, he humbly qualifies him-
self to write with intimacy about them.
They are being succeeded, not in the same synagogue
— Barnett Brickner was rabbi in Cleveland when Stephen
Wise officiated in the New York Free Synagogue -- but in
Jewish leadership. Does the man who belongs to another
generation removed from them merit the mantle of a
Stephen or Barnett?
Balfour has spoken unhesitatingly on many issues. He,
too, shows courage. He earns elevation to so significant a
post as rabbi of the Free Synagogue.
On one question this commentator is puzzled. Would
Stephen or Barnett have co-signed the type of Peace Now
(Shalom Akhshav) statement to which Balfour gave his
name in what was unquestionably an attack on Menahem
Begin in a time of crisis in Israeli and Jewish life? Your
Commentator doubts it. Let this uncertainty remain for
what it is, in the hope that Balfour will rise to the stature of
both his father Barnett and his predecessor Stephen.
A Lesson in Submissiveness:
Tragedy of Justice-Pleading
by Attacking Israel, Emigration
When Khomeini rose to power in Iran, a Jewish dele-
gation greeted him with a declaration of loyalty that was
- based on condemnation of Zionism and Israel.
The Iranian Jewish population has been reduced to
less than half the number when the ayatollah became the
ruler.
There_ were some 80,000 Jews in Iran, ancient Persia,
in 1978. Half reportedly left and half of the emigres joined
the 65,000 Iranian Jews who settled in Israel since the
rebirth of the Jewish state.
Those who remain are, understandably, under Kho-
meini's rule and certainly are not expected to be partisans
of Israel or Zionism. Those who speak out declare their
opposition to both.
It is especially interesting, however, that a number of
young Jews protested against certain discriminations.
In Teheran there appears a periodical, published in
Persian. It is called Tammuz, it is the Persian weekly of the
Teheran Jewish community. In_ its May 29, 1980, issue
there appears a letter addressed to Abol Hassan Bani-Sadr,
president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The letter expresses the hope that the Iranian
authorities will "think twice in the implementation of jus-
tice toward our Jewish brothers, and this prevents the
adversaries of the revolution from acting in ways
detrimental to it."
The text of the English translation of the Jewish
youths' letter published in Tammuz is provided by the
American Jewish Committee. It is explained that previous
Tammuz articles have denounced Zionism and have af-
firmed the Iranian Jewish community's support for the
ideas of revolution.
The text of the letter, which commenced with praise for
the revolution, follows:
Mr. President, discrimination against
minorities in Iran, especially against Jews, is
being strongly felt throughout the revolutionary
groups, government offices and departments .
During the last year the teachers of minority
groups were denied registration in the teachers'
training college, merely because they were from
minority groups.
Contrary to the laws and declarations of the
Islamic Republic of Iran, the government agen-
cies and departments advertise that they will only
employ the Muslim applicants. Among such
offices, we should mention the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, which has formally declared the
above limitation. Presently throughout the gov-
ernment offices, the minority employees are being
pressured that they had better find thmselves
jobs in the private sector; and likewise in the pri-
vate sector they are told that they had better look
for independent jobs.
We shall not take up much of your time ex-
plaining the instigations of the irresponsible
groups towards all minorities, especially Jews,
who by publication of declarations, serious
threats, belittlements and insults are causing
great discomfort to your Jewish brothers, but
would like to reiterate that these were not the
expectations of such a revolution nor are they
beneficial to its objectives.
Because of Our political activities in the past we
do not wish to side with those Jews who are op-
posing the revolution and have been or are being
tried by the revolutionary courts, but the methods
of preparation of the letters of accusation in the
revolutionary courts clearly indicate certain
prejudices and biases which have caused grave
anxiety among the Jewish population.
If you would read any of the prosecutor's
accusations, (you would find that) apart from
,
their basic charges, their (the accused's) member-
ship in the Iranian Jewish community has been
regarded as an act of felony . . . We draw your
attention to the Bill of Indictment prepared
against the Beroukhim family . . . If affiliation
with the Jewish community is an act of felony
then the entire Jewish community of Iran who are
affiliated and are in contact with such an organ-
ization are to be considered at fault.
With regard to having trade and commercial
relations with Israel and/or frequent trips to that
country, . . . you fully realize that the government
of Israel was one of the closest allies of the de-
posed shah . . . Thousands of Iranian merch
have had trade relations with that country. Ap
from that, every day hundreds of people went to
Israel either for medical treatment or religious
pilgrimage. We consider relations with capitalis-
tic sources an act of felony, but importation of
honey from Israel or receiving letters from rela-
tives resident in that country surely cannot be a
ground for conviction in the revolutionary courts,
because such unjustified accusations will help to
undermine any other factually based acts of
felony.
Exodus and migration of Jews from Iran is one
of the acts supported by the past regime, and the
fact is that there are very few Iranian Jewish
families who do not have a certain number of
relations in Israel. This is no fault of the Jews
remaining in Iran.
The message to their government by the Iranian youth
has several aspects worth noting. It is marked by
passionate patriotism. It yields to the dictatorial pressures
which stem from a government aligned with those aspiring
to Israel's destruction. It goes so far as to condemn emigra-
tion. The very human right of people to choose their pre-
ferred place of residence is treated as a disloyalty.
- - This is not a new experience in Jewish history. There
—have been many occasions when Jews had to yield to de-
mands from oppressors to assume their way of life. There
were instances of conversions to other faiths to protect
lives, under Islamic and Christian domination.
There also have been as many instances of Jews going
to their doom at kiddush haShem, for the sanctification of
the Holy Name, never submitting to an abandonment of
their highest principles in Judaism.
Such are the ways'of life, with the negations claiming
notoriety while the loyal to the highest goals in life may
remain among the heroes in the resistance to barbarism.
The significant revelation in these texts is contained in
a splendidly researched article by Dr. George E. Gruen,
director of Middle East affairs of the American Jewish
Committee. Reviewing the tragic events marked by the
execution of several Jews in Iran, Dr. Gruen's evaluative
article contains these important comments assessing the
situation in Iran:
Khalkhali's independence and the fact that the
Hamadan authorities could so blatantly defy an
order from the central authorities in Teheran add
to the fears within the Jewish community that the
central authorities are unwilling or unable to in-
sure that the full_ rights of the Jewish minority,
formally proclaimed in the Constitution of the Is-
lamic Republic, will be maintained in practice.
Principle 13 defines Zoroastrians, Jews and
Christians as "recognized minorities" who are
"free to perform their religious rites and cere-
monies" and "to act in personal matters and reli-
gious teachings in accordance with their religious
regulations."
Principle 14 states: "According to the Koran,
the Islamic Republican Government of Iran and
the Muslims as well are bound to treat non-
Muslims with good moral conduct and Islamic
justice, and to observe their fundamental rights.
This principle will be applicable to those who d -
not get involved in anti-Islamic activities and h.
conspiracies against the Islamic Republic of Iran
• • • f
In an unusual admission, Ayatollah Khomeini
publicly declared in a broadcast to provincial
governors on June 10 that Iran was in "chaos"
and that internal disputes among various factions
supporting the revolution posed a greater threat
even than U.S. or Soviet opposition. In what may
have been intended as a criticism of the multiplic-
ity of workers' komites and other local vigilante
groups taking matters into- their own hands,
Khomeini declared that the Iranian revolution
had progressed to the point where "the masses
cannot any longer govern the nation." He said it
was now up to the elected and appointed officials
to govern the country and solve its problems.
In addition to disputes between President
Bani-Sadr and the fundamentalist Islamic Repub-
lican Party, the government also faces opposition
(Continued on Page 6)
-
.