[
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
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PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
ALAN HITSKY
News Editor
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
HEIDI PRESS
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager
Associate News Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 14th day of TC117217111Z, 5740, the following-scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Numbers 22:2-25:9. Prophetical portion, Mica!? 5:6-6:8.
•
Tuesday, Fast of 17th of Tammuz
Pentateuchal portion, Exodux 32:11-14, 34:1-10. Prophetical portion, (afternoon only) Isaiah 55:6-56:8.
Candlelighting, Friday, June 27, 8:54 p.m.
VOL. LXXVII, No. 17
Page Four
Friday, June 27, 1980
THE INTERNATIONAL SHAMS
An international scene filled with venom is
developing massive hatred directed at Is-
rael. The United Nations, its General Assembly
as well as the Seciirity Council, are media for
attacks that threaten the very existence of Is-
rael. The former is powerless to act, the latter is
stymied in its ganging up on Israel because Is-
rael has one friend there — the United States. It
is fortunate for Israel that the veto operates in
the Security Council.
But the combined forces of Israel's an-
tagonists, especially those motivated by the
craving for more oil from Arab refineries, are
attempting to do the job of harming the Jewish
state.
How can they best achieve it? By making
Menahem Begin the scapegoat and calling him
names. But the Israel prime minister does not
quiver in the face of calamitous threats. He
speaks out, as he did as follows on the latest UN
Security Council resolution:
"Security Council Resolution 471, which the
council 'adopted with the abstention of the
United States, is one of the seasonal assaults on
truth, morality, integrity — and on the Security
Council itself. That institution did not convene,
did not deliberate nor did it ever adopt a resolu-
tion of condemnation after the atrocities at
Munich, Athens, Rome, Brussels, Khartoum,
Zurich, Lydda, Avivim, Maalot, The Coastal
Road, Nahariya, Misgav Am, Hebron.
The Security Council was in no way needed
for the condemnation of the horrible crimes per-
petrated on Monday, June 2, 1980, in towns in
Judea and Samaria, or to ensure a most inten-
sive investigation and the bringing to justice of
the perpetrators of those crimes once they are-
discovered and apprehended as prescribed by
law. This was done 72 hours earlier by the
authorized spokesmen of the state of Isarel. But
`the opportunity' was seized upon to demand of
Israel that it withdraw, contrary to Resolution
242 and the Camp David Agreements to the
lines of June 4, 1967, and that it consent to the
re-partition of Jerusalem, Israel's capital. It is
our duty to make clear, simply that Israel will
never do so."
Prime Minister Begin was equally emphatic
in branding the European Economic Commu-
nity's embracing of the PLO as another Munich
document. How else is one to judge such
endorsements of the aims to annihilate Israel?
How can Jewish pacifists, in their devotion to a
cause for peace, overlook the realism of the
Begin approach to the tragic events that affect
Israel and her people? ,
John P. Roche summarized the situation
properly,- in a recent commentary, when he
pointed to the viciousness with which an unfor-
tunate maiming of Arab mayors was treated as
an 'Israel government crime, Israel having con-
demned such terrorist acts two days before the
UN SecUrity Council even touched upon the
issue.
That's how the international community
treats matters involving Israel. Great issues
that could lead to peace are ignored, minor
occurrences that can be used for condemnation
of Israel are inflated.
Fortunately, when the ,challenge is properly
treated, Israel's friends come to her rescue. Con-.
trary to judgments that there is an erosion of
support for Israel, the U.S. Senate voted 85 to 7
to continue defeating a damaging amendment
by retiring Sen. Adlai Stevenson, Jr.
It is the friendship that is recorded in such
actions which offers cause for gratitude for the
friendship which Israel enjoys with the United
States. It is the continuation of such a coopera-
tive partnership that all friends of Israel must
continue to strive for.
DIPLOMATIC BLINI3NES S
A king who has always been in danger from
his own co-religionists and whose only protec-
tion was the Israeli neighbor against whom he
emits hatred came to the United States. In a
sense he abused his host and has gotten away
with 100 tanks which could be weapons in
threats to Israel. ,
What is happening to the diplomatic common
sense which has often practiced caution when
requests for arms meant increased menacing of
, Israel, but now evidences submission to de-
mands from Israel's antagonists?
While Israel seeks peace and beckons to the
Jordanian king to join in talks for an accord on
the Middle East, the king comes here with re-
newed threats. Why wouldn't he arrogate unto
himself the power to challenge his American
friend? Why shouldn't he threaten that if he
doesn't get American tanks he'll apply for them
to Russia?
That's how blackmail operates, when Saudi
Arabia can get the planes it asks for, even if
they can menace the very existence of Israel in a
matter of minutes in a planned attack.
Diplomacy is becoming an oily word. With
.
blackmail, when the need for oil dominates the
actions of world powers, there is much submis-
sion. Coming from Americans who are yielding
to blackmail, what hope is there for an im7
mediate approach to fair play from this great
land of the free and the brave?
BRODHEAD'S
WARNING
Serious damage to truth and common decency
appears to be plotted for consideration in anti-
Israel resolutions planned for proposal at the
United Nations Mid-Decade Conference on
Women to be held in Copenhagen.
Congressman William Brodhead's protest
addressed to Secretary of State Edmund Muskie
strikes at the root of the impending dangers.
It is fortunate that a responsible member of
Congress joins in calling attention to the preju-
dicial sentiments and the American Jewish
community's actions will, hopefully, receive
cooperation from non-Jews as well in coun-
teracting bigotry planned for global action.
Kaniel's `Judaism' Portrays
Art as Vital Factor for Jewry
Art serves well as emphasis on the importance of religious as-
pects in life. In the Jewish sphere, art does even more. It introduces
historical values and therefore adds to the study of many eras in
Jewish history. It helps in the glorification of the home. Art is defi-
nitely a major cultural factor, especially for Jews.
• "Judaism" by Michael Kaniel (Sterling Publishing Co.), pub-
lished as part of the Sterling series on The Art of World Religions,"
beautifully illustrates the development of Jewish art as it reflects on
Jewish customs.
Kaniel, who is the editor of Jewish Art Magazine and is an
authority on art, commences his discussion of the subject by introducl
ing the generally accepted view that the Second Commandment "ex-
pressly excluded any kind of art of sculpture among the Jews." In Els
lengthy analysis of the disputations on the subject, he refutes the
rejection of art and points out that as long as there is no submission to
idolatry, art is glorified in Jewish tradition, and states:
"4udaism even requires a special benediction to be pronounced
upon beholding beauty — when seeing handsome people, a beautiful
tree or animal, the first blossoms of spring etc. So importantls this
aesthetic concept that it is considered the first of the seven rabbinic
ordinances which are added to the 613 mitzvot, the biblically-
ordained commands which are binding upon the Jew. Aesthetics thus
became a vital consideration expressed in the appellation hiddur
mitzva, the embellishment or the beautification of the command. The
significance of art in the life of the Jew is dramatically emphasised by
the stipulation that one is obliged to spend up to one-third more than
the normal cost in the purchase of ceremonial objects in order to fulfill
the mitzva in a proper aesthetic manner . . ."
"We see, - then, that there is no fundamental tension between
Judaism and art. Micsconceptions about Jewish hostility to art origi-
nated either from a basic misunderstanding of the Second Com-
mandment or from a disregard of its main meaning which clearly
links the prohibition against artistic creation with idol worship. They
may also have originated from ignorance of talmudic and other
Jewish traditional interpretations of the prohibition, together with a
lack of awareness of material evidence which indiCates a rich f
tion of Jewish creative activity. The biblical restraints were
cessful in inhibiting, to some extent, free artistic creativity a
Jews, lest it lead to direct or indirect worship of the creation of h
hands; and the biblical tenets guided the development of Jewish a
an ethical direction. However, Judaism does not oppose visual or
representational art, which was found even in ancient Jewish houses
of worship. Artistic activity was encouraged, provided that it did not
lead to idolatry or impair the unsullied belief in a non-corporeal
Creator. The artistic embellishment of Jewish ceremonial art was
especially encouraged."
With 32 pages of color photographs and 100 photos in black and
white, "Judaism" emphasises all aspects of Jewish art and traces it
from the earliest times. Examining architecture of early synagogues,
it contains the reproductions dearly paintings, of Byzantine art, the
Dura Europa Synagogue.
Masterpieces of ceremonial art, artifacts used in Jewish homes,
kidush cups, Torah covers, holiday and Sabbath art objects and
illuminated manuscripts of medieval times, Hanuka lamps and other
objects are on display to indicate the great values of art as significant
factors in Jewish life.