54 Friday, July 25, 1980 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Burial Tradition Explained By RABBI SAMUEL FOX (Copyright 1980, JTA, Inc.) SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO The Jewish News To: The Jewish News 17515 W. 9 Mile Rd., Suite 865 Southfield, Mich. 48075 Please send a year's gift subscription to: NAME ADDRESS STATE CITY FOR ZIP 1 1 I I I state occasion FROM ❑ $15 enclosed I Jewish tradition requires that the bodies of the de- ceased be attired in white shrouds for a variety of rea- sons. The Talmud (Mo-ed Katan 27b) tells us that be- fore this requirement was instituted poor families would be embarrassed be- cause they had no elaborate fineries with which to dress their deceased relatives. Since a principle of Jewish tradition was to equalize all people and to avoid embar- rassment to anyone, the rabbis instituted the prac- tice of dressing all the de- ceased alike in simple white shrouds. It is also claimed that the deceased are considered to be examples of the High Priest's appearance in the Holy of Holies on Yom Kip- pur in the ancient temple at Jerusalem. Before entering the holy chamber the priest changed from his elabo- rately gold trimmed gar- ments to simple white linen garments. Some claim that the High Priest did so be- cause he was preparing to make confessions and plead for forgiveness . be- fore the Almighty. There- fore the simple white clothes were a symbol of modesty. A person who crosses the threshold of death is consid- ered as having gone into the Holy of Holies to be con- fronted by his Maker to face the truth of his past life. His dress should, therefore, be modest, as represented by the white shrouds. Others claim that the white shrouds indicate in- nocence and purity. The act of death is said to bring for- giveness to the person clear- ing away the past sins and guilt and preparing him for a blessed future in Paradise. Twain Applauds Jewish Struggle for Survival Place 'Your New Year greetings in Sept. 10th There's no better way to sa Detroiters Attend UJA Conclave MHAPP.9 NEW to all your relatives and friends The Jewish News 17515 W. 9 Mile Rd., Suite 865 Southfield, Michigan 48075 Gentlemen: Please insert my New Year Greeting Mr. and Mrs. TEL AVIV, July 15 (JTA) Hagana, the Jewish de- — Chaim Slavin, a fense force, Slavin con- Russian-born electrical verted what was largely a engineer widely regarded as manual operation into an the father of Israel's mili- industrial production tary industries, died of a line, utilizing whatever heart attack two weeks ago obsolete machinery he could acquire. He left at the age of 72. He came to Palestine 56 that work in the early years ago and was employed 1940s, only to be recalled in hydroelectric projects by Ben-Gurion after until the late David Ben- World War II to acquire Gurion assigned him to or- surplus arms and ganize underground arms machinery in Europe and production in the period be- the U.S. He came to Amerir fore World War II. knowing no English. B Slavin, always a Zionist activist, was ordered out of with the help of friends h, the USSR in 1924 and ar- managed to purchase entire rived in Palestine penni- war surplus arms and less. His first regular job ammunition factories at was at the Haifa electric scrap iron prices. These power station, a steam- were dismantled and ship- ped to Palestine in crates generating plant. His abilities soon made falsely labeled "textile him assistant to Pinhas machinery." Riitenberg who was then developing hydroelectric Aim at perfection in ev- plants and eventually Sla- erything, though in most vin was placed in charge of things it is unattainable; the Tel Aviv power station, however, they who aim at it, generating electricity for and persevere, will come what was the largest city in much nearer to it, than . Palestine. those whose laziness and When Ben-Gurion despondency make them summoned him to head give it up as unattainable. the infant arms industry —Chesterfield to produce weapons for If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly the Jews ought hardly to be heard of; but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people . . . His contributions to the world's list of great names in literature, sci- ence, art, music, finance, medicine and abstruse learning are also way out of proportion with the weak- ness of his numbers. He has made, a marvelous fight in orld, in all the ages; world, and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it. The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Per- sian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away. The Greek and - the Roman fol- lowed, made a vast noise, and they are gone. Other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out and they sit in the twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is -now what he always . was, exhibiting no deca- dence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and_ag- gressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew. All other forces pass, but he re- mains. What is the secret of his immortality?. — Mark Twain NOW IS THE TIME TO Holiday Issue Chaim Slavin, Israeli Power Pioneer and Arms Procurer and family Address Zip Code State City Check Enclosed (circle one) $7.50, $12.50, $17.50, $22.50, $30.00, $35.00, $40.00 or $ I Several local members of the United Jewish Appeal National Campaign Cabinet East Central Region attended a leader- ship meeting last week in Cleveland. Allocations Chairman Robert Naftaly, National Young Leadership Cabinet Regional Chairman Mark Hauser and Cash Chairman Dr. Leon Fill were active participants at the gather- ing. All three are members of the regional executive committee. Among the items the De- troit leaders discussed were Project Renewal, 1981 Campaign issues, Cam- paign strategy and mis- sions. 1 Monument) Unveilings The family of the late Ar- thur Klee announces the unveiling of a monument in his memory 12:30 p.m. Sun- day, July 27, at Machpelah Cemetery. Rabbi Yolkut will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late ANNA BERENT Announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 11 a.m. Sunday, August 3, at Beth Yehuda Cemetery (Workmen's Circle). Rabbi Zachariash will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late MAX GVAZDA Announces the un- veiling,of a monument in his memory 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at Machpelah Cemetery. Rabbi Spectre will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late DAVID MERTZ Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 12 noon Sunday, July 27, at Beth Tefilo Cemetery. Rabbi Gruskin will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late IRVING H. TACKEL Announces the un- veiling of a monument in his memory 1 p.m. Sunday, July 27 at Adat Shalom Memorial Park. Rabbi Arm will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late PAULINE TEPMAN Announces the un- veiling of a monument in her memory 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at Machpelah Cemeter Rabbi Arm will o.. ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late E RACHEL BRODMAN Announces the unveiling of a monument in her memory 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, 1980 at Beth Abraham Hillel Cemetery. Rabbis Leizer Levin, Solomon Gruskin and Israel Halpern, and Cantor Shabtai Ackerman will officiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend.