THE JEWISH NEWS
(USPS 275-520)
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
Postmaster: Send address changes to The Jewish News, 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075
.a year.
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CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
ALAN HITSKY
News Editor
HEIDI PRESS
Associate News Editor
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 24th day of Tishri, 5741, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Genesis 1:1-6:8. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 42:5-43:10.
Oct. 10, Rosh Hodesh Heshvan, Numbers 28:1-15.
Candle lighting, Friday, Oct. 3, 6:53 p.m.
VOL. LXXVIII, No. 5
Friday, October 3, 1980
Page Four
JNF's 80TH ANNIVERSARY
An important community function, planned
to honor a distinguished academician, serves
also to give emphasis to the important move-
ment in behalf of which the event has been
arranged.
The annual dinner of the Jewish National
Fund, on Oct. 15, at which Detroit Jewry's
spokesmen will salute the eminent president of
the University of Michigan, Dr. Harold Shapiro,
is an occasion to be welcomed because the occa-
sion marks the 80th anniversary of the JNF.
The movement begun by Dr.Hermann Shap-
iro, the noted mathematics professor, in 1901,
for the purchase of land in Palestine for the
settlement of homeless Jews, has a notable re-
cord of achievements. This record can best be
defined in this historical analysis of step-by-
step accomplishments during the 80-year his-
tory:
1901 5th Zionist Congress creates Jewish Na-
tional Fund.
1903 Land purchased at Kfar Hittim, Hulda,
Ben Shemen.
1908 Land purchased for Degania and Kin-
neret farms; Herzl Forest begun.
1909 JNF buys site of Tel Aviv for 250,000
francs.
1910 First land purchase in Jezreel Valley.
1936 Beginning of tower-and-stockade settle-
ments, with prefabricated settlements
erected in a single day.
1939 British White Paper restricts land pur-
chases by Jews.
1940 JNF land holdings reach 125,000 acres.
1943 Observation posts established at Gvulot,
Bet Eshel and Revivim in the Negev.
1948 JNF holds 234,000 acres, sites for some
221 agricultural settlements.
1950 Draining of Huleh swamps begins
1953 Number of trees planted in JNF forests
passes 20 million.
1954 Last fever swamps outside Huleh Valley
disappear due to JNF drainage programs.
1957 JNF undertakes reclamation, and af-
forestation in Adullam border area.
1958 Huleh project completed; 15,000 new
acres available for intensive cultivation,
15,000 more improved.
1960 Lands Administration Authority, Land
Development Authority established by
the state together with "JNF.
1962 Highway from Arad to Dead Sea. JNF
outpost on Mt. Gilboa.
1963 Plan to develop the Galilee launched.
1965 Afforestation begun in Yatir.
1966 John F. Kennedy Memorial and Peace
Forest established.
1968 JNF starts reclaiming the Jordan Valley
and the Arava.
1971 JNF inaugurates string of settlements
from Dead Sea to Red Sea.
1973 Yom Kippur War. Burnt forests in north
replanted by _JNF.
1976 American Bicentennial Park established.
1977 JNF begins Five-Year Plan for 185 new
settlements.
1978 Jewish Children's Forest inaugurated.
1979 Hubert H. Humphrey Parkway dedi-
cated.
1980 JNF prepares sites for new settlements in
Negev Peace Salient.
It is most appropriate that the event aimed at
the planting of a 35,000-tree forest in Israel in
honor of a distinguished economist and univer-
sity professor should coincide with the celebra-
tion of an important anniversary. The occasion
of the dinner in honor of Prof. Shapiro therefore
becomes an event of significance not only for
Michigan Jewry but for the entire American
Jewish community.
UNFORGOTTEN PLEDGE
Arthur James Balfour's unforgotten pledge of
Nov. 2, 1917, in behalf of the British govern-
ment, for the re-establishment of the Jewish
National Home, retains its historic significance
in spite of the opposition in some quarters, mis-
understanding in others.
It was an oft-broken pledge by Balfour's gov-
ernment, but the principle remains and the
ideal has been realized in the rebirth of the state
of Israel.
The anniversary annually receives recogni-
tion from the Zionist Organization of Detroit, in
the form of an annual Balfour Concert. The
memory of the document is more significant.
The fact is that the Balfour Declaration gave
status to the Zionist ideal striving for an end to
Jewish homelessness. The tragedies that
marked the insecurity of Jews in many lands do
not need repetition. History records the horrors
that emerged, with Jews the chief victims, prior
to the rebirth of Jewish statehood. To end the
indignities and the homelessness there was
need for a great movement which called for
Jewish dedication to the libertarian principles
that banner to this day, and its importance be-
comes apparent in the daily experiences of obs-
tacles being placed in the path of the Jewish
builders of Zion and their supporters
everywhere.
The Zionist objectives remain valid to this
day. Those in the Zionist ranks who strive to
counteract the animosities faced by Israel merit
recognition and support. The Balfour anniver-
sary is a reminder of such responsibilities.
FOR ART'S SAKE?
Great acting does not excuse the actor's in-
humanities. Did it on television Tuesday night?
The Vanessa Redgrave role might have been
debatable had it not been for the fact that the
escapee from the Nazi terror whose role she
played was the first to protest being re-enacted
by a hater of Israel and Jewry.
Those who committed this sin of selecting a
terrorist to portray the role of a survivor from
terrorism have much to atone for.
Surely, art must not be utilized to give artists
..
1.-. 4 f:-,,-r-et ervr torrnri cm
Rabbi Chaim Donin Provides
Detailed Guide for Praying
Understanding of prayers, familiarity of the background of
prayers, a knowledge of the numerous ethical Jewish codes must
serve invaluably to making praying impressive and dedicated to faith
and tradition.
Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin, who settled in Jerusalem after serv-
ing for a number of years as rabbi of Cong. Bnai David, provides an
excellent guide for prayers and praying.
In his To Pray as a Jew: A Guide to the Prayer Book and the
Synagogue Service" (Basic Books), Rabbi Donin goes into details
about all Jewish prayers and offers definitions that make his volume
must reading for all who desire to understand their devotions and be
guided thereby.
Rabbi Donin, who has already ac-
quired acclaim for his earlier books, "To
Be a Jew" and "To Raise a Jewish Child,"
covers every aspect of praying in his
thorough analyses of the subject matters
in this definitive work. He deals with the
Eighteen Blessings of the Amida, the
Kadish, Kedusha, the Shema, Torah
readings, the holiday and supplementary
prayers.
To make praying and home as well as
synagogue services meaningful, he de-
scribes the Birkat Hamazon after meals,
as well as blessings before eating.
Taking into account the rules relat-
ing to prayer services, he devotes a schol-
RABBI HAYIM DONIN
arly chapter to the ethical dimensions of
prayer.
The explanatory effectiveness of Rabbi Donin's guidelines im-
mediately become effective, as noted in his introduction in which he
defines the four types of prayer, thus:
"The prayer of petition, which most people think of as the nature
and purpose of all paryer, is just one of four types of prayer. The other
three types of prayer consist of thanksgiving, and praise of God, and of
prayers that are basically self-searching and confessional.
"Here lies a clue to the real purpose for engaging in prayer.
Whether we petition God to give us what we need, or thank Him for
whatever good was granted, or extol Him for His awesome attributes,
all prayer is intended to help make us into better human beings.
"While Jews who choose to live their lives in accordance with the -
commandments and the traditions of Judaism will engage in dail,
prayer as part of their religious commitment, even Jews who have
moved away from traditional observance and from the habit of fixed
regular prayer still find many occasions when they not only utter
sincere, heartfeld words of prayer but consciously wish to participate
in the more formal prayer services.
"While spontaneous prayer may on some occasions come easily to
one's lips, it usually poses a great challenge. For one who is not
trained to pray, it is not easy to pray. 'What do I say?' and 'How do I say
it?' — are questions that arise. It may be quite acceptable in Judaism
to ask a saintly or religious person to pray on one's behalf on the
assumption that his added prayers might carry more weight. (Be-
rakhot 34b).
"But 'Pray for me, Rabbi' is usually meant as a request that the
Rabbi substitute (rather than supplement) his own prayers for that of
another's. In the final analysis, we believe that every person has the
same right and duty to approach God. And to do so might well be more
meaningful than to seek out intercessors."