THE JEWISH NEWS IUSPS 275-520) Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue of July 20, 1951 Copyright (la) The Jewish News Publishing Co. Member of American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, National Editorial Association and . National Newspaper Association and its Capital Club. 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. PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Editor and Publisher ALAN HITSKY News Editor CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ Business Manager HEIDI PRESS Associate News Editor DREW LIEBERWITZ Advertising Manager Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the 17th day of Adar I, 5741, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Exodus 30:11-34:35. Prophetical portion, I Kings 18:1-39. Candle lighting, Friday, Feb. 20, 5:53 p.m. VOL. LXXVIII, No. 25 Page Four Friday, Feb. 20, 1981 COMMUNITY STRUCTURING An old dispute is in evidence. It involves in- the best interest of human accomplishment. terpretation as well as search for identifica- Therefore, the negatives must be discounted tion with either unity or uniformity. The former and when there is bitterness it should be con- involves cooperation and strength of the ranks. fronted with compassion. What is urgent at this The latter could be interpreted as submission time is to give emphasis to a major concern: that even to the disagreeable. Both terms could stem whatever is vital and necessary in criticism from the manner of treating criticism. There- must be in the direction of constructive aims. As fore the necessity of encouraging the type of long as the human need, the communal aspira- rebuke called criticism that is constructive and tion, is to strive for the positive, for the progress- avoidance of Whatever could threaten the un- ive, for the creative, the critic's aims should be ified tasks of wholesome communal creativity. applauded. This also necessitates caution lest This issue emerges from a variety of proposals the destructive should be the result even of the affecting Israel-Diaspora relations, and they most serious approach to Jewish needs. also have a relationship with many other mat- A stage has been reached of demands for ters involving communal services. There is an greater American Jewish participation in Is- old saying attributed especially to the Yiddish rael's social, economic and educational aims. philosophy that came into being as a result of This could be accepted by those who aspire for a oppressions in the shtetl that when there is ex- link in Israel-Diaspora relationships. The mo- treme poverty in the home love flies out of the ment an attempt is made intrude into Israel's window. These are inflationary times. There politics, such tactics must be condemned. are great demands for the support of vital It is of special interest at this time that the causes and social services, and the inflationary daily press, the local and the national, when trends have affected American Jewish com- viewing conditions in Israel, presume to advise munities as well as Israel. Is it because the Israelis on their political choices. Many com- demand is so great and is more difficult to mentators and newspapers have gone so far, adhere to that the criticisms of leaderships and especially in their shocking treatment of administrative forces have mounted so rapidly? Menahem Begin's role, of glorifying the prime The lengthy report issued after a two-year minister's opponents, of dealing with the on- study by the World Jewish Congress is espe- coming election in Israel, on June 30, as if cially provocative and is symbolic of the em- Americans had a right either to judge the Israeli phasis that is being given in some quarters to statesmen or to assume a right to advise Israel. the necessity for criticism. It is a wholesome It is such an approach, akin to the critical, trend, provided it is not mutilated by prejudices that must be condemned, whether it is resorted and suspicions. In the instance of the WJC to by non-Jews in the American press or by lengthy statement containing the critical and Diaspora Jews on a global basis. the advisory it is especially deplorable that The point is that criticism must become con- commentators in Israel should have branded it structive, that there must be respect for the as a product of the "wealthy figureheads" in objects of attack, that it is easy to attack leader- Jewish life. This is deplorable because it fails to ship and it is much more. important to sit with touch upon the issues and resorts to personality leaders and view the issues objectively with an bias. It is not because the wealth even of fig- aim at creating a sound communal structure. ureheads is so urgent, but because it harms Destructive critics can become an abomination. participation in Jewish services of people of all strands, including the wealthiest as.well as the IRRATIONAL MINDS poorest. In one of his memorable poems, Lord Byron In-a speech in the House of Commons, in 1860, wrote about the "unleavened hatred of the Benjamin Disraeli admonished his parliamen- heart." In this age of increasing hatreds he tary colleagues: "It is much easier to be critical might have attributed them to the "irrational than to be correct." This must not be overlooked, minds" that are poisoning mankind. but it must not be accepted as judgment of criti- How else- is one to judge people who speak as cism. David Ben-Gurion was impressed with a authorities for governments who are motivated comment made by the first U.S. ambassador to by venom, as in the latest instance of branding Israel, James McDonald, who, in his "My Mis- archeology as a- political instrument? sion to Israel," wrote: The test of democracy is In- the human rights studies and the U.S. re- freedom of criticism." This is a guide that should port, Israel's treatment of her Arab citizens is be acceptable even when the critics turn bitter. commended, but bigoted propaganda, ignoring Therefore the bitterness in the Israeli newspap- fratricide among Arabs, makes wild charges ers over the WJC report should be treated with a against the Israel government. grain of salt. Archeology is glorified by all nations as a Two of the world's most noted historians had necessary means of finding the roots of nations important definitions on the subject. In 1888, and of learning about the past. But for Israel's Heinrich Graetz said: "Criticism is much more enemies, digging into the past has become a sharp and incisive among Jews." In 1907, Simon crime. UNESCO's important role as a major Dubnow declared, We do not hesitate to United Nations agency was damaged by Arab criticize Judaism . . . for we believe in the in- propaganda to such an extent that at one point vincibility of its higher ideals." U.S. subventions to it were abandoned. The contemporary experience and the wis- That's how irrational hatred operates, and dom of the ages are not only endorsements of the disgrace is that the enlightened nations do criticism but an encouragement to resort to it in little to subvert it. ; ,1 ? 1 7 Recipes for Knowing How to Enjoy Jewish Living Rabbi Morris Golomb has made it a labor of love to teach Jews how to enjoy Jewish observances and Jewish living. His first book on how to appreciate and enjoy the Jewish festivals has proven a marked success since its publication in 1973. Now comes an addendum to fortify the manner in which he provides knowledge and encourages enjoyment of it by young and old. Rabbi Golomb makes another important contribution towards inspiring Jewish studies with his latest book, "Know Jewish Living and Enjoy It" (Shengold Publishers). While it is intended for youth of 11 and older, it is definitely a collection of instructive material that will enlighten•readers of all ages. From birth through every experience in Jewish life, every con- ceivable aspect is defined and authoritatively explained. By calling in the most knowledgeable to confirm the studies in this volume, such as kashrut, marriage laws, various ceremonials, this book becomes a guide for students and is suitable for classroom and home studies. From birth and circumcision to Bar Mitzva, marriage and the life styles in Judaism, the collective subjects in the Golomb volume pro- vide answers to questions that may be puzzling to the uninformed in Judaism. To emphasize the importance of this volume as a textbook, the author appended a section of 34 pages containing questions based on the text and the answers to the vital questions regarding Jewish customs and observances. Attention is given here to the Jewish calendar and its various aspects, including the manner in which the leap year is ascertained. Then there is a summary of the Jewish festivals, thus addi- tionally adding to the significance of a book aimed at providing knowledge about Jewish living and by knowing how to enjoy this life. The introductory comments by the author emphasize the substance of his devotional aims in an instructive work about Jewish living and observances: "There is a legend of a man who walked through a dense London fog and saw a big dark mass looming before him. As he came closer he saw that the mass was a man like himself. When finally he was face to face with the man, he saw that it was his own long-lost brother. "This legend could serve as an analogy for the situation of many of our young Jewish people today. Stumbling through the fog of ignorance, they see the dim outlines of their Jewish heritage, I - hey will not be able to behold it clearly in all its beauty until the . _ nas lifted. "My desire to help lift the fog of ignorance that surrounds so much of our heritage has prompted me to undertake this work on Jewish - customs and ceremonies. I have long felt the need for correcting many commonly held misconceptions about the observances of the Jewish religion and for presenting the laws and customs of Judaism in a manner that would be meaningful to our younger generation." Rabbi Golomb's definitive portions of his book, dealing with ceremonials, synagogue observances and the holiday spirit, also gives due attention to observances in the home and strengthening family life by Jewish observances there. He explains how this has given strength to Jewish existence and he declares that "a home strongly fortified with wholesome Jewish living will be a source of constant enjoyment and deep pride. Since the home is the birthplace of the Jewish ways of life and of education, religious observance, human contacts and family relations, it is to be expected that such a place will likewise have an impact on the whole of Jewish society." • • 3 , C 1 li- 04 i UR':