1 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Jamaica on U.S.-Soviet Fence By JESSE ZEL LURIE KINGSTON, Jamaica (JTA) — There are going to be changes in the Jamaican posture at the United Na- tions, I was told here by knowledgeable officials of the Ministry of Foreign Af- fairs. These sources differ, however, in how major the change will be. The former government of Prime Minister Michael Manley, whi'ch was swept out of office in democratic elec- tions last October, voted consistently at the UN with the Soviet bloc. The pattern continued at the last General Assembly even though most of the vot- ing took place after the elec- tions — after the new pro- Western government of Prime Minister Edward Seaga had assumed power. Hold-over Ambassador Donald Mills voted with the Arab-Soviet bloc on seven of the eight resolutions at- tacking Israel and the Camp David agreements. Now that a new ambas- sador, Sir Egerton Richardson, has arrived in New York, there will be less concurrence with the Soviet Union, I was told. But that does not mean that Jamaica will vote consistently with the United States. Al- though the new government is dependent on Washing- ton and the friendship of the American people for finan- cial aid and the restoration of its tourist trade, the minister of foreign affairs, Hugh Shearer emphasized that his country is not in America's pocket. He said at a recent meeting: "Jamaica does not take instructions from the Unites States or any super-power. If it happens that our view coincides with the United States, that's good for them. If it happens that our views and the views of Russia coincide, that's good for them." <7) I was assured, however, that one of the major issues on which Jamaica agrees with the United States is in support of the Camp David accords and the Israel- Egypt peace_ treaty. The Yugoslavian Jews to Meet (7, JERUSALEM (JNI) — The largest delegation of Yugoslavian Jews ever to travel to Israel, numbering about 150, will attend a world conference of Jewish emigrants from Yugoslavia. Marking the 40th an- niversary of the Nazi con- quest of Yugoslavia, during which 80 percent of Yugos- lavia's 75,000 Jews were murdered, the conference will open April 27. The Yugoslavian Jewish community today numbers about 6,000 and maintains strong ties with Israel. More than 8,000 Yugoslavian Jews emigrated to Israel from 1948-1952, constitut- ing half the post-war Jewish population. Since then only small numbers have left the country. General Assembly opposes the peace treaty but Jamaica will no longer vote with its majority on this issue as it did last fall. Shearer is disappointed that the non-aligned na- tions have not had the guts to demand the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Af- ghanistan. "Jamaica regards the Soviet intervention in Af- ghanistan as an assault on the most fundamental prin- ciples of the non-aligned movement," he said. In al- most the same breath, Shearer went on to support fully "the right of the Pales- tinian people to self- determination and the withdrawal of Israel from Arab territories." Like many black dip- lomats, Shearer juxtaposes in his own mind, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Another psychological influence on Jamaican attitudes is Israel's rela- tions with South Africa. Whether you are talking to a cabdriver or a Foreign Ministry official the conversation soon de- teriorates into highly- exaggerated blathering on Israel's trade with South Africa. Jamaica's influential but declining Jewish commu- nity is doing what it can to improve Israel's image. A few months ago a new organization was formed named Yadid — the Israel- Jamaican Friendship Asso- ciation. The leaders of the Jewish community, Ainsley Hen- riques, president, and Er nest deSouza, secretary and lay leader, are devoting their time and organiza- tional talents to furthering the aims of the new organ- ization. Henriques and deSouza are leaders of a community which has seen better times. It is one of the oldest Jewish communities in the West- ern hemisphere. Two hun- dreds years ago there were half-a-dozen synagogues all over the Island. Now there is only one synagogue in the capital, Kingston. At a recent Friday eve- ning service in the Kings- ton synagogue there were 20 residents and a half-dozen American tourists, 12 men and 14 women. This was a "fabulous attendance" according to Marion Lopez, one of the resi- dents. The style of the bima and seats was Sephardic and the floor was covered with sand like several other Sephardic synagogues in Amsterdam and the Caribbean. The prayer book was entirely in English with a few He- brew blessings translit- erated. The congregation's lay reader (the last rabbi left a couple of years ago) is de- Souza who was on vacation. This evening services were conducted by Charles Ale- xander, a 27-year-old attor- ney, who had just returned from Jerusalem where he represented the Jamaican community. The cantor was Walter deSouza, a cousin of Ernest. He stood in the choir loft next to the organ and led the congregation in old Sephardic melodies and a traditional "Yidgal." Both Walter de Souza and his cousin, Ernest, who is the de facto "rabbi" of the congregation, had Chris- tian mothers. In their opin- ion, this did not make them or their families less Jewish. "My father sang in the synagogue choir for 44 years," Walter deSouza told me at the "kidush" in the social hall. "I sang with him as a boy. Now my eldest son often sings with me." The son's mother, deSouza's divorced wife, is also a Christian. Charles Alexander, the lay leader, is a different strand in the peculiar weave of Jamaican Jewry. He is a "baal-teshuva" from an assimilated Jewish fam- ily. His mother was not Jewish and his father was not interested in the synagogue. Alexander was taught by Ernest deSouza and celebrated his Bar Mitzva a few years ago. Alexander adapted rapidly to congregational problems. As the American tourists said good-bye, he hinted broadly that they have difficulty getting a minyan on Saturday morn- ing. crs Friday, May 1, 1981 29 Congregation Shaarey Zedek in celebration of its 120th year is proud to present the Cultural Commission's Second Annual Peter and Clara Weisberg Concert SUNDAY, MAY 31,1981 8:00 P.M. "HAVDALAH" A Musical Pageant featuring Composer Morton Gold Members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Festival chorus and dancers Soloist: Cantor Chaim Najman Narrator: Rabbi Irwin Groner Shaarey Zedek's Sisterhood and Men's Club Chorales Admission to the "Havdalah" pageant will be free. A limited number of tickets will be available to the public upon written request to Shaarey Zed'ek, P.O. Box 2056, Southfield, 48037. Bring Us Your Fur Garment and We Will Include at No Extra Charge 4.4t •Minor Repairs-which include Hooks, Eyes and Buttons e. • Fur Appraisal • A Complete Inspection of Your Fur Garment Our certified Cold Fur Storage Vaults are located on our premises for easy access anytime with no advance notice. Free Adjacent Parking Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9:30-5:30 ereinte Fine Furs for Sophisticated Ladies 181 S. Woodward 1 Blk. south of Maple, Next to the Birmingham Theatre 642-1690