THE JEWISH NEWS

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Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue of July 20, 1951

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Member of American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, National Editorial Association and
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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 28th day of Nisan, 5741, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Leviticus 19:1-20:27. Prophetical portion, Amos 9:7-15.

Monday and Tuesday, Rosh Hodesh Iyar
Numbers 28:1-15

Candle lighting, Friday, May 1, 8:12 p.m.

VOL. LXXIX, No. 9

Page Four

Friday, May 1, 1981

ALL ON THE RAMPARTS!

These are the final days of the pressing fund-
raising efforts in this community. They do not
end the duties that are signified by the Allied
Jewish Campaign. Such tasks continue infor-
mally until every constituent is enrolled in the
great task of assuring continuity of services on
the domestic front and in behalf of the labors to
protect Israel and to reduce, if possible totally
eliminate, the obstacles that stand in the way of
making these services workable.
With the formality of ending the current
Campaign year there is a very grave responsi-
bility. It is the duty of every Jewish citizen to
join the forces on the ramparts and to be part of
the army that is determined to avoid calamities.
Reduction of services in support of the cul-
tural and spiritual obligations, in behalf of the
elderly, in aiding newcomers to this area, would
in itself be sinful. A community cannot function
with its social, education and welfare services
reduced even by a minimum.

The Allied Jewish Campaign has the major
duty also to the state of Israel, to the institu-
tions functioning there, to the emigrants from
lands of oppression to be domiciled there.
With the recognition of the obligation to re-

duce Israel's needs in these areas by contribut-
ing towards solving them, there is the basic fact
that the Jewish state must be given the
encouragement thereby to be able - to tackle the
defense machinery herself. It is on this score
that the ramparts must be manned by her
friends everywhere. Whatever help is provided
for Israel is a contribution towards her protec-
tion.
The beleagured state of Israel continues to
face indescribable difficulties. The threats from
enemy nations surrounding her are not di-
minishing. The duty to be of help increases
rather than diminishes.
Therefore, the Allied Jewish Campaign's
majority funds being allocated in behalf of Is-
rael's social and cultural needs and for the set-
tlements of incoming immigrants, the fund-
raising effort cannot be halted until every citi-
zen is a participant. All constituents of the
Greater Detroit Jewish community must enlist
for the ramparts that withstand attack and pro-
vide the defense necessary for the dignity of a
progressive state of ISrael as well as strong local
and national Jewish communal services. The
, call to all who have not yet joined the army of
contributors is: On to the ramparts!

Personalities in the Talmud
Portrayed Encyclopedically

- Talmudic lore and personalities are linked encyclopedically in an
impressive volume definitively portraying the scholarship of the
major commentary on the Mishna, on Jewish moral laws and the
Scriptures.
"Who's Who in the Talmud" was written by Rabbi Alfred J.
Kolatch (Jonathan David Publishers).
Hundreds of names of the great rabbis who figured in the Talmud
are recorded in this impressive work which also defines the Talmud.
Facsimile reproductions of pages from the Talmud, literally illustrate
this authoritative book.
Tractates are listed and popular terms referring to works in-
cluded in the Talmud give this work its encyclopedic importance.
The many names forming the Who's Who commerce with Abaye,
who was born in 280 CE and died in 338 or 339. He is described as a
Babylonian Amora (the most distinguished disciple of his uncle, Rab-
bah Bar Nahmani).
The last of the listed personalities is Zutra Bar Mar Zutra, a
will be exposed to the 'sight' of the AWACS Palestinian Amora who probably lived in Tiberias and "in whose
flying well within Arab air space. When used lifetime the Palestinian Talmud was probably completed."
in conjunction with Saudi offensive aircraft
Amora is defined in the book's listing of popular terms and ex-
such as the enhanced F-I5 and the air forces of pressions as a word meaning "a speaker or interpreter."
Thus, the author not only defines the terms but also enumerates
other Arab states, AWACS becomes a potent
the roles of the makers of the Talmud in historic terms, and the
offensive system."
Multiple blunders are attributable to the terminology is informative and adds knowledgeability to a subject
submission to Saudi demands by responsible that gains popularity in a well-collated scholarly work-of research.
Dr. Kolatch is eminently qualified to treat the subject of the
American officials. The differing views evi- Talmud
and its personalities. A graduate of the Yeshiva University
denced in a possible conflict between State De- College of Liberal Arts, he was ordained at the Jewish Theological
partment and Pentagon are especially distres- Seminary in 1941. The JTS awarded him a Doctor of Divinity degree
sing in matters that may affect the peace of an in . 1973. He served in the rabbinate from 1941 to 1948, when he
entire region in which the U.S. interests are became a .publisher and organized Jonathan David Publishers, pro-
vital. The fact is that the Pentagon has tradi- ducers of this book.
The definition of the Talmud and its significance provided here
tionally encouraged Israel in her defense plan-
ning and military leaders have credited Israel by Dr. Kolatch is as vital as the very interesting collection of biog-
with teaching the U.S. new defensive methods. raphical data about the talmudic scholars who form a vast array of
in the discussions in the list between Abaye and Zutra
Now the Pentagon is charged with having participants
Bar Zutra. The immensity of the work is represented in the virtually
created. the problem evolving from excessive hundreds of scholars biographically recorded. Therefore, the term
promises of sophisticated arms for Saudi encyclopedia truly is merited in judging this noteworthy literary
Arabia. This reveals a lack of unity that may accomplishment.
seriously affect the peace of the Middle East.
A knowledge of Tannayim and Amorayirn gives this work ad
The arrogance that now marks the- Arab de- status recommendable as a textbook for all schools, and it is especiaL,-,
mands, the obstacles placed on the road of applicable to adult studies. The terminology defines Tannayim,
amity, creating a panic over the realism of the plural for Tanna, offers the definition that it derives from the work
, Camp, David peace decisions, all add to the meaning to teach or to repeat. Amora's term has already been referred
gathered domination of the oil interests in an to.
For a complete understanding of the Talmud, its history, its
energy hungry world. Even in this respect there historic
importance, this excerpt from the author's definition is vital
is a lack of pragmatism, as long as the craving to an appreciation of Dr. Kolatch's impressive work:
for oil makes officials fail to recognize that the
"Since there was a ban on committing to writing anything
Saudis need the American dollars as much as handed down by tradition — except the Bible itself — all of these
this country needs their oil.
discussions and opinions were transmitted by word of mouth, from
father to son, from scholar to disciple, from teacher to pupil. Because it
Energetic treatment of the emerging menace was transmitted orally, it was called the Oral Law, in contradistinc-
should serve to influence action by all, concerned tion to that which was written down: the Bible, or the Written Law.
lest the impending danger is forced through
"It was considered sacrilegious and demeaning, to put the Bible
under false apprehensions. The protests will and the interpretation of the Bible (the Talmud) on the same plane.
hopefully be expressed by many Americans of By the second half of the Fourth Century CE however, the ban was
all faiths. This is a matter involving the peace lifted and the vast mountain of centuries of learning that had been
transmitted by word of mouth, was finally put into written form."
and security of an entire area.

NEW MENACE TO PEACE

More than 100 members of Congress ex-
pressed their protests against the planned -in-
creased aerial provisions for Saudi Arabia. But
the media were silent, the protests were ig-
nored. The warnings of a threat to Israel really
were admonitions of impending dangers to
world peace which may develop out of unrealis-
tic policies in the Middle East.
The proposed sale of AWACS planes to Saudi
Arabia must be viewed as a major blunder of the
Reagan Administration. Researched studies of
the menacing aspects of the new proposals for
appeasing the Saudis emphasize the damage
the intended sales could do to Israel; and the
warning of an inflaming of renewed hatreds of
Israel by surrounding enemy Arab states must
not be overlooked.
This is a time to strengthen the hands of
members of Congress who have the courage to
forcibly condemn the Reagan Administration_
policies affecting Israel and her relations with
the Arab states. Every available obstacle has
already been placed in the path of peace pros-
pects initiated by the Egyptian-Israel agree-
ments, and Saudi Arabia leads the forces seek-
ing to undermine the Camp David accords. Pro-
viding deadly weapons to such an element in the
beleaguered area could lead to much more than
bloodshed in the Middle East. It has the poison
of a world crisis in view of the concessions al-
ready being made, in the process of bargaining
for oil at the expense of Israel, in most of the
European countries.
The AWACS menace has been emphasized
and it must be given added forcefulness in the
realization that, according to the American Is-
rael Public Affairs Committee, "Saudi AWACS
will endanger the security of Israel. All of Israel
— its airfields, aircraft and defense systems —

O