THE JEWISH NEWS C USPS 275-520 1 Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue of July 20, 1951 Copyright Ccp The Jewish News Publishing Co. Member of Americari•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. CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Editor and Publisher ALAN HITSKY News Editor Business Manager • HEIDI PRESS Associate News Editor DREW LIEBERWITZ Advertising Manager Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the ninth day of Tammuz, 5741, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues; _ Pentateuchal portion, Numbers 21:2-25:9. Prophetical portion, Micah 5:6-6:8. Candle lighting, Friday, July 10, 8:51 p.m. VOL. LXXIX, No. 19 Page Four Friday, July 10, 1981 UNFINISHED BUSINES S An old Al Smith battlecry of"Let's Look at the Record" demands repeating in the tests that are being applied to the turbulence in the world, the particular developments in the Middle East. Whoever is inclined to the view that Israel is being tested should be advised that there is greater need to test American public opinion, the media, the legislators, and in equal measure the parliamentarians worldwide and those who influence public opinion everywhere. There is little that is new in the accusations leveled at Israel and her friends, and in the charges that the government of Israel commit- ted the great crime of trespassing on interna- tional obligations with an attack on the facilities of another nation. The facts need re- stating, and the failure to grasp the truth in the situation involving the bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor is appalling. Condemnation of Israel ignores the threats which motivate the bombing at Osirak. Since the criticisms continue, it becomes necessary to keep reverting to the menacing evidence of a justified concern by Israel which resulted in the June 7 action. Speaking on Aug. 19, 1980, dur- ing a visit at the Al Quadisiyah Camp for Popu- lar Work in Iraq, Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq, declared: lt . . . Sol (le time ago the Zionist entity adopted a serious decision to consider Jerusalem the Zionist entity's capital. Though quite serious, this decision reflects nothing new in the Zionist entity's mentality and its aggressive intentions. When we reject the Zionist entity's decision to take Jerusalem as its capital, we do not mean that we recognize Tel Aviv as its capital. We consider it a usurper of the territory of Palestine and of the other Arab territories. "It was necessary to take an effective stand. What then is the effective stand? Any gradual response cannot represent a serious reply to the Zionist entity. Therefore, we decided to confer with the brothers in Saudi Arabia and to study with them the adoption of the decision with which you are aware . . . . "Now most of the Arab states have expressed their support for it. The states which have em- bassies in Jerusalem must remove them, or else we will boycott them at the end of a 30-day ultimatum. . . . ". . . Some people may ask if this decision is the best that can be taken. No, a better decision would be to destroy Tel Aviv with bombs. (applause, cheers) But we have to use the weapons available until it is actually possible to respond to the enemy with bombs. The other Arab brothers can help us in this respect." Notable reactions to the occurrence in the American newspapers had special significance in the manner in which Israel's policies have -been treated. Especially significant were the editorials and special article in the Wall Street Journal, strongly supporting the Israel position. Equally revealing are these two items which appeared in U.S. News and World Report: "Pentagon officials were privately pleased by one aspect of Israel's surprise attack on Iraq's nuclear facility: Though the Air Force's new F-16 fighter-bomber has undergone extensive testing, the Israelis were the first to use it in an actual combat situation — and without a hitch." "Members of Congress — confused over con- flicting views of experts on the purpose of the Iraqi nuclear reactor knocked out by the Israelis — asked the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA assessment, delivered in closed-door hear- ings: The reactor was all wrong for scientific research, undoubtedly was part of a program meant to produce bombs." Destruction of Iraq's nuclear reactor could also relate to the continuing threat of provision of military supplies to Saudi Arabia that could prove most devastating for Israel. The state- ments addressed to President Reagan, protest- ing such supplies, by 54 Senators and 224 mem- bers of the U.S. House of Representatives, marks a continuing call to action for . enforce- ment of the views of the required majority in Congress to prevent Saudi Arabia's securing weapons against which no nation could defend itself. The Detroit Free Press, often accused of being overly-critical of Israel, took a strong stand in support of the congressional action urging the President to withdraw his pledge of such air- craft to Saudia Arabia. The Free Press stated: The Saudis have played oil politics down the line to win approval of the sale: first arguing within the Organization of Petroleum Export- ing Countries for price restraint, and now decid- ing to reduce their own oil output. First, there was an act of seeming friendship, now there is the reminder that they have the capacity to disrupt supplies long-term. The dependence of the U.S. on foreign oil may be diminished, but it remains a serious vulnerability. And the Rea- gan Administration has seemed far too willing to trade the sophisticated arms for temporary price stability. "Having accepted the proposed sale of the AWACS planes which was initiated in the clos- ing days of the Carter Administraion, the Rea- gan Administration does indeed have a di- lemma. Rejection of the sale will be offensive to the Saudis and will bear some risks. In this case, though, the risks inherent in rejection seem to us to be less of a hazard than that presented by going ahead with the sales. The security risks involved in the sale ought to stiffen the resolve of Congress to stand firm on this one and to reject the agreement. There is a Congressional veto over such sales as a check on Administration judgment about its appropri- ateness. Now, if ever, is surely a time to use that veto power. The Administration made a mis- take, and Congress will have to correct it." Those in the Administration, including Sec- retary of State Alexander Haig, who favor sup- plying the AWACS to the Saudis, are motivated by the delusion that it is the protection against Soviet attacks that necessitates such provisions for the Saudis. The Saudis themselves have ne- gated that contention by reiterating time and time again that the threat to her is not Russia but Israel. Therefore, the enemy is Israel against whom the AWACS would be used. Therefore, the urgency of carrying on the pro- tests against providing them for the Saudis. Therefore, such a campaign must be carried on unhesitatingly more vigorously than ever. arA Teaching Learning Disabled in the Jewish Classroom Two Jewish educators with Detroit ties are deeply involved in an invaluable book for parents and teachers of children with learning disabilities. "A Question in Search of an Answer — Understanding Learning Disability in Jewish Education" (Union of American Hebrew Congre- gations) is a paperback volume that allows laymen to recognize and understand learning problems in students and gives teachers the tools to recognize individual problems and classroom techniques to deal with them. The book was written by Roberta M. Greene and Elaine Heaven- rich. Heavenrich is a member of the religious school staff at Temple Beth El in Birmingham and was formerly a teacher at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, Mass. where Ms. Greene was on the schobl committee and chaired the religious school board. Their book was edited by Rabbi Daniel M. Syme, national direc- tor of the UAHC Department of Education and son of Rabbi and Mrs. M. Robert Syme of Temple Israel, West Bloomfield. "A Question in Search of an Answer" gives a step-by-step ap- proach for a teacher to evaluate the problems of individual students and then adapt Jewish classroom techniques and materials to meet those individual needs. The book describes in clear and simple language classroom char- acteristics of children with learning problems, gives explanations of the technical language often used to describe learning disabilities, describes how to observe children in the classroom and provides sample forms to be used in observation. The book also stresses how teachers, parents and principals must interact to deal with the problems of the student and stresses that information about the student's educational problems may be avail- able from the public schools, other public sources, the synagogue and others. The authors then provide five examples of students with learning problems and how they might behave in the classroom. They describe how each child's problems can be approached by the teacher in a regular classroom situation. . Modifications of lesson plans are described and individual needs are dealt with. The final three chapters of "A Question in Search of an Answer" deal with the problems of teaching Hebrew to the learning disabled, suggested modifications for Bnai Mitzva, and proposals for flexible standards and alternative testing methods. Greene and Heavenrich in the earlier pages of their book give an example of a child with learning disabilities. Their example cuts quickly to the heart of the problem: a child who struggles all day in public school, who may receive special help but who may feel inferior or "different" because of it, must then contend with a new set of problems after school, at Hebrew school. A child in these circii stances will often rebell. "You associate religious school and going to temple with failure, the religious school as just one inure place where you can't make it. You have to go to public school — but you don't have to go to religious school." In the words of Rabbi Daniel Syme in his editor's introduction, "Every Jew, youth and adult alike, deserves a full and complete Jewish education as a matter of right. In recent years, we have come to understand that certain members of our community have been denied full access to their heritage, not by fiat, but rather through insensitivity to their special learning needs .. . "This book constitutes an effort to bring the agenda of the special-needs child before every educator, rabbi, school board, and congregational committee. It aims at sensitizing classroom teachers, parents, and Jewish professionals to the problem and the opportunity that is within our grasp. "We are indebted to Roberta Greene and Elaine Heavenrich for coming forward with a concept and bringing it to fruition."