THE JEWISH NEWS Ili
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Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue of July 20, 1951
Copyright © The Jewish News Publishing Co.
Member of American Association of English-Jewish-Newspapers, National Editorial Association and
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Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075
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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 29th day of Iyar, 5742, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Numbers 1:1-4:20. Prophetical portion, I Samuel 20:18-42.
Sunday, Rosh Hodesh Sivan, Numbers 28:1-15.
May 28, First day of Shavuot
Pentateuchal portion, Exodus 19:1-20:23, Numbers 28:26-31.
Prophetical portion, Ezekiel 1:1-28, 3:12.
Candlelighting, Friday, May 21, 8:33 p.m.
VOL. LXXXI, No 12
Page Four
Friday, May 21, 1982
-JERUSALEM DAY
In Jewish tradition, on the Jewish calendar,
Jerusalem is sanctified in prayer, in endless
allegiance. There is no limit to the reference to
Jerusalem in the prayers, thrice daily.
Yet, a special day has been forced upon Israel
and world Jewry in the name of Jerusalem.
This is Jerusalem Day. It is so designated
because after many years of abuses, of desecra-
tions, Israel was able to liberate the city of
Jerusalem and restore it to its former glory as
the capital of Israel.
It is because Jerusalem again regained the
right to be administered by Israel, in 1967, that
the occasion has been identified on the calendar
as Jerusalem. Day.
It is most unfortunate that the liberation of
the Holy City was necessitated by warfare. It
was because of the abuses of those who had
ruled over it for many years that military action
became a necessity. The actual result was that
the freedoms that were denied to Jews in
Jerusalem were restored and the rights of all
the inhabitants of the city, the privileges of all
worshippers of all religions, are guaranteed, are
protected, are assured by regulations from the
city fathers of Jerusalem, the duly elected ad- _
ministrators of its affairs, who guard her zeal-
ously.
Israel's antagonists have ganged up in an ef-
fort to deny the historic association of the city
with Jewish history, the Jewish people and the
Jewish state. It is in answer to them that
Jerusalem Day is observed by Jews everywhere.
It is in a continuing appeal to the United States
to transfer its Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to
Jerusalem that this day is being emphasized in
a quest for justice. Jerusalem is Israel's capital
on this day and always.
Jerusalem is central to the entire issue in-
volving autonomy talks and the reactions of
Arab states to the Camp David agreements and
the hopes for peace. Under the domination of the
wealthiest and therefore the most influential of
the oil-powered nations in the Middle East,
Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem has become the sym,
bol of a jihad, a call for Israel's destruction. It is
the root of Saudi power, the oil wealth, that has
-caused the United States to deny Israel her
right to choose her own capital and to make the
historic legacy the choice. The Saudis have
caused the withdrawal of other nations from
Jerusalem as the seat of emabssies.
Perhaps it is not all gloomy. In human rela-
tions, as long as there is a single friend, one can
feel more secure. George Eliot once remarked
that no one need despair as long as there is a
single friend in whom one can feel comfort and
understanding. While it is pitiful that the
United States has not established its embassy
in Jerusalem, and that so many have refrained
from giving Jerusalem the city's due recogni-
tion in Israel's life, the return of Costa Rica to
Jerusalem is heartening. Re-establishing its
embassy in the Jewish City of Peace, Costa Rica
asserted that a nation has the right to choose its
own site for its capital. This is how it is. This is
how it will continue to be in accordance with
decent diplomatic policies.
To retain the sovereign right to choose its
capital therefore has become a chief defensive
element in Israel's very existence, and
Jerusalem Day — Yom Yerushalyim — is the
rallying time for Jews everywhere to signalize
the solidarity with Israel in the struggle _for
justice for the embattled state.
WELCOME TO ZAIRE
An occasional bit of good news provides
vitally-needed relief from the tensions that ag-
gravate the Middle East crises.
Zaire is resuming diplomatic relations with
Israel. Nimyaidika Ngimbi brought this deci-
sion to Jerusalem last week.
It is a reaffirmation of a friendship that
existed as a matter of previously-established
Israeli policies of befriending Black African
countries. Hopefully, this will mean the
strengthening of relations which were regrett-
ably interrupted in 1973 during and as an af-
termath of the Yom Kippur War.
Israel, during several administrations, espe-
cially those of Golda Meir and Levi Eshlijol, ex-
changed emissaries with the African nations.
Israeli experts helped in the industrial, agricul-
tural and culture planning and the raising of
the standards of living in the many countries.
Arab pressures caused the break. The Zaire
action is expected to be followed by other Afri-
can countries.
• As the Zaire representatives have indicated,
the good-will evidenced by Israel in the with-
drawal from Sinai is an indication of an aim for
cooperation between nations. More deeply-
rooted, it may well be believed, is the manner in
which Israel had built friendships with under-
developed countries.
The Zaire announcement was greeted by a
call from Kuwait to Zambia President Kenneth
Kaunda urging him to work with African coun-
tries for the continuation of a boycott of Israel.
The challenge is thus to the conscience of people
of good will, and the resistance of Zaire to pres-
sures from Israel's enemies will surely provide
renewal of adherence to just aims for all peoples
in the areas involved.
It is not unexpected that the PLO should be
among the first, together with Kuwait, to pro-
test the decision of Zaire. Hopefully, such oppo-
sition will be an added reason for resumption of
Israel-African states' friendly relations.
After all, justice can not be sacrificed forever.
Therefore the Israeli welcome to Zaire must re-
ceive a global echo.
New Volume from JPS
Hershele Ostropoler Back
to Life After 200 Years
Hershel lived in Ostropol in the Russian Ukraine 200 years ago.
He told delightful tales and they live after him. So famous has that
name _become, thanks to his narrative wit, that he has remained
immortal in the history of Jewish folklore under the popular name of
Hershele of Ostropol.
"Hershel of Ostropol" has also become the name of a series of
delightful stories for the young and has been included by the Jewish
Publication Society in its folktale series.
Prof. Eric A. Kimmel of Portland State University, the editor and
coordinator of this volume, which contains four of the humorous
Hershel tales, renders a great service to Jewish historical records
with this collection of folktales.
In an introductory, explanatory preface, Dr. Kimmel traces the
Hershel background. Born in Batla, in the Ukraine, he was a wan-
derer from village to village, always empty-pocketed. Hershel is de-
picted as a luft-mench, as one "who lives on air." How could he live in
such fashion? Prof. Kimmel explains:
"His sense of humor and his good sense kept him alive. The
stories of his clever tricks and sayings have become so popular that,
even though they may not all be true, they are still being told today."
The proof of it is in the four stories, "What His Father Did," "The
Bandit," "Hershel Thinks Deep Thoughts" and "A Thousand Wor-
ries."
The jests represent, as so much in shtetl literature does, an
expression of faith and laughing off one's troubles. Exemplary is the
concluding tale about a thousand worries. Hershel's friend Yekel
talks about his many worries. Thereupon he gets advice from Hershel:
" 'You only think you have a thousand worries.' What do you
mean, think? I do!' You don't,' Hershel insisted. 'I'll prove it.' He took
a pencil and paper from his pocket and began making a list.
"Let's see, a new horse costs how much?' Thirty rubles,' said
Yekel. Hershel wrote down '30 rubles.' Now how much to get the
coach fixed?' Another 30.' Hershel wrote down '30.'
" 'New clothes for your wife and children — 25 rubles. The rent —
15 rubles.' Hershel wrote it all down. 'Now let's add it up. Thirty and
30 are 60 . . . and 25 makes 85 . . . and 15 more makes an even 100. Is
that right?' Yekel nodded.
" 'Then that proves it!' Hershel exclaimed. 'You don't have 1,000
worries. You have only one.' What's that?' Yekel asked. 'Where a--
you going to get 100 rubles?' So? Where?' That I don't know,' Hers:
said. 'But I do know this. I don't have 100 rubles either, but Gou
always takes care of me. Have faith, Yekel. I'm sure He'll do the same
for you.'
"And He did."
There is no doubt, as indicated by Prof. Kimmel, about the au-
thenticity of this character's existence. His stories and appended
recollections of him confirm it. The significance of the Hershele role
which made him a personality is the craving for humor in Jewish life.
He contributes towards adding a lighter vein to the people who strug-
gled, who were affected by economic ills and their isolation at the
same time in an antagonistic society.
The Hershel book is delightfully illustrated by Arthur Friedman,
who has an' interesting background as an illustrator of children's
books, textbooks and films.
The combined Kimmel-Friedman effort lends charm to the revi-
val of interest in a personality whose name retains fame in Jewish
memories.