THE JEWISH NEWS
I USPS 275-520
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
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
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PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
ALAN HITSKY
News Editor
Business Manager
HEIDI PRESS
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Associate News Editor
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 20th day of Heshvan, 5743, the following scriptural selections will he read in our synagogues.
Pentateuchal portion, Genesis 18:1-22:24. Prophetical portion, II Kings 4:1-37.
Candlelighting, Friday, Nov. 5, 5:02 p.m.
VOL. LXxxil, No. 10
Page Four
Friday, Nov. 5. 1982
HOAXING THE NEWSPAPER S
Processes in a democratic society, in a
civilized sphere, carry with them assurances
that the "evils men do" need not live after them;
that they will be corrected and the truth will
triumph.
This is the anticipation in this era of distor-
tions which have become the very essence of
human humiliation in the tragedies that ac-
company the developments in the Middle East.
Most shameful of all is the manner in which
respectable newspapers have permitted "the
hoax" to become an acceptable policy in treating
news and in glorifying the public forums repre-
sented by the "Letter Box" in periodicals.
The "hoax" became evident in letters pub-
lished in a Detroit newspaper over signatures
purportedly Jewish. This has become a cause for
concern also in foreign periodicals, with a spe-
cial concern for the integrity of great newspap-
ers which have become victims of the "hoax."
Now comes the basest of all — the manner in
which credibility has been given to an enemy of
Israel and of truth, and therefore of Jewry and of
humanity, in the columns of two otherwise
highly respected newspapers, the Washington
Post and the Christian Science Monitor.
The "hoax" is exposed in the current issue
(Oct. 22) of Near East Report, the organ of
AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Com-
mittee). Under the title "Wool Over Their
Eyes," AIPAC's expose follows:
"Both the Washington Post and Christian
Science Monitor were deceived by a self-styled
'expert' last week.
"Franklin Lamb received extensive coverage
from both newspapers because of his charges
that Israel violated U.S. restrictions on the use
of U.S.-made cluster bombs.
"Lamb charged that in six visits to Lebanon
in the last 18 months, he documented numerous
instances of Israeli use of cluster bombs against
civilians. •
"Lamb claimed that he had 75 affadavits from
doctors in 19 Beirut hospitals and clinics. He
named four specific types of cluster bombs the
Israelis allegedly used and emphasized that Be-
irut inhabitants were well accquainted with
them.
"Lamb was characterized in the Post as a
`scholar' and 'an American international law
specialist.' The Monitor described him as 'a
lawyer and economist' and as 'a researcher and
university teacher who has worked for the
House Judiciary Committee.'
"In fact, Lamb was a committeeman on the
Democratic National Committee from Port-
land, Ore. who as early as 1978, provoked ques-
tions about his activities — in this case, lobby-
ing on behalf of Taiwan. His record includes
convictions for second-degree theft and mis-
Holiday House Offerings
demeanor thefts, arrests for unlawful flight to
avoid prosecution, soliciting a prostitute and
serious political misrepresentations.
"In 1980, Lamb presented himself as a
spokesman for the Kennedy campaign when he
advocated establishment of a Palestinian state
at the Democratic Party platform hearings. In
Holiday books for children provide valuable links for the very
fact, Lamb was working for Kennedy as a volun- young
with their people and provide an enrichment of Jewish values.
teer. When the Kennedy staff learned of the Because parents have a joint share in reading with the youth in the
deception, he was thrown out of the campaign. ,„family, such works make it possible for school and the home to work
"This summer, Lamb and two other individu- jointly in an assurance that both can be strengthened, both will work
als organized a junket to Beirut, sponsored in together to make Jews knowledgeable, in an identification elevating
traditional adherence.
part by the Palestine Red Crescent — the medi-
cal arm of the PLO. Although billed as a Con-
In time for the Festival of Lights soon to be observed, one such
gressional fact-finding tour, it was privately or- volume earns recommendation.
David A. Adler, as author of the story, recreates the theme of the
ganized and only one Congressional staffer
festival, the historic occurrences, the glory of the historic experience.
went along.
Illustrated by Linda Heller, this volume provides the fascination
"While in Beirut, the group told United Press
International that Israel was using a new type needed in the observance ofJewish festivals, the major and the minor.
Candlelighting on Hanuka, the games traditionally linked with
of 'vacuum bomb.' Later investigation disclosed
the holiday, the Dreidel and the cheers inspired by both, combined
that no such bomb existed.
"The most recent Lamb incident raises seri- with the complete narration about the Hanuka heroes, serve as a
ous questions about newsgathering and re- combination of great merit enhancing Hanuka's observance.
This is one of the few such books meriting well-earned acclaim.
search. Both the Post and the Monitor ran the
House did not limit itself to this approaching festival,
Lamb allegations without checking his back- thus Holiday
giving a story about Hanuka timeliness. It has simultaneously
ground. Can anyone walk into a newsroom, published a volume for children about Sukkot. Entitled "Sukkot: A
claim to be a 'scholar,' and make the front page? Time to Rejoice," the rejoicing inspired by the holiday is superbly
To date, only the Post has exposed Lamb's back- defined.
ground."
In the Sukkot volume, the author, Malka Drucker, a University
"Wool Over Their Eyes" is a demand on the of Judaism (Los Angeles) student who is also completing a book on the
media to cleanse the eyesight, to restore fair- Sabbath, describes the longest and happiest of the festivals on the
ness to the media who have erred and continue Jewish calendar.
This is a cherfully-assembled work relating to all of the traditions
to err. It is a call to justice and a hopefulness
that distortions and hoaxes will be ended — all of Sukkot, the Sukka and the Etrog-Lulav ceremonies, concluding
in the interest of fair play, of common decency with the joyfulness of Simhat Torah.
Holiday House merits special conmendation for an enlarged vol-
and of journalism.
Hanuka, Sukkot, Bible Crafts
Enrich Bookshelf for Youth
POST-ELECT ION DUTIES
A competitive political campaign has ended,
and the responsibilities of the concerned con-
stituencies must henceforth serve as guides to
directing government policies and the fulfill-
ment of the major pledges toward the healing of
the many ills that affect public opinion.
What is needed is the revival of the public
assemblies for exchange of views on the politi-
cal, social and human issues in the nation's ex-
periences.
While the major problem, that of unemploy-
ment, does not provide solution within reach of
the average citizen, there are issues affect-
ing the mass that are the responsibility of the
individual. The citizen must make his views
known for the protection of the senior citizens,
in the advancement of the nation's
educational-cultural needs and for the services
vitally needed in behalf of the handicapped, the
newly-emerging responsibilities in servicing
the needs of the retarded, and numerous similar
causes.
The citizen cannot, must not overlook the
foreign pdlicies of the nation. It is on this score
that a special Jewish duty arises, with regard to
Israel and the Middle East.
There is a special American stake in the Mid-
dle East, with the Russian threat in that area.
To assure a democratically-dominant con-
dition it is important that the campaigns of
villification against Israel be subdued. This re-
quiries an apprecation of the Israeli role by all
members of Congress. To that end there is a
duty upon all aspirers for peace to urge
strongest support for Israel as an indication
that the U.S.-Israel friendship will continue as
a basic American foreign policy.
ume dealing with "Bible Crafts." Joyce Becker, who has compiled this
splendid work, is an authority on Jewish craftsmanship, having pro-
duced several volumes on the subject. The scores of illustrations, all
related to 13 Bible stories, and the explanatory text are applicable for
youth and their elders. "Bible Crafts" is a stimulant for knowledge of
the Bible. The author-illustrator properly defines the book, stating:
"People usually remember more from a lands-on' approach than
from just reading a book or listening to a story.
"The men and women in the Bible become 'living' characters as
they are re-created in clay, wood, fabric and paper. They can be made
as colorful as the stories about them. Creating an upturned mouth can
make a character happy, a downturned mouth can show sadness or
anger; placing two figures together can show love. Different costumes
can show the country the figures are from, and the period of time in
which they lived. People can create Bible heroes and heroines that can
be seen, touched and held.
"Because there are so many Bible stories from which to choose, I
had to limit my selection. I chose only those characters and events
from the books of Genesis through Jonah that I felt would appeal most
to children. As a child turns to the first page of this book, he or she will
hold hands with the past."
Holiday House contributes valuably to educational media with
these three titles, which are exemplary of a task commendably under-
taken by a publishing house.