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 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. 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.