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PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager

Editor and Publisher

ALAN HITSKY
News Editor

HEIDI PRESS
Associate News Editor

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Advertising Manager

Sabbath Scriptural Selections

This Sabbath, the sixth day of Addr, 5743, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:

Pentateuchal portion, Exodus 25:1-27:19.
Prophetical portion, I Kings 5:26-6:13.

Thursday, Fast of Esther

Pentateuchal portion, Exodus 32:11-14, 34:1-10.
Prophetical portion, Isaiah 55:6-56:8 (afternoon only).

Candlelighting, Friday, Feb. 18, 5:52 p.m.

VOL. LXXXII, No. 25

Page Four

Friday, Feb. 18, 1983

.

RESPONSIBILITY AFFIRMED

Israel was put to the test and the nation so
frequently — all-too-frequently — subjected to
condemnation accepted a verdict of its own
making.
This is not to be forgotten. It was a self-
testing, as Jewish experience emphasizes his-
torically. An inexcusable error of immense
proportions agonized a nation into self-scrutiny,
into a self-testing that has also led to self-
indictment.
It is because of that proportion that only the
insensible, those who continue to hate, the un-
appreciative of the Jewish resort to its highest
ethical codes, find it difficult to recognize that it
was not the people's morality that was on trial
but the guilt of a mere handful. Their compat-
riots, their immediate associates in the gov-
ernment they shared were the ones to judge
them, in the respectful fashion of a civilized
court of law and in the humanism that makes
the decision of a commission of inquiry so
unique in the history of civilized nations. No
other people has thus acted to glorify and
strengthen its morality.
A Jeremiad has been added to the record of
Jewish historical scrutinies. Now there is an-
other Atonement Document, dipped in tears,
caused by the blood that was shed by others,
with guilt assigned to Israelis — all because the
latter should have reacted quickly to an appar-
ent crime and did not, as the charges affirm and
reaffirm in thousands of words of condemna-
tion.
Some Jews have resorted to the ancient
sackcloth and ashes to join in mourning. Some
are resorting to "I told you so" tactics, others are
demanding the repugnant "pound of flesh" from
the condemned.
Is this a time for sackcloth, and ashes and
for resort to self flaggellation? The media
have, in the main, exercised fairness in their
treatment of the inquiry commission's report,
yet the question must be posed: Is a free hand to
be given to those who continue to snipe at Israel
by resorting to character assassinations and
meddling into Israel's internal affairs with de-
mands for Menahem Begin's ouster as well, as if
they had a share in balloting in Israel?
There are many more questions to be posed.
A specifically-pressing one is whether a con-
demnation of several Israelis is to be permitted
to serve as an indictment of the entire People
Israel and therefore world Jewry as well; and
whether such an approach to justice (sic!) is to
mean ignoring the many guilty who have both
contributed as well as engineered massacres
that struck at the heart of Lebanon and simul-
taneously threatened Israel. The Wall Street
Journal's realism and courageous sense of jus-
tice suggests a reply to the latter. After a dis-
passionate analysis of the events that led to the
formation of the inquiry commission, and in
pursuance of a discussion of attitudes involving
contending judgments, the WSJournal of Feb.

-

10 offers a rebuke to those who fail to place
blame where it belongs on a massive scale by
stating:
"What's important to remember in this de-
bate is that there has been no inquiry into the
massacre at Hama, Syria, last year; it's un-
known whether the death toll was closer to
5,000 or 20,000. There was no inquiry into the
massacre of thousands of Palestinians by Jor-
dan in 1970. There was no Palestinian inquiry
A dedicated need to provide young readers with authoritative
into the massacre of Lebanese Christians at
publications to assure knowledgeability on Jewish historical subjects,
Damur in 1976, nor was there a Lebanese Mos-
on holidays and their observance, is evidenced in the works being
lem inquiry last year after the assassination of
produced consistently.
Bashir Gemayel. There has been no Phalangist
From Orthodox as well as Reform sources such works are now
inquiry into Shatilla and Sabra; on the con-
available.
trary, the Phalangists still deny responsibility.
Three such publications have just appeared — two from the
Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the Reform movement in
"In this context, it would be inapprpopriate
this country, and another from the Orthodox-oriented Kar-Ben
for Israel and its Western allies to respond to the
Copies Inc.
Shatilla and Sabra inquiry with guilty self-
Two of the books are devoted to the oncoming festival of Passover.
flagellation. The proper response is to make
In the UAHC volume, entitled "Pesach: A Holiday Funtext," the
sure such atrocities never happen again, and to
young readers are provided with a coloring book for the holiday. The
reaffirm our commitment that liberal demo-
large format, 32-page text includes games, puzzles and suggested
activities. All are related to the Festival of Freedom.
cratic values are worth fighting for."
The text was prepared by Judy Bin-Nun, Nancy Cooper and Ruth
Ariel Sharon is out, and yet there is no
Sternfeld.
absolution. Whatever role is performed by
Illustrated by Heidie Steinberger, this booklet, like the accom-
Moshe Arens, Sharon's successor as Defense panying one from the UAHC, was prepared under the direction of
Minister, he has already proven his skills as a
former Detroiter Rabbi Daniel Syme.
brillian spokesman for his fellow citizens.
The Kar-Ben Copies book is entitled "The Mouse and the Matza
Factory." The chief character is the country mouse, through whose
Menahem Begin was the head of state who
eyes is portrayed the creation of the matza. All details of matza
offered the motion for acceptance of the inquiry
baking are described in Goldstein's Matza Factory.
commission's report, and it was adopted 16 to 1,
The inspector, who watches that all properly-ascribed regula-
only Sharon casting the negative vote. Yet the
tions are fulfilled, is on the scene, together with the matza bakers.
apparent bias against Israel is evidenced in one Then there are the truckers who deliver the baked matzas, and the
such instance by a prejudice-fanning newspaper
country mouse makes a comment:
in this area, still clamoring for the Begin skull
" 'That's right!' the mouse thought. 'I watched it from the time the
wheat began to grow in my wheat field. I watched it being harvested. I
— as if that would solve the entire Middle East-
watched it being ground into flour.
ern problem!
" 'I watched it being mixed into dough. I watched it being baked
It is time to recognize the guilt — with
into matza.'
evidence mounting that some Americans have
"The mouse felt very important. He decided it was time to return
given encouragement to terror that is at the root
to the country. Soon more wheat would be planted, and he wanted to
of all the troubles, with new revelations of be home on time to watch it again."
Francine Medoff wrote the text and the illustrations are by David
Lebanese Christians having consorted with
Goldstein.
Arafat's lieutenants, former presidents of the
The second UAHC volume, "Let's Learn About Jewish Symbols,"
United States providing comfort to the deluded
by
Joyce
Fishman, illustrated by Heidie Steinberger, is also in large
instead of associating with the peace-making
format and in 60 pages there are explanations for many ceremonials
processes sans hatred and bigotry.
and the objects that symbolize Jewish life.
The lessons were not for Israel alone. The
_ Commencing with an explanation of the Ner Tamid, the Eternal
humiliation is mainly Israel's and Jewry's. The
Light, which "Makes the synagogue a special place," the young reader
shares in the knowledge of the emphasis on the Torah in the tradi-
price for guilt is being paid. Now the sackcloth
and ashes must be wiped off. The true guilt must tional observances, the role of the rabbi, the mezuza in the home as
well as places of worship, the Kidush cup and wine as well as the halla
be assigned where it belongs. Even at the White
as the special holiday and Shabat bread. It then turns to the symbols
House there must be greater caution not to
on holidays: The Shofar on the Holy Days, the Hanuka menora, the
harm a people determined to live and never to
sukka, matza.
sink either into immortality or self-
A special place is given the Magen David, the widely displayed
flaggellation.
six-pointed star that has become "something Jewish."
Rabbi Daniel Syme, as editor of the UAHC children's books, has
The lesson is clear and inerasable. The
an
interesting
editorial comment on "Let's Learn About Jewish Sym-
ethical codes of Israel will not be besmirched by
bols, stating: _ _
hatreds. History has a far stronger method of
"This little book introduces children to some basic Jewish sym-
judging than the bigotry that has dominated
bols, as well as to some of the values and concepts they have come to
some ranks. The guilty are punished. The
embody. As children mature, we hope that they will come to ap-
People Israel, having straightened its back,
preciate many of the subtle but profound meanings of these same
stands erect in a spirit of respect and dignity.
symbols."

Books for Youth on Agenda:
Reform, Orthodox Publishers