2 Friday, April 8, 1983
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
The Yeas and the Nays
in Continuing Disputes
Over Middle East Realities
A Sad End to an Important Cultural Chapter in Detroit's
History Involving the Butzels . . . The - Urgency for Stronger -
Cooperation Between the U.S. and Israel Without Rancor
By Philip
Slomovitz
counter-charges may have been made by Isr-ael's defenders.
The New Republic editorially summarized alleged misrep-
resentations by entitling the editor's opinion as "Wein-
b:vrger's War" by stating:
What is not obscure is why Mr. Weinberger
would welcome yet 'another political confronta-
tion with Israel. He long ago became the voice of
the Arab view — particularly the Saudi Arabian _
view — of the Middle East, and has seized every
opportunity to stigmatize Israel as an ingrate.
(Recall, for example, his castigation of. Israel for
insisting that the weapons intelligence from
Lebanese war it would share with us not be
shared, with its enemies.) ,
General Barrow's charges that Israeli be,_
havior in Lebanon had put Americans 'in "life-
threatening situations, replete with verbal de-
gradation of the officers, their uniform, and coun-
try," and that "incidents of this nature are the
rule, rather than the exception," seem to support
Mr. Weinberger's animus.
The Marine document was leaked almost as
soon as -it was dispatched. But even discounting
its author's weakness for rhetorical excess, the
evidence that is mustered in the General's letter
and in backgrounders subsequently, does not
support his accusations.
The summary itself is a rebuke for the manner in
In DamaScus and on his tour of the Arabian capitals,
which the Marines' issue was tackled by the responsible
Arafat has resolutely pronounced a verdict of "No!" to
American military officials and especially by Secretary
President Reagan's Sept. 1, 1982 speech proposing a solu-
Weinberger. It is hardly to be expected that irritations
tion to the Middle East and the Israel-Arab issues. In
could have been permitted to become part of U.S. military
Washington, President Reagan also resorted to a "No!"-0n
vocabulary.
the question of fulfilling a pledge for aircraft to be provided
Someone is responsible and the New Republic did not
for Israel's self-defense. The first "No!" relates to possible
exonerate the U.S. spokesfolk. The "Weinberger's. War"
negotiations in which Jordan's King Hussein would join
editorial went much farther. It placed guilt and was ac-
discussions of peace proposals. Arafat would have none of
cusatory:
it. In the - latest U.S. "No!," the President charged that
Let it be clear, that American lives are likely
Israel is misusing the American military supplies which
to be lost in this enterprise. If we are not ready to
are intended only for defensiVe purposes. Israel's response
have our men die — as Israeli troops and some
is that the Lebanese actions are for self-defense.
Lebanese troops, too, are ready to die — in the
Meanwhile, there is a continuing suspicion that the
work of preventing the reinfiltration of southern
evil spirit stems from the U.S. Department of Defense, and
Lebanon by PLO forces, then we should not be so
that Secretary Caspar Weinberger is the unfriendly man-
eager to foreclose precisely those political and
ipulator.
-
military arrangements that would make it un-
The sensationalized dispute between U.S. Marines and
necessary for American lives to be a risk. -
Israeli officers in Beirut, 'which has since been branded as
All this may look like a lot of bickering, like a
exaggerated, certainly did not serve to exonerate whatever
petty problem of public relations, but there is a
principle at stake. Mr. Weinberger is doing noth-
-
ing less than distorting the character of the
Monument to. Vanish, But Butzel Family Record_Retains Glory
American-Israeli relationship.
The Butzel Library will soon be a matter of history.
In a report from Washington, James
"Magnus married in 1869, Henrietta Hess of Cincin-
The library, named in honor of one of Michigan's most nati,. Ohio, and they had four sons: Maurice (he served in
McCartney of the Knight-Ridder News Service
distinguished personalities, Magnus Butzel, has been sold. the Spanish-American War), Henry M., Fred and Lawr-
put his finger on the problem. The Defense De-
For the nostalgic, the many who retain affectionate ence.'
partment, he wrote, perceives "the United States
memories for the Butzels, this is sad news.
as an ally of the Lebanese government. The Is-
"Magnus was a member of the -Detroit Board of Educa-
The. Detroit Library tion and was instrumental in introducing Courses in tech-
raelis, in effect, are not U.S allies." This is pre-
Commission has announced nical drawing in the Detroit public schools. He was
cisely Mr. Weinberger's position. About Lebanon;
that the Butzel branch has president of the Detroit Public Library Commission. He
it has some plausibility (in seeking to rid Lebanon
been sold for $75,600 and was one of the first directors of the Detroit Board of Com-
of all occupying forces, the Pentagon may protest,
will be remodeled into .a res- merce, and was a charter member and president of the
the United States cannot side with any of them),
taurant.
but it is nevertheless a mistake.
Michigan Club, the leading Republican.organization in the
It is located on East state.
Contrary to Mr. Weinberger's distortions, the
Grand Boulevard and
"His brother, Martin, was a Democrat, indicating that
United States and Israel are 'allies, and in Leba-
Harper, near the Poletown independence of thought has been a Butzel tradition of long
non, too. The regional benefits of Operatipn Peace
area where the new General standing. Magnus- was also a Mason.
in Galilee accrued to Israel, but its global benefits
Motors plant is being built.
accrued to the United States. The President
. "Magnus was president as well 'as secretary of the
Albert Kahn designed religious school board of Temple Beth El for 30 years,
understands that there is a coincidence of inter-
the red brick, Tudor style president of Pisgah Lodge Bnai Brith and president of the
ests in Lebanon, as his friend from Bechtel does
Butzel Library building Phoenix Social Club. He died in 1900 and his wife in 1928.
not.
which was built in 1912. It Both were interred in Beth El's Section North F. of Wood-
This is not a trifling matter, and when it is linked with
bore the name of Magnus mere Cemetery."
President Reagan's latest "No!" it adds rather than di-
Butzel, who was the chair-
minishes tensions. - -
There is justified reason for recalling the Butzel story.
man of the Detroit Library Magnus was the father of two men who rose to great popu-
The charges leveled by the New Republic not only
MAGNUS BUTZEL
Commission from 1893 to larity here. Henry M. became the Chief Justice of the
explain the danger to the U.S.-Israel friendship. In Leba-
1900.
Michigan State Supreme Court. He served as president of non there is also an endangering ofU.S. lives in the position
The building was constructed at a cost of $40,000. It Temple Beth El and was highly revered.
there of the U.S. military. As the New Republic phrases it:
has white oak woodwork,. two Pewabic tile fireplaces, wide
His brother; Fred M., was nominally Henry's law part-
It is Mr. Weinberger, then, who acts from ob-
oak archways, leaded glass windows and an auditorium ner before Henry accepted a judgeship, something Fred
tuse political purposes. These purposes are to
that was used for assemblies. Because of cuts in library always rejected. He - turned down such offers for public
transform- an affiance into- something less. The
expenditures, the library was closed in July 1982.
'service because he was the great social engineer, the bene-
Pentagon's policy in Lebanon may be char-
Florence Tucker, associate director for support serv- factor of many causes, the pioneer in movements to help
acterized as evenhandedness in action. Unfortu-
ices of the Detroit Public Library, said the decision to sell retarded children.
/lady Mr. Weinberger has the power to influence
the Butzel Library was necessitated by the decimation of
Fred aided the immigrants who began to arrive here
reality. A few phony confrontations, a few care-
the neighborhood in preparation for the GM plant.
from Russia. He helped them in their business ventures. He
fully appointed leaks, and pretty soon American-
This occurrence brings to the limelight anew the But- was the beloved "Loyer Bootzur and his doors were widely
Israeli relations are in-another "crisis."
zel Family record-of notable services to Michigan. _
'open for all who needed financial help, encouragement in
This time, however, something more than dip-
Two brothers who brought fame to Michigan and its their Americanization processes. He was all things to all
lomacy will be endangered by the pro-Saudi
Jewish community were Martin and Magnus Butzel. Mar- Who needed assistance.
agenda. Mr. Weinberger's predisposition to find
tin came to the United States in 1845. He moved to Detroit
He differed with his fellow Reform Jews through his
wisdom in Riyadh and folly in Jerusalem may
in 1861, when the two brothers were united in a business association with the Zionists and was elevated to the hon-
result in the reversal of American gains, and the
venture here. He was the father of Leo and Edwin, Leo orary presidency of the Zionist Organization of Detroit. He
loss of American lives.
Butzel was among Michigan's most prominent lawyers, defied those in "assimilationist" ranks who opposed He-
Hopefully, there will be an end to such bickering.
having risen W national fame.
brew studies. He supported the United Hebrew Schools.
There is too much of an involvement affecting both Israel
Because the Magnus Butzel story is a chapter in
and the United States. There should be an end to using the
He was truly a commoner and it was ordinary for him
Michigan history, his record merits repetition. The story is to attend a Bar Mitzva service in the poorest of homes and
Israel prime minister as a scapegoat and Israel as a bellige-
in the TeMple Beth El archives. The-facts were gathered by sit himself at an old piano to play his favorite songs. He was
rent at a time when so many factors place guilt both on
the late Irving Katz, who was truly the Detroit Jewish at weddings and family functions and was at home with
Israel's enemies and those who distort the meaning of
historian. The archives are now commendably supervised those who were yet to learn the English language: There-
friendship for and by Israel, with the U.S. as an ally.
by Miriam Kushner.
fore he also loved Yiddish expressions and relished Yiddish
There is too much at stake for either accusations or
Here is the Magnus Butzel story as recorded in the stories..
even suspicions to be ignored. It is in the best interests of
Temple Beth El records:
the American role in peacemaking that exaggerations
, Such is the record of a notable family, and one of the
"In his youth, Magnus Butzel learned the trade of his Detroit landmarks in its name is disappearing, to the dis-
should be abandoned and cooperative U.S.-Israel tasks for-
father — sash and blinds making — but gradually may of the Butzel admirers. But the record remains superb
tified.
gravitated to the occupation of stained or fancy glazing and and the affections for the family predominate.
- became skilled in the making of stained glass.
ADL Urges Aid for Hasidic Jews
040:WR:17,40
"Disappointed with the reaction that followed the
NEW YORK — The based on recipients' "eco-
Revolution of 1848, he left his native Bavaria in 1852 and
Anti-Defamation -League nomic and social standing
joined his brother, Martin, who was in the dry goods busi-
(ADL) of Bnai Brith has in society and not merely
ness in Peekskill, N.Y. There were no opportunities in
called upon the Reagan upon race, national origin
Peekskill for Magnus to practice his trade of stained glass
Administration to guaran- or sex." ,
making and he, therefore, joined his brother in the dry
•
tee Hasidic Jews access to
goods business.
The SBA (Small Business
federal -assistance for Administration) rejected a
"Magnus was offered a partnerghip by his brother-in-
minority
business 1979 application to secure
law Emil S. Heineman, who had been established in Detroit
enterprises.
Hasidic participation in the
for a number of years. as a successful merchant and man-
According to Justin J. government's aid program
ufacturer. He • accepted the offer and came to Detroit in
Finger, director of ADL's for minority_ business
1861. Next year, Martin Butzel joined his brother-in-law
civil rights division, a forth- enterprises by ruling that
and brother as a partner in the business, establishing the
coming executive order the disadvantaged status of
well-known clothing firm of Heineman, Butzel and Com-
should guarantee participa- the Hasidim is attributable
pany (the firm was known later as Butzel Bros. and Com-
tion in the minority busi- to their religious beliefs and
pany).
FRED M. BUTZEL
HENRY M. BUTZEL
ness enterprises program not minority status.
.