The Dissidents in Jewish Ranks and the Differing Views Over Their Acceptability Commentary Page 2 THE JEWISH NEWS A Weekly Review of Jewish Events Continuing `No Peace' Warnings and the Duplicity Over Lebanon Pullout Editorial Page 4 - Copyright © The Jewish News Publishing Co. VOL. LXXXIII, No. 20 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 424-8833 $18 Per Year: This Issue 40c July 15, 1983 U.S. Efforts in M.E. 'on Hold' Pending Gemayel, Begin Visit By DAVID FRIEDMAN Revitalized Jewish Area to Follow Hebron Violence WASHINGTON (JTA) — Secretary of State George Shultz's failure to make any headway during his visit to Syria last week has put the Reagan Administration's Middle East peace efforts on hold, pending President Reagan's meetings with Lebanese President Amin JERUSALEM (JTA) — Defense Minister Moshe Arens pledged Gemayel July 22 and Israeli Premier Menahem Begin July 27. Wednesday that the Israeli government would refurbish the old Jewish Shultz was candid after his meeting in Damascus with Syrian quarter of Hebron "like the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem." President Hafez Assad in saying he had made no progress in getting Arens was speaking in the Knesset in reply to seven motions on the Syria to agree to withdraw its troops from Lebanon. recent violence in Hebron. State Department spokesman John Hughes noted this His statement on the future of the Jewish Quarter there was the Tuesday in saying that Shultz was "frank" in his assessment strongest yet made by a key policymaker. Earlier in the week, govern- that there was a "lack of movement" by the Syrians. "This ment sources were referring to a 1980 Cabinet decision on the Hebron doesn't mean we have given up our efforts," Hughes stressed. Jewish quarter which spoke of refurbishing the "Jewish Courtyard" He said, "Diplomatic activity is going forward," although he and adding a floor to the "Hadassah House." That decision seemed to imply much more modest plans than Arens envisioned Wednesday. would not give any details. GEORGE SHULTZ At the Housing Ministry, sources spoke of schemes to settle some Special envoy Philip Habib is back in Washington and is having 500 Jewish families in the Hebron Jewish quarter — which if realized meetings at the State Department, presumably on the next step by the U.S. The other special would be in the same broad dimension as the Jerusalem Jewish Quar- U.S. Mideast envoy, Morris Draper, was in Israel on Tuesday but is expected to return to ter analogy that Arens cited. Washington for the Gemayel and Begin visits. Arens said it was intolerable that "the sight of a Jew (in While it is clear the Administration has not made up its mind on what to do next, Reagan Hebron) should make the blood of local Arabs boil." Such a was quoted last week as declaring, "There would be no reverse gear" on seeking a Syrian (Continued on Page 10) withdrawal from Lebenon at the same time Israel leaves. Meanwhile, the Administration has to face the prob- lem that a strong domestic pressure in Israel is seeking at least a partial pull-back in Lebanon to cut down the number of casualties the Israelis have been suffering. The Administration has been opposed to any redeployment although there is some evidence that it has been suggested that it might not be opposed to a redeployment if it was By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ coupled with an Israeli timetable for withdrawal. Israel Max M. Fisher, the eminent retiree from top leadership in world Jewry, always an optimist on Jewish has rejected this Lebanese demand. experiences, retained confidence - on future developments on his 75th birthday. Hughes was non-committal about the U.S. posi- In an exchange with The Jewish News, he expressed pride in the identifications of youth with their people's tion on redeployment. He said that any proposal needs and in the progress made in attaining unity in Jewish ranks on Israel and in the striving for justice for Jews everywhere. would be looked at in the context of meeting the U.S. - His 75th birthday was an occasion for his wife Marjorie and their children to be hosting an evening of social objectives of a sovereign Lebanon, security for Israel encomia at Franklin Hills Country Club Thursday evening. and the withdrawal of all foreign forces. "What On a wider scale, the messages of cheer were-to a revered leader, not necessarily the Elder works for those objectives, we are for," he said. Confidence in Youth and Jewish Unity Max M. Fisher, at 75, Has an Optimistic • Message for American, Israeli Jewries Statesman — in effect to the Associate Statesman, as the appreciation is expressed for his continuing labors in Israel's behalf by his successor to the world chairmanship of the Jewish Agency, Jerold Hoffberger of Baltimore. In his first message to Jewish Agency leaders everywhere, Hoffberger asserted a continuity of policy-making in the spirit that was pursued under Fisher's direction, with the eminent Detroiter as a factor in projected ,services to be rendered by the Jewish Agency. In his exchange with The Jewish News, Fisher not only emphasized his conviction that youth will be important in Jewish communal planning. He declares the belief that they are already evidencing an assumption of responsibilities which are proving heartening to him. Fisher sees progress in American Jewish efforts in Israel's behalf. He acclaims the increased philanthropic responses and is especially heartened by the labors rendered in behalf of Project Renewal. On this score, his view is that the underprivileged will have the assistance they need, with Project Renewal gaining • greater support, and he rejects claims that there are destructively divisive Ashkenazic-Sephardic confrontations. While conceding that there are differing views between Jewish Agency leaders representing world Jewry and the Israel govern- ment, he expresses hopes for vast improvements as time proceeds. While emphasizing his convictions that Jewish unity in support of Israel is a major fact in Jewish life today, he also disapproVes of the dissidents who interfere with the unified aims in American Jewish ranks. The Jewish News-Max M. Fisher exchange includes comments on other major Jewish issues. The complete text of the exchange, in question-answer form, follows: * In your experience, in a dozen years of top leadership, how effectively have you drawn a younger element into identification with Jewish causes? In every organization with which I have been connected, especially the Jewish Agency, I have seen increasing involvement by young people. There is a desire on the part of younger leadership to become involved in the decision-making process, and I am heartened by their expression of a firm belief in strengthening Israel and the Jewish communities of the Diaspora. What bearing does this , have on the future of American Jewry? MAX M. FISHER (Continued on Page 3) (Continued on Page 6) Tisha b'Av: Judaism's Saddest Day Conflicting By DR. IRVING GREENBERG National Jewish Resource Center When summer comes, Tisha b'Av (the 9th day of Av — next Tuesday) is not far behind. Every year, when Tisha b'Av comes close, I get the same rush of feelings: conflict and ambivalence. Should I observe it this year? Part of me wants to run out to the bulk of American Jews who have forgotten the day and shout: "Wake up! This is one of the most incredible days of Jewish history." On this day, the first Temple was destroyed in 586 BCE and with it, the first Jewish state. On this day, the Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE and with it the second Jewish commonwealth. On this day in 135 CE, the city of Betar was crushed and the last gasp of Jewish sover- eignty in Israel was choked out for 1,900 years. This is. the worst single day in Jewish history — again and again! (The rabbis believed that the Gol- den Calf was worshipped and that Moses broke the tablets of the Law on this day. The Nazis decreed the IRVING GREENBERG (Continued on Page 5)