THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
553-7111
The Ill-Starred Predictions of 1983
By CARL ALPERT
HAIFA — Many Israelis
take astrology seriously,
and the forecasts for the fu-
ture based on horoscopes
are often factors to be consi-
dered when business or per-
sonal affairs are being
planned. A review of the
forecasts in recent years
shows a fair degree of suc-
cessful predictions, includ-
ing a couple of bullseyes.
At the end of December
1982, the astrologists
studied their graphs,
charted the heavenly
movements of the planets,
and pinpointed the zodiac
signs of public per-
sonalities. They then went
on public record with their
predictions for the year
1983.
We never accept blindly
their own reports of success.
A year ago we carefully
snipped from the papers the
various prophecies and now
that 1983 reaches its close
we compare the prognosti-
cations with what actually
happened.
It has been a catas-
trophic year for the
soothsayers. Herzl Lip-
shitz, the most distin-
guished forecaster of
them all, managed to
produce a mixed record.
Last year he foresaw the
war in Lebanon and told
us that the Reagan Plan
was not worth the paper
it was written on. To be
sure, he also predicted
the assassination of Hus-
sein, with Arafat taking
over Jordan. All that was
in 1982. What did he
foresee for 1983?
CARL ALPERT
Contrary to general ex-
pectations, he said, this
would be a good year for Is-
rael's economy. Despite in-
flation, good times would
continue. As we now know,
he could not have been more
wrong.
Lipshitz also saw na-
tional elections being held
in 1983, with the Likud
emerging as winner. This
year would see the political
collapse of Shimon Peres.
Dan Talmor, another
popular crystal gazer, also
found elections in the stars
this year. He and Lipshitz
apparently looked at the
same stars. Talmor warned
that war would break out in
the north in September or
October. As for Menahem
Begin, he would get through
1983 without any problems,
but after March of 1984 his
health would begin to de-
teriorate and he would res-
ign from the premiership.
Reality came quicker than
Talmor had anticipat
Still, in the political
field, he saw Yitzhak
Rabin ousting Peres from
Hanuka Story Relived Today
By RABBI MARC H.
TANENBAUM
Seven Arts Feature
With the lighting of the
first candle on Wednesday
evening, the celebrations of
the eight-day festival of
Hanuka, or the Feast of
Lights begin.
Hanuka commemorates
the victory of Judah the
Maccabee and his small
group of Jewish followers in
Palestine over the massive
invading armies of Syria.
The festival also celebrates
the rededication of the Holy
Temple in Jerusalem in the
year 165 before the present
era following its pagan de-
filement by the Syrians.
As a result of their strug-
gle against these ancient
Arabs who sought to impose
their monolithic state relig-
ion on the Jews and
everyone else, the Mac-
cabees became the first suc-
cessful fighters for freedom
of conscience in the ancient
world.
Ironically, the Jews of
Israel today are engaged
in an heroic defense of
the identical principle
that their Maccabean an-
cestors fought and died
for — the right for na-
tional self-determination
in a pluralistic Middle
East.
Recently, a group of
American Jewish and
Christian leaders visited
Lebanon, Jordan and Israel,
and were told flat out by a
PLO spokesman, "The Mid-
dle East is an Arab world.
There is no room here for a
non-Arab state."
This is to say that
everywhere else in the mod-
ern world there is diversity,
pluralism, and co-existence,
but it is only in the Middle
East where the lesson of
Maccabean freedom to be
one's self was first taught
that it will have to be re-
learned all over again. As it
was in former times, we
pray on Hanuka, so may it
be in this time.
Accident Halts
Dance Festival
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA)
— The Jewish community is
mourning the deaths of two
teen-agers killed in a bus
accident which injured 21
other students, all members
of Rio's Zionist Youth or-
ganization, Hazit Hanoar.
The victims, Elaine
Menhuik, 18, and Flavia
Mendlovitz, 16, were part of
a group on the way to the
annual Israel Dance Festi-
val, sponsored by Brazilian
Zionist youth organizations
at the Hebraica Club. The
festival, which attracts
thousands of young people,
was cancelled because of the
tragedy.
leadership of the Labor
Party, but then falling
victim to health problems
himself, with Yitzhak
Navon taking over the
leadership.
Danny Harman erred in
his predictions on Begin in
the other direction. He de-
clared that Begin's health
would cause him to resign in
March of this year. This was
to be followed by national
elections in May or June.
Ariel Sharon's popularity
would increase enormously.
Economic conditions would
get even better during the
summer. If the astrologists
invested in the Tel Aviv
Stock Exchange on the basis
of their own predictions
they must all be broke by
now.
Yehudit Gabai expected
open conflict between Egypt
and Israel this year, based
on Hosni Mubarak's ex-
tremism and stubbornness.
On a global basis, Israel's
expatriate Uri Geller also
had some predictions for
1983. He foresaw Reagan
withdrawing from the Pres-
idency because of illness be-
fore the end of 1983, with
Vice President Bush suc-
ceeding him. Ayatollah
Khomeini would die before
the end of the year, and in
November a devastating
earthquake would destroy
parts of southern Califor-
nia.
If the "experts" can get
away with the se predic-
tions, why can't I try my
own hand, and without
reference to Mars, Jupi-
ter, Venus or Uranus.
Personally, I am a
Taurus.
Oracle Alpert proclaims
that in 1984 there will be a
violent confrontation bet-
ween secularists and religi-
ous extremists in Israel;
economic conditions will
improve, despite a wave of
strikes called by the Histad-
rut against the government;
Friday, November 25, 1911
a major technological
breakthrough by Israeli sci-
entists will make headlines
everywhere; there will be a
marked upturn in immigra-
tion to Israel from the free
West; no Israeli will win a
Nobel Prize this year; Yit-
zhak Navon will not take
over the leadership of the
Labor Party; commercial
television will be on the
verge of making its debut
here.
Just check me next year!
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