THE JEWISH NEWS ,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 each Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, MI 48075-4491 Postmaster: Send address changes to The Jewish News, 17515 W..Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, MI 48075-4491 Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription $18 a year. PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Editor and Publisher ALAN HITSKY News Editor CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ Business Manager HEIDI PRESS Associate News Editor DREW LIEBERWITZ Advertising Manager Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the first day of Adar I, 5744, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Exodus 25:1-27:19, Numbers 28:9-15. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 66:1-24. Candlelighting,.Friday, February 3, 5:34 p.m. VOL. LXXXIV, No. 23 Page Four Friday, February 3, 1984 MULTIPLYING THE GUILT West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl had a cordial reception in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, and in conferences with Jewish lead- ers. He even received a great honor, having been awarded an honorary degree by Tel Aviv University. At the outset, he was admonished by voice and in a placard at the Knesset that "Never Forget" remains in the memory of the Jewish people," as it should be in mankind's. At the Yad Vashem, Chancellor Kohl gave emphasis to the obligation of remembering, of never forgetting, and it was a re-affirmation of what he had said earlier: that the guilt is ac- knowledged. Not to be forgotten is the fact that the mass murder was planned in Munich, and that it is not far from Bonn, and that Chancellor Kohl cannot ascertain response to the protest against Germany's arming Saudi Arabia. There can never be absolution, and in the interest of the arms trade deal planned by Bonn, another murderous act is planned against the Jewish people. Saudi Arabia is a partner to the cries being shouted all over the Arab world for a Jihad, a holy war against Israel, and whoever provides arms towards the promotion of such a war makes a Jihad possible. Any move towards making Bonn another capital from which plans are to emanate for the Jihad must be opposed and treated as an act of war against Israel, and therefore also against the Jewish people who reiterate the "Never Forget" reminder to all. Having left Israel with what could be judged as a warning that German policy is framed in Bonn and not in Jerusalem, there remains the need to continue the protests against arming Saudi Arabia, and it could well be extended to the United States and other na- tions as long as there is a Jihad threatening Israel. Here are some basic facts to be taken into account regarding military spending per capita, revealed in a ZINS news report: 'Israel's military spending was $8.24 bil- lion in 1982, representing some $2,060 per head of population, according to a report from the International Institute of Strategic Studies. The Institute's 'Military Balance 1983-1984' showed that Israel's arms spending had risen by some $1.4 billion, from 1981's figure of $6.78 billion or $1.695 per person. "Saudi Arabia's percapita military spend- ing is running at $2,780, by far the highest of all the Middle East countries with the exception of the United Arab Emirates where it is just over $2,800. Egypt's is only $56 per person and even Syria's is only $286, the report stated. "Israel's permanent armed forces have shrunk by 2,000 to 172,000 men. Syria has re- mained constant at 222,500. Saudia Arabia's have dropped slightly to 51,500 and Egypt is down from 452,000 to 447,000. Jordan's have remained at 72,800." It could be argued that Israel also is being provided with massive military aid. It would be criminal to ignore the truth that in an entire area composed of 23 nations, all except Egypt and Lebanon are now advocating Israel's de- struction. Therefore the human factor, the American obligation, to give Israel the means for self-defense, so that another Munich should not be repeated and that Bonn should not as- sume the character of Munich of the 1920s through the mid-1940s. _There is some hope that perhaps West Germany will take these truths into account and will not provide arms to a nation allied with the advocates of the Jewish nation's destruc- tion. The anticipated visit of Edgar Bronfman, president of the World Jewish Congress, who is planning a visit with Kohl in Bonn, may avert the feared tragedy. Meanwhile, the American Section of the World Jewish Congress makes public the following text of a resolution adopted Jan. 24 protesting the proposed West German- Saudi Arabian arms deal: "The World Jewish Congress American Section, representing 28 national Jewish organ- izations, reacts with alarm at reports that West Germany is to shortly conclude a massive arms deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; "The Section expresses its indignation and outrage that the West German government would contemplate the sale of sophisticated military equipment to Saudi Arabia whose con- tinued belligerance to the state of Israel makes such a wespons transfer a direct threat to the well-being and security of the Jewish state — the haven to so many victims of Nazi persecu- tion; "Accordingly, the Section calls on West Germany to cancel any plans for the sale of military hardware to Saudi Arabia viewing such an action as an affront to American and world Jewry; "The Section has received with satisfaction the news that the president of the World Jewish Congress, Edgar M. Bronfman, will meet with West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, and brings to his urgent attention this resolution for transmittal to the West German government as an explicit statement of the views of the Jewish community on this matter." The die is cast. The Jewish resentment is on the record. Bonn is tested. Will Chancellor Kohl be a signatory to a Jihad? That would spell a German forgetfulness. 'CRAZINESS' PLUS TERROR Israelis and Jews everywhere are shocked by the horror that has been perpetrated by fana- tics in Israel who have launched an insane "Ter- ror vs. Terror" series of inhumanities and inde- cencies against Christians and Moslems. Mayor Kollek properly labeled the insane acts as "craziness. He has emphasized, and his --PoTA 0 Harper and Row Volume Poetry of Yehuda Amichai: Tranquility in Conscience Yehuda Amichai, who has attained leadership in Israel's literary ranks, often emerges as the conscience of his people. His poetry is among the interpretive, ex- pressing the reactions to life in Israel, depicting all the elements, the Jews as the faithful as well as the critical. His latest collective effort, the 85 poems in "Great Tranquility: Questions and Answers" (Harper and Row), translated from the Hebrew by Glenda Abramson and Tudor Parfeitt, cover a field as vast as Israel herself. The title of the book is kept to the very last. Its text should not puzzle those who read these poems, In a deeper sense, it is a summary: People in the painfully bright hall Spoke about religion In the life of modern man And about God's place in it. AMICHAI People spoke in excited voices Like at airports. I left them: I opened an iron door over which was written "Emergency" and I entered into A great tranquility: questions and answers. It is because he does not eliminate anyone, that all who are in Israel are his concern, that Amichai and his poetry are the guidelines in the many challenges that emerge among the most expressive, serving as the voice of Israel. All faiths are included here, and like his many contemporaries, Amos Oz being exemplary, the Arabs are a part of the Israel depicted. Often there is an aspiration for unity. Is it to be emphasized in this selected and impressive piece from "Great Tranquility": An Arab shepherd is seeking a kid on Mount Zion, - And on the opposite hill I seek my little son. An Arab shepherd and a Jewish father Both in their temporary failure. Our two voices meet above The Sultan's Pool in the valley between Neither of us wants the son or the kid To enter the terrible process Of the Passover song One Kid." Afterwards we found them between the bushes, And our voices returned to us And we wept and laughed deep inside ourselves. Searches for a kid or for a son were always The beginning of a new religion in these mountains. . figures are confirmed by the religious leaders, that 99.9 percent of all Jews and Israelis con- demn such acts and would not tolerate -them. "Great Tranquility" is not a heavy book. Yet its 90 pages provide guidance to an important era in the life of people who provide inspira- tion in a testing introduced as implied questions, and equally sur- mised poetic answers. Therefore, the world at large should know that what had occurred was "craziness" and will not be tolerated by anyone. (Amichai will be reading from his works at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Maximus and Co. Booksellers, 189 S. Woodward, Birmingham. There is a charge.)