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Friday, September 28, 1984
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
THE JEWISH NEWS
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© 1984 by The Detroit Jewish News (US PS 275-520)
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CANDLELIGHTING AT 7:01 P.M.
VOL. LXXXVI, NO. 5
Welcoming in faith
Jewish experience is bathed in threats from antagonists, and also is
glorified in the dedications to the ideals which elevate the people's life to the
high status of spiritual-cultural attainments. The year just left behind is not
different. It was filled with many agonies. It had its high levels of Jewish
unity marked by the determination defined in the declaration constantly
repeated of Am Yisrael Chai .
the People Israel lives."
There is an old affirmation, As the old year and its curses ends, let there
commence a year with blessings."
There is due cause to believe that the negatives are being left behind with
a message that the faith that inspires Jewry attains added and inspired
meaning with time.
The New Year does not commence with pessimism. There is cause for
optimism. If it were only for Israel, where a new year starts with a measure of
national unity, the encouragement in a belief in optimism is strengthened.
Indeed, the attainment of unity in the Jewish state is a regaining of
confidence in the statesmanship that has emerged with statehood.
Then there are the cultural attainments in the Diaspora, the strength
evidenced in a continuity of progress in the theological seminaries, in the
fulfillment of obligations towards the less fortunate in Jewish communities,
in the accounting when dealing with the needs of the elderly and in respecting
the rights of the mentally retarded.
Indeed, there is a great progress in the commencement of a new twelve
months on the Jewish calendar.
A new Jewish year commences in faith and the Shanah Tova greetings
are therefore the evidences of strength reaffirmed in a unity that makes the
people and its aspirations highly dignified.
Glory of Tiger-dom
"Congratulations to the Tigers' really spells out the cheer and the joy
attained by all of us — every citizen of Michigan.
It is a particularly tremendous event for Metropolitan Detroit, and every
citizen in our midst shares the glory of a sports triumph that heartens the
communities into a unity of purpose resulting from sportsmanship with a
high goal.
The sportsmanship already elevated, now awaiting the playoffs, is rooted
in a great tradition. This is a community that loves sports and admires its
champions. While sharing the glory of winning, the citizenship that acclaims
a championship does it with the pride of acting in unison.
It is a triumph like the Tigers, who represent all of us as cheerleaders,
that gives credence to the fact that all are akin in their judgments, all are
alike in glorying over triumph. There is not, there cannot be a divisiveness.
There is a unity of spirit in the acclamation for the Tigers because, in its
wake, is a family spirit.
It is the Metropolitan Detroit Family that celebrates. It is with a kinship
that defies prejudices. It is a unity of blacks and whites, Christians, Jews,
Moslems and other religious faiths.
A unified Detroit family rejoices. There is a togetherness in the salute:
More and a continuing power to you, courageous Tigers!
Reflectons on elections
and our Jewish contiuity
BY RABBI RICHARD C. HERTZ
Special to The Jewish News
Our eyes and ears are now focused
on the Presidential election. Everyday
brings new statements, new charges
and counter-charges seeking to alter
our opinions about politics and reli-
gion. One thing is comforting though:
both Presidential candidates have
taken strong positions in support of
Israel as America's secure ally in the
Middle East.
In Israel, too, an election has just
been held, only a very indecisive elec-
tion, confusing and portending a polit-
ically strange coalition government
where an odd couple, Shimon Peres
and Yitzhak Shamir, will find one as
Prime Minister for 25 months, then
the defeated candidate will take over
for a similar period. Will that cumber-
some combination bring national
unity and tranquility to Israel? Who
knows? We wish them both good luck,
but they'll need more than luck to get
through the next four years.
I am not a citizen of Israel. I don't
vote there and my children are not in
the Israeli Defense Forces. I have no
right to call for an open vote of "no
confidence" in the next Prime Minis-
ter. I have no right to say anything in
public that will jeopardize one life or
the serenity of one kilometer. If Israeli
leaders believe a PLO government on
the West Bank would be infinitely
more dangerous to Israel than contin-
ued Israeli rule there, who am I to
challenge their decision? Israel's secu-
rity is the responsibility of its govern-
ment, and so far, they have done pretty
well in standing steadfast as Ameri-
ca's only firm friend in the whole Mid-
dle East cauldron.
Moreover, the question of settle-
ments as a security matter is not really
the heart of Israel's problem. The real
question, despite monstrous inflation,
is Israel's fundamental right to exist.
Period. Until the Arab nations recog-
nize that basic principle embedded in
U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242
Rabbi Hertz is rabbi emeritus at Temple
Beth El and distinguished professor at the
University of Detroit.
and 338, which stipulate Israel's right
to live in secure and recognized bor-
ders, it is fruitless to become embroiled
in secondary matters like the settle-
ment question, which, after all, in-
volves a very few number of Israelies.
And where is King Hussein? He is
the autocratic ruler who must become
involved in the peace negotiations on
the West Bank issues, but so far, he is
only laughing silently at the confusion
in Israeli politics.
We need to rally together,
we Jews, in a
statesman-like manner,
not to stifle dissent, but
rather to interpret to our
neighbors the needs of the
hour . . .
Jerusalem itself is another mat-
ter. It has been reunified these 17
years since the 1967 War. It is now one
city. It is the capital of Israel and has
been identified as such de facto. No
resolution of the Knesset should be'
necessary to reaffirm the obvious.
Does Congress have to pass a resolu-
tion saying that Washington is the
capital of the United States?
Yet we Jews are heartsick that
Israel is so isolated and alienated from
the rest of the free world. Even the
Western European alliance has turned
against Israel for the sake of oil. Only
the United States stands firmly com-
mitted to Israel's survival. Appease-
ment policies make Israel the "heavy,"
naming Isiael the roadblock to peace. •
Appeasement policies may stop the
free flow of oil, but appeasement'
policies will only result in Israel be-
coming the sacrificial lamb, a repeat of
Munich in Hitler's day. I believe it
futile for Israel to appease the other
side by thinking that peace will come
even if all the settlements on the West ,
Bank were removed overnight. The
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