4
Friday, June 7, 1985
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
THE JEWISH NEWS
Serving Detroit's Metropolitan Jewish Community
with distinction for four decades.
Editorial and Sales offices at 20300 Civic Center Dr.,
Suite 240, Southfield, Michigan 48076
Telephone (313) 354-6060
PUBLISHER: Charles A. Buerger
EDITOR EMERITUS: Philip Slomovitz
EDITOR: Gary Rosenblatt
BUSINESS MANAGER: Carmi M. Slomovitz
ART DIRECTOR: Kim Muller-Thym
NEWS EDITOR: Alan Hitsky
LOCAL NEWS EDITOR: Heidi Press
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Tedd Schneider
LOCAL COLUMNIST: Danny Raskin
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES:
Lauri Biafore
Joseph Mason
Rick Nessel
Danny Raskin
OFFICE STAFF:
Marlene Miller
Dharlene Norris
Phyllis Tyner
Pauline Weiss
Ellen Wolfe
PRODUCTION:
Donald Cheshure
Cathy Ciccone
Curtis Deloye
Ralph Orme
1985 by The Detroit Jewish News (US PS 275-520)
Second Class postage paid at Southfield, Michigan and additional mailing offices.
Subscriptions: 1 year - $21 — 2 years - $39 — Out of State - $23 — Foreign - $35
CANDLELIGHTING AT 8:46 P.M.
VOL. LXXXVII, NO. 15
Mideast Motion?
On the surface, there is much change taking place now in the Middle
East. In Lebanon, the bloodshed and fighting has increased to a new fever
pitch. On the diplomatic scene, the Arabs seem poised on the brink of a
major breakthrough, about to recognize Israel's right to exist.
But the Middle East is a most curious part of the world where events
are often ephemeral. Things are not always as they seem; one must view
current events with the perspective of history. That is why, for all the
talk of change now in the Mideast, things are, unfortunately, as they
have been.: In Lebanon, the fighting between Christians and Muslims is
nothing new. It has gone on for many decades and the only period in
recent years when it abated was when Israel controlled the area these
last three years, acting as a buffer between the two warring Lebanese
factions. But Israel is gone now, completing its pullout this week, and the
old fighting has resumed. The only difference is that the world does not
cast its sharp moral eye on such killing when Israel is not involved.
King Hussein continues to charm — and bluff — the State
Department with his alleged interest in coming to the peace table. Jordan
has never cooperated in any peace effort and has been a major stumbling
block for years. Now Hussein wants to bring the Russians into the
process, which would be a disaster, and claims that Yassir Arafat is
willing to recognize Israel. Arafat's long and bloody record is well known.
Should we believe his phantom promise?
What is clear is that there is a hunger for Mideast progress on
America's part, a hunger so strong that Washington seems more willing
to respond to the imagery of Arab rhetoric than the reality of Arab
violence.
Echoes From Cairo
After two years of miserably distressing attitudes toward Israel, there
are positive indications of an improving trend toward the good relations that
were promised in the original accord that led to peace between Israel and
Egypt.
One of the first indications of more rational aims is the renewal of
tourism from Egypt to Israel. More especially, the Egyptian move toward
disproving the anti-Semitic attitudes in the Egyptian press.
It is still a far road to genuine peace between the two nations. The first
step toward cordiality must be the return of the Egyptian envoy to israel.
Interruption of diplomatic relations was a stab at the very heart of realistic
approaches to a total amity.
It must never be forgotten that Anwar Sadat, in his courageous move
toward peace, had declared "Never again warfare . . ."
This has been honored and there must be other vital steps toward peace.
Diplomatic relations must be totalized, with an Egyptian envoy always on the
scene in Israel.
The anti-Semitic venom must be ended. The condemnation of it must be
On a government scale. There is no other way of calling a halt to the disrupted
cordialities.
Egypt helped pave a road toward peace with Israel in the Arab world. It
will hopefully be paved with serious determination to have it cemented for
indestructibility. Israel is most certainly cooperative toward such an
accomplishment.
OP-ED
Anniversaries: Holocaust,
Zionism, and UN Resolution
BY REV. ISAAC ROTTENBERG
Special to The Jewish News
This year — 1985 — marks the
anniversaries of several events that
continue to stir our consciences and
call us to action. Forty years ago
Europe was liberated from the Nazi
grip. The world was shocked by the
revelations of the Holocaust: six mil-
lion Jews murdered by the Nazi re-
gime. Twenty years ago, the second
Vatican Council's declaration Nostra
Aetate dramatically reoriented
Catholic teaching on Jews and
Judaism into a more positive direc-
tion. Ten years ago, new guidelines
for Christian-Jewish dialogue were
published, giving further implemen-
tation to the spirit of Vatican II.
This year also marks the 40th
anniversary of the United Nations,
founded to serve all humanity as an
instrument of peace. However, we
cannot forget that ten years ago the
majority of U.N. members voted for
the lie that Zionism is a form of ra-
cism.
We are members of churches
with diverse theological traditions.
Together we acknowledge with
gratitude the positive developments
in Christian-Jewish relations that
have evolved since World War II and
the tragedies of the Holocaust. We
praise the growing honesty among
many Christians about the church's
history of anti-Semitism. We laud
the persistent efforts to change
anti-Judaic tendencies in Christian
theology. We support the increas-
ingly open dialogue between Chris-
tians and Jews that allows both to
Rev. Rottenberg is executive director of
the National Christian Leadership
Conference for Israel. He made these
remarks in a May speech in Southfield
sponsored by Jewish and Christian
groups.
be defined in terms of their own his-
tory and faith.
At the same time, we are aware 1_
that a monumental task still lies
ahead. We cannot avoid the hard
truth that millions of Christians,
both clergy and lay people, have not
even begun to face these crucial is-
sues. Until those who preach and
teach in the churches are themselves -
helped to rethink their positions on
Jews and Judaism, the prejudice and
hostility that have been alive among
Christians for centuries will con-
We cannot avoid the hard
truth that millions of
Christians, both clergy
and lay people, have not
even begun to face these
crucial issues.
tinue to prevail. This would mean
more suffering for the Jewish people
and shame upon the Christian
Church. ,
As we commemorate the 40th
anniversary of the liberation of
Europe and the rescue of. the sur-
vivors of the concentration camps,
we send an urgent message to our
Christian brothers and sisters: Give
special consideration to the meaning
of Israel in the thought, faith and
life of the Jewish people throughout
their long history. We reject the no-
tion that the State of Israel's legiti-
macy is to be found in the sufferings
of the Jewish people during the
Holocaust. Yet, we do believe that
the horrors of the Nazi vra give spe-
cial meaning to the rebirth of Israel
in 1948. It is imperative that all who
seek decency and justice among na-
C-1