1CF131:1'
4 Friday, September 6, 1985
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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
THE JEWISH NEWS
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(c.) 1985 by The Detroit Jewish News (US PS 275-520) .
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VOL. LXXXVIII, NO. 2
CANDLELIGHTING AT 7:38 P.M.
A Cause For Rejoicing
.
This week, the Free Trade Area' Agreement between the United
States and Israel, signed in April, goes into effect. Ten years from now,
according to the terms of the pact, all duties between the two countries
will be abolished. The agreement is unique in U.S. history. According to
Dan Halperin, Israel's minister for economic affairs, and Doral Cooper,
assistant U.S. trade representative, both of whom headed their respective
countries' negotiating teams, the concordance is the first unilateral free
trade agreement ever concluded by the United States. It carries with it
some very tangible benefits.
In addition to the obvious advantages of cementing closer relations
between the two countries, the FTA offers expanded opportunities for
joint ventures, greater predictability of trade relations between the two
countries (a tremendous boon to advance-planning business executives),
and better prote4ion for individuals and firms holding patents and
trademarks. And since Israel has a free trade agreement with the
European Economic Community (which the U.S. does not), the Jewish
state can act as a kind of conduit (barring simple transhipment) between
the EEC and the United States.
The UnitectStates Department of Commerce has already opened an
Israel Information Center and scheduled 20 trade seminars around the
country. The Detroit conference will be held Oct. 9. An FTA Business
Trips Program will help familiarize American businessmen with
opportunities in Israel. All in all a happy and harmonious arrangement
that promises to profit everyone, diplomatically as well as monetarily. We
congratulate the negotillting teams on a job well done and rejoice in the
expected results of their labors.
,
Crackpots On The Loose
There is nothing new in the experience that economic woes serve to
revive the canards of Jewish dila. There also is nothing new in the
prediction that whatever the problem — economic, social, religious -- the
Jew is always available as the scapegoat.
That's what's happening in the reported hatred being generated
among farmers in this country. There is an economic plight among them
and it is reportedly easy to find many of them becoming easy fodder for
the stupidities anti-Semites are spreading anew that Jews control the
government, dominate the banks, control the press, and are therefore
responsible for their eccillomic
It was a famous Christian, Jacques Maritain, the famous French
theologian, writing on the subject "The Christian Looks at the Jewish.
Question," who stated:
"Anti-Semitism diverts men from the real tasks confronting them. It
diverts them from the true causes of their woes."
That's what happens often when crackpots succeed in deluding people
-
-
in need and thereby poison their minds.
Will crackpotism succeed in this country? Will - farmers and others
submit to the hatemongering that is reportedly gaining ground in some
areas of the American farmlands? There are many fanatics Who either
spread or yield to hatred — they are found in both ranks. Therefore, the
responsibilities arise anew, among church people as well as educators and
government officials to face up to the needed duty of exposing the shams.
It is difficult to believe that crackpots have gained much ground. It may
be unwise to move too slowly in exposing their stupidities.
OP-ED
Facing The Trial: Kahane
Or The Jewish People?
BY R. S. ZUCKER
Special to The Jewish News
I protest the slanted reportage of
Rabbi Kahane by Ms. Helen Davis
(Aug. 23, 1985). Her background and
views were too intrusive and not
newsworthy. A more charitable, and
probably more accurate, title would
have been: "The High Priest of Self-
Interest." The article's tone does not
promote Jewish unity. Facts are
needed and speak for themselves.
Rabbi Kahane is a brilliantly
lucid expositor of Judaism. He is an
able wielder of Occam's razor. The
struggle is between Jews and Hel-
lenizers. Our law is. Torah, not Ro-
man. Rabbi Kahane and the rest of
the Israeli Knesset must be judged
by how well they further the legiti-
mate interests of Jews and the
Jewish (i.e. theocratic) state.
From the distance Of the Ameri-
can exile, my impression is that
Rabbi Kahane has a better grasp of
issues and a better program than the
heads of the "Jewish" state. The lat-
ter seem to lack Jewish heads. Im-
agine — stifling dissent in the name
of democracy.
Rabbi Kahane shows amazing
parallels to the biblical Yiftah of
Gilead. He has selected himself,
which is a tribute to his mother who
is outstandingly praiseworthy in
keeping the vow of the House of
Jacob. His followers understand
reality, his politics are self-interest,
his philosophy is Judaism.
Like Yiftah, Rabbi Kahane
should first seek peace through
dialogue with our cousins. Israel can
lead the Middle East and North Af-
rica to a new Golden Age. If peace
fails, then the field of honor.
I take strong exception to Rabbi
Kahane's lumping all Arabs together
as bad guys. Arabs (e.g. Druse, Be-
douin, and others) who swear alle-
giance to, and serve the Jewish
state, should be treated as respected
inhabitants of Israel in accordana
with Torah. Rabbi Kahane shoulc
also have spoken against those ele
ments of the religious establishment
who seek to impose on our peoph
His followers understand
reality, his politics are
self-interest, his
philosophy is Judaism.
requirements over and above th
Torah requirements. Accretion fror
the Exile which stifle our freedor
and productivity must be jettison&
A prime example is the enforcing
Roman law in regard to monogain]
Rather than looking at how man
children an Arab has, each of 1.]
should be concerned with the pro(
uction of Jews. There are alread
reports that the Arab , birth rate
falling due to the infection of Wes
ern materialism.
I also question Rabbi Kahane
plans to use public, rather than pr
vate, funds to purchase our own lar
or pay our guests' travel expenses. .
true test of his leadership will occi
when Jewish landholders reali:
they are squatters, without valid 1
tle. The land is the Lord's lan
Doubtless Rabbi Kahane has studs
the talmudic tractates, includir
"The robber of trees . ." and
ready to act in accord with Torah.
Finally, Rabbi Kahane shou
take steps to make known our clai:
from the Torah, to land which is st
Zucker is a Detroit area subscriber of The
in Arab hands. This includes la)
Jewish News.
held by the Hashemite Kingdom