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Friday, September 20, 1985
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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(c) 1985 by The Detroit Jewish News (US PS 275.520)
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CANDLELIGHTING AT 7:14 P.M.
VOL. LXXXVIII, NO. 4
UN At 40
World leaders are gathering this week in New York to mark the 40th
anniversary of the United Nations. Founded in the aftermath of World
War II for the loftiest of goals, the world body has sunken to new depths
with its obsession for criticizing Western democracies, particularly Israel.
Would that the presidents and prime ministers who visit the UN dedicate
themselves to fulfilling its charter, which pledges "to reaffirm faith in
fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human
person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and
small."
Yom Kippur Thought
As we approach Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, let
us remember that it is not only a time to ask forgiveness but also a day
for us to forgive. Only in that sense can we begin the new year with a
clean moral and spiritual slate.
Some ask why Yom Kippur does not precede Rosh Hashanah. Would
it not make more sense to settle our accounts for the previous year before
celebrating the new one? But Michael Strassfeld, in his book, The Jewish
Holidays, points that the hope for a new year must come before our
efforts to review the past. As he writes:
"Once conscious of the new year and-what it offers, we are ready to
look back at our past. Conscious that life can be as sweet as apples dipped
in honey, that the barren woman can bear fruit even in old age, and that
the descending knife can be halted in midair, we approach Yom Kippur
with the hope for growth and change and with full consciousness of our
failures in the past year."
Ecumenism: A 5746 Duty
Every commencement of a new year carries with it obligations to
continue established traditions social services, to guarantee the
strengthening of movements aimed at aiding the elderly and protecting
the communal cultural and ethical standards of functioning communities.
A duty that presently demands protection of a major aim at
establishing best relations among citizens and to elevate the ideals
inherent in the spiritual relationships of all elements in American life is
the ecumenism which has emerged among the most valued achievements
in the inter-religious ranks on the Metropolitan Detroit area.
Under the title of the Good Will Movement that functioned here in
the sponsorship of interfaith brotherhood gained momentum in the
ecumenism that attained a greater realism in recent years. In this
community, the Ecumenical Institute for Jewish-Christian Studies
encouraged the greater understanding so vital for good citizenship.
Under the leadership of the Rev. James R. Lyons, this movement has
inspired the idealism that has encouraged-the -goodwill that has resulted
in the enrollment of many religious al; well as lay leaders and followers.
This Jewish-Christian cooperative task depends entirely on funding,
from interested and devoted supporters.
•
There is cause for real 'concern at this time in the announcement that
funding has "dried up."
The religious communities must view the handicaps with great
seriousness. If genuine ecumenism is to continue uninterruptedly; proper
funding must be provided.
CAPITOL REPORT
WOLF BLITZER
Secret U.S. Assessment
Argues For Arms Sales
Washington — The Reagan Ad-
ministration has informed the U.S.
Congress that Israel's "qualitative"
military edge over any combination
of Arab adversaries is "secure and
likely to grow stronger, under pre-
sent policy, at least through the rest
of this decade."
In a 17-page secret report on the
Arab-Israeli arms balance submitted
to Congress in July and made avail-
able to this reporter recently, the
Administration made the case that
Israel need not really fear any pro-
posed new U.S. arms sales to Jordan
and Saudi Arabia.
The report, a summary of the
Administration's inter-agency study
of the arms balance in the region,
said that Israel's security is "central
to U.S. policy in the Middle East."
"We believe that our willingness
to provide Israel some of our most
advanced weapons systems is vital to
this objective," the report said. "It
contributes to Israel's security by
providing it a qualitative edge; that
is, the technical capability to defeat
any combination of potential Arab
adversaries — thus serving as a
strong deterrent to overt attack."
President Ronald Reagan and
Secretary of State George Shultz are
currently in the final stages of decid-
ing on the exact components of a
new U.S. sale to Jordan and Saudia
Arabia. There are indications a for-
mal package, including all sorts of
missiles and other advanced
weaponry, will be submitted soon.
The secret Administration re-
port described the nature of the var-
ious threats facing U.S. friends in
the Middle East and the basic rea-
sons why the United States should
continue to provide military assis-
tance to them.
"Our military relationship with
Israel has a dual purpose," it said
"to ensure that Israel can defend it.
self against any probably combing •
tion of enemies and to improve th e
U.S. strategic position in the are a
through combined planning with th e
most modern and powerful milita ry
force in the region."
In this latter regard, the report
noted that the United States and Is.
rael were strengthening their
The United States has to
provide Jordan with
"clear and tangible
suppore" in order to have
Jordan grapple with
entering into negotiations
with Israel.
strategic cooperation aimed at
thwarting increased Soviet influence
in the region.
"Although Israel's strategic
value in dealing with intra-regional
crises is limited by political align-
ments and geography, Israeli coop-
eration would be helpful in the event
of U.S. intervention in the Eastern
Mediterranean to counter a Soviet
threat," it said. "Israel also serves as
a counter to Syrian aspirations in
the area and to Soviet efforts to use
Syria as a surrogate."
The report said tha continued
U.S. support for Israel was also im-
portant in encouraging Israel to par-
ticipate in the Arab-Israeli peace
process. "To continue to move toward
a negotiated settlement," it said, "Is-
rael needs confidence in both its
ability to withstand threats to its se-
curity and in the constancy of U.S.
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