4 Friday, September 20, 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 Allan Craig 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 (c) 1985 by The Detroit Jewish News (US PS 275.520) Second Class postage paid at Southfield. Michigan and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: year - $21 — 2 years - $39 — Out of State - $23 — Foreign - $35 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. Continued on Page 28