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■ AV'i
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
2 Friday, October 18,1985 ,
PURELY COMMENTARY
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
International Guilt (Indifference?): The Root Of All Terrorism
Unified action by the World Powers,
singly or as a group functioning in the
United Nations, might have prevented
the spate of terror which makes all
mankind the target of the insaned in the
ranks of the most brutal criminals. Had
the American appeal for a united deter-
mination to end or ,..at least curtail the
mounting terrors been heeded, then the
terrors surely would have been
minimized.
Even in the current tragic experi-
ence of the hijacking of a cruise ship,
there is only, a minimum of cooperation
on a global scale to put an end to the
horrifying threats. No one is immune to
danger, and even the Soviet Union is
now a victim of the terrorists,. one of her
representatives having been brutally
murdered. '
Is there even a minimum of hope,
the horrors having affected so many na-
tions, that a measure of unity will be
.
achieved to assure an end to the in-
humanities?
After the latest outrage, the hijack-
ing of the Italian cruise ship, the murder
of an ailing, partially invalided elderly
Jewish passenger, all the immediate
condemnations did not create much
added hope to end the indifference con-
fronted by the diplomats of the world
toward all the accumulating crimes.
The major actions should have come
immediately from all the Arab nations.
Instead, the arch instigator of the
crimes, Yassir Arafat, was given the
most notorious pletform. Perhaps
frightened by the negatiVe reactions that
may come from his fellow Arabs, Egyp-
tian President Hosni Mubarak became a
chief critic of the United!States. The Ita-
lians arouse suspicions that they may
not even be able to hold the murderers
fully in check in , a properly-guarded
prison. The Italian police already per-
mitted the architect of the latest crimes
to escape from justice.
Only the United States remains firm
in policies to pursue an opportunity to
bring the criminals to justice, and Is-
rael's supporting voice is too weak for
firmer action.
Reports of reactions to the latest
hijacking outrage, from the United Na-
tions, are that while representatives of
the friendly-to-the-U.S. nations "sym-
pathized," they were silent. The Arabs
were silent. Russia's silence may spell a
better omen for the future, in the sense
that the USSR may itself become an ally
in the battle against terrorism. The fail-
ure of Arab public opinion to spell out
the sense of outrage is the most damning
in a situation that calls for an end to in-
difference, in order to wipe out the
global guilt.
Hopefully, there will be a peace ac-
cord between Israel and her immediate
neighbora, thus assuring that Arab
potentates will be the first to condemn
the outrages and pledge action to pre-
vent their -repetition. Meanwhile, ter-
rorists, wherever they have hijacked and
murdered, have been and are being
hailed as heroes. This is the tragedy of
this era. Ignoring such shamefulness has
created international indifference in
what is truly global guilt.
In a civilized society,' public opinion
hag° forcefulness to reduce inhumanities. .
In such a society, the communications
media have a dominant role. In a ter-
rorized world, it is very difficult to
tolerate. Terrorists must be punished
and the U.S. action in that direction re-
mains highly commendable. Attaining
the needed security remains difficult as
long as indifference flourishes, turning it
into global guilt for massive murders
and toleration of insanities that have
encircled the globe.
Archivists
As Protectors
Of Historical s Data
Archivists, as collectors of factual
data about their own and related genera-
tions, become the guardians as well as
protectors of genuine historiography.
Wherever there is a tendency to es-
tablish archives, the opportunity is as-
sured for retention of data that might
otherwise vanish. Where there are arc-
hives and archivists there is also proper
research and search for realities and a
lesser chance to perthit distortion of
facts. .
On the national scene, the American
Jewish Archives function under the ad-
mired guidance of Dr. Jacob Reder Mar-
cus.
Supplementing this effort impres-
sively, the American Jewish Historical
Society is now enlarging upon the , re-
cords that necessitate retention of the
vital facts, the statistical and documen-
tary, which assure retention of knowl-
edge about American Jewish develop-
ments.
American Jewish History, the quar-
terly magazine of the AJHistorical
Society, edited by Dr. Nathan M.
Kaganoff and an able staff of associates,
more than supplements American Jewish
Archives magazine. Bernard Wax is the
guiding executive of all the AJHistorical
Society, tasks.
Then there are the local functioning'
archivists, those of the Jewish Historical
Society of Michigan, and the collectors of
archives for Temple Beth El. All these
activists are -valuable as a collective
group of protectors of historical data.
The most recent issue of American
Jewish Archives -is especially explanat-
ory of the manner in which . retaining '
important records enriches the archival
American Jewish history. The magazine
itself is importantly edited by Dr. Jacob
R. Marcus, and Abraham J. Peck is his
able associate editor. The recent issue of
the magazine had an able guest editor,
Stanley F. Chyet. His article was
entitled "Forgotten Fiction: American
Jewish Life, 1890-1920."
Many will recall some of the very
important names of the authors of "for-
gotten fiction" who are .listed in the
Chyet compilation and whose roles in
American Jewish life are thus recalled
and traced. They include Herman Berns-
'thin, Bruno Leasing, Montague 'Glass,
Dlia Elias Tobenkin, and a number of
others. ,
While the entire essay is vital to the
archival Jewish needs, there is one espe-
Jacob Marcus
Irving Katz
Abraham Peck
Judy Cantor
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cially noteworthy participant who had
an important place in American and
Jewish history. Special attention must
be giVen to Bernstein whose, "In the
Gates of Israel: Stories of the Jews" re-
ceives emphasis in the collected Chyet
undertaking. A brief biographical note
about Bernstein is most valuable in the
Chyet recollections. Very important facts
are revealed in the following appended
note about Bernstein's book of some
eight decades ago:
Lithuanian-born Herman
Bernstein (1876-1935) understood
the problem very well. Arriving
on American shores in his teens,
he' soon entered on an active
literary and journalistic career.
The American Jewish Committee
under the leadership of Louis
Marshall enabled Bernstein in
1914 to found the Yiddish daily
Tog, which for a generatiOn Ad-
dressed itself to' immigrants of
Orthodox sympathies; Bernstein
also edited the. conservative
English-language American He-
brew and, during the ' 1920's,
brought suit against Henry` Ford
in an effort to discredit the
industrialist's advocacy of the
anti-Semitic Protocols of the Elders
of Zion. Bernstein served the
Hoover Administration as am-
bassador to Albania in the early
1930's.
In 1902 at New , York Berns
tein had published his collected
"Stories of the Jews" in a voluMe
entitled In the Gates of Israel. the
literary historian Meyer Waxman
An attached 1877 DetiOit Free
found in them "little psychology
Press article refers to the laying
or art," but the reader of the
of the cornerstone of the Shaarey
1980's may be inclined to see
Zedek at Congress and St. An-
Bernstein's offering more charit-
toine, when Samuel Ginsburg
ably.
was president, and delivered one
of the addresses. .
How very interesting that this Yid-
Samuel Ginsburg also do-
dish editor had a U.S. ambassadorial
nated the land for the , next
role, was involved in a history-making
Shaarey Zedek building at Brush
law suit, was the founder of a Yiddish
and Winder — when he was a
newspaper!
trustee. His only son, Bernard
There is no doubting, therefore,
Ginsburg, presided over the lay-
about the importance of creating arc-
ing of the cornerstone for that
- hives.
building in 1902.
At. Detroit's Temple 'Beth El, Miriam
Incidentally, 'this once stately
Kushner performs remarkably in sus-
building is still standing, with its
taining the archives that were first es-
walls intact — although much
tablished by Dr. Leo M. Franklin and
vandalized. It awaits rebuilding
Irving Katz.
and re-use.
Now Shaarey Zedek is sharing in ef-
The Shaarey Zedek School
forts to retain DetroitJewish historical
History written by Mrs. Ida B.
records in a newly-created Congressional
Cohen states that Mr. and Mrs.
and community archives. Judith Cantor ( Bernard Ginsburg founded the
is the guiding spirit of these new Arc-
original religious school in the
hives.
Congress and St. Antoine build-
The recent passing of the prominent
ing, and "were idolized by both
Detroit Jewish leader Golda Krolik
teachers and pupils." I think you
helped' revive great interest in a promi-
will find in addition, that Ber-
-neat family. Mrs. Cantor, pursuing the
nard Ginsburg donated the land
search about this family, provided the
for the first_community Talmud
following, item as an explanation of an
Torah building on Division
interesting chapter in Detroit Jewish
Street. --
history:
These are remarkable facts about
I am submitting material for
the importance of archives and retention
your attention regarding the late
of historical records. \.
,Golda Krolik's grandfather,
How very encouraging that De-
Samuel Ginsburg, and father and
troiters are devoting themselves to a
mother, Bernard and Ida
share in such important achievements!
Ginsburg.
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