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THE JEWISH NEWS
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•
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©1988 by The Detroit Jewish News (US PS 276-520)
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VOL. LXXXIX, NO. 1
CANDLELIGHTING AT 6:03 P.M.
Gas Pump Wars
Driving into the corner station to fill the tank of the family sedan has
been relatively pleasurable in recent weeks. The cost of petroleum has fallen
sharply, giving us a respite from a decade-and-a-half of rising prices. The
reasons behind the price decline, however, are ominous for the future.
The 50 percent decline in crude oil prices since November are the result
of years of research and investment, and political decisions made by
Western countries in response to the Arab oil embargo of 1973. U.S. laws
•mandating higher-mileage automobiles, and development of Alaskan,
North Sea and Mexican oil fields have contributed to the degree of
independence we hfive attained from the OPEC countries.
Saudi Arabia is in the process of changing the equation. Having lost
considerable revenue and the cohesion of its cartel in an unsuccessful effort
to prop up high prices by holding down output, the Saudis have now
switched gears. Still the world's major oil producer and holder of the most
proven oil reserves, the Saudis have initiated the current price war. The
fallout from that war, in addition to temporarily lower prices at the pump,
could be the destruction of the oil industries of Mexico and other small
•
countries, and a return to OPECV previous status.
Allen Murray, chairman of Mobil' Oil, told the Economic Club of Detroit
this week that falling prices will discourage producers from developing new
oil fields. He predicted much higher prices by next fall. U.S. State .
Department envoy Edward Marks, in response to a question at the Zionist
Organization of Detroit's luncheon forum, acknowledged the Saudi role in
, funding the Palestine Liberation Organization. He also acknowledged their
"major role in the world economy" as the reason for U.S. delicacy in dealing
with the Saudis.
A temporary oil glut and a temporary drop in gasoline prices may only
indicate a temporary loss of economic and political power for Saudi Arabia
and OPEC.
,
5
Not Good Enough
After endless debate, deliberation and good old-fashioned congressional
obfuscation, the Senate last week approved a United Nations' ban on
genocide — 37 years after it had first been submitted to the Senate by
President Truman. With the vote, the U.S. finally joined 90 other countries
that had approved the U.N. convention since it had first been adopted by the
UN General Assembly in 1948.
Jewish groups in the U.S. hailed the Senate's vote last week. The
original UN resolution was rooted in the Nazis' slaughter of six million
Jews. And Elie Wiesel, &man who has become a living symbol of Jewish
survival, acknowledged that "a law on genocide will not stop future
attempts to commit genocide. But at least we, as a moral nation, have made
this statement We are against genocide, and we cannot tolerate a world in
which genocide is'being perpetrated."
All of this sounds lofty and inspiring — if a bit tardy. But on closer
inspection, the U.S. version of the anti-genocide resolution is not quite what
it appears to be.
Led by Sen. Jesse Helms, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
added caveats to the resolution that effectively emasculated it. One is that
the World Court lacks jurisdiction in cases brought against the U.S. unless
Washington consents. This is tantamount to giving an alleged murderer the
prerogative to approve the charges filed against him -- and whether,
indeed, any should be filed.
,
OP-ED
The Lesson Of Challenger:
Reaching For The Stars
BYRABBI PHILIP BLACHORSKY
Special to The Jewish News
Triumph, jubilation and joy were
the intense anxious emotions as Chal-
lenger lifted off the pad in a beauti-
fully executed lift-off. Less than two
minutes later, disbelief, horror, tears,
sadness and outrage dominated our
inner and outer selves as we witnessed
a ball of fire incinerating and consum-
ing the space craft with all crew
aboard.
A voyage began with hopeful
exhilaration and an air of joyful expec-
tancy. We were able to sniff, smell,
taste and feel the thrill of success. Less
than two minutes later, all joy and
feelings of well-being and goodness
left us as we witnessed the horror and
agony of death and destruction. Today,
tomorrow — and the many tomorrows
that follow, we will grieve, we will
mourn, and we will remember. Young
and old, from all walks of life stood
shocked and mute. Our eyes welled
with tears; our throats choked with cry
as we witnessed the ball of fire that
consumed the "Magnificent Seven."
These seven gave the ultimate — their
lives — that humanity can take one
more giant step forward to unlock and
unravel the mysteries and mystique of
. God's creation.
Most of us live lives of quiet desp-
eration. Our plateaus, our levels of
aspiration, desires and hope pale into
insignificance as we compare our
achievements and accomplishments to
the "Seven." Our sights are blurred;
our sights are aimed low. Our horizons
are limited. And we stricken ourselves
with the malady called myopia. With a
great sense of loss, we can only re-
member and project what could have
been. The minority of our society are
the shakers, shapers and makers of
our civilization. We want, want and
want. Yet we do not essay ourselves to
Rabbi Blachorsky is founder of the Jewish
Community Congregation of Israel in Oak
Park.
be the untiring workers and achievers.
We wish only to benefit from the ef-
forts and sacrifices of others.
We, as the human race, must
understand that you cannot really
move without moving. Motion equates
success. Standing still equates stagna-
tion. It is easy to articulate glibly the
expressions and wisdom of the ages:
We, as the human race,
must understand that you
cannot really move without
moving.
"Show me a man who never did any-
thing wrong and I'll show you a man
who did nothing." Or, "Without risk,
there can be no gain." The crew mem-
bers of the space shuttle Challenger
made the ultimate effort. They sac-
rificed their lives for us and all human-
ity. We, who are left behind, suffer
from the irreplaceable loss. We suffer
the pain of anguish. We ask ourselves,
"Why did it happen? Was it worth it? Is
God sending us a message? With all
our technological advances, what-went
wrong? Who is to blame? Was it a
human error, or was it an act of God?"
Each and every one of us is hum-
bled by this catastrophic tragedy.
Suddenly, we becorae all too aware
that we are vulnerable, perishable and
disposable. How shocking it is to wake
up to an awareness that we are all so
fragile and delicate. Yes, tragedy
brings us up short, and makes one
focalize on the important in relation to
the unimportant.
Life is a series of events, of mis-
takes, failures, trials and errors;
triumphs and fulfillments. The great
tragedy and fraility of life comes into
focus. In the beginaing, we are awed
,
Continued on Page 12