EDITORIAL
The Bork Battle
President Reagan's nomination of Judge Robert Bork to the U.S.
Supreme Court has set the stage for a sharp debate over the Senate's
constitutional power to advise and consent.
Given that Bork is an aggressive conservative, that Ronald
Reagan has been weakened by the Iran-contra scandal, that the
Democrats control the Senate and that Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.)
may well seek to help his presidential bid in his role as chairman
of the Senate Judiciary Committee, we have the makings of a bat-
tle royal that incorporates ideology as well as politics.
Severeal national Jewish organizatioans have criticized the Bork
nomination. The American Jewish Congress opposes his stand on
such issues as privacy, free speech, civil rights and church-state
separation, noting that Bork's judicial views provide "too limited
protection" for individual liberties and freedoms.
The key issue, though, is whether the Senate will oppose Bork
simply because it opposes his ideology. Some have said that if the
President nominates a candidate who is proven honest and in-
telligent, the Senate has little choice but to confirm him.
It is important to underscore that the Senate has a co-equal
responsibility in this procedure and that the President nominates
a candidate rather than appoints him. The Senate can and should
explore a candidate's political and social philosophy. For all the hoopla
about the bicentennial celebration of the U.S. Constitution, perhaps
the Senate's role in confirming or rejecting the Bork nomination will
provide a very real lesson in the delicate and ingenious balance of
power in our government.
ments with the same function in each agency. Dulzin's double port-
folio is only the most obvious case.
There is no longer any real difference between Zionists and non-
Zionists or fund raisers. All now accept the centrality of Israel, the
importance of aliyah to a creative Jewish future and the necessity
for Jewish, Hebrew and Zionist education as guarantors of Jewish
survival — all principles outlined in the Jerusalem Program,
Zionism's current bottom line.
Non-Zionists could be welcomed into the Zionist world through
the public acceptance of the Jerusalem Program. Membership and
voting rights would be conferred by the payment of the shekel, the
traditional token membership fee. Those wary of the vageries of par-
tisan politics could simply establish their membership with the local,
national or world Zionist federation, instead of joining one of the
partisan organizations.
In this way, as many Jews as possible would be involved in the
world Jewry movement and have a democratically elected voice in
Jewish decision making through regular and direct elections.
Fusion would not water down the Zionist movement, which has
lost much of its fire since the creation of the State of Israel. The one
activist element of the movement, the Magshimim, or fulfillers —
those actively planning on making aliyah — should be given special
status and budgetary considerations as they are the ones who are
fulfilling the millenia-old Jewish dream of the return to Zion.
A streamlined, vital, democratic world Jewish organization like a
fused WZO-JA would breathe new life into the Israel-Diaspora rela-
tionship, give the individual Jew a voice in his people's destiny and
stimulate Jewish creativity wherever our people are to be found.
•••■■•■/
Merging Interests
The results of the elections to the World Zionist Congress came
on the heels of the Jewish Agency assembly. The two organizations
have have had an evolving, often uneasy relationship since the Jewish
Agency was created in 1929. It opened an avenue for Jewish philan-
thropists to channel funds to the Jewish community in the Land of
Israel outside a Zionist framework to which they did not subscribe.
The Jewish world of 1929 no longer exists, and the distinctions
between activist Zionists and philanthropic non-Zionists have
generally collapsed. But the need for democratic expression among
world Jewry, which the WZO represents, and the need to channel
funds to Israel, which is the JA's prime charge, remain. On the other
hand, two organizations with similar agendas but differing points
of origin are not necessary.
Leon Dulzin, chairman of the World Zionist Organization and
Jewish Agency executives recently called for the "fusion" of the two
organizations. The suggestion has considerable merit.
A unified organization would eliminate the double-tracking of
the WZO and JA, where the same people preside over two depart-
BE CAREFUL!
TINS ia A CRY
Wit WV,
.
LETTERS
'Ramie' Renewed
Fond Memories
Having been in Ramle
earlier this year I was excited
to see your article ("Renewal
In Ramie," June 19) so that
others can learn what
wonderful things can take
place in Israel's "old and
tough, disadvantaged and
overcrowded" areas when peo-
ple believe and care.
Our group of American
Jewish educators was taken
to the Bilu/Bialak Schoolin
Ramle where we were en-
6
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1987
thusiastically greeted by
children, teachers and
parents. Throughout our tour,
buffet dinner and program, it
was evident how religion,
Torah appreciation and
patriotism are all a natural
part of each person's daily life.
I continually marvelled at
and stood in awe of their
miracle of experiencing the
true meaning of life and giv-
ing. We, as a "rich" society
could learn so much from
them .. .
I do want to thank you for
making some marvelous
memories come to life again
for me with your article.
Marilyn Dano
Southfield
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portance to the Jewish
community.
Irresistible
High Honors
For Leaders
The Pope receives . . .
Waldheim and Jews, as ex-
pected, fulminate. But why?
The Pope is only doing what
comes naturally. This event
should not be the occasion for
rage or disgust .. .
What should enrage the
Jewish community is that, in
spite of the threat of "Jewish
leaders" to boycott the Pope
when he visits this country,
they will certainly meet with
him.
They will seek "clarifica-
tions" of the Pope's actions in
honoring Waldheim, and the
Church will throw them a
very dry bone. This will be
sufficient to rationalize the
proper obeisance. Smiling
Jewish faces will be
photographed with the Holy
Father.
Jewish leaders have never
been able to forgo such high
honors.
James Mayt
Detroit