I EDITORIAL
Local Dependency
"Most people don't want anyone to know there is a problem;' says
the father of a recovering West Bloomfield drug addict. That axiom
is often accompanied by self-denial, as parents, other family members
and friends refuse to believe that drug or alcohol dependency can
happen to their loved ones.
But this insidious invasion into the American lifestyle has not
left the Jewish community immune. Although figures on "Jewish
dependency" are non-existent, national studies quoted in our Close-
Up story this week show that 57 percent of all U.S. high school seniors
in 1987 tried illegal drugs. Ninety-two percent had used alcohol.
The Jewish community has left the problem of drug and alcohol
abuse to the general community agencies: the school experts, the
community treatment programs, the police departments. This is as
it should be if there is no need to duplicate services. But the com-
munity must also recognize that substance abuse can happen here,
that it is happening here, and here is our own homes and
neighborhoods.
Jewish agencies, Jewish families and Jewish individuals must
step up efforts to combat a killer that is ravaging our society.
changed all that. Now that he is back in the United States, we can
expect him to make the round of talk shows, lecture circuits, and
rallies. Given the proclivities of America for instant heroes, book
and film contracts are not inconceivable.
Israel claims it was justified to deport Awad because his non-
violence was just a front for supporting the PLO. But if terrorism
and armed resistance were not Awad's way, he never categorically
rejected them for another. In 1983, for instance, he said, "Non-
violence does not constitute a rejection of the slogan of armed struggle
. . . If one was to use force in the pursuance of his aims, I would not
be the one to stop him." Last year, he said, "Our activities comple-
ment those of the PLO. There are some who use guns — and we are
not against them." And in a speech two months ago in Jerusalem,
he said, "The PLO wants the entire Palestine, and I agree .. .
Palestine for me is the Galilee, Akko. Ashdod, everything — this is
Palestine for me."
Now deported, Awad is no longer obscure. But with the alleged
specter of Awad removed from its shores, Israel has won little — and
perhaps lost even more. The Awad episode has made Israel appear
even more intransigent than it has in recent months — and it has
given Palestinians a new spokesman, someone who, by wrapping
himself (with some fraudulence) in the cloak of nonviolence, may
attract yet more sympathy for the Palestinian cause.
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The Awad War
The case of Mubarak Awad again demonstrates the Scylla and
Charybdis nature of Israeli policy these days. By endorsing PLO
violence and terrorism, Awad, self-professed passive resister who was
deported by the Israelis this week after being charged with sedition
in the West Bank and Gaza, was not the Palestinian equivalent of
Martin Luther King or Mahatma Ghandi.
But by arresting — and subsequently deporting — him, the Israeli
government rescued Awad from the obscurity into which he had
fallen by the end of last year. It also put the government into the
untenable position of appearing to reject even the most moderate
— and peaceful — of Palestinian leaders in the territories. As the
New York Times said in an editorial last week, "If Israel drives the
Awads out of its political system, it will be left only with the Arafats."
By the time he was arrested, Awad's two-year effort to persuade
Palestinians in the occupied territories of his brand of non-violence
had just about run out of steam. He had few followers, had made
little headway — and was fast becoming a nonentity. His arrest
LETTERS
Fighting The
Mideast Mindset
I was very disturbed when
I read the article, "Mideast
Mindset", and I agree with
your editorial "Laying
Blame" (June 10). What
bothered me was the parents'
attitude. The teaching of our
heritage is as much the
responsibility, if not more, of
the home, as the religious
school. Our generation grew
up with a new Israel. It was
young and exciting; it was
"Exodus," and the small bat-
tling the mighty. What have
we passed on to our children?
Obviously, from the pictures
I saw, not enough. We can
blame it on the media, on our
rabbis, on our schools, but
first, blame ourselves.
6
FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1988-
Israel is still a small land
among giants who want to
destroy it. This must be ex-
plained to our young. Each
parent should take the time
and give a brief history lesson
about Israel. Don't wait for
the schools to do it — it could
be too late.
My own son came home
once wondering why Israel
just didn't turn the land over
to the Palestinians. Right
then and there I took out a
map of Israel and in 15
minutes had him understan-
ding the whys and hows: how
the Palestinians have been
oppressed by their own peo-
ple; how there are numerous
Arab states, and only one
Jewish state; how the Palesti-
nians don't want a small strip
of land, but the whole State of
Israel.
r
Our children must unders-
tand the importance of a
Jewish state, otherwise it
could be lost — as we could be
lost. Lest anyone think this is
over-dramatic, I suggest they
reread history, especially the
chapter pertaining to the
Holocaust.
Dena Wirt
Essexville
No Anti-Semitism
In Greece
We categorically deny the
claim by Mr. Cohen that the
Greek Jews are facing anti-
Semitism which is fueled by
the Greek government (May
13).
Anti-Semitism is not
tolerated either by the Greek
government or by the Greek
people, who have a proud
record of assistance to its
Jewish brothers during the
dark days of World War II and
afterwards.
The Jewish community in
Greece has repeatedly at-
tested to its well-being and
protection in a democratic
country where the rights of
all its citizens are fully
respected and the judicial
system is vigilant against
violators of the law.
Cohen was wrong to equate
criticism of Israeli policies in
the occupied areas with con-
doning of anti-Semitism,
which does not exist in
Greece.
Achilles Paparsenos
Press Attache
Embassy of Greece
Washington, D.C.
(
Aleynu Article
Conveyed Mood
Thank you very much for
the fine piece about Aleynu in
the June 3 Jewish News. The
article conveyed exactly the
mood that Aleynu wants to
convey — that Jewish educa-
tion can be upbeat and
stimulating.
There are two points which
need clarification. The crash
course is not in praye it is in
reading Hebrew. The text we
are using emphasizes the
prayers .. .
Secondly, our regular
teachers are paid by Aleynu.
The teachers of the crash
courses are volunteers.
Again, thank you for the.ar-
ticie . . .
Rabbi. Alon Tolwin
Oak Park