EDITORIAL Act Now To Vote The Jewish community has long prided itself on its voting record in national and local elections, consistently turning out in dispropor- tionately high numbers on election day. But according to a study by the Synagogue Council of America, as many as a million eligi- ble Jews are not registered to vote in the upcoming presidential elec- tions. The weakest groupings are in the 18-25 and 60-or-older age categories. Needless to say, a reduction of Jewish voter strength could be a serious blow to the community and its interests, including influence in Congress and the White House. A Jewish Voter Registration Drive is being mobilized national- ly. The cutoff date for registration for the November elections is Oct. 11, but the time to act is now. Absentee ballots should be secured for young people who will be away at college. Remember, only by registering to vote can we take advantage of our rights as citizens in this democracy. ment) to be given international stature and diplomatic recognition at the U.N. If there is a lesson here for the Jewish community it is in pick- ing its fights where it has a chance of winning and making its strongest case. The effort to close the PLO office in Washington was successful, but the UN mission was different because of America's UN Headquarters Agreement. The next test of politics, legality and morals is just around the corner. PLO chairman Yassir Arafat intends to address the U.N. General Assembly in the fall. To do so he must receive a visa from the Administration — a move that certainly will be opposed by many members of Congress and pro-Israel organizations. In such a case it is important to let Arafat, and the world, know that Americans do not want a terrorist who stands apart from American values to enter this country. Kurt Waldheim is not welcome here. Neither is Arafat, unless and until he decries violence and recognizes the State of Israel that he has sought for so long to destroy. krro 141417 When To Fight i Li PrAtt .2Pa %Pa :.. .....;841! . The White House decided this week, with some reluctance, not to contest a Federal District Court ruling allowing the Palestine Liberation Organization to maintain its observer mission to the United Nations. The PLO will now be able to maintain its influence on the UN agenda and retain ties there with many nations. Justice Department officials had wanted to appeal the court rul- ing; State Department officials had argued against an appeal. The State Department's concern was legal and political. There was a fear that U.S. peace efforts in the Mideast would be damaged if Washington persisted in trying to close the PLO mission. And it was believed that the World Court would have ruled that the U.S., as the host country to the United Nations, cannot impede access to the UN by foreign diplomats. Why then did some Jewish organizations, led by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), push so hard to close the PLO's UN mission when it seemed like a lost cause? No doubt in part because of the emotional aspects of the case, which alllows for the PLO (recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. govern- ,S‘t4 ,\....... lu _ .tinNtiik11. _ -Xqw, - 0. m r -..--- ,NNI \\\ ` - `,. I VI K I . I li, \\ - i ila a I I •111/4,--- ' lIa ii i I - ifil ‘ - - - gl 111.1%. -- N:xT. /1.11! 141111111[1 /11011 4 4 & --7- Alimp „ ri LETTERS I Anti-Semitism Is Defined Philip Slomovitz, editor emeritus, wonders whether George Bernard Shaw was anti-Semitic (Aug. 12). It prompts the question: Who is anti-Semitic? In respose to that question, Dr. I.S. Kulscar, the psychiatrist who examin- ed Adolph Eichmann, said, "Anyone who hates Jews more than is necessary." Ralph Slovenko Professor of Law and Psychiatry Wayne State University Hunger Drive Makes Progress I would like to thank you for providing space for Mazon in your newspaper. It brings our work directly into the homes of Jewish families in the com- munity, which is the first step toward facing the terrible reality of hunger. Clearly, our 6 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1988 ability to heighten the Jewish community's awareness of this issue is greatly enhanc- ed when we have the support of the Jewish press. Because your assistance is an integral part of educating people about Mazon I want to give you an update on our success. In its first 28 months of operation, Mazon has granted almost $750,000 to hunger relief agencies in this country and abroad. That sum is increasing dramatical- ly at each semi-annual grant period. Ann Schwartz Associate Director, Mazon Los Angeles Shaliach Mitzvah Is Continued On Sunday, Aug. 1, while flying to Israel, I was going through The Jewish News. It was delicious irony that I Philip reading was Slomovitz's article about shaliach mitzvah and it men- tioned my grandfather, all the while I was carrying money in my pocket for the very same purpose. While in Jerusalem at the Kotel, I found a suitable pushke . . . Gilbert Borman Detroit Dr. Rockaway Clarifies Views In your Aug. 5 Purely Corn- mentary you printed part of a letter I wrote to a prominent Jewish Detroiter. Because of the ensuing reaction, I feel obligated to clarify a number of points. Firstly, this was a letter and was not written nor intended for publication. Secondly, I was not asked to edit what I wrote. Conse- quently, the letter appears verbatim. Your readers should know that I am not a newcomer to Israel who is voicing these sentiments from the comfort of a beachfront hotel. I have lived in Israel for over 17 years and served in its army. The views I expressed are not unique but are part and parcel of our public debate as we seek to build a just, democratic and Jewish nation. Dr. Robert Rockaway Herzlia Pituah, Israel Feel The Pain Of 'Last Temptation' I am one of those protesting at the showing of The Last Temptation of Christ .. . The article by Aviva Kamp- ner (Aug. 19 — Jewish News) shocked me for attacking those who opposed the film with being anti-Semitic, while, in fact, her article was anti-Christian. She states that, " . . . the issue of censor- ship and blatant anti- Semitism should be of frightening concern for the Jewish community." The fact is, the issue of uncensored, blatant anti-Christianism should be of frightening con- cern for the Christian and Jewish community .. . The point I wish to make is, based upon this article, as well as your editorial, "Yielding To Temptation," I would expect that you would support the classic propagan- da movie of all time, Leni Riefenstahl's Triumph of the Will, which has never been shown here in theaters or on television, other than clips on Channels 56 and 9, plus a short video. The reason Triumph of the Will should not be shown is that it is a paralyzingly powerful and frightening movie for anyone who Continued on Page 12