I PURELY COMMENTARY I Ben-Gurion Continued from preceding page 1 , And the Beat Goes On Save to Your Heart's Content This Valentine's Day. BRUCE M. WEISS JEWELERS 12 Mile just east of Northwestern author of the more than 900-page biography entitled Ben-Gurion — The Burning Ground, 1886-1948. It is the story of his life leading up to the founding of Israel. As the title suggests they were "bur- ning years." They were the numerous eras of historical occurrences and this Jewish labor leader's masterful and militant organizational activities. Houghton Mifflin has recently released this im- mense work at a time when the history of the creative years of reborn Jewish statehood is the subject of in- ternational interest. The impressive research conducted by the eminent author, Shabtai Teveth who has a rich role in Israel jour- nalism, earns for this en- cyclopedic result the acclaim of Israel, the Jewish people, a deserved vast readership and all admirers of biographical literature. The encyclopedic biography of B-G is really several volumes in one. It is the dramatic account of a dynamic person, his foibles, arrogance, determination to pursue an ideal. It is a history of Jews under great stress and the road that was paved for those adhering to the libertarian ideal map- ped for them by B-G. It is a history of major Zionist leadership, the cooperative and the con- troversial. It is the struggle within the Zionist ranks such as differing views with Chaim Weizmann, conferences with Louis D. Brandeis, acquain- tance with Jewry and many non-Jewish personalities. Importantly, there are ac- counts of B-G's efforts to come to terms- with Arab leaders. He was optimistic of a sort in this respect. Of course, it was not successful. This will re- quire and will receive added consideration in an adden- dum to this comment on the book. Posthumous Honor For Richard Ellmann Another distinct honor is appended to the name of Dr. Richard Ellmann. The distinguished author of the biographies of Joyce and Yates now has a posthumous additional acclaim for his latest work which was published a year after his death, the biography of Oscar Wilde. The National Book Critics Circle Award for biography and auto-biography was awarded last month to Dr. Ellmann posthumously for his Oscar Wilde, published by Knopf. I NEWS I 353-1424 Service Exemptions In Germany Debated .ZEZEISNIN NEW MEMBERS ONLY WITH THIS AD MICK AN mom= Gift Certificates Available LA MIRAGE MALL 29555 Northwestern (N. of 12) Southfield, MI 48034 350-2430 SOLID OAK, FORMICA TOP W/4 SOLID OAK CHAIRS! Mostareard WOLFF WADI A U S A ON STOREWIDE VALUES! r. MT 36" x 48" Rectangular Table w/Apron. Leaf extends table to 66." ON $520 SALE! 7 Reg. s829.95 Brass • Oak • Chrome • Glass Over 80 Sets on Display DINING FURNITURE Advertising in The Jewish News Gets Results Place Your Ad Today. Call 354-6060 40 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1989 The Original Discount Dinette Specialist 26151 GRATIOT • 775-6310 Bet. 1-696 & 10 1 /2 Mile 23716 WOODWARD • 544-3322 at Woodward Hgts (9 1k Mi) Bonn (JTA) — The decision by Defense Minister Rupert Scholz to excuse young Ger- man Jews whose grand- parents suffered under the Nazis from compulsory military service may face legal tests in court. The issue was raised by Heinz Galinski, chairman of the Central Council of Jewish Communities in West Ger- many, at a meeting with Scholtz last week. He argued that many young Jews refused to be drafted on grounds that members of their families were once persecuted by Germans in uniform. Some Jewish represen- tatives say it is perfectly justified to seek exemptions as long as Nazi victims are still alive. Others, however, maintain that special treat- ment of Jews gives Hitler a posthumous victory. They recall that one of his first edicts when the Nazi came to power in 1933 was to exclude Jews from the Ger- man armed forces. Until now, the West Ger- man army has granted in- dividual requests for de- ferments by Jews whose parents suffered in concentra- tion camps. But lately, it has insisted on drafting those whose grand- parents were Nazi victims. The defense minister's deci- sion has aroused resentment among non-Jewish youths subject to the draft. "If they choose to live here, they should be ready to share the burden of defending this country," one young recruit said on a television interview. But a young Jew also inter- viewed on television said he could not imagine visiting his grandmother in uniform. "She suffered in Ausch- witz . . . I just can't do it," he said. Last year, several young Jews who were drafted sued the ministry but lost. The courts ruled they had no right to refuse military service because relatives had suffered.