PURELY COMMENTARY

Bar-Han Symposium Provides Clarification

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Editor Emeritus

ublic relations challenges and
disputes have arisen in the cur-
rent developing crises in Israel
and may demand serious studies of the
roles of the media.
Bar-Ilan University has made a
notable contribution toward such
studies in a symposium whose par-
ticipants represented every aspect of life
in Israel. While Arabs were not among
the participants, the military response
to the intifada gave substance to the
topic: 'Intifada and the Media — Who
Nourishes Whom?'
On the occasion of the annual
meeting here of Detroit Friends of Bar-
Ilan University, at which the many
university achievements were outlined,
the work of the Department of Corn-
munications and the Chair in Jour-
nalism gain special consideration. The
encouragement given these depart-
ments by this community enhances its
merits.
Inspired by the director of the Bar-
Ilan communications studies, Dr.
Shmuel Sandler and chaired by Prof.
Dina Goren of Bar-Ilan and Tel Aviv
Universities, discussions included army
officers, newspaper correspondents from
abroad and Israeli editors. There was no
pulling of punches. There was recogni-
tion of errors and assignments of guilt.
The functioning of the dissemination of
news was of importance. The fact that
250 foreign correspondents increased by
750 was given importance.
The seminarians viewed with great

p

seriousness the fact that the immediacy
of news reporting gave momentum to
intifada aims. The army difficulties
were of concern and there was admis-
sion that Arabs gained from intifada
violence.
Rumor mongering was a subject for
discussion in the two-hour session of
700 participants.
It is deeply regretted that the entire
proceedings were not made available
immediately in a compiled volume with
an Arab addendum. Perhaps this can
still be undertaken to provide the
valuable record of the intifada crisis.
Meanwhile, acclaim should be given
to the Bar-Ilan Communications-
Journalism departments for notable
academic enrichments. The Detroit
community can take pride in co-
sponsoring such university tasks.
What the Bar-Ilan academicians did
with the symposium on the intifada was
to demonstrate that the Jewish com-

munities they represent, the Israelis
and their supporters in the United
States are anxious to have all the facts
known, to deny secrecy and to strive for
peace. If the Arabs, who instigate
violence, were to share in such plann-
ing, there would surely be vital com-
munications instead of stone hurling.
Therefore the hope that what the
Bar-Ilan Programmatic policy ad-
vocates and practices is an aim for the
desired and hopefully achievable good
will and amity.
Bar-Ilan's supporting forces, the
Detroiters aiding them, have a cause for
pride in the assistance they give for
positive communications among all
forces in Israel.
Aggravations resulting from the
spread of prejudicial judgments relating
to Middle East problems suggest the
need of symposium akin to the Bar-Ilan-
inspired testing of the media in this
country. The confusions that resulted
from events aroused by the current
hostage crisis emphasize this
viewpoint.
Commentators and editorial writers
have refrained from enlisting in the
new "Blame Israel" charade. But a
spontaneity of such hate arousing
emerged with a "Doleing" antagonism
by the responsible minority leader of
the U.S. Senate who criticized and
challenged Israel's prime leader in
numerous terrorist acts.
A.M. Rosenthal, in his New York
Times column of Aug. 4, entitled, "The
Next Terrorist Crisis," had this com-
ment on Senator Robert Dole:
President Bush himelf rais-

ed the question of the basic
American attitude toward ter-
rorism. He implied at the begin-
ning of the crisis that all "kid-
nappings" were the same. He
went on to call for the immediate
release of "all, all" of the
"hostages?'
Then Senator Robert Dole
contemptuously denounced
Israel for "freelancing:' It was
an exhibition of tight-lipped
fury that disgusted many of his
friends around the country who
happen to hope well for Israel.
It put a knowing smirk on the
faces of his detractors, a loud "I
told you so."
Suddenly Israel becomes
target and villain. Israel — not
the sheik, not his Iranian
paymasters or the Syrians. The
arms he gets go through Syria.
His bands live and train in
Syrian-controlled parts of
Lebanon.
Israel did what the United
States did when it could —
reached out to grab a terrorist
careless enough to get within
grabbing reach.
This is a statement by an
American official in 1985:
"We need to extend the reach
of U.S. laws to those who would
kidnap or murder U.S. citizens
overseas . ."
It was on the morning of the threats
of executions that the Times referred to
the comments of Sen. Robert Dole. That
Continued on Page 42

Lewis Weinstein Autobiography Shows Skill

F

or at least half a century, a
Bostonian Jewish personality had
so much dominance in politics
and world affairs, with as much em-
phasis on the political as on the Jewish,
that his activism and guidance were
demanded almost globally.
Lewis Weinstein had that role. His
autobiography possesses so much shar-
ing in a multiplicity of causes and events
that hardly a personality or a function
relating to the most popular can possibly
be missing from his accumulated
memories.
Lewis Weinstein is the accomplish-
ed compiler of memories which emerge
as encyclopidic in historic values. His

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Vol. XCV No. 25

2

August 18, 1989

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1989

Masa Odyssey of an American Jew military career. It is like a revelation of
(Quinlan Press, Boston) is treated as a the courage displayed by Weinstein in
"Journey — Hebrew Masa." Therefore, it his relations with Eisenhower and
can be judged as a travel log through DeGaulle.
history. Added to it are the testimonials
Masa is a noteworthy accumulation
of our lifetime. Many, like Lewis Wein- of the author's immense roles in educa-
stein, remain the molders of public opi- tional tasks, in the advancement of
nion and adherents to them.
cultural needs and in providing
Every episode related here at once priorities for the Jewish school systems.
assumes a page or a chapter in history. It thereby indicates the deep interest in
The Jewish and the general-universal, proper training for the young
the political and the military, the Zionist distinguished scholars who contributed
and the philanthropically specialized — toward cultural advancement. The emi-
hardly a designation is missing.
nent literary masters are recalled and
There are military factors in the the name of an especially important
Weinstein experiences that are replete leader, the famous Harry A. Wolfson,
with drama, achievement in influencing therefore assuring him retention in
commitments to the erasing of venom, academic fame. It is an element in
close association with the world's most Weinstein's devotion to his alma mater,
important personalities in the U.S. and Harvard University, in whose activities
French military forces. He was the chief he has devotion to its many academic
liaison officer between Eisenhower and involvements.
DeGaulle. In that capacity, he was
witness to behind the scenes occurrences
He contributes immensely toward
that led to the expulsion of Nazi forces remembering the great whose names
from France.
were associated with Harvard. Harry
Because he was present at the Wolfson is supreme among them.
liberation of the Ohrdruf, Buchenwald
There were decades when people did
and Dachau death camps, his recollec- not need to be reminded of Wolfson. He
tions gain immense value in the was the leader in academia and in
Holocaust library.
philosophy. He established a cultural
The forward to the Masa book by Dr. school of great magnitude among his
Abram L. Sachar is an exceptional students and the following that arose in
tribute to Weinstein and has a the cultural influence he exerted. Had
remarkable account of the Masa authors it not been for the Lucius Littauer en-

Lewis Weinstein with John F. Kennedy.

dowment that was secured to assure
Wolfson's continued studies and his
great cultural treasures would have
been lost. Rescue came thanks to Judge
Jullian Mack, the prominent Zionist
leader, who learned that Wolfson had
been evicted from his home, and the
great scholar was thus rescued from the
ills of poverty.
Weinstein's recorded memories are
anecdotal and they are replete with
fascinating stories. The many that he ac-
Continued on Page 42