PURELY COMMENTARY
Israel's Arab-Jewish Fellow-Citizenship
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor Emeritus
0
n frequent occasions, when ex-
pressions of animosity toward
Jews and Israelis were heard
from Arab quarters, the concern was ut-
tered whether a possibility existed of a
developing Fifth Column within Israel.
With 800,000 Arabs possessing
Israeli citizenship — the chief limita-
tion of which is Arabs in the main be-
ing excluded from the nation's armed
forces — the question regarding
loyalties arises on occasions. The
violence that gave rise to the intifada
is limited to Judea and Samaria and
Gaza, the designation media-wide being
the West Bank. With the interest in
loyalties therefore remaining in Israel
proper, the emphasis on fellow-
citizenship is paramount.
Disputing fears that Israeli Arabs
are plotting to "secede from Israel," con-
trary views emphasize Arab loyalties.
In an informative letter published in
the New York Times, Rabbi Bruce M.
Cohen, international director of Interns
for Peace, drew upon a prominent
authority with positive views on ex-
isting attitudes. His letter asserted:
Just last spring, Interns for
Peace sponsored a symposium
in Tel Aviv on the effect of the
uprising in the West Bank and
Gaza on Israeli Arabs, with Pro-
fessor Sami Smoocha, a Univer-
sity of Haifa sociologist, who
has measured Israeli Arab at-
titudes for decades. Smoocha
reported that a clear majority of
Israeli Arabs define themselves
as both Israelis and Palesti-
nians, and that more than 90
percent still see their future
well-being — economically and
politically — within Israel, not
within a Palestinian state.
Smoocha also emphasized that
more than 99 percent of all
Israeli Arabs have continued to
refrain from any hostile act
against the state even during the
volatile period.
Although the uprising had a
temporary negative effect on
Jewish-Arab relations, our pro-
gram finds a dramatic upsurge
of Jews reaching out toward
their fellow Arab citizens and
vice versa. Many Israelis — Jews
and Arabs alike — realize that if
they do not interact positively
toward each other, the situation
will only get worse.
Relations between Israeli
Jews and Israeli Arabs are ex-
tremely complicated. Focusing
on unrealistic fears of some
Israeli officials in Jerusalem
who lack in-depth familiarity
with Israeli Arabs strengthens
the suspicions, distrusts and
It is now especially urgent to try to
avoid the ultimate result of the bigoted
PBS portrayals and the way in which
utilization of it may be planned. Large
number of cassettes reportedly are
already planned for distribution. It
could result in another of the evil anti-
Semitic campaigns of the Middle Ages.
The evils in the PBS program are
apparent: the manner in which Israel's
democratic policies are hidden clearly
points to hate spreading in a PBS
This impressive study of Arab program.
Isn't it apparent that Israel permits
loyalties is of special significance at this
time, especially with the notoriety even the worst propaganda to receive a
given the PBS television program in public platform? The Arab-glorified bias
"Days of Rage" in which Jews and has a free road for distribution.
Israelis were portrayed in beastliest Evidence of this can be multiplied one-
fashion. The program was so biased and thousand fold.
The ensuing dangers demand
contained so many distortions with the
apparent aim of introducing Jews as responses to the urgency for peace and
for an understanding akin to the Arab-
barbarians.
It may be asked how this affects the Jewish fellowships evinced by the
Arabs with loyalties to their Israeli 800,000 Arabs who are fellow neighbors
citizenship. Quietly, some have express- of Jews. True, concessions are needed.
ed sympathy for the rock throwers and Primarily, there is the duty to meet and
their inviters to riot. Publicly, they may converse amicably. Most of the 800,000
be embarrassed and isolate themselves have proven that it can be done.
We are far removed from the
from involvement in the demonstra-
tions. Could there be a way for these remotest possibilities of peace. Never-
loyalties to cry out to the violent that theless, in the interest of attaining
a peaceful way of living with neighbors human contacts, these must remain
is attainable without rocks and Molotov responsibilities. The Israeli Arabs who
cocktails? This may be too much to ex- are respectful to the privileges attain-
pect since the entire Arab world ap- ed in fellow citizenship prove there is a
pears to be gloating over the anti- way to reduce animosities. When these
Israelism of the violence or any become realities, we will have reached
a human accord. ❑
demonstration of hatred.
hatreds that too many on both
sides feel toward one another.
Such misinformation feeds the
vicious cycle of bloodshed and
revenge that we have sadly ex-
perienced over the last 70 years.
In the Middle East, we need to
go beyond the shibboleths of
bureaucrats to build bridges of
understanding, trust and
cooperation.
In Limelight-Generosity Of Generations
R
eaders of our advertising
columns surely are intrigued by
the alluring. A current appeal
for a charitable fund is provocative. One
such appeal is for the Zedakah Club, a
reminder to many among us that the
group operating under this name had
been very active and its existence was
not a secret by any means.
The club functions with a member-
ship of about 150. It had several hun-
dred when formed 56 years ago. It con-
tinues to respond to the needs of the
elderly and responds to calls from the
leading social service agencies.
Its originals included the Harwiths
and the Prenzlawers and many more to
be remembered.
The reason for the current emphasis
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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Vol. XCVI No 4
2
September 22, 1989
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1989
on the Zedakah Club is the reminder in
the current fund-raising appeal of the
circle of early charitable groups under
the influence and leadership of women
activists.
There was the Home Relief Society,
which also had a marvelous record of
achievements. Bea Shulman, mother of
Professor Marshall Shulman who was
President Harry Truman's speech
writer, led Home Relief to many tasks
in charitable fashions.
Mothers Club, under the direction
of Mary Caplan, provided help creating
homes here for orphans from Eastern
Europe.
Most revealing on this score is the
recollection of women's charitable ac-
tivities under the aegis of Temple Beth
El. Nearly all synagogues had
sisterhoods inclined to charitable work.
Temple Beth El was unique among
them. The Beth El story, written by the
late Irving Katz, relates fascinatingly
and historically about such activities.
One item in the Katz book, dated
February 1882, offers these interesting
facts:
Rabbi Heinrich (Henry) Zirn-
dorf and Simon Heavenrich
organized The Hebrew Ladies
Auxiliary Relief Society (later
known as The Hebrew Ladies
Sewing Society) to assist
Russian-Jewish immigrants of
Detroit. Mrs. Seligman Schloss
was elected first president.
Perhaps even more interesting is
the following item in the Beth El book,
with a July 1863 date:
Rabbi Abraham Laser
organized The Ladies Society
for the Support of Hebrew
Widows & Orphans in the State
of Michigan, later popularly
known as the "Frauen Verein."
Louis Hirchman (a man!) was
elected first president for a
short time and was followed by
Mrs. Emil S. Heineman (Fannie
Butzel). The Society existed un-
til 1927. It was known then as
"Jewish Widows Aid Society."
Sloman was elected first
president.
Thanks to the continuing Zedakah
Club activities, we have these recollec-
tions about women's charitable
endeavors in the Detroit Jewish history.
These are reminders not to be shunn-
ed. ❑
Fred Butzel:
A Kind Friend
m
ost communities are commit-
ted to actions aimed at en
couraging good citizenship
and reducing delinquency. Progressive
county judges have recognized that
An additional interest in the early treating many forms of rowdyism as
women's charitable groups recorded in social problems can help elevate young
offenders into an understanding to help
the Beth El book follows:
eliminate crimes and elevate human
In March 1891, Rabbi Louis
standards.
Grossmann organized The
Situations have worsened in this
Woman's Club of Temple Beth El
era of drugs. But when very young of-
(which later became The Jewish
fenders are properly treated in time,
Woman's Club of Detroit, and in
they often become good citizens.
1925, The Detroit Section of The
This was the case nearly 100 years
National Council of Jewish
ago with the establishment here of the
Women.)
Boys Republic functions in the Nine
Closer to our time is an item about Mile Road area. Now there is a dispute
Rabbi Leo M. Franklin, which tells:
over plans to improve the institution. It
has reached Judge Jessica Cooper's
On Nov. 29, 1901, Rabbi Leo
court, and she has ruled commendably
Franklin organized the Woman's
to protect an important agency.
Auxiliary Association of Temple
So vital is the Detroit communal
Beth El. (In 1922 the name was
social service record of serving youth
changed to Sisterhood of Tem-
Continued on Page 40
ple Beth El.) Mrs. Adolph