EDITORIAL

Our Actions Count

The High Holidays are a time for prayer
and reflection, for inner soul-searching and
resolutions. But although the synagogue
services are solemn, our mood should be
one of commitment and optimism.
On Rosh Hashanah we pray to be in-
scribed in the Book of Life. On Yom Kippur
we ask to be sealed in that book. The ratio-
nale is that the outcome will be in our favor
because the God we appeal to is one of mer-
cy.
In an age when we tend to feel insignifi-
cant and helpless when contemplating the
world, it is noteworthy that Jewish tradi-
tion instructs that each individual action
we take, no matter how private or per-
sonal, can have cosmic significance.
Maimonides, the medieval Jewish schol-
ar, teaches that each person should con-
sider himself at all times as exactly bal-
anced between good and evil, and that the

entire world is equally poised. Our very
next action, then, could tip the scale
toward sin or redemption, for us and all
mankind.
It is a sobering concept, but one that im-
bues each of our deeds, sinful or meritori-
ous, as fraught with significance.
Today's world is a frightening one.
Clouds of war hover over the Middle East.
Economic predictions are dire. Violence
encroaches on our daily lives. In our per-
sonal lives, we often have the best of inten-
tions but seem trapped by our daily
routine. Yet Rosh Hashanah comes to re-
mind us that our actions count, and that
renewal is possible, even necessary. The
sound of the shofar reminds us of our link
to an ancient heritage as well as the call to
heed the best that is within us.
May we respond to that sound, and enjoy
a year of health, happiness and fulfillment.

A New Mideast?

Amid the crisis in the Persian Gulf, the
United States seems to be orienting itself
— consciously or otherwise — toward a new
alignment in the Middle East. The rush of
American and Arab military forces to
Saudi Arabia to stop Saddam Hussein in
his tracks has fostered an ad hoc alliance
between Washington and many Arab capi-
tals. This may develop into a more perma-
nent rapprochement that could significant-
ly alter the diplomatic and military land-
scape in the Middle East, open channels
between the United States and the Arab
world previously blocked — and, con-
ceivably, weaken the bonds between
America and Israel.
Among developments that cause concern:
• The White House plans to sell about
$20 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia. For
now, the Administration contends Saudi
Arabia needs these arms to defend itself
against a belligerent Iraq. But when this
danger dissipates, the weapons could con-
ceivably be used against Israel.
• Secretary of State James Baker has
met in Damascus with Syrian President
Assad about strengthening ties between

the two nations. While the Syrian is a
bitter foe of Iraq's Hussein, he is also a
virulent enemy of Israel and a major
backer of anti-American terrorism. What
will Syria demand of the U.S. in return for
its cooperation?

• Moscow has called for an international
conference to settle the crisis in the Per-
sian Gulf — and also to resolve Israeli-
Palestinian issues. This — a broadened,
updated version of the international con-
ference long envisioned by Moscow to settle
the Palestinian question — may have a
better chance of actually being convened
now because of the post-Cold War era of co-
operation between Washington and the
Kremlin.
Israel needs reassurance that she will not
be pressured into making concessions to
the Palestinians by the United States and
the Soviet Union.
The current swirl of activity makes one
ponder whether nations involved in the
crisis have clearly envisioned what lies
ahead. Or if they are playing the crisis by
ear, step-by-step and weapon-by-weapon.

LETTERS

Peace Vs.
Propaganda

Round Up (Aug. 17) claimed
that "peace was far from (my)
mind" during my recent ap-
pearance on the "McNeil-
Lehrer Report." Nothing
could be further from the
truth.
As an activist and a con-
cerned parent, I have spoken
out for peace for years. I don't
want a nuclear holocaust
destroying our futures, no
matter where it starts — in-
cluding the Middle East.

6

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1990

As an American, it sickens
me when our government
self-righteously claims it's
upholding this country's
ideals — and then uses a
double-standard, looking the
other way when certain of its
allies commit the same acts
for which it condemns other
nations. That's hypocrisy, and
is that any kind of example to
teach our children what
America is about?
Round Up said I cited "un-
named Swedish reports and
Amnesty International" as

my sources about "alleged
Israeli abuses of Palestinians
during the intifada." There is
nothing "alleged" about
beaten and slain children,
about families' homes razed
to rubble, or people arrested,
tortured and jailed without
warrants or trials .. .
The official Israeli response
labeled the Swedish report
propaganda. An Israeli Army
spokesman blamed militants
and parents for encouraging
their children to become
martyrs.

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And who encourages
soldiers to beat children to
death and then disrupt their
funerals? Militants and
parents? Is anyone sick or
foolish enough to swallow
that?
No country — including
Israel and the United States
— should get away with
violating international
human rights in the name of
politics or military strategy.
Brutalizing others leads to
and perpetuates war, not
peace, and that is simply com-
mon sense. So is the
knowledge that peace can
come about only when both
sides are willing to sit down
and talk to each other.

Casey Kasem
Los Angeles

Uncovering A
Polished Letter

A polished letter by a cloak-
ed American "fed up with all
back-stabbing we Americans
are getting from both the
Jews and the Arabs" (Vernon
Kielpinski) appeared in the
Aug. 31 Jewish News. He
singles out the Jews and
Israel without mentioning
the real culprits in the Mid-
dle East and in the world at
large.
Let's examine Mr. Kielpin-
ski's thoughts:
1) "No one nation has the
right to invade other nations
. . . to do barbaric acts . . . to
erase another nation from
this earth."
Israel lives on its God-given
rightful land, including
Yehuda, Shomron and Gaza,
regained in 1967 from Jordan
and Egypt who attacked
Israel with no prior
provocation.
Poland occupies since 1945
Silesia, East Prussia, Danzig
(Gdansk) and more. Of course
there was no big outcry about
that.
American soldiers did not

die for Israel; Israel never
asked for help from the
American army in any of the
wars. The United States
benefits from Israeli services;
it's a two-way street.
2) "We all inhabit this
world. We all have the right
to live on it. Surely, the world
has learned this lesson. We as
Americans should tell the
Israelis to behave themselves.
They are not the only people
on this earth."
Israel inhabits its own tiny
land, a dot on the world map,
while Arabs occupy lands
from North Africa to the Per-
sian Gulf. Those huge ter-
rorities are out of bounds to
"Palestinian" Arabs that
want to settle there.
3) "Look at the American
Indian. Do they complain and
try to make everyone do
things just for them? No."
Mr. Kielpinski is so kind to
the American Indians
because they are quiet; they
are only good as fossils in
showcases in the museum.
He forgot that he and others
occupy Indian land.
Israel has nothing to do
with the Persian Gulf conflict
and should not be blamed for
others' problems.

Shlomo Micznik
Southfield

Time To Remember
Jonathan Pollard

Many now realize the im-
portance of the daring raid of
the Israeli pilots who
destroyed the Iraqi nuclear
reactor before it came on line
with the capability of produc-
ing material for nuclear
weapons.
This contribution to world
stability wouldn't have been
possible if Jonathan Pollard
hadn't provided the informa-
tion that those Israeli pilots
needed for a safe mission.
Not withstanding the fact
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