UP FRONT Israel Abortion Fray Joined By U.S. Groups IRA RIFKIN Special to The Jewish News M ore than a dozen pro- choice American Jewish organiza- tions have become involved in yet another issue that divides Israel's secular Jew- ish majority from its re- ligious minority — the ques- tion of abortion. Led by the National Coun- cil of Jewish Women, the groups have signed a joint statement opposing an Israeli government-backed bill that would greatly reduce the access of Israeli women to hospital- performed abortions. The statement grew out of a Dec. 20 meeting in New York organized by NCJW, said Joan Bronk, that organ- ization's national president. "In any country whenever abortion has been restricted, the result has been a dra- matic increase in the death rate for women," the state- ment said. "Women's lives and health depend on the continuing availability of a full range of reproductive Ira Rifkin is assistant editor of the Baltimore Jewish Times. health services. Working to ensure this is a priority for the American Jewish com- munity, both men and wo- men." In addition to NCJW, the organizations which have endorsed the statement so far are the American Jewish Committee, American Jew- ish Congress, Americans for Progressive Israel, ARZA — Association of Reform Zionists of America, B'nai B'rith Women, Federation of A joint statement opposes a bill in the Knesset. Reconstructionist Congrega- tions and Havurot, and the Jewish Labor Committee. Also endorsing the state- ment are Na'amat USA, Na- tional Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, the New Israel Fund, United Synagogue of America (Conservative), Rabbinical Assembly (Con- servative), Women's League for Conservative Judaism and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (Reform). Ms. Bronk said other groups also are expected to endorse the statement. In Detroit, Jewish organiza- tions which have been most active in the pro-choice movement are NCJW, the Jewish Community Council and New Jewish Agenda. The proposed Israeli bill, which is expected to reach the Knesset floor for final action within the next few weeks, is the result of a po- litical deal struck by the Likud-led coalition govern- ment and the ultra-religious Agudat Yisrael party. In return for Agudat's join- ing — and thereby strength- ening — the governing coali- tion, Prime Minister Yit- zhak Shamir's government promised to back anti- abortion legislation, as well as other bills outlawing the sale of pork, banning sexual- ly explicit advertising and halting public transporta- tion on Shabbat. More than two thirds of Israel's population calls itself secular, which in the Israeli context means non- Orthodox. By and large, ac- cording to a spokeswoman at Israel's Embassy in Wash- ington, these secular Jews favor liberal abortion laws. The religious minority, however, supports restric- tive abortion legislation that follows the guidelines set forth by traditional Jewish law. David Zwiebel, a New York attorney for Agudath Israel of America (which is organizationally distinct from Israel's Agudat Yisrael party, but shares its theolog- ical perspective), said that "the Orthodox interpreta- tion of Jewish law on the Continued on Page 13 ROUND UP Hidden Children Plan Gathering New York — Children saved from the Nazis during the Holocaust are organizing the first International Gathering of Children Hidden During World War II, to be held May 26-27 in New York. Speakers will include Israeli author Aharon Ap- pelfeld and Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith Na- tional Director Abraham Foxman. Anyone who was a child in hiding during the war may write for information to The Hidden Child, 163 Amster- dam Ave., Suite 219, New York, N.Y. 10023. El Paso Greets Andy Cohen El Paso, Tex. — Round up those little doggies, cowboy, and take 'em out there to the stadium. Cohen Stadium, that is. Yes, it's true. The new minor league ball park in El Paso, Texas, has been named the Cohen Stadium, in honor of baseball legend Andy Cohen. For those who think Hank Greenberg was the only Jew- ish baseball star . . . here's the scoop on Andy Cohen. Mr. Cohen, a second baseman with a .281 batting average, played in 1926, 1928 and 1929 for the New York Giants. He was recruited specifically be- cause of his religion; the Giants hoped a Jewish star would draw Jewish fans to the ball park, much as Jew- ish fighters had drawn them to the boxing ring. A native of Baltimore, Mr. Cohen was raised in El Paso, where he read Horatio Alger books and biographies of Babe Ruth. He began his ca- reer with the Texas League's Waco team. After Mr. Cohen was drafted in 1926 by the Giants, the English- language American Hebrew wrote, "Baseball is the great American sport, and as the Jew is thoroughly Ameri- canized there is no reason why his (Cohen's) name should not be prominently found upon the baseball roll of honor." Mr. Cohen hit 14 home runs and batted in 114 runs during his career with the Giants, but he never de- veloped into "the Jewish Babe Ruth," as many of his supporters had hoped. After his three seasons with the Giants, he played in the minors before going off to fight in World War II. After being discharged from the military, Mr. Cohen became part owner of the El Paso team in the Mex- ican Leagues, and later served as coach for the Philadelphia Phillies. He died in 1988. Mrs. Cohen's At The Village Greenfield Village is home to many of the world's great treasures — the Wright Brothers' home, Thomas Edison's studio and Mrs. Cohen's hat shop. Mrs. Cohen's hat shop? Yes, one of the recreated buildings, a hat shop, offers free calling cards identifying the millinery as Mrs. D. Cohen's store. The "store" is located at 444 Baker in - 4 MRS; D. CO EN. axr cans MILLINERY. The card from Mrs. Cohen's millinery. Detroit, on the northeast corner of Baker and 20th. Of course they can't be purchased, but goods listed on the store's card are ir- resistible: gents' fur- nishings, elegant line walk- ing sticks (just arrived), fan- cy flowers and women's bonnets "unrivaled in style, fit, workmanship." Don't be surprised if you feel yourself irrepressibly drawn to the shop. The card speaks of "the magnet which is causing the Tidal Wave of humanity to trade" with Mrs. Cohen. Soviet Exhibit Seeks Sponsors Organizers of a photogra- phy exhibit tracing the modern history of Soviet Jewry are seeking Jewish organizations and groups to help host the traveling display in the United States. The exhibit, which is being coordinated by the Con- gregation of Jewish Re- ligious Communities in the Soviet Union, will include some 200 photos, films, slides, lectures and con- ferences. It will open in late 1991. For information, write: Exhibition, 109649, USSR, Moscow, Kapotnya 5, Post Box 6. Compiled by Elizabeth Applebaum THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 11