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SUBURBAN ACURA'S
#YA4261
Rabbinic Choices
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$27 695"
$
British Jews divided over rabbis' part in
memorial for Palestinian suffering.
51.999 due at signing
.
2001 3.2 TL
2001 INTEGRA LS
RICHARD ALLEN GREENE
#DC4351
A
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25000 HAGGERTY • FARMINGTON
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4/6
2001
24
Greg's Photography
Farmington Hills
248-553-4867
Scaring Arabs
All parties to the conflict had their
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
reasons for exaggerating the casualty
figure. The underground Jewish mili-
London
tias believed a higher number would
decision by leading rabbis
prove their fighting mettle. For the
to join Palestinian represen-
Zionist mainstream, it confirmed the
tatives in commemorating
alleged recklessness of the militias.
Palestinian suffering during
The Arab leadership trumpeted the
the creation of the State of Israel has
event widely, believing it would rouse
split British Jewry down the middle.
the Arabs to a belligerent frenzy.
Rabbi John Rayner, life president of
Instead, it appeared to have the oppo-
the Union of Liberal and Progressive
site effect, causing many Arabs to flee
Synagogues, described his participa-
their homes in fear of the Jews — as
tion in the Deir Yassin Remembered
Irgun leader Menachem Begin report-
memorial last Sunday as "a religious, a
edly acknowledged.
Jewish, and — in the best sense — a
Regardless of the facts, the event has
Zionist thing to do."
taken on legendary stature in
But Rabbi Sidney Brichto, a vice presi-
Palestinian circles as a symbol of their
dent of the union, said the event would
alleged persecution at the hands of the
"give a propaganda coup to the
Palestinian authorities by diverting atten-
Jews.
Organizer Paul Eisen, who is Jewish,
tion from the fact that they began an
described the commemoration as "a
unprovoked intifada" — or violent upris-
creative event, not a religious one." It
ing — "after rejecting peace proposals."
took place a week before the April 9
The union did not take an official
anniversary of the incident, so as not
position on the event. Neither did the
to conflict with Passover.
Board of Deputies, the umbrella
Eisen said he helped organize the
organization that represents most
event because Deir Yassin "has come
British Jews.
to symbolize Palestinian oppression.
Board Executive Director Neville
"It's not commemorated just because
Nagler said board officers received
it's an atrocity — if that were the case,
invitations to the ceremony, but
we would be commemorating every
agreed it was not a desirable event to
day of the year on both sides," he said.
get involved with."
"It is as important an event in Jewish
The commemoration consisted of an
history as in Palestinian history. We
evening of music, readings, short plays
require, quite rightly, that our suffer-
and prayers at the sold-out 1,000-seat
ing is commemorated. Theirs should
Peacock Theater in central London.
The event commemorated an attack
be too."
Israeli embassy spokesman D.J.
by the Irgun and the Stern Gang,
Schneeweis would not comment on
underground Jewish militias that
the event, saying only: "We look for-
sometimes cooperated with but often
ward to the day when representatives
opposed the central Zionist authority,
of the Palestinians are able to show the
on the Arab village of Deir Yassin on
same kind of sympathy for Jewish suf-
the western edge of Jerusalem.
fering at the hands of the Palestinians
A report in the New York Times on
as Jewish representatives are showing
April 13, 1948, said that 254 Arabs,
for them."
including women and children, were
Rabbi Rayner said he thought the
killed in the attack. More recent
event
had "achieved something signifi-
research, including an exhaustive study
cant. It was a mixture specifically of
by Palestinian academics, puts the fig-
Palestinians and Jews in an atmos-
ure closer to 100.
phere of mutual understanding and
Official Zionist leaders condemned
respect."
the incident, and David Ben-Gurion —
Eisen said he guessed the audience
leader of the pre-state Jewish community
was about 60 percent Palestinian, with
— apologized ro Jordan's King
"significant" Jewish representation,
Abdullah. Jewish philosopher Martin
including a number of rabbis. 7
Buber also spoke out against the killings.