Newspaper Page Text
The Southern Israelite
A Weekly Newspaper for Southern Jewry — Established 1925
Vol. XLIV
Atlanta, Georgia, Friday, July 18, 1969
Politics Prompt
To Mark Millenib
aiau\
No. 29
oV to
***%&*' •
° omall Scale
I
“Teen-Queen International” is Sharona March, 17, Israel”s entrant
in the recent contest in Chicago. Prizes won by the happy contest
ant include a trip round the world plus a lull wardrobe.
LONDON (JTA)—The Jewish
community in Prague has begun
a small scale celebration of what
was to have been a major nation
al event with thousands of vis
itors anticipated from abroad.
The occasion is the Jewish mil-
lenium— the, 1,000th anniversary
of Jewish settlement in what is
now Czechoslovakia.
Plans for a series of elaborate
cultural and historical events in
which Government authorities
were to have participated were
canceled in view of the changed
political situation in Czech
oslovakia. Dr. Vilem Benba,
curator of the State Jewish
Museum in Prague, one of
the focal points of the event,
said in a foreign services radio
interview that “the international
situation is not exactly the most
propitious for such celebrations.”
Nevertheless, the ocoasion was
marked locally by a concert at
the Spanish Synagogue of works
composed by Pavel Haas, Gideon
Klein and Hans Kraser while
they were inmates of Theresien-
stadt concentration camp during
World War II. An exhibition
titled “Unknown Faces of the
Jewish Past” opened and a
series of lectures was scheduled
on Jewish contributions to Czech
oslovakian culture, literature and
the arts.
The Jewish millenial celebra
tion in Czechoslovakia was orig
inally scheduled for the summer
of 1968 but Czech authorities
withdrew official support in the
■wake of the June, 1967 Arab-
Israeli war. The event had been
re-scheduled for this summer.
LONDON (JTA)—The Slova
kian Minister of Interior has ac
cused three international Jewish
organizations of “acting against
Czechoslovakia on the directives
of a foreign intelligence service,”
it was reported here.
The accusation was made by
Maj. Gen. Egyd Pepich in a
speech to a plenary session of the
Slovak Communist Part in Brat
islava. He alleged that the Jew
ish Agency, the Joint Distribution
Committee and United Hias Serv
ice were “gathering information
about life in Czechoslovakia, or-
Czechoslovakia is the all-pervad
ing fact of life for Czechs became
evident in the theater when the
audience identified the hero,
Tevye, with the Czech people and
his Russian oppressors of Czarist
days with the present-day Soviet
occupiers, Mr. Ivens wrote.
“The old theater suddenly
bust into flames when two Rus
sian soldiers (stage, no real) in
terrupted the Jewish wedding. A
chorus of whistles from the au
dience answered by a few desul
tory handclaps from some Russo-
philes showed that these days
anything reminds the Czechs of
the Russian occupation,” the
critic said. “Tevye’s plea that
Jews and Christians should be al
lowed to live amicably togther
brought loud and continuous ap
plause from an audience only too
aware that (Gustav) Husak
(Communist Party leader) is not
free from anti-Semitism,” he
ganizing emigration from Czech
oslovakia” and generally acting , sa id. “The biggest demonstration
against Czech interests througn Q f the night however was touch-
their offices in Vienna.
Vienna is a way station lor
Jewish refugees from Poland and
Czech oslovakia. The Jewish
Agency assists those emigrating
to Israel and Hias, the Hebrew
Immigrant Aid Society, assists
migrants to other countries. JDC
is a world-wide relief organiza
tion.
ed off by Tevye’s cry to be left
alone. Tevye and his family were
interpreted as Czechoslovakians
and the oppressing Russians on
the stage as the oppressing Rus
sians now lurking out of the way
in Czech villages.”
Rabbi Says Forthrightness
Acceptable—Even in South
ALEXANDRIA. Va. (JTA) —
Eleven years in a southern pul
pit has left Emmet A. Frank
with the conviction that a south
ern congregation will support a
rabbi who speaks out for what
he believes is the truth—even on
the explosive-issue of civil rights
of Negroes.
Pointing out that a spiritual
leader is always subject to re
straints from members of his
congregation who disagree with
him, Rabbi Frank told the
Washington Post that “freedom
of the pulpit is something you
have to fight for all the time.”
He recalled that he used his 1958
Yom Kippur sermon to attack
Virginia’s “massive resistance”
to school desegregation, enrag
ing the local White Citizens
Council.
When he was invited to speak
at the Arlington Unitarian
Church, a bomb threat stopped
the service. During his service
as rabbi of Temple Beth El here,
some three dozen members left
his congregation because of his
stands on public issues but the
total membership increased from
100 families to more than 500
and the temple has been en
larged.
Rabbi Frank is leaving Tem
ple Beth El to become senior
rabbi of Temple De Hirsch in
Seattle, one of the largest Re
form synagogues in the west. He
said that “the vast majority of
good people” in a congregation
will defend a rabbi’s right to
speak fearlessly whether they
agree or disagree. Unfortunate
ly,” he added, “the good people
often remain quiet while those
who disagree with you are vocal
and threatening” but he had
learned not to be afraid.
He said that whenever he had
found himself hesitating on an
issue on which he felt he should
act, or when he felt “his knees
tremble” he would pull from his
desk a statement of principle
and read it to himself to bolster
his determination. The state
ment reads: A rabbi will not
be deterred by timidity or fear,
but will try to preach unshrink
ingly the words of admonition,
never boggling or trembling even
if great multitudes rise to ob
ject.” He was one of the 'test
clergymen to call for an end to
the Vietnam war and unilateral
withdrawal of U.S. troops. He
also has spoken out on student
rebellions, saying he was “total
ly” opposed to suppressing the
students and declaring that the
problem was that “we haven’t
listened to them.”
LONDON (JTA)—“Fiddler on
the Roof,” a musical drama based
on the stories of Sholem Aleich-
em which has evoked nostalgia
from New York’s Broadway au
diences, drew political reactions
from a mixed audience of Czechs
in Pilsen, according to Michael
Ivens, the London Evening Stan
dard’s drama critic who saw a
production of “Fiddler” in the
Czech town.
That the Soviet occupation of
CAPITAL SPOTLIGHT
Jewish Neo - Isolationist?
Are American liberals—Jews among them—in
advertently jeopardizing Israel by joining the grow
ing public crusade against United States military
establishment, defense spending, and foreign com
mitments?
This question has emerged among Israeli soldiers,
from officers of highest rank to privates in the
bunkers along the Suez Canal. They want to see a
strong and militant America. Their concern arises
from radar blips and sonar contacts: Soviet nuclear
submarines and missile-firing cruisers hovering dis
tantly off the Israeli coast.
Israel can cope with the Arabs. But Russian nu
clear blackmail may be used one day in an ultima
tum for Israeli withdrawal from all occupied terri
tory. The question is: In such a contingency, will
American voices now demanding curtailment of
missile systems and foreign involvement then de
mand a nuclear showdown? Will the present Amer
ican anti-military mood tempt the Russians to flex
nuclear muscles against Israel?
The Kremlin can now be about 99 percent cer
tain that Washington would not confront Moscow
in a nuclear confrontation over Israel. Israel, un
like NATO countries, has no U. S. guarantee of
security protection. But one per cent of doubt re
mains; even one percent may be enough to deter
the Russians from risking a world nuclear holo
caust.
Israelis are concerned that even that very thin
—but very vital shield—is being eroded by the
anti-war mood in the United States.
Yet this flimsy shield is all that Israel has to
depend upon. It is in Israel’s vital interests to see
America remain superior in ultimate weaponry and
disposed to deter nuclear blackmail against free
people.
Soviet strategists, mindful of the Vietnam war
backlash in America, are now regarded as more like
ly to-r-esort to an atomic-missile blackmail than to
deployment of Mid-east expeditionary force. They Kremlin to risk nuclear war.
don t want to emulate the American debacle in An anti-war vogue has arrived in the U. S.
Vietnam. There are also logistical, economic, prop- with Jews in the forefront. It is an understandable
aganda, tactical and other reasons for not landing
troop units in Egypt.
About 8,000 Russian military personnel are al
ready in Egypt. They perform advisory and tech
nical functions in the Egyptian military establish
ment. But care is being taken to avoid a role like
that of the U. S. Green Berets in the early years of
the Vietnam war. Russian officers do not accompany
Mid-East
JERUSALEM (JTA)—The Gov
ernment and people of Israel are
deeply disappointed over French
President Georges Pompidou’s
decision to maintain indefinitely
former President Charles de
Gaulle’s embargo on 50 Mirage
jet fighter-bombers.
Political sources said M. Pom
pidou’s comments at his first
press conference since becoming
President indicated that Israel
i a >r*i t -1 " J would not get the jets which it
by Milton rriedman ^ long sin0 e paid for in tan,
and that the new regime would
continue policies laid down by
Gen. de Gaulle in order to foster
Franco-Arab relations. The Eng
lish-language Jerusalem Post
commented in an editorial that
M. Pompidou’s statement was
designed to curry favor with the
Arabs.
The political sources noted that
M. Pompidou had stressed the
deep traditional ties between
France and the Arab states while
making no reference to Israeli-
France realtions. They noted also
that he had spoken of a curtail
ment of the Middle East arms
race but did not mention the
continuing massive flow of wea
pons to the Arab states.
The principal passage in Presi
dent Pompidou’s statement was:
“Is it possible to imagine a re
appraisal of French policy? (It)
could in any case only consist in
a return to the so-called ‘selec
tive’ embargo that existed before
Jan. 3; and even this would nat
urally hinge on local develop
ments and on the attitude of the
parties concerned.” Israeli com
mandos on Jan. 3 raided Beirut
Airport, after which Gen. de
Gaulle decided to extend the 18-
month-old embargo on the Mi
rages to all military equipment,
including spare parts.
M. Pompidou indicated that
the most he envisaged was a
more liberal policy that would
permit delivery of defense wea
pons and “weak” offensive wea
pons, as well as spare parts, to
Israel.
The Arab world rejoiced over
the decision. A Beirut newspaper
carried the heradline: “Long Live
Pompidou.” But other papers
complained that France may ship
spare parts to Israel.
Egyptian patrols across the Suez Canal. Moscow is
pressing for unconditional withdrawal of Israeli
force,,. T^e Arab-Israel fighting is escalating. Israel
fears that at some point the Kremlin may decide
to deliver a grim ultimatum. Then the scene would
shift to Washington where liberals are assailing the
U. S. role as protector—some say “policeman”—of
the free world.
The Israeli conviction is that their embattled na->
tion must not become another “Czechoslovakia.” Is
rael can only look to Washington for a credible
deterrent to any Russian nuclear blackmail.
Israelis are beginning to worry also that Wash
ington may grow reluctant to supply further soph
isticated weapons as pressure mounts against the
sale of arms to belligerents or even countries at
peace. Egypt can still look to Moscow for support as
the Russians plunge ahead with reckless military
spending for constantly modernized implements of
war. Israel can at this point turn only to the U. S.
for balancing jets, missiles, and other arms essential
for survival.
Israelis do not want to become embroiled in
domestic American affairs. They have problems
enough of their own. But many listen with dismay
when Americans suggest that the defeat of racism
and poverty i s contingent upon curtailment of
defense commitments. Meanwhile, developments of
new and better arms reassures Israelis but horrifies
Americans alarmed by unmet urban needs.
Israeli military men accept as valid any legi
timate move to end waste and incompetence in any
army. Zahal, the Israeli defense establishment, prac
tices such stringent weapons tests and cost ac
counting that American military finance officers
would be horrified if called upon to practice it.
Israelis perceive something more than a simple
controversy over the merits of the costly anti-bal
listic missile (ABM) system or some other weapon.
They fear neo-isolationism. They envisage a native
rejection of defense needs that could encourage the
response to the fiasco in Vietnam and chaos at
home. But it has ramifications beyond the borders
of the U.. S. that reach as far as the besieged kib
butzim shd cease-fire outposts of Israel. A nuclear
armageddon will not confine itself to cease-fire
lines; Israel’s concern may prove truly universal
while the American Jewish response could be dan
gerously provincial.
Continued on page 5