Newspaper Page Text
Friday, Oct. 24, 1969
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
ThiM
panorama
Mid-East
In-Line
Policy
By DAVID SCHWARTZ
Martin Panzer of Israel Bonds
was telling the story to us.
Panzer is the author of several
books of fiction, but this story
is true.
He was in Israel some years
back and one day escorted Golda
Meir to the Kibbutz of Kiryat
Anavim, one of the oldest kib
butzim, which was celebrating
its jubilee. There were thousands
present and at the end, many
lined up to get on the busses.
Mrs. Meir, who was then
Minister of Labor, and Mr.
Panzer took their place in line.
Several soldiers approached.
“Madam Minister,” they said,
“we will escort you to the head
of the line.”
“This is a democracy,” Mrs.
Meir said, “and I will take my
turn with the others.”
We wonder if Nasser ever
stands in line waiting for his
turn on the bus.
We remember a story about
Nasser and a bus line. One day,
Nasser passed the bus station in
Cairo and saw a tremendous
crowd in line. He decided to
stand in line himself and find
out what it was all about. But
no sooner did he get in the line,
than it began to melt. Everyone
seemed to be leaving it.
What had happened?
The people in the line con
cluded that if Nasser was leaving
Egypt, what was the sense of
their leaving? Egypt would then
be all right.
When the Arab rulers stand
in line waiting for a bus, Israel
will have no difficulty in living
with them. It’s a good test of
democracy. Jefferson lived in a
boarding house when he was
elected to the Presidency. He
was asked upon his election to
take his place at the head of
the table and he refused. Just
like Golda Meir refused.
Would Kosygin stand in line
waiting for a bus?
There is a story of a Jew who
was standing in line in Russia
waiting for a pass to visit Israel.
(It is told in a little book, Whis
pered Anecdotes,” published by
the Golem Press of Boulder, Col
orado).
This Jew who wished to visit
Israel had once before been
.. JTA Briefs
The Jews oj Lisbon, capital
of Portugal, were massacred
in 1373, 1449 and 1482. The
Portuguese Inquisition was ac
tive in Lisbon and its Jews
were either murdered, driven
out or forcibly converted to
Christianity. Gradually the
Jeivs returned to Lisbon and
formed a community in 1813.
Today, less than 1,000 Jews
live there.
* * *
Excommunication from Ju
daism was used in ancient
times against Jews whose ac
tivities were considered by the
rabbis to be contrary to the
good of the community. It in
volved complete severance
from personal, social, business
or religious contacts with other
Jews. A milder form was later
introduced to apply for 30
days. Excommunication was a
frequent weapon during the
Middle Ages but has now com-
pletedly disappeared from the
religion. _
given a permit to visit. When
the official saw his renewed ap
plication, he remarked, “So you
don’t like our Russian republic
very much. You seem to find
Israel more attractive.”
“Oh no," said the Jew, “I find
things in Russia very fine. There
is only one thing missing. In Is
rael, every morning at seven
o’clock, the milkman rings the
bell.”
“What is so wonderful about
that?" asked the Soviet official.
“In Russia, every morning at
seven o’clock, the milkman rings
the doorbell too.”
“Yes,” said the Jew, “but in
Israel, I know it is the milk
man.”
All of which reminds us of a
story about the late Rabbi
Stephen Wise. He was at a na
tional Jewish meeting. Someone
suggested to him that he go
to the head of the table, but he
seemed reluctant.
"Don’t worry about it,” said
Dr. Nahum Goldmann, who was
chairman. “Wherever Dr. Wise
sits is the head of the table.”
Copyright, 1969, JTA
How much does it cost to fly to
Israel?
Well, usually, the roundtrip
economy fare is $840.
But after October 14th, you can
fly to Israel and back for $405* on
a nine day tour.
At these prices, how can you
afford to stay home?
You’ll land in Tel Aviv, and from
there it’s just a short distance to all
the really interesting points on the
map.
For example, Jaffa, Tel Aviv’s
twin city, is an ancient port men
tioned in the Bible.
(It was after leaving Jaffa that
Jonah had his unfortunate en
counter with the whale.)
And today while Tel Aviv is a
modern, thriving city, Jaffa is a
carefully preserved artists’ colony
whose shoreline hasn’t changed
much since the time of Jonah.
When you go to Jerusalem, you
can take a guided tour of the new
Knesset (Parliament) Building,
and if you’re lucky see the Prime
Minister, herself, address Israel’s
governing body.
And in the Old City expect to
shed a few tears:
You’ve heard stories, you’ve
seen pictures, but no one can de
scribe the emotion charged min
utes when you put a yarmulke on
your head and actually touch the
Wailing Wall.
Is nine days in Israel long
enough?
That’s hard to say.
Especially since our history is
not only recorded in the Bible,
but in countless Roman, Cru
sader, Moslem, and Byzantine
relics from small coins to entire
cities.
(For such a little country, the
guidebooks are awfully thick.)
So you may want to stay even
longer.
But regardless of which fare plan
you choose, you’ll save a lot of
money from October 15th through
March 14th when our winter rates
are in effect
So this year instead of settling
for a hotel room on Collins Avenue,
or a dice game in San Juan, come
home with us.
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group rou*d tnp from N«w Yort u> Id A*rv
The Airline of Israel
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AL.
For more information contact jour travel agent or EL AL Israel Airlines,
1602 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, (305) 532-6378