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M.y, July lO, ICT , THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE Published weekly by Southern Newspaper Enterprises, 380 Oourtluad St, N. E., Atlanta, Georgia 30303, TR 6-8249, TR 6-8240, Second class postage paid at Atlanta, Georgia. Yearly subscription, 81.50. The Southern Israelite invitee literary contributions and correspondence but is not to tie considered as sharing the views expressed by writers. DEADLINE is 8 PM, FRIDAY, but material received earlier will have a much better chance of publication. Adolph Rosenberg, Editor and Publisher , Kathleen Neisse, Vida Goldgar, Edward M. Kahn Kathy Wood, Harry Rose, Betty Meyer, Gertrude Burnham ■ MEMBER Boris Smolar Editor-in-Chief Emeritus JTA YOU AND ME NeNpApep Association - Found** fMi Georgia Press Assn. Seven Arts Features Jewish Telegraphic Agency World Union Press RABBI SAMUEL SILVER Gland Of The Free And The Home Of The Brave him to “black out” if he did not get • nourishment .rapidly. Why was David able to defeat Gol iath? Probably because Goliath had poor vision, as many vic tims of giantism do. And why did David at 50, already exhibit signs of senility? Because, ap parently, his conscience bothered him over his Bathsheba sin. And, the wise and literate Dr. Green- blatt, warns -us, there is a re lationship between feelings of guilt and declining virilty. There is also a relationship between the Sabbath and the way your body works. In a preface to the book, Ralph McGill, the great editor of the Atlanta Constitution, says it is rewarding reading “beyond the highest expectation.” You will agree, as you read the diag noses of the glandular condition of Joseph and Delilah, about the effect of salt, sugar, vinegar, and wine on various Biblical per sonages, about the relationship of red and sin, and the way a doctor answers the question of An army, it’3 been said, travels on its stomach. Brides have been told that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. The role of food in history is a great one, as anyone who knows Hebrew, underst a n d s ,' since the He brew word for war, milachama, derives from Iechem, meaning bread. Another important physical factor in our lives is the gland. If you want proof, read a book, “Search the Scriptures,” published by Lipincott, and writ ten by one of the world’s leading gland experts, Dr. Robert Greenblatt, of the Medical Col lege of Georgia. Virtually a best-seller already, the delightful book in 26 brief but captivating chapters, illum inates many parts of both the Jewish and Christitan Bible with m thu —tng~ psgmigtt -wnarurtitarir endoccines upon people featured in its pages.' Why, for example, did Esau sell his birthright for a mess of pottage Because he scorned it? Well, perhaps, but most likely because he was suffering from a medical condition which forced THE DRUG ABUSE Jewish community leaders in a number cities are expressing serious concern over drug abuse by Jewish youth. The problem has been discussea at,a closed meeting of leaders of Coun cil of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, following reports from 28 communities. Reliable data about the extent of drug abufe by Jewish teenagers is not generally available. However, a study made by the CJFWF states It is estimated that in some schools, and in some neigh borhoods, 80 percent -or more of the Jewish youth may have experimented with using drugs at one time or another but do not continue. These are classified as “drug experimenters.” They try drugs once, twice, or possibly a few times. Then there are those who are classified as “drug abusers.” These are the boys and girls who make regular and frequent use of drugs and appear to be in search for new drug sensations. They move from milder to harder drugs and find themselves soon unable to keep up with their res ponsibilities at school, on the job, and at home. Dr. Martin Greenberg, the CJFWF research direc tor, says that it has been estimated that Jews account for somewhere between 5 and 15 percent in this category of drug users. . “Drug addicts” constitute another category. Their percentage is relatively small. Even in New York, where the use of drugs by Jews is re portedly most widespread, Jews constitute about 3 percent or less of the drug addicts. Although the communities are convinced that there is wide spread use of marijuana and other soft drugs, they assume that heroin addicts are few among Jews. • • • COMMUNITY ACTION The Jewish communities are hard at work in combatting drug abuses and discouraging drug experimentation. Jewish Federations and agencies are now establishing new programs to deal with drug use, drug abuse, and drug addiction. The CJFWF wili soon convene leaders in the field to provide further guides. The Jewish youth centers in the communities have taken the lead in developing educational programs on many aspects of drug abuse for teenagers ,their parents and teachers. The Jewish Center in Buffalo is singled out as providing a good example of a training program for those working with high school and college students. Jewish Family Services in Philadelphia, Pitts burgh, Cleveland, Miami and other cities have developed various programs for reaching teenagers as well as counselling their parents. In New York, the Jewish family and child agencies, hospitals, and community centers have been reaching out with new innovative services. Baltimore is es tablishing'two parwiel programs, both centered in its Jewish hospital, one involving a network of Jewish agencies, and tfce other non-sectarian agencies which serve Jews. Atlanta, Denver, Seattle and other Jewish com- munitites are mounting centrally planned services to deal with drug abuses. Community experience and plans are being pooled by a special CJFWF committee. In Toronto, the Jewish Family and Child Service has achieved high results by in stituting a Trailer Project to reach drug users with medical, legal and other advice. The client group was predominantly males between the ages of lfi-19. The trailer service—given in a 40-foot house trailer—proved a great success. It establish ed contact with several thousand drug users. • • • MIDDLE CLASS PROBLEM It is interesting to note that most of the Jewish teenagers experimenting with drugs come from middle class and affluent homes. Jewish youths from families with lower income do not show in clination for using drugs. An explanation is sought in the fact that the boys and girls coming from affluent homes have more money to spend and indulge in spending it on drug experimentation. It is an established fact that drug use rarely' occurs as a solitary pursuit. There is social group influence behind it. It is a group activity. The group is the source of supply. The group provides the companions in using the drug. Together they enjoy the current “seance,” plan future one, and give recognition to each others’ new ventures in drug use. They are fiercely loyal in the event of trouble, such as en counters with the police, fights with the family, and going broke. This social group influence plays no small role in attracting youth from the middle class families into the circle of the drug users. The boys and girls who can afford to participate in spending money on drugs want to be “in.” They don’t want to be in a social vacuum, without friends and without excitement. Because the middle class and affluent families are able to protect their privacy by seeking help for their drug-using children from private physi cians, and not from appropriate institutions, there is actually lack of data on the use of ‘“hard drugs” by Jews. Professor M. Sacks, the research director for a pilot project conducted by the Jewish Com munity Services of Long Island, in New York, says his findings have proven that drug abuse among Jewish adolescents is a greater problem than the general public is willing to acknowledge, especially among middle-class Jews.” A study in Nassau County, New York, estimates that “hard drug” use among Jewish adlescents is 18 percent of the total of adolescent drug users. This is six times the estimate of Jew drug addicts in New York. Copyright 1970, Jewish Telegraphic! Agency, Inc. It happens that Dr. Greenblatt’s son is married to Bob Hope’s daughter. By virtue of the doc tor’s excellence as a professor and writer, Bob Hope may some day be remembered as Dr. G’s mechutan. A Seven Arts Feature District 3 BBYO .. Continued from page 1 Sky Lake near Sautee, Ga., but there was never any doubt that its scope extended far beyond the secluded setting. Ever pres ent were allusions to the war in Indochina, the blight of our environment and the decay of our cities. The participants, who came from six states and the na tion’s capital, constantly re minded themselves - and one another that the “real world” was outside needing their help and that they were there to bet ter equip themselves to answer that call. Ronald Cahn. district director, has been watching BBYO change for over a decade. “BBYO evolves in the same sense as the campus, or religion or school systems or even morality,” he said. “Things are always changing to meet new needs. This program is part of a con tinuing change to meet the needs of new kids.” What are those needs? Accord ing to Cahn today’s youth need to be involved and to play an effective role in society. “That means increased personal in volvement in an aspect of some activity that applies to them. Our one purpose is to see that every member realizes that he is important.” At the DLTC, this was not an idle ideal. According to Kauf man, “even the youngest par ticipants expressed themselves.” Though the conference was not a convention, officers were elected. Maxine Madans of Charlotte, the district’s new BBG president, was extremely im pressed by the program. “This has been a utopia for me,” she said. “It’s beautiful here and free . . . free to be myself with out worrying about how I look to other people. This is how things should be ... I know they aren’t, but they should be. Peaceful and free.” In AZA elections, Ronald Sherman of Chesapeake, Md., is the new president. Barry Fried man of Atlanta is vice president and Steve Vogal of Charleston is secretary. The participants’ reactions to the DLTC were enthusiastic. Of the first 105 personal evaluation forms that were returned, 80 characterized the program as “excellent” and 45 as “very good.” Complaints were largely centered on facilities and food. Larry Schwartz, educational di rector of the Temple in Atlanta, served as staff for the conclave. Summing up the program, he saw “professionals working with teenagers, talking about both the profoundest and the silliest things in life.” His personal re action? “It was a groove,” he said. STAN’S Radio IV Electronic Service PHONE: 261-4789 v 325 PHARR ROAD, N. JL ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30306 ■■I i, i i -1. i Si. , ■ , i—i. —.■■■■ i i JEWISH CALENDAR •TISHA B’AV Aug. 11, Tuesday •ROSH HA SHAN A Oct 1-2, Thursday-Friday •YOM KIPPUR Oct 10, Saturday •HOLIDAY BEGINS SUNDOWN PBEYIOUS DAY - wessMwwtrHMDAqEmnwes? ’«**> •■<*>*■ p ati—