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Page 12 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE April 18,1975
DAYAN —
Judge, Mrs. Clark Report Impressions of Israel Trip
JUDGE CLARK with (Vfoshe Dayan in Israel.
Jewish Quiz Box
By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
Judge and Mrs. H. Sol Clark
returned recently after spending
two weeks in Israel where Judge
Clark addressed the annual con
vention of the International
Academy of Trial Lawyers.
With the exception of Judge
Clarkj/all program speakers dur
ing tneCanpetings in Tel Aviv and
Jerusalem were high ranking
Israeli officials. Among them were
Haim Zadok, Minister of Justice;
Gideon Hausner, cabinet member
famed for his prosecution of the
Eichmann case, and several
Supreme Court justices.
Queried as to the reaction of the
American lawyers, Judge Clark
stated that all of them were
favorably impressed with Israel,
especially with the people. “The
indomitable courage and fortitude
of the Israelis were clearly evident.
Because of their comparatively
small population every family or
their neighbors has sustained
some personal tragedy. Illustrative
of their willingness to make
sacrifices was the manner in which
they accepted passage of a sub
stantial increase in income and
sales taxes which occurred when
we were there.
“While attending a Sabbath tea.
at the home of a Hebrew Universi
ty professor,” Judge Clark added,
I inquired of some guests as to
their reactions. One was a
transplanted American physician
and the other was a dentist, who
had been a three generation resi
dent of Ireland prior to his emigra
tion. Their replies, were that they
recognized the necessity of an
austerity program for the citizens
of their beleaguered nation re
quired to expend 40% of their
budget for defense purposes.”
The Clarks noted that, “Despite
escalation of taxes for defense and
to meet inflation, there is no reduc
tion in amounts expended for
education at all levels. During
visits to the universities at Tel Aviv
and Jerusalem, we saw new
buildings under construction. In
our talks with the deans at the law
schools we were informed that ad
mission applications far exceeded
the facilities available. Of special
interest was the fact that more
than 40% of the law and medical
students are females.”
Concerning the general attitude
of the people, Judge and Mrs.
Clark had this to say: "As we talk-
Rabbi Emanuel Feldman of
Atlanta’s Congregation Beth
Jacob, presently on sabbatical
leave in Israel, will represent the
American Orthodox Rabbinate at
a special conference of European
Chief Rabbis to take place in Paris
at the end of April.
Rabbi Feldman, a former vice-
president of the Rabbinical Coun
cil of America and presently a
member of its halachic commis
sion and its executive committee,
will deliver a message on behalf of
the Rabbinical Council, and will
participate in the various working
sessions and the study seminars.
Expected at the Conference are
the Chief Rabbis of England,
France, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Switzerland, and the Scandana-
vian countries.
Among the issues to be discuss:.
ed are the interpretatidh"6f“fhC
ed with individual Israelis we con
cluded that they were imbued with
what might be called the Massada
tradition. This refers to the heroic
defense in 73 A.D. of the hill-top
fortress of that name where after
holding out for three years against
the Romans some 960 Jews chose
death to slavery. This ancestral
location is regularly visited by the
newly inducted soldiers as well as
by students. Adding interest to
Massada are recent archaelogical
discoveries, which included the
original synagogue.”
When asked as to the
relationship between Israel and the
United Slates, the Clarks replied:
“They recognize they need the
continued support of the American
government in order to fulfill their
mission as a bastion of democracy
in the Middle East. They similarly
appreciate the need for Jewish peo
ple from other countries to con
tinue to provide large amounts for
assistance to immigrants, par
ticularly those permitted to leave
Russia. Above everything else it is
clear that the Israelis desire peace
and are willing to seek it without
self-pity or bitterness for their
plight."
In reply to the question, “Is it
safe to visit Israel?” they answered
unqualifiedly in the affirmative.
“There is some inconvenience in
complying with extensive security
precautions. These include a com
plete search of all airplane
baggage, inspection of pocket-
books and packages when entering
public places, and forbidding
departures from theaters and con
certs prior to conclusion of
programs. These minor in
conveniences are counter-balanced
by the facility with which one ob
tains admission to the
archaelogical sites and the Chris
tian, Moslem and Jewish religious
shrines without lengthy lines or
waiting periods.”
In concluding the interview,
Mrs. Clark said, “I think we were
most impressed with the children.
When leaving the recently created
Ben Gurion Museum in Tel Aviv
we saw groups of youngsters who
had come with their teachers to
learn the life of this great leader.
All of us commented upon the
appearance of these children, their
dress and manners as well as their
vitality and interest."
religious significance of Israel to
the Jewish people; methods of
enhancing religious commitment
among Jewish youth of Europe
and America; and toward a nation
of activities and greater liaison
between the Rabbis of Europe and
the U.S.A.
Rabbi Feldman will deliver a
report to the Rabbinical Council
on this Conference upon his return
to the United States in the early
summer.
Presently residing in Jerusalem,
the Rabbi is lecturing at Bar I Ian
University and at Yeshivat Or
Samcach in Jerusalem. In addi
tion, he is engaged in several
research projects, and has recently
been appointed associate editor of
the new English language
magazine being published in
'jfevusdidfti:
QUESTION: What is the
historic background for the festival
of |jg B’Omer?
ANSWER: The name “Lag
B’Omer" means the “thirty-third
day of the count of the Omer."
There is thus nothing in the name
of the festival as such that would
indicate what historic event caused
this day to become a festive day
until this very day.
Yet, this day is a festive day that
occurs in the midst of the seven
weeks of sadness known as
"Sefirah.” It is generally the only
day between the Passover and
Shavuoth holiday when marriages
are held. There are some who
claim that this was a memorial to
the fact that the plague or bloodsh
ed that caused the demise of Rabbi
Akiba’s students either stopped on
this day or only lasted thirty-two
days altogether and the thirty-
third day is thus a day of
thanksgiving that the tragedy
came to its end.
Some later critics suspect that
this day might have been some day
of victory during the Bar Kochba
revolt, or that it was some day of
victory when Jews asserted
themselves temporarily as in
dependent of the Roman Caeser.
Even if these periods of victory or
independence were short-lived, the
memory softened the blows of op
pression for years to come.
Because the victory or the moment
of independence was so short lived,
and also because victories were
rarely celebrated among Jews as
military triumphs, the name of the
festival was couched in secrecy by
neither giving it reference to a date
of the month nor to a specific
historical event.
Some trace part of the meaning
of this festival to the contention
that the Manna began to descend
unto the Israelites for food in the
wilderness on this day. The Kab-
balists, especially since the 16th
century, have attributed an es
oteric meaning for this day woven
in the tradition of mysticism. They
consider it to be the day of the
demise of the great Rabbi Simeon
Bar Yochai whom the Romans
were intent upon killing but who
nevertheless lived out his life and
died a comparatively natural
death. His death, a natural one,
was considered a victory over the
foe. To this day, then, there are
great celebrations in the town of
Meron, Israel, which is considered
to be the location of his grave.
QUESTION: Why is it
customary for children to play with
bows and arrows on this festival?
ANSWER: Some see this as an
emulation of the heroic students of
Rabbi Akiba or the revolutionaries
of Bar Kochba who were en
couraged by Rabbi Akiba. Others
read into this the futility of armed
strength against what was decreed
by the Almighty to show that
against His decree we are all like
children with bow and arrow.
COPYRIGHT 1975, JTA
—FRQM PAGE I
It is just you that can stand up
against Russia.”
In this context, Dayan spoke of
the large quantities of arms Russia
is providing the Arabs, stating his
country’s need for continued U.S.
supply of military equipment.
Though there are more than 50
million Arabs compared to six
million Israelis, Dayan pointed out
that “in the past, and I am sure in
the future too, we can take care of
ourselves ... no foreign soldiers
fought for us . . . but we have Jo
turn to you for our arms.”
Answering his own question
“What next in the Middle East?”
Dayan told the audience he feels
there is still a good chance to get
an agreement — “not a peace
agreement right away — but an
agreement that will prevent the
resumption of war.”
Arab countries now (after four
wars) are “more likely to talk to us
... to negotiate.” And, he added,
“Even though we are sorry the last
talks failed, we shouldn't get dis
couraged and we just have to try
again. Maybe in Geneva; maybe
by some other form.”
Dayan recounted events of the
years Egypt was led by Nasser and
compared Sadat’s leadership to
day. “I wish he would have
negotiated with us directly, face to
face, but at any rate it is better to
talk to them, even through a
negotiator, than by shooting with
guns and tanks.
“It is not just the principle that
has been changed (since Nasser’s
death) but the practice ... as long
as Nasser was alive, they didn’t
want to open the Suez Canal.”
The planned opening of the
canal by Sadat, even though Israeli
forces are only 20 kilometers
away, and the fact that hundreds
of thousands of Egyptians are back
living in the cities along (he canal
prompted the general to say, “I
don’t believe Sadat would have been
preparing for war and at the same
time having his people come back
to the cities. So I do believe what he
says . . . that he really wants to
negotiate peace.
“I think Sadat really wants to
go down in Egyptian history as the
leader who introduced electricity
to the villages and raised the stan
dard of living rather than having
another war and losing it.”
Speaking unequivocally, Dayan
stated Israel’s wish to continue
negotiations even though it won’t be
quick, and his country's desire for
the l niled States to continue its ef
forts.
Dayan’s 35 minute talk was
followed by a question and answer
period, ably moderated by assis
tant professor of political science.
Dr. Harvey Klehr.
Most of the questioning was by
students, some of whom expressed
definite pro-Arab opinions and
some of whom were equally strong
in their pro-Israel stance.
No matter the question, Dayan
answered seriously and thoughtful
ly-
Rabbi Lectures
Rabbi Howard M. Folb of Beth
Israel Congregation in Florence,
S. C., will make a Chautauqua
Society lecture at Newberry
College on Thursday, Apr. 24. His
topic will be “The Future of Israel:
An American Rabbi's Viewpoint.”
The Jewish Chautauqua Society
sponsors the campus lectures to
create better understanding of
Jews and Judaism.
Rabbi Feldman Will Attend
Parley of European Rabbis