Newspaper Page Text
'AGE 12 — THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE. August 15. 1975
A Letter To the JDL
Editor's note: The Plenary session of the National Jewish Com
munity Relations Advisory Council, at its meeting in New York in
June, rejected the application of the Jewish Defense League for
membership and endorsed a report by the membership committee
of the reasons for its recommendation. What follows is the letter
written to the JDL by Albert D. Chernin, NJCRAC executive vice-
chairman, and the response by Rabbi Meir Kahane, international
chairman of the JDL. Because of its importance The Southern
Israelite is publishing both letters in full. — EDITOR
June 30, 1975
Mr. Gene Singer
Jewish Defense League
1133 Broadway, Suite 1026
New York, New York 10010
Dear Mr. Singer,
It is my duty to inform you that
yesterday, June 29, 1975, the
Plenary Session of the National
Jewish Community Relations Ad
visory Council unanimously re
jected the application of the Jewish
Defense League for membership.
The Plenary Session, as I believe
you know, is a delegated body
comprising representatives of all
our constituent national
organizations and of our con
stituent cdmmunity agencies.
The action of the Plenary Ses
sion was taken on the unanimous
recommendation of our
Membefship Committee, reached
after full review of your applica
tion. The Membership Committee
also comprises representatives of
all our constituent national agen
cies and of the constituent com
munity agencies.
The Plenary Session un
animously endorsed the following
report by the Membership Com
mittee of the reasons for its
recommendation:
NJCRAC and its member agen
cies have long been committed to
strengthening the American
democratic process. Our commit
ment to the democratic process is
reflected in the NJCRAC process
which is ba&d on voluntary
cooperation by our national and
local member agencies wRo repre
sent a wide range of the ideological
spcdfrum found within the Jewish
communitv. Even when there are
differences, our member agencies
participate in the NJCRAC on the
basis of mutual respect and a
shared acceptance of the common
cause. The right to dissent is fully
recognized.
The NJCRAC and its member
agencies support militancy as a
legitimate way to achieve change.
In regard to Israel and Soviet
Jewry, as well as other community
relations issues, we have urged ac
tivist measures in carrying out our
program. We believe that the
American democratic system
provides the means for effectively
expressing our views and bringing
about change. In this context
resort to violence is harmful to our
cause and morally unacceptable.
The Jewish Defense League does
not accept this basic approach.
Eirst it has had a history of en
couraging and indeed undertaking
acts of violence. Such tactics have
t.he effect of weakening the
processes of democracy in which
the Jewish community has a direct
stake.
Second, JDL has denied the
right of dissent of those who differ
from its position by using intimida
tion, including violence, in attempts
to impose its will on those with
whom it disagrees, both within and
outside of the Jewish community.
We regard it as intolerable that any
Jewish organization should resort
to force to compel the Jewish com
munity to accept its views and only
its views.
Very truly yours,
ALBERT D. CHERNIN
Executive Vice Chairman
Wteickcfo
in NORM \ RARACH
FRUIT PUNCH
The Sisterhood of Temple
Shaare Tefilah, Norwood, Mass.,
has sent me a copy of their
cookbook, “Creative Cookery,"
which has nearly 400 pages or
recipes. The variety is excellent,
and there is a particularly nice
selection of hors d'oeuvres and
appetizers, summer punches, and
many interesting chicken recipes. I
will be featuring recipes from this
book for several weeks. If you are
interested in a copy of the book,
write for information to the
Sisterhood of Shaare Tefilah, 556
Nichols St., Norwood, Mass.
02062. It may be ordered from
them for $4,85.
Now for two punch Recipes from
the book which are especially nice
for a summer brunch, lunch, or
any time.
.3 6-oz. cans frnzrn lemonade
2 6-oz. cans frozen orange juice
2 6-oz. cans frozen pineapple juice
2 6-oz. cans frozen grapefruit juice
4 10-oz. boxes frozen raspberries
Crush raspberries through a
food mill. Ereeze one-third of them
to use in place of ice. Dilute juices
according to can directions and
combine. Mix remaining two-
thirds of raspberries into the
diluted fruit juices: Add the frozen
raspberries. Makes 8 qts. of punch.
C HAMPAGNE PUNCH
4 qts. ginger ale (chilled)
2 qts. lemon sherbet or lemon ice
2 bottles champagne lehilled)
2 lemons, sliced
2 oranges, sliced
Put chilled champagne and
ginger ale into punch bowl. Add
sliced fruit and drop spoonsful of
sherbet in last. Makes 40-50 cups.
Note. To make punch pareve
(non-dairy) use lemon ice in place
of sherbet.
Dairy Jello Mold
Gelatin molds are an excellent
accompaniment to any luncheon
or buffet. I have one here for you
which is a delightful combination
of flavors.
2 pkgs. orange gelatin
I Vi cups boiling water
I cup sour cream
I 29-oz. ran apricots, drained and
cut into quarters
Mix gelatin with boiling water.
Add rest of ingredients and mix.
Refrigerate until firm and serve.
(Copyright 1975, JTA)
July I5, 1975
Mr. Albert D. Chernin
Executive Vice Chairman
NJCRAC 55 West 42nd St.,
New York, N.Y. I0036
Dear Mr. Chernin,
Your letter of June 30th rejec
ting the application of the Jewish
Defense League for membership in
National Jewish Community
Relations Advisory Council has
been received, and we are shocked
— if not surprised — and totally
unwilling to accept this as the final
word. Your group, with a long and
sorry record of non-action, is a
public, not a private, body, and has
no right to reject any organization
that plays a prominent role in the
American Jewish community. The
lack of democracy in the American
Jewish Establishment is legendary,
but we are prepared to put an end
to that state of affairs.
Your rejection of JDL was not
because of the false and
hypocritical reason given in your
letter, but rather because every
group within your organization is
deathly afraid of the impact of
JDL upon the American Jewish
community.
We intend to pursue this matter
in the courts as well as the press
and through demonstrations.
One final word concerning your
reason for turning JDL down.
Your claim to reject any group
that would “resort to force to com
pel the Jewish community to
accept its views” rings hollow as
there sit in your organization
groups that turned over names of
Jews to the FBI and informed on
them in so many other Ways.
The age of feudalism with its
arrogant contempt for a
democratic voice in the Jewish
community is over.
With Love of Israel,
JEWISH DEFENSE LEAGUE
RABBI MEIR KAHANE
International Chairman
New Cadillac
Use Awaits
WSB Winner
If you're an average American,
chances are you don't go driving
around in a Cadillac.
But, if you’ve dreamed of
yourself behind the wheel of a
Coupe de Ville, this may be your
chance.
WSB Radio and Capital
Automobile Company are
cooperating with Cumberland
Mall in sponsorship of the
“Driver's Dreum" contest. First
prize will be the use of a brand-new
Cadillac Coupe de Ville for a full
■year. Second prize is the use of a
new Cadillac for six months. And
third prize is $250 worth of shop
ping at Cumberland Mall.
Entrants must be licensed, in
sured drivers at least 18 years of
age. WSB Radio listeners may
send their names, addresses, phone
numbers and ages on a postcard,
addressed to “Driver's Dream,”
WSB Radio, P. O. Box 4I46,
Atlanta, Georgia, 30302. Or, of
ficial entry blanks can be com
pleted at Cumberland Mall and
deposited in the Cadillac- parked
on the Mall. All entries must be
received at WSB Radio by mid
night Sunday, Aug. 3I, or
deposited in the Cadillac at
Cumberland Mall before closing at
6 p.m. August 3I.
The whole idea of free use of a
Cadillac is'a part of the second an-
niversary observance of
Cumberland Mall,
GENE ASHER receives his insignia in ceremonies marking his promo
tion to colonel in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve. Col. William J. Spiesel,
6th Marine Corps district director, and Col. Dallas Walker, deputy direc
tor, do the honors. Asher, for several years director of Atlanta's Toys for
Tots campaign, is commanding officer of Marine Corps Reserve
Volunteer Training Unit 6-36. A Marine reservist for the past 24 years.
Col. Asher is a past president of the Atlanta Chapter, Marine Corps
Reserve Officers Assn, and former national director of the Marine Corps
Reserve Officers Assn.
Jewish Quiz Box
By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
QUESTION: Why is the 27th
Psalm recited every day during the
current month of Elul?
ANSWER: Traditional Judaism
regards the month of Elul (the
month before Rosh Hashana) as
the month in which the Jew
prepares for the judgement of the
New Year. The Psalm ends with
telling people to “Hope towards
the Almighty." Thus the Psalm in
stills a sense of hope when facing
the fear of judgement. The Psalm
also says "The Lord is my light
and my salvation,” indicating that
the Almighty Himself will stand by
His people in the hour of judge
ment.
The Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah,
2I) interprets this verse as follows:
“My light" refers to Rosh
Hashana. “My salvation" refers to
Yom Kippur. “He will hide me in
a succah" refers to the festival of
Succot. It thus appears that the
coming holidays of judgement are
indeed not meant to be a threat or
an evil for the people; they are
meant to be a source of salvation
and aid to the people.
Others say that the word for the
month of Elul is spelled backwards
in one of the words of the Psalms
(“Were it not") thus concealing
the name of the month of Elul
within the Psalm. This indicates
that sometimes the role of the
Almighty is concealed in saving
His people but it is always there.
What seems to us to be a trying
period turns out to be a blessing in
disguise.
QUESTION: Why do Jews
customarily visit the cemetery dur
ing this month of Elul?
ANSWER: A number of
reasons are offered for this
custom. Generally speaking, one
visits the cemetery in a time of
crisis. Elul is also a time of crisis.
In trying to establish a mood of
penance there is nothing like
visiting the cemetery which helps
to establish a mood of sobriety.
Man's sin often comes from a lack
of seriousness. This mood is
reestablished by a visit to the
cemetery. Others claim that the
visit to the cemetery is made in
order to ask the deceased to pray
for us from their heavenly abode.
It is also claimed that we seek
forgiveness for the deceased as well
as for ourselves. Some state that
the visit is made to help us realize
that in sinning we offended the
deceased who preceded us. Thus
we seek their forgiveness as well.
, OPEN ALL NIGHT 876-0381
Ponce de Leon at Highland.
For all your
{ C ommercial ami
j . Residential
Cleaning.
| CALL
| MARTIN STERN
! GEORGIA
MAINTENANCE
I c.o
■ v - v *
1
/ carpets
America's Finest
CALL FOR APPOINTMENT '
351-1650
George F. Richardson, Inc.