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JACK GELDBART j The Soilheri Israelite j NfcWiwl weekly by The Southern Israelite, Uc., P. O. Box 77388, 188 Fifteenth St.. N.W., Atlanta, Ga, 30)57, Phone 870-8348. Second class postage paid at Atlanta, Georgia. Yearly subscription, $13.88. Deadline ia 5 p.m. Friday, but material reoehred earlier will have a mach better chanae of publication. Editor and Publisher: Jack Geldbart; Managing Editor: Vida Goldgar; Office Manager: Cathy Wood; Advertising Director: Mike Faass; Advertising Sales: Martin Gelb, Kathleen Nease, Alva Engelhard, and J. Allen Anderson; Cir culation: Sarah Du well; Editorial Assistant: Marian Harelik. NNA» Jewish Telegraphic Agency Georgia Pram Assn. World Union Press Society of Profsmional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi Mbs W 3 The sadness of Rabin There seems to be no real anger over the recent revelations of Premier Rabin’s secret bank account. The feeling, instead, is one of sadness. Somehow, there has always been the admittedly naive hope that the Israelis were above this kind of crass self-interest and misconduct. Many 'commentators claim Rabin’s actions are a sign that Israel is maturing, that she now joins the fraternity of other nations whose leaders have proved to have feet of clay. That may be true, but the thought makes one sad. The im age of Israel as a nation of Sabras and Halutzim rebuilding the land, without any thought of private gain, is one we prefer. Even though we could not reasonably expect Israel to re main forever the idealistic example for the world, one is still saddened that it .might no longer be so. We should not, however, make the mistake of thinking that Rabin’s transgression signals any large scale loss of values by Israel’s leaders. In fact, it is heartening that the change of leadership appears to be headed for a quick, efficient transi tion. Israel’s vitality will not diminish. Perhaps what we’ll see is a heightened sense of wisdom that is touched with the sadness born out of a nation’s loss of innocence. r' - I'm mad . at the Red Cross That’s right, Fin mad at the Red Cron. I know there are institutions that are sacred and beyond criticism and the Red Cross has always been one of them. It is in the category with baseball, apple pie and motherhood. I recognize as well as anyone that the Red Cross has performed untold humanitarian acts through the years. But hear me out. I’m mad because the Red Cross has made incredibly unfair decisions con cerning Magen David Adorn, Israel's version of Red Cross service. Ever since 1949, Israel has tried to gain admis sion into the International League of Red Cross Societies but has been denied, even though she qualifies in nine of the ten provisions for admis sion and adheres to the seven principles of conduct and service that have been set up. There can be no objection on religious grounds since Israel furnishes non-sectarian service and operates its aid stations, ambulances and blood banks seven days a week, throughout the year. Even Israel’s enemies recognize and respect the Magen David Adorn but the Red Cross denial is not based on the quality or responsibility of service. The reason is hard to believe: it is because of Israel’s emblem, of all things. I’m sure you’ve all seen it at one time or another. This is Af - il s Looks okay, doesn’t it? But the International Red Cross g insists that to become a mem- t her Israel must discard its ▼ y emblem and accept those ««i c* used by the organization: the “Red Cross,” “Red Crescent.” or “Red Sun.” S’? OVL . _ .r They look like this. Is there any wonder that Israel will not agree to give up the Ma gen David for one of these? The Red Cres cent is the emblem used by Turkey and the Red Lion is the symbol ap proved for Persia, now Iran. Both those Mos lem nations had objected that the Red Cross was a symbol offensive to them because of its religious implications and they were promptly allowed to use their own emblems and admitted to member ship. When Israel raised the very same argument, they were denied admission. An official of the International Red Cross confirmed recently that this refusal is based on the political bias of a ma jority of the 125 members of the organization, a tacit admission that an avowed humanitarian or ganization would permit political reasons to block acceptance of a highly respected operation. This denial has had serious consequences for Israel. As a non-member, Magen David Adorn can not cooperate fully with the International Red Cross in providing care for wounded, exchanging prisoners and burying the dead. Many Israelis kill ed in the Yom Kippur War are not buried in Jewish cemeteries and many still lie along the fronts of that war. Estimates are that 413 Israelis killed in wars with the Arabe are still not buried in Jewish cemeteries. This is why I am mad and I intend to write the Red Cross and let them know how I feel. I invite you to join me. + & c Another opinion What to do about Ted Turner The anti-boycott battle We’re being treated once again to the spectacle of confusion over what is going to happen concerning a federal anti boycott bill. On the one hand, the President has consistently repeated his campaign promise that he would “do everything I can as President to stop this boycott of American businesses by the Arab countries.” 1 And yet this last week the Senate Banking Committee reported out a bill that Chairman William Proxmire said per mits “a somewhat effective boycott against Israel." When asked why the committee had adopted amendments permitting mgny forms of boycott against Israel, Sen. Edward W. Brooke said, “The administration wants some law, but they don’t want a law with any teeth at all.” Now what are we to believe? Is the Carter administration supporting an anti-boycott bill, or not? The way to find out is to write the President and ask him. by Stuart Lewengrub Is Ted Turner anti-Semitic? , What should we do about our season tickets for the Braves and Hawks? Why did Turner say such a thing? Last week, the ADL office was deluged with telephone calls of this nature from concerned Jews throughout the city as well as from others out of town who had read Mr. Turner’s foolish and tasteless remarks in which he dis paragingly alluded to the religious beliefs and back ground of player agent, Jerry Kapstein. On the day the remarks appeared in Red Smith’s syn dicated column, we spoke with Turner at some length. He seem ed to deeply regret what he had f mtoOK,fines IK LAST i been quoted as saying. He seem ed to want to apologize to the Jewish community as quickly and as strongly as possible. He was clearly embarrassed and perhaps a little frightened that his statements would cause a rebellion among the Atlanta area Jews who are generally supportive of Atlanta's sports frachises. Turner immediately sent a letter of apology to the ADL and released the same to the news media. Neither ADL or any other organization can speak for the entire Jewish community. Like anyone else, maybe more than anyone else, Jews will con tinue to think and speak for themselves. Nevertheless, we were asked for our professional opinion on the man and his statements. — In consultation with our chair man, Harris Jacobs, and with our national office, I suggested that we accept the apology and Mr. Turner’s word that the statements were intended in jest and do not represent his true convictions. We also accepted his statement that he realizes that anti-Semitism is no joking matter. In so doing, it was my feeling that Turner’s public record suggested that he was prone to uttering ill-conceived statements which he later had cause to regret. Moreover, we had no knowledge or evidence of previous anti-Semitism on his part that would suggest a hostility toward Jews. He did have a record of general wise cracking. Neither I or anyone else really knows what Ted Turner feels in his heart about Jews. Who knows what he thinks, or what he says in the privacy of his home or club or when among his non-Jewish friends? So, what we have to do is proceed according to what we do know and, I think, in this instance give him the benefit of the doubt. We also considered this — of what benefit would it be to con duct a vendetta against Mr. Turner? What would be added to the positive human relations of our community? Is it not wiser, in this case, to be forgiving and to hope that the man has been sensitized; that perhaps he un derstands that just as a family which has seen a loved one stricken with a disease cannot consider that disease a joke, the Jewish people cannot consider anti-Semitism a joking matter? We hope that Ted Turner will recognize that a man who is in the public eye, as he is, has an even greater responsibility than others in what he says and does. Consequently, he has to exercise greater discretion in his public statements and greater sen sitivity in his comments and in the thought processes^ at lead to those comments. Ted Turner is in a position to do a great deal of good in this community. His television sta tion and his teams command a great deal of attention. He, per sonally, receives substantial press coverage. Perhaps this in cident will have a sobering and a positive effect. As we Jews have learned thoughout the ages, sometimes out of a bad situation something good can emerge. (Mr. Lewengrub is Southeastern Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith)