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I
Pafe 4 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE September 9,
The Soutlieri Israelite ]
JACK QiLDBAKT
The Weekly Newspaper for Southern Jewry
Our Mill Titer
Published every Friday by The Southern Israelite, Inc.
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From .
the staff of
Tht Southern Israelite
5738/1977-78
5738 .., .Years since the Creation of the world
4082 ... .Years since the Great Flood
3500 ... .Years since our ancestors went to Egypt
3370 ... .Years since the birth of Moees
3239 ... .Years since the Exodus from Egypt
3279 ... .Years since our people arrived in Israel
2803 ... .Years since the building of the First Temple
2533 ... .Years since the dispersion of the Ten Tribes
2393 ... .Years since the destruction of the First Temple
2414 ,.. .Years since the beginning of the reign of Persia
2335 ... .Years since the miracle of Purim
2327 ... .Years since the building of the Second Temple
2128 ... .Years since the reign of the Hasmoneans
2117 ... .Years since the miracle of Hanuka
2013 ... .Years since the reign of the house of Hadrian
1909 ... .Years since the destruction of the Second Temple
30 Years since the restoration of the State of Israel
11 Years since the reunification of Jerusalem
Who loves us?
At the end of each year, it is journalistic tra
dition to compile lists: the best, the worst, the
least, the most.
Well, this is our New Year and
it’s a good time to assess those
people who were good or bad for
the Jews during the past year —
essentially a compilation of
those who love us and those who
do not.
Let’s consider Menachem Be
gin first Among historians
there is an old saying that each
country gets the leader it deserves. This is parti
cularly true with Begin and Israel right now. Com
ing into a sea of unrest in the Mideast, Begin has
proved to be a bulwark. Every decision be has
made and every speech he delivers makes it clear
that be is a man on a mission to save the Jews. No
question about it — he loves us.
Yassir Arafat, on the other hand, continued to
make it abundantly clear that he would like to an
nihilate us. He didn’t get to brandish his pistol at
the United Nations this year (which he was allow
ed to do several years ago) but as head of the PLO,
he continued to harangue against the Jews all
year. As long as Arafat and other vitriolic leaders
of the Arab bloc issue Hitlerian statements, we at
least know exactly where we stand. In a way, they
actually serve to bolster Israel’s resolve not to
bargain away security at Geneva. Arab anger is so
visible that we have no problem remembering they
hate us.
Meanwhile, back in Washington, President Jim
my Carter still loves us. But I have the eerie feel
ing that his support is for the wrong reasons. He is
a religious fundamentalist and believes in the Bi
ble literally, particularly the prophecies of the Old
Testament. He is therefore a strong supporter of
Israel’s territorial rights as promised by the Bible.
He also respects the rights of Jews to practice
religion in freedom. Such support is obviously im
portant to us, but Carter feels his mission so
strongly that he wants things, to happen now —-
right away — and I often fear that he would have
Israel give up her defensible borders in his rush to
fulfill Biblical prophecy. We have to watch this
kind of love; it could destroy us.
Last year, as always, there were many people
who didn’t like us. Such folks as Spiro Agnew,
Hoses Williams, Ted Turner and General Brown
managed to make unfortunate anti-Semitic
remarks during the year that gave an inkling of
their secret psyches. There were also companies
such as Mobil Oil, Dresser Industries, General
Tire, Pierre Cardin and DuPont who flirted with
giving in to the Arab boycott. Some of them, like
Pierre Cardin, seem to*have thought better of it. I
hope they all do. It is sad to watch as supposedly
esteemed companies place dollar value over
morality.
A* always, the United Nations led the way in
dogged stupidity and continued its record of
belaboring Israel. But a new feeling about the UN
seems to be operating now: the once august body is
virtually ignored by the world and vapid UN
resolutions have no more status than the ran tings
of a demented demagogue. As a whole, the UN
hates us — but in the process they have managed
to destroy their own credibility.
But hll is not lost. There is still Sen. Hubert
Humphrey, whose friendship and concern for Jews
through the years is unquestioned. Even though he
always seems to have more solutions than there
are problems, his unswerving friendship for the
JewB has been of incalculable aid in keeping
Congress alert to policies that might undermine
Israel’s position. He clearly loves us.
I could go on and on listing names of those who
love us and those who hate us — but I hope I’ve
made my point.
As Jews, it is important that we develop our own
intellectual perception of who our friends and
enemies are. '<
Once having done this, we should then go to the
synagogue this New Year and pray for those
who love us and ask forgiveness for those who do
not.
For a faith lift: "Your
rabbi wants a raise"
by Rabbi Samuel Silver
A most ingenious person is
Rabbi Arthur Baseman, of Tem
ple B’nai Israel, Clearwater,
Florida.
Rabbi Baseman put a big
headline on his message in the
synagogue bulletin.
The banner read, “Your Rabbi
Wants A Raise!”
But the rabbi wasn’t talking
money. His opening line reads,
“Now that I have your un
divided, albeit nervous atten
tion, don’t worry.”
Yes, the rabbi continues, he
wants a raise, but not in salary,
but in devotion.
As his people get ready fbr the
holydays, Rabbi Basemen would
like to see an increase in
devoutness and in adherence to
the values which Judaism
represents.
These are days of financial
anxiety. Having to depend on
OPEC, our country is spending
much of its resources buying oil
for our energy needs.
This has its impact on all of
us. A stockbroker was asked
recently how he-slept at night
and replied, “Like a baby. I wake
up every two hours aid cry/
Jewish organisations are also
feeling the pinch, and meeting
the budget becomes a source of
concern.
But even if we solve the fiscal
problems, the spiritual
challenges, are still there. Let
there be no blackout on ethics.
The holidays cry out to us,
“We want a raise, an increase in
the measure of loyalty to prin
ciples and precepts, to family
fidelity and dedication to noble
objectives.”
As Rabbi Baseman put it in
the article whose headline must
have startled his members: “Our
Torah stands tall in the Ark. Let
us raise it ever higher.”
I once startled one of my sons
with a similar verbal ploy. As I
officiated at his marriage, I said
that the etiquette books say that
the bridegroom must give the
minister a check.
So I demanded a check, not a
financial one, but a check on any
behavior that would mar the
sacred relationship between
groon; *«d bride. ., t . ■
Your faith wants a raise. I
VEAR