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News Briefs
Syrian Jews tortured
NEW YORK (JTA)—Reports of new harsh measures against
Syrian Jews have reached the United States. According to Rabbi
Stephen S. Goldrich, of Euclid, Ohio, more than 100 Syrian Jews
were imprisoned last month, all of whom were tortured. They were
released Jan. IS. Three required hospitalization.
It was further reported that during the past month or two, a 7
p.m. curfew has been imposed on Jews in Syrian cities. The
restrictions on travel by the Jews within Syria, lifted some time
ago, have been reimposed.
Rio’s new mayor Is Jewish
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA)—Dr. Israel Klabin, a leading
Brazilian industrialist, will take office as Mayor on March IS, the
first Jew to hold that post in the 400-year history of Rio de Janeiro.
He was appointed by Governor-elect Chacas Freitas of Rio de
Janeiro State. Klabin, S3, stems from a traditional Jewish family
that settled in Brazil early in the century. His grandfather was
born in Vilna.
El Al drops Teheran flights
TEL AVIV (JTA)—El Al has suspended flights to Teheran and
there is no indication when or if they will be resumed. But as the
supporters of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khoumeini took over the
Iranian government, telephone contact was made Sunday night
with the small group of Israelis—mostly airline employes—still in
that country. The call, which was routed through the Tokyo
exchange, confirmed that the Israelis were all safe.
Neo-Nazi militancy on rise
BONN—On Feb. 5, Federal Interior Minister, Gerhard Baum,
reported that though the number of Neo-Nazi organizations in the
Federal Republic of Germany is dwindling, their militancy is
growing. On Feb. 6, five members of the extremist East-
Westphalian Combat Group, suspected of having blown up the
two television transmission towers which were to relay the
“Holocaust” series to TV viewers, were arrested in Dortmund
(North Rhine-Westphalia). The five joined their compatriots
already behind bars. Captured files disclose that the neo-Nazis are
in contact with other extremist organizations in Europe and the
U.S.A.
Soviet Jews concern Rosalynn
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Mrs. Rosalynn Carter personally
joined last Friday in the movement to relieve the plight of Soviet
Jewry. America’s First Lady welcomed to the White House some
30 wives of senators and representatives who are members of the
Congressional Wives Group Concerned About Soviet Jewry, and
received from them a “White Paper of Hope and Despair” on
behalf of the Moscow women who have been refused visas to go to
Israel.
Carter policy retards peace?
PALM BEACH, FL.—A resolution adopted by the national
executive committee of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai ,
B’rith addresses itself to President Carter directly regarding his
policy on the Middle East. Kenneth L. Bialkin, chairman of the
NEC, said the Administration's current Middle East policy must
be revised because “it serves only to retard the peace process and
does not advance the interests of the United States.” What
President Carter must do, he said, is “reiterate by deeds his pledge
to insure the security of Israel—an obligation enunciated in his
1976 campaign.”
Israeli evacuation is costly
JERUSALEM (JTA)—The evacuation of Israeli forces from
Sinai and their redeployment in the Negev will cost 1L 90 billion,
according to Defense Ministry estimates. Deputy Defense Minister
Mordechai Zipori told the Knesset Economics Committee. More
than half the cost, some IL 30 billion, will represent the United
States’ contribution to the redeployment budget, he said.
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Charleston’s ‘best Shabbaton ever’
Editor:
Congregation Brith Sholom
Beth Israel’s Shabbaton 1979 is
now history but to the 150 or more
people who attended, it was a
weekend they will never forget.
The first timers (if there is such a
word) were constantly amazed as
the activities flowed along. The
repeaters all agreed that this was
the best Shabbaton ever, it had a
flavor and a ta'am that defies
description. From the very young
to the very old (six months to 99
years) it was a moving,
inspirational, learning, fun-packed
weekend, complete with bountiful
and delicious food, music and
song, renewed friendships and
new-found friends.
A brief recap of the program:
Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, of
Congregation Beth Jacob,
Atlanta, was our keynote speaker.
Rabbi H.M. Galinsky, visiting
Charleston for the occasion, spoke
at the third Sabbath meal. Rabbi
David J. Radinsky, of Brith
Sholom Beth Israel Congregation,
program-coordinator, also led a
session. Mrs. Feldman conducted
an informal discussion on Shabbos
afternoon with the ladies, bringing
out into the open some of the
problems our Jewish children facs»
in the public school, the influences
of TV and movies, etc. A special
musical program was held for
children and the teen agers had
their own rap session.
On a lighter note, I must tell you
about the Melava Malke
(Saturday night). We prepared^
ourselves to enjoy the lively music
and the traditional dances, with
children and adults joining in the
circles, the winding chains, the
whirling and twirling of the fast-
paced beat. Around midnight, we
pulled our chairs into a semi-circle
in front of the bandstand to
learn some new songs. Somehow, a
magic spark was kindled and the
program swelled and grew in a
manner never before seen at such
an event. People got up, acted as
toastmaster-announcer, bringing
out singers and comedians from
among the crowd for their first
public appearance...Rabbis
performed and showed us a side of
themselves too long hidden...
everyone had such a marvelous
time that no one wanted to go to
bed. We pleaded for just a few
more minutes, just one more song,
until at 1:30 a.m. Reluctantly,
fathers gathered up sleeping
children, husbands and wives filled
the waiting elevators which
brought them to their rooms. Sleep
did not come easily that night, we
were so keyed up!
Next year’s Shabbaton date has
already been set for the weekend of
Feb. 1, 2, 3. It’s not too soon to
mark this date on your calendar.
Wfc would love to have you with
us! *
Anita R Levine
Charleston, S.C.
Workmen’s Circle receives thanks
Editor:
In behalf of the 16 Jewish Home
residents that attended the Yiddish
Marne Loshn Concert on Jan. 31,1
want to thank Workmen’s Circle,
through The Southern Israelite,
for the kindness and courtesy
shown to them, i It was an evening
they will talk about for a long time
to come and it brought back into
their lives the many years they
spent in the outside world when
they could, go to concerts such as
this. The Jewish Home was
humming this morning with
remarks about the good time had
by all.
We are so grateful to you for
your thoughtfulness and hope that
G-d will bless and keep you well.
Marcia Ivers
Director Activities and
Volunteer Services
Jewish Home
‘Forgotten Jews’
Falashas in Ethiopia:
once rulers, now slaves
by Rabbi Marc H. Tanenbaum
National Intcrrcligioia Affairs Director
American Jewuh Committee
They call themselves “Beta
Israel," the House of Israel, and
according to ancient legend, their
origins trace back some 3,000 years
as lineal descendants of King
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
The Ethiopians call them
Falashas, a term generally taken to
describe the black Jews of that
country. In actual fact, Falasha is a
term of contempt meaning
“strangers” or “living in exile.”
That pejorative term for the black
Jews of Ethiopia is a description of
their actual condition, especially
today.
Several centuries ago, there were
about a half million Falashas, once
proud warriors, rulers of their own
Ethiopian Kingdom. Today, there
are less than 28,000 in Ethiopia,
mostly around Gondar. They have
been decimated over the decades in
Ethiopian inter-tribal warfare and
by intense conversion efforts by
missionaries.
Ethiopia’s recent revolution and
civil war, the fighting over Eritrea
and the Ogadon, have resulted in
general havoc, destruction and
refugee flight, only now simmering
down. And it has meant, too, that
several hundred Falasha families
were driven from their homes.
other robbed of land and livestock,
dozens murdered and still others
sold into slavery in the Sudan.
Their poverty is beyond
imagining. Denied the right to own
land, they have become tenant
farmers and craftsmen, who eke
out an average yearly income of
S60 per month. That compares to
$90 for other Ethiopians, and $230
for other Africans, hardly a living
wage for any human being. They
have no hospitals or physicians,
they suffer from disease and
malnutrition, and their present life
expectancy is 36 years. The past
year and a half, however, has seen
the beginnings of a serious work
training, school and medical
program launched in Gondar, in
which Jewish organizations and
the Falashas participate actively.
Despite their tragic, even
abominable, conditions, they
have remained faithful Jews
observing the Biblical way of life
under the spiritual guidance of
Kohanim, the priestly leaders.
Since they have lived away from
the mainstream of Jewish life for
nearly a thousand years, for
centuries puny Rabbinic Jews
found difficulty in acknowledging
them as Jews—even though they
observed all the Biblical rites of the
Torah, including circumcision, the
Jewish festivals and holy days, and
the Sabbath.
But their status as Jews has been
clarified, and in 1908 44 chief
rabbis proclaimed their legitimacy
as authentic Jews. The Chief
Rabbis of Israel of today have also
reaffirmed their status as Jews,
tracing their origins to the Tribe of
Dan.
In light of this understanding of
their Jewish identity, some 300
Falashas have managed in recent
years to find their way to Israel, the
Promised Land to which they daily
pray to return. These are words of
their prayers from the Falasha
liturgy:
“Hear our prayer, God, King of
the Universe, so that the whole
world can be happy with your rule.
When you help your people Israel,
you help all mankind. Have
mercy on the city of Jerusalem. Let
us enjoy your kingdom with your
Chosen People of Israel.”
Those prayers have not yet been
responded to either by God or by
man. The Falashas are today the
most forgotten Jews in the world,
and the time is long past due for the
Jewish community in the United
States and in Israel to help rescue
them from their suffering, while
there are still some Falashas left
alive to save.
Page 5 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE February 16, 1979