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News Briefs
Arafat plans Rome visit
ROME (JTA) The representative of the Arab League in
Rome announced here this week at a press conference that
Palestinine Liberation Organization chief Yasir Arafat will
“almost certainly" come to Rome in the beginning of 1980.
Chesili Klibi, the Arab League’s secretary general, is expected
on an official visit to Italy in January, at which time the League
plans to take a “series of initiatives" to persuade the Italian
government to extend official recognition of the PLO and thereby
"paving the way” for other European Economic Community
nations to do the same, it was announced at the press conference.
Nobelist lauds Gaza rule
CALCUTTA (Z1NS) — Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother
Teresa told the correspondent of Ha’artez, that the condition of the
Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip has undergone considerable
improvement under Israeli administration. Mother Teresa lauded
the Israeli army for its aid to the charity organization she had
established in Gaza 29 years ago. “The military administration”
she said—“is doing everything it can to facilitate our efforts among
the refugees and I am grateful to the administration for the
understanding it manifests for our efforts." Mother Teresa also
added, that during the several visits she made to the Gaza Strip, she
felt convinced that the conditions of the inhabitants are constantly
improving.
Israelis prosper in 70s
TEL AVIV (ZINS) — In the last 20 years the rise in the standard
of living of the Israeli has been three times greater than that of the
United States, according to an article by economist Professor
Baruch Mobovitch, writing in the periodical, Baderech. In support
of his thesis the author cities the following data: In the year 1970
only 5.5 percent of the population owned electric or gas ovens, but
by 1977 that percentage had risen to 58.9 percent. In 1970 95.5 I
percent of the population owned electric refrigerators; by 1977 the
figure was 99 percent. In 1970, 16.7 percent had electric washing ,
machines; in 1977—74.1 percent. In 1970 only 16.7 percent of the
population owned private automobiles; in 1977 that figure had
risen to 29.1 percent. There has also been a steady increase in
consumption.
Head of state had close call
NEW YORK (JTA)—The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
thwarted a major assassination attempt against “a head of state of a
friendly government" by terrorists 24 hours before it was due to be
carried out, Ray Cline, former CIA deputy director, disclosed this
week He declined to identify the head of state, saying only “it was a
woman" and that the assassination attempt was made “a while
ago” in New York. It was understood, however, that he referred to
former Israel Premier Golda Meir who visited New York a few
times during her premiership.
Who is a Jew?
TORONTO (JTA) A revolutionary change in Jewish law
that would regard the child of a mixed marriage as Jewish, if either
parent was Jewish, was proposed by Rabbi Alexander Schindler. |
president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations |
(UAHC), at the UAHC’s 55th General Assembly meeting here. 1
Some 4.000 delegates, representing nearly 750 Reform 1
synagogues in the United States and Canada, heard Schindler call |
on the Reform movement to change the 2.000-year-old Jewish
tradition that a child's religion is determined by the religion of the |
mother. He urged the validation of Jewish lineage through the |
paternal as well as the maternal line.
Argentina denies anti-Semitism
BUENOS AIRES (JTA) — Interior Minister Albano I
Harguindegui denied that there is any kind of official anti- 1
Scmitism in Argentina and declared thw Argentine Jewry enjoys |
“a climate of absolute liberty." Addressing a Rotary Club i
luncheon, Gen. Harguindegui charged that international terrorism |§
is behind claims that anti-Semitic trends exist in the country in |
order “to damage, by all possible pieans, the image of our country Jl
abroad." He said that Argentine Jews "identify themselves |
absolutely with all our problenV>i and hopes and join in our f
struggle, celebrating our triumphs and regretting our failures." I
How to help the Cambodians
Editor:
The American Jewish commun
ity has expressed great concern
over the deteriorating situation in
Cambodia and is anxious to help.
I wish to inform the Atlanta
Jewish community that they may
help by sendingtheircontributions
direct to the American Joint
Distribution Committee, which is
working with the Interfaith
Hunger Appeal, the Church World
Services and the Catholic Relief
Services to provide some relief for
millions of starving Cambodians.
The Joint Distribution
Committee is a major beneficiary of
the Atlanta Jewish Federation
campaign, and is the major agency
serving Jewish communities in
need abroad.
We wholeheartedly support the
efforts of the U.S. Government to
bring aid to the endangered
Cambodian people. We will do
everything we can to help the Joint
Distribution Committee provide
food, technical and professional
help.
The Joint Distribution
Committee has often contributed
funds in the past for earthquake
relief and other natural disasters.
The latest such contribution was
for earthquake relief in Yugoslavia
in May of this year. Similar
contributions were made for
general relief purposes in Romania
Italy, Guatemala and other
countries.
Contributions may be sent to the
Joint Distribution Committee at
60 East 42nd St., New York, N Y.
10017, or to the Atlanta Jewish
Federation, 1753 Peachtree St.,
N.E., Atlanta, Ga. 30309, clearly
marked “For Cambodian Relief.”
Max Ritlenbaum, President
Atlanta Jewish Federation
Need help looking for your roots?
Editor:
The Jewish Family. These two
words are nearly inseparable. Yet
how much do you really know
about your parents' past, your
brothers and sisters... .your
grandparents? When was the last
time your children sat with Bubbe
and Zayde and talked about
something which really meant a
lot to both of them?
I work at the Central Atlanta
Public Library downtown and I
want to help you get in touch with
your past through tracing your
genealogy. Anyone needing
assistance please come by or write
to me, Caryn Bern, at the public
library, 10 Pryor St., S.W.,
Atlanta, 30303. In your letters be
sure to include all known names
(including first names) dates,
counties, towns, cities and states.
A self-addressed, stamped
envelope will ensure a quick
response.
I am also interested in collecting
completed five-generation family
^ancestral charts. Notices of family
reunions will be posted at any time.
We would like to keep these on file
at the library to include in our
growing collection on the history
of the Jews in Atlanta.
I'm looking forward to climbing
those family trees with you to
uncover the past...
Caryn L. Bern
Research Librarian
Atlanta Public Library
Send your Blue Box story to JNF
Editor:
It is with great excitement that I
announce that an anonymous
Australian honor has offered a
$560.00 prize for the most
“touching, unusual or historically
interesting story or incident
involving the J.N.F. Blue Box.”
The world wide search for the blue
box stories has been launched in
Sidney, Australia, to mark the
“year of the Blue Box,” which
commences in 1980.
Entries should be in writing and
can be submitted in any language.
Taped recollections not exceeding
five minutes duration may also be
submitted on standard cassette.
Readers can send their entries to
this office, JNF, 3 Piedmont
Center. Suite 416, Atlanta, Ga„
30305. This contest closes on
March 31, 1980.
Our best wishes and good luck
to all Southern Israelite
contestants.
Michael Tidhar
Jerusalem Emissary
Southeastern Regional Director
A child’s view of Hanuka
Editor:
The story of Hanuka as you can
see.
Is mostly about Judah Maccabee.
Even Antiochus the King,
Who thought he was better than
anything.
Couldn’t even compare.
With Judah who was brave as a
bear.
The miracles were just two,
“Why, that’s not even a few!"
But wait—wait until your hear.
The miracles that sound so
queer.
Then suddenly, Jerusalem was
stolen.
By Antiochus whose eyses were
rollin’.
Soon the Jews were engaged.
With a war that raged and raged
The Jews had just sticks and
stones.
And the war was heard above
their moans.
But G-d was by our side.
And even though Antiochus
tried
Even though it wasn’t fun.
It was miracle number one!
(We Won!)
But alas. I’m sad to say.
There was oil to last one day.
But eight days that oil burned.
And all the people turned.
And looked and knew —
It was miracle number two!!
Latnie A her man
Age 10
PLO may be inside embassy
WASHINGTON (JTA)—The State Department drew a
rhetorical line last week between "Palestinian terrorists" and the
“Palestine Liberation Organization" and reported that “the PLO"
is being constructive in connection with the 50 Americans being
held hostage in the U.S. Embassy compound in Teheran.
In face of persistent and increasingly firm reports that
Palestinians are deeply involved in the hostage-taking and
blackmail, the State Department said that its information on who
is in the Embassy compound is “very irpperfect" and that it has
"nothing to announce about their identities."
“We are in a state of ignorance about what is going on in the
Embassy," Department spokesman Thomas Reston replied at one
point during intense questioning by reporters. However, when he
was asked if it is "possible Palestinians are in there," he replied,
“sure ”