Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 4 THE SOI THERN ISRAELITE Eebru.rs 20. 19NI
— — '
The Southern Israelite
The Weekly \ewypapef for ^tnithern ley*e%
Our 57th >ejr
Vida Goldgar
Devil’s advocate
Vida Goldgar
Ldwor and PubfchrT
Faith Powell
AuttUni Edlor
AHrn Rabinowitx
Fearunr E4*or
Leonard Goldstein
hfcemsmq t>mr»cw
L^nn Lackner
Production SWwjr-
Published every Friday by Tke !
Second Class Postage pad at Atlanta. Ga (TSSNd03S&) (UPS-77WbO)
MaOng Address P O Bos 77388. AtUnts Geot^a 30357
Location 188 IStk St.. N W Phone (404) 876-8248
AcKertiein) rales avid able upon request.
Subscriptions: $15 00 - 1 year. $25 00 - 2 years
Meirter c* > Ifccsr Tciyabc Agency; Retpous News Service
Arervin Jewess Press Assn Gecege Press Assn . Nmorvsi Newspaper Assn
Life vs. art
Some years back there was a television show based on the
unlikely premise that John Beresford Tipton—“The
Millionaire”— went around handing out a million dollars each
week to a deserving individual.
Life is said to imitate art. In this case the generous person is an
official of the Energy Department and instead of worthy
individuals, this official distributed a million dollars ot lederai
funds to each of four charities.
The funds came from a settlement with a number of oil
companies which had been charged with violating pricing
regulations. It was intended to help poor people pay their fuel
bills Only hitch was, since the Energy Department official, Paul
Bloom couldn’t get an agreement on just how to distribute the $4
million, he took it upon himself, just before leaving office, to give
it to the Salvation Army, the Council of Jewish Federations,
Catholic Charities and the National Council of Churches, so they
could distribute it.
Since the Atlanta Jewish Federation is a member of the
Council of Jewish Federations, we inquired as to what had been
done with the million dollars received.
A spokesperson verified that the money had indeed been
received at CJF in New York but “not a penny has been spent."
The funds were immediately frozen so a survey could be done to
determine which parts of the country had suffered most from the
severe weather. Every Federation in the country was contacted
about the extent of hardship in their community. From that
survey, it would be decided how to distribute the money so it
actually was spent the way the Energy Department wanted it
spent...where it was mosf needed.
We were told, also, that Bloom’s action is not illegal, but since
the controversy has arisen over,its propriety, representatives of
each of the four charitable organizations met in Washington last
week with the Energy Department and are waiting for directions,
in writing, as to what the department wants done.
It is a difficult situation since ht least one of the charities has
already distributed the money it received.
However it is resolved, we think the CJF acted in a proper and
responsible manner in dealing with this windfall. If, in the end. the
money must be turned, it is there in the bank. If not, we know it
will reach those who really need it.
While a lot of speculation these days tends towards
the view that Israel's June elections will find
Menachetn Begin and the Likud coalition out, a
remark I made this week to that
effect drew stong dissent from
Harry Hurwitz.
Perhaps that shouldn’t be
surprising, since Hurwitz is Israefs
minister on information at the
embassy in Washington and is on
loan from the prime minister’s
office. He was in Atlanta this week
as part of his effort to
communicate Israefs policies, actions and precepts
not only to consular officials and Jewish leaders, but
to Christian organizations which support Israel, and to
the media
His support of the prime minister no doubt goes
with the job, but I sensed that there was strong
personal support as well. He has known Menachem
Begin for some 36 years, he told me, and was for many
years a member of the World Zionist Organization’s
actions committee.
Hurwitz sees Begin as one of the great historical
figures of the Jewish people. “When history is really
written," he told me, “Begin will emerge as the Bar
Kochba of his times." Hurwitz also felt it necessary to
explain to me that Bar Kochba was “the gredt
soldier/statesman in Roman times."
At any rate, when 1 suggested that a change in
government was probably in the offing, Hurwitz
quickly said, “It is too soon to make assumptions
about the outcome of elections, especially after what
happened in 1977 when Begin was elected." He
reminded me that in ’77, not one opinion poll
predicted the outcome correctly and added that in the
recent U.S. election the polls were “way off.”
Besides, Hurwitz said, there is such a volatile
situation in the Middle East, and Israel has such a
dynamic society, that the “outcome could depend on
the actual circumstances immediately before the
election.” He sounded a bit angry when he added,
"People who obviously have already formed an
opinion don’t really understand the political life in
Israel.”
Part of Hurwitz’ job is to help us understand a lot
of things about Israel. He plans to work closely with
editors of Jewish newspapers in order to help us
understand the problems so perhaps we can help our
readers understand. 1 was pleased to hear him call the
Jewish press “a vital instrument for Israel" though he
added the stipulation "provided the press is a serious
press and understands the problems."
Well, considering The Southern Israelite a
“serious press" trying to understand the problems, 1
posed a few questions.
The first was regarding Israel’s controversial
settlements policy. Hurwitz answered with an
anecdote about the recent visit to Israel of New York
Mayor Ed Koch. “Before he went to Israel," Hurwitz
said, “Koch wasa severe critic of the Begin settlement
policy." Before he left, Koch declared that he is completely
in agreement with the settlement policy." Hurwitz
answered the obvious question, “Why?" by quoting
Koch: “1 saw it with my own eyes."
Certainly I can vouch for that v My own feelings
were a bit ambivalent until my trip a year ago when I,
too, saw with my own eyes and I remembered a pre-
1967 trip and how tiny was that strip of land between
the enemy and the sea...and how dangerous. Can I
convince you? Possibly not but my wish would be that
each of you could see it.
Hurwitz recited a startling statistic. He said fewer
than 10 percent of American Jews have been to Israel.
“When the vast, overwhelming majority have never
seen the Jewish state,” he remarked, “how can one
expect them to appreciate and understand the
problems this country faces."
Playing devil’s advocate, 1 told Hurwitz that while
I did not disagree with the settlements policy, I, along
with many American Jews, questioned the timing of
certain actions, if only from a public opinion point of
view.
He had a ready answer for that which told me that
these actions were not as ill-considered as might have
been thought. “When decisions are taken by the
government of Israel, they take into account
numerous factors; among them the public opinion
effect in the United States, Europe and the Arab
world. But ultimately," Hurwitz stressed, “the
overriding consideration must be the national interest
of Israel. That is how any free government decides its
policy." 1 felt chastened.
Before Mrs. Hurwitz reminded her husband that it
was time to leave for a dinner engagement, I brought
up another troublesome issue—the awarding of a
Jabotinsky medal to the Moral Majority’s Jerry
Falwell. Reminding me that the awardees were
selected by an American committee, Hurwitz said
nonetheless, that “We cannot reject the friendship and
support for Israel of millions of people. Some
Americans are uncomfortable with some of Falwell’s
positions on American issues That is a problem for
(hem. not for Israel or for French Jews, or British
Jews "
With more questions ready. I was sorry there
wasn't more lime I’m certain, however, there will be
another opportunity.
Creation of the ‘creation’law
by Stanley \1. l.efco
Last year it was called scientific
creationism. This year it’s been
dubbed creation-science. Six of
one/half a dozen of the other. It’s
a bill which State Representative
Tommy Smith (District 152) is
expected to introduce in the
Georgia House.
Whal is the bill? Broadly it’s an
attempt to introduce the
fundamentalist Christian version of
creation into the public schools.
Specifically, the bill does the
following:
(1) Requires that both creation
science and evolution-science be
taught, i.e., “balanced treatment."
Teach both or neither.
(2) Limits teaching to “scientific
evidences" for each “model "
(3) Bars "any religious
instruction or references to
religious writings" and does not
require instruction in the subject of
origins
(4) Defines creation-science in
part as the scientific evidence
which supports the "sudden
creation” theory, “insufficiency of
mutation an natural selection in
bringing about development"
theory and the “catastrophism”
including “world-wide floods"
theory.
(5) Permits some outside
lectures to present both models
The bill also contains a
legislative declaration of purpose,
which includes protection of
academic freedom, freedom of
religious exercise and prevention
of discrimination against students
for their beliefs. It also declares
that evolution-science is contrary
to certain religious conviction,
produces hostility toward many
“thetstic" religions and violates
academic freedom
The bill is not innocuous if you
answer the following in the
affirmative:
(I) Does it violate the First
Amendment that the government
shall ma"ke no law respecting an
establishment of religion?
(2) Does it impose the views and
beliefs of one group of people on
another?
(3) Are teachers going to have to
become trained in fundamental
Christian theology?
(4) Is it conceivable that
ministers will be called in for guest
lectures?
(5) Is it going to cost a lot to
implement'’
(6) Is it going to place the control
of curricula in people who are not
educators?
(7) Is it going to open the door
for other religious beliefs and
concepts to be taught in the
schools?
If the bill passes, let’s call out our
William Jennings Bryans and our
Clarence Darrows and do the
Scopes trial again. Who says it isn’t
1925?