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News Briefs
Hussein OKs peace process
JERUSALEM (JTA) — King Hussein of Jordan is determined
to go ahead with the peace process, according to Rep. Stephen
Solarz(D-N. Y.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Solarz, who arrived here from Jordan where he met with Hussein,
told Prime Minister Shimon Peres that the Jordanian ruler seeks to
advance the peace process in an international forum which would
serve as the framework for direct negotiations with Israel.
Peres reportedly told Solarz that he is determined to bring
about an improvement in Israel’s relations with Egypt. President
Hosni Mubarak said a few days ago that if Palestine Liberation
Organization chief Yasir Arafat does not show greater flexibility,
Hussein would enter the peace process without the PLO.
Senate to probe arrest of rabbis
NEW YORK (JTA)—The Senate Judiciary Committee will
schedule, probably next February, hearings on the arrest and
prosecution of rabbis protesting the treatment of Soviet Jews
outside the Soviet Embassy in Washington.
According to Rabbi Allan Meyerowitz, Soviet Jewry chairman
of the Rabbinical Assembly, Sen. Steven Symms (R-Idaho), a
committee member, has informed Edwin Meese, the attorney
general, of the committee’s intentions to review the arrests and the
District of Columbia statute prohibiting demonstrations within 500
feet of the embassy.
Israeli firm gets U.S. contract
JERUSALEM (JTA)—An Israeli firm has become the first
foreign company awarded a contract to supply parts for America’s
newest tank, the M-l. Suspension and Parts Industries Ltd. (SPI)
of Carmiel, a development town in Upper Galilee, received a $1.7
million contract to make sprocket wheels for the new tank.
Delivery is scheduled for December 1986.
The SPI, which recently became a public company, develops,
manufactures and markets components for the suspension systems
of a wide variety of military armored vehicles. The company is one
of the leading suppliers of road wheels for the U.S. Army. It also
supplies virtually all such wheels and sprocket wheels and track
components for the Israel Defense Force.
Laws to restrict Israeli press?
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Attorney General Yitzhak Zamir
disclosed to a shocked and outraged audience of journalists that
certain government quarters have drafted laws which would severely
curtail freedom of the press if they were ever to be adopted.
Zamir said he was as much appalled as the journalists by the
measures contemplated which would establish a system of licensing
for journalists, just as doctors and lawyers require a state license to
practice.
Zamir also noted that of late, the news media has become
increasingly unpopular with large segments of the public. He
indicated that the looming danger of restrictive measures should
prompt the media to voluntarily tighten enforcement of its own
rules of journalistic ethics.
Ras Burka killer sentenced to life
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Israel’s Ambassador to Egypt, Moshe
Sasson, has voiced his “confidence in Egyptian justice” following
the handing down of a life imprisonment sentence on the Ras
Burka killer, Suleiman Khater.
Sasson noted that in recent days the major Egyptian media had
conveyed to the public in Egypt the full facts of the killing on Oct. 5
of seven Israeli holiday vacationers by Khater, by a soldier
stationed near Ras Burka on the Sinai coast.
Israeli journalist must pay fine
JERUSALEM (JTA)—The Jerusalem Magistrates Court fined
Israeli journalist Amnon Kapeliuk 1.6 million shekels for visiting
Jordan twice without official authorization. Kapeliuk had pleaded
guilty to the charges of violating laws prohibiting Israelis from
traveling to countries at war with Israel, and was convicted of the
offense last week.
Kapeliuk went to Amman last March to cover the convention
of the Palestine National Council for the Israeli daily Yediot
Achronot. The journalist, who holds dual Israeli and French
citizenship, used his French passport to travel to Amman. He went
on similar trips to Algiers and Yemen. Although it was well known
that he is an Israeli, he was received warmly, Kapeliuk said at the time.
The court also ordered Kapeliuk to deposit 800 shekels for
three years to guarantee that he will not repeat the offense.
betters to the editor
Another country heard from
Editor:
After reading the two letters to
the editor in The Southern Israelite
in the Dec. 20 issue, I feel that, as a
citizen of Israel and a committed
Jew, a comment is in order.
First, Mr. Robkin is to be com
mended for “rushing in” where so
many fear to tread, simply because
of who has written certain articles.
I agree that we should not tell any
synagogue that it can or cannot
have a New Year’s Eve party, but
those that do have one, should not
be labeled as “pagans.”
Unfortunately there is a minority
in Israel who have the same ghetto
mentality as some of our brethren
here in Atlanta, who condemn parking
cars on Shabbat at the synagogue.
. . . the exception being that
parking in the rear of the synagogue
is condoned. Similarly, in Israel it
is okay for Jews to throw rocks at
their fellow Jews and cause property
damage and personal injury on
Shabbat.
As to the letter from Mr. Eisenstein
regarding Rabbi Kahane, I believe
the terms “racist” and “demogogue”
fit Kahane just as well as they fit J.
B. Stoner or Farrakhan. Yes, listen
to Kahane speak. Here in the United
States, he is mild-mannered simply
because he is raising money. In
Israel, he is a rabble rouser and
disturber of the peace of the worst
kind. He has been denounced by
President Herzog, Prime Minister
Peres and the vast majority of
decent Israelis. Mr. Eisenstein is
badly misinformed in his statement:
“Why does ‘everyone’ predict that
he will win at least four more seats
in the next election?” Everyone
hopes that he will win NONE, but
due to the method of elections in
Israel, there are enough bigots and
Jewish racists to win the Kach
Party one or two seats.
Kahane is not only a disgrace to
the rabbinate but to all Jewish
people and to all mankind. To
paraphrase Mr. Eisenstein, Kahane
is totally deserving and entitled to
all of the criticism heaped on him.
Sol H. Greenberg
Richon LeZion, Israel
Formerly of Atlanta
Refusniks need ‘letters by the millions’
Editor:
The Southern Israelite of Dec.
13 had a very nice item on its front
page: “Lights of Freedom embody
’85 ‘Plea’ for Soviet Jews.” It was
very nice; it felt good even though,
as always, I get your paper one
week later; and I am sure everybody
present at the ceremony felt good
and virtuous.
Having finished reading it, my
next reaction was: “So what”? What
do the refusniks get out of that love
feast? What benefit does Anatoly
Scharansky or his mother get out
of it? They won’t even know it took
place. How does Michael Gorbachev
react to this event? He has no idea
it took place. Meanwhile every
refusnik is still rotting either in his
cell or in his cold apartment.
What is needed, and the Women’s
Plea for Soviet Jews keeps preaching
it, is to flood the Russian post
office with letters—millions of them.
Just simple letters in English, typed
so the Russian censorship can read
it, saying just that the weather is
good or anything irrelevant, and
expressing some concern. It does
not take much for each of us to
write two letters a month to the
same family; and an air mail stamp
costs 44 cents; it will not bankrupt
the majority of us. A Hanuka or
Pesach or Rosh Hashana card at
the proper period will also do. The
secret is to keep the letters coming.
Some letters will go through, some
won’t—they all will have a result.
Still, it seems so hopelessly difficult
to achieve that objective; the ladies
I contacted at Temple or Jewish
organizations hear about it with a
blase look: “Oh, we have tried; it
does not work.” How can I convince
each of your readers to make such
an effort? We need letters by the
millions. Maybe then the Russians
will get fed up and let the Jews go.
They seem to be as determined as
the Pharaoh of Egypt not to “let
my people go.”
The only modest success I have
had is with the churches. To my
surprise 1 found some Christian
churches do care for the Jews. The
minister bought several packages
of Hanuka cards. After a moving
talk to his congregation, he gave
two cards and the address of two
families to each of his congregants;
and the cards hopefully were mailed
to the proper destination. The same
was repeated with Christmas cards
to Christian refusniks. May we
suggest a similar mailing to the
rabbis in Atlanta? This is a patch
up work, of course, but it is effective.
The real purpose is for each of us to
bring a little comfort and concern
to the brave souls who are putting
a valiant effort to wake up the
conscience of humanity. After all,
let us remember this has been the
role of the “chosen people” through
out history. After two or three
generations of freedom in the U.S.,
Editor:
Thank you so much for publicizing
the beginning date of our Winter’86
Institute for Adult Enrichment co
sponsored by the AJCC and The
Temple. We are always grateful for
your help.
We would like your readers to
know that our program is not
The BBYO Runoffs, two evenings
and an afternoon of spirited games
manship, concluded on Dec. 15
with some very proud winners.
Accordingto Peter Farber, BBYO
director, “Spirit and making a
contribution as a member of a
group is a major part of the Runoffs,
but many of the activities also offer
an opportunity to express oneself
and receivethat always appreciated
recognition for that special talent.”
In the oratory category, the topic
was “What is a True Jew?” for the
boys division and “Who Determines
Who is a Jew?” for the girls
division. Top orators were Andrea
Seidel, Brian Epstein, Tracey Sarner,
Dara Heimanson, Jon Montagand
Kevin Cranman.
Amy Unikel, Samantha Levine
and Eileen Schoolsky created
wonderful stories in the storytelling
competition, weaving their tales
around the topic, “The Light at the
EndoftheTunnel.” HalGreenwald,
Brian Gottlieb, David Barocasand
some of us might have forgotten
the hardship our forefathers went
through in many lands in Europe;
but in the rest of the world Jews are
still struggling against discrimination
and calumny.
The little state of Israel, the
embodiment of the whole Jewish
people, is fighting a similar desperate
fight amongst the nations of the
world. One quick look at the U.N.
will show it. Oh please, let us help
our brothers less fortunate. They
are giving us great inspiration and
a tremendous lesson in courage
and endurance.
Sylvia Scapa
limited to older adults. We are now
open to men and women of all
ages. Anyone who is interested in
obtaining more information on this
program can call me at the AJCC,
875-7881, ext. 58.
Shoshana G. Schwartz
Coordinator
Institute for Adult Enrichment
Mark Bardack told compelling
anecdotes under the heading, “Why
Do I Pray Only When I'm in
Trouble?”
The BBYO Runoffs are more
than oration and storytelling,
however; “It’s chapters coming
togetherand creatingsomethingas
a group,” said Farber.
Keshet and Frank Fierman
chapters presented strong showings
in the chapter banner event, while
Ruach, B’yachad and Anashim
impressed the judges with chapter
songs. Children of David and Keshet
entered first-rate newspapers and
Sidney Marcus chapter ran away
with the AZA fight song.
An evocative poem was read by
Shalom chapter preceding a rousing
version of Puff the Magic Dragon
by 200 BBYOers led by Steven
Friendlander. A high point of the
Runoffs was the pudding eating
contest where, chuckled an observer,
a “gluttonous time was had by all.”
BBYO winners
Adult Institute says thanks
PAGE 5 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE January 3, 1986