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r \ News Briefs JWV marks 90th anniversary WASHINGTON—The Jewish War Veterans of the USA will celebrate its 90th anniversary as the nation’s oldest active veterans’ organization on March 15. On that day in 1896, a group of Jewish Civil War veterans first met and pledged to give the lie to malicious, anti-Semitic slander that painted Jews as unpatriotic parasites who didn’t serve their country. Those Jewish veterans present at that first meeting had, between them, not less than 218 medals awarded for their part in the Civil War—and they represented less than one third of one percent of the Jews known to have served. Jews have been involved in America’s military history from this country’s pre-Revolutionary War beginning and have served this country, faithfully and valiantly, in every military conflict. New shekel note is approved JERUSALEM (JTA)—The Cabinet, yielding to public pres sure, ordered the printing of a new one-shekel note as companion to the new one-shekel coin which has been disparaged by Israelis because of its small size. The Cabinet acted March 9 because many people find it hard to take the coin seriously as “real money.” It is referred to as “the button” because it is so much smaller than coins of less value. The new shekel, note or coin, equals 1,000 old shekels and has a value of 66 American cents. The new note, like the coin, will bear a likeness of Maimonides. The Cabinet also approved the printing of a 100-shekel note which will carry a portrait of the late Yitzhak Ben Zvi, the second presi dent of Israel. Eggs scramble MK’s speech TEL AVIV (JTA)—Knesset MK Shulamit Aloni of the Citi zens Rights Movement was pelted with eggs and verbally abused by dozens of yellow-shirted members of Rabbi Meir Kahane’s nationalist Kach Party as she attempted to address a public meet ing in Petah Tikva March 8. Police were summoned to extricate Aloni from the angry mob. Aloni delivered her speech some 90 minutes later than scheduled. B’nai B’rith says free Mandela WASHINGTON (JTA) B'nai B’rith International has called on South Africa’s president to free that nation’s black leader Nelson Mandela from prison. In a cable to President P.W. Botha, Gerald Kraft, B’nai B’rith president, praised the lifting of the state of emergency and easing police control. Blacks, Israel seek new bond NEW YORK (JTA)—Five leading black university officials from the United States are in Israel in a pilot project aimed at creating an academic bond between their institutions in the Ameri can South and Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The World Zionist Organization is co-sponsoring the project with the World Jewish Congress, Hebrew University and Israel Colloquium, an interfaith group. Among the black educators is Dr. Barbara Carter, vice presi dent for academic affairs at Atlanta’s Spelman College. Cuts create kosher ‘Calcutta’ TEL AVIV (JTA) “Oh Calcutta,” the smash hit American musical banned in Israel because of its nudity and trank sexual content, will open in Tel Aviv on March 26 with the Broadway cast, despite protests from the religious community and other sectors of the public. The Film and State Censorship Board reversed its earlier ban after New- York producer Norman Kean agreed to changes and modifications. There will be six cuts in the version to be staged in Israel. Israel expels Black Hebrews TEL AVIV (J FA) — A group of 26 Black Hebrews who had sought to enter Israel as tourists March 7 were returned to the United States on March 9. The Interior Ministry issued the expul sion order on the grounds that they were not tourists, but intended to join the Black Hebrew community in Dimona and stay in the country illegally. The Black Hebrews claim that they are the real Jews while other Jews are imposters. 1 he government has restricted permission for members of the Chicago-based sect from entering the country. But since the arrival here some years ago of the first group, their numbers have increased to several hundred through illegal entry. ' Synagogue’s attitude distresses reader Editor: My wife and I read with interest your column in the Feb. 28 issue of The Southern Israelite. Perhaps you should not have limited your concern to the participation by young people in the Atlanta Jewish Community. Old people, who formerly were active in Atlanta Jewish life, have been deeply hurt by the reception they received upon returning to this city fol lowing retirement. Permit me to relate our experience. When we came back to the Atlanta area following retirement we sought membership in the congregation to which we for merly belonged. Rather than being welcomed as returning members, who had contributed to a building fund before being transferred, we were flatly told that we would be considered new members and a contribution to the building fund was mandatory. At the time we saw no alternative and rejoined this congregation. After a few years, when we could no longerdrive at night and attend services, we asked to be associate members. At this time we were told there had been other requests by seniors to have some affiliation without being regular members and all such requests were denied. This now became a matter of principle for us. A letter was sent to the executive director of the congregation explaining that our financial position permitted us to contribute a member’s share but we were now concerned about other older and less fortunate people. In the letter we also mentioned that we did not live in Atlanta, were members of another out of town congregation (which furnishes us with tickets for the High Holiday services), and if some consideration would not be given older people without their demand that all persons who could not pay regular dues must go through the demeaning experience of appearing personally before the finance committee, we wished to resign. After several months, during which time we did not receive even the courtesy of a reply, we began to get bills for dues with statements that we were in arrears. Concerned about the slander on our credit rating two calls were made to the executive director, who neither returned our calls nor answered our letter. During this time all bills were being returned with a note saying we had resigned. Finally, we left a message that if our resignation was not acknow ledged we would seek redress through the congregation’s board. At long last we received a letter, not a reply, as no mention was made to our original request, accepting our resignation. It was a traumatic experience to learn that even our contributions were apparently not wanted. This is a congregation to which we had strong sentimental ties, where our children had attended sabbath school, and where a former rabbi contributed immeasurably to our lives. Young people are not alone in not being accepted. At no time were we ever welcomed back by anyone except old friends, not one single letter or handshake from someone representing the con gregation. You will note no mention has been made of the particular congregation, and if you wish to quote from this letter please do not identify the congregation by using my name. My only reason for writing this is to inform someone who might be in a position to assist old people, many of whom do not have the financial resources to participate in the Jewish organ izations of their choice. Name w ithheld on request Call to refusnik reveals common bond Editor: Last week Young Judaea held its regional convention in Atlanta for seventh and eighth graders. The convention included a very special event when, on Saturday night, we placed a call to the Soviet Union and spoke to Gregory Genusov, a Jewish refusnik. It is very difficult for me to describe the feeling I had speaking to this man, first in Eng lish, then briefly in Hebrew (which he has taught himself and speaks quite fluently). I asked him “What can we in America do for the Jews still in Russia?” He answered, in Hebrew, that we should continue writing letters and talking to our leaders about the Jews in the Soviet Union. It was then that 1 realized the true meaning of Zionism-unity; unity with our common bond of Israel, the Jewish homeland. Included in this common bond is the language of Jewish people, Hebrew. 1 do not know what Mr. Genusov’s personality is, or what are his likes and dislikes, but I was able to sit on the phone and speak with him in a language that is not either of our native tongues, yet it is the language of our people. I felt close to Mr. Genusov because his cause is my cause as we are both Jews. The phone call, which we placed at about 11:30 p.m. EST (about 7:30 a.m. in Leningrad) cost about $ 10 for the first three minutes, and was probably the best S10 Young Judaea has spent all year. Of all the tzedaka that is given throughout the year to help Soviet Jewry, this money was spent in a way that the direct results of the tzedaka were immediately felt. Names and phone numbers are obtainable through the Young Judaea Re gional Office, 876-1526. The children who attended this convention listened in on other extensions to the conversation 1 had with Gregory. The mere thought that that phone call might have been taped by Russian police terrified them, but the bravery and courage with which Gregory spoke Editor: During the month of January, Rabbi Larry Meltzer’s sixth grade class at the Hebrew Academy organized and mobilized the entire school in a tzedaka project that was so successful, it is still bringing in supplies! I hese kids made up an ad cam paign that included some of the most terrific posters I’ve ever seen (m\ favorite was “Let’s Can Pov erty"), and one student, Rebecca Sharon, made a book entitled "The Story of the Sixth Grade Can Drive" which is on display in the religious school office on the second floor (also the shelter office). The posters were hung on the walls throughout the hallways ol the Academy, and the kids were so enthusiastic about their project that the entire school was moved to respond One day in February, I got a call 1 r o m Rabbi M e 11 / e r who informed me that his class had a few boxes lor me to pick up and w hen 1 come, would 1 speak to the class in Hebrew to American Jews astounded them. They realized, as 1 did, that this is what makes the Jewish people special. This is what Zionism and Judaism are all about, this is what is really meant by the Hebrew phrase “Am Echad, Lev Echad”—“One People, One Heart.” about the shelter? When 1 arrived two days later, 1 was astounded to see an entire section of the class room piled high with boxes of food. After the students had fin ished loading my car, my large sta tion wagon was filled to capacity! I o date, they have collected over 1.600 cans and packages of food which were distributed half to Shearith Israel's shelter and half to ours We had so much that we sent some to other needy people in the city through our “Helping Hand” project here at The Temple. Headmaster Ephraim Frankel can be mighty proud of his caring students just another example of \ oung people who are truly "liv ing" their Judaism! Carol Nemo, director The Temple Night Shelter Patronize our Advertisers they help bring you The Southern Israelite Asher Zeiger Atlanta City Director Young Judaea Academy pupils applauded PAGE 5 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE March 14, 1986