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News Briefs France’s new man in Israel PARIS (JTA)—Alain Pierret, a 55-year-old career diplomat, has been appointed France’s ambassador to Israel. He had pre viously served as ambassador to Niger, and since January, 1983, was a senior official in the Foreign Ministry’s administrative servi ces in charge of United Nations and international organization affairs. Pierret was a member of the French delegation to the first Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe at Helsinki and served as First Councillor in Belgrade. Earlier diplomatic postings were to Freetown, Sierra Leone, Pretoria, South Africa, Moscow and Helsinki. The envoy is a knight of the Legion of Honor and an officer of the National Order of Merit. Synagogue looters sought AMSTERDAM (JTA)—Police are searching for the thieves who broke into the Lek Street Synagogue here on the night of June 4 and stole silver ritual objects insured for $40,000 but considered of much greater value. It was the second such theft at the syn agogue in two years. The items taken include seven Torah crowns, seven Torah shields and several silver pointers. Police said the burglars were apparently well acquainted with the premises. There were no traces of forced entry. Israel to weigh ‘paternity’ leave JERUSALEM (JTA)—Fathers will soon be able to take “paternity” leave from work if a Welfare Ministry equal rights amendment is accepted. Under the present law, new mothers are entitled to a year’s unpaid maternity leave. The legislation will allow fathers to opt for the leave after the birth of their baby if they have sole charge of the child. Welfare Minister Moshe Katzav, announcing the proposed changes Sunday, said that the new law would also give either parent the right to resign his or her job and receive severance pay after the birth or adoption of a child. The present legal right of mothersto be absent from work to care for a sick child will extend to fathers under the new law. Hundreds cross Allenby Bridge JERUSALEM (JTA)—Some 1,600 Arab visitors recently arrived at the Jordan River’s Allenby Bridge, signaling the begin ning of the summer visiting season of Arabs from neighboring countries to the administered territories. Over 60,000 Arabs are expected to cross over the Jordan bridges during the summer months. The military commanders of the Allenby Bridge said that the daily number of visitors would soon rise up to 2,500. The visitors must undergo an inspection process of up to three and a half hours before they can cross the bridge and enter the territories. Brig. Ephraim Sneh, civil governor of Judaea and Samaria, said the inspection process was an inevitable result of the Mideast conflict. Austrians decry anti-Semitism TEL AVIV (JTA)—Austria’s ambassador to Israel, Otto Plei- nart, and Walter Schwimmer, a member of the Austrian Parlia ment, assured Israelis here that anti-Semitism in any form would not be tolerated in Austria. Pleinart and Schwimmer, who is a member of President-elect Kurt Waldheim’s People’s Party, both spoke Sunday at a gathering at Givat Haviva marking the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Heinz Nittel, president of the Austria-Israel Friendship League, who was gunned down by an Arab terrorist in Vienna in June 1981. Schwimmer presently occupies the post held by Nittel. Hungarian synagogue dedicated PARIS (JTA)—A new synagogue was inaugurated in Hungary to be operated by the Central Board of Jewish Communities. It is located in the city of Siofok near Lake Baloton. The Hungarian News agency, MTI, monitored here, reported that high-ranking government officials as well as representatives of the Budapest Jewish community attended the ceremonies. The agency did not say whether the synagogue will have a resident rabbi and cantor, nor does it give the size of the local Jewish community. It was the first time since World War II that a new synagogue has been built in Eastern Europe. There are close to 100,000 Jews in Hungary, the majority in the capital. Budapest, where there are 29 synagogues staffed by rabbis and other Jewish functionaries. There is also a Beth Din, a mikva, a burial society, 12 kosher butcheries and a yeshiva in Budapest. Rabbi ‘sets the record straight’ Editor: Recently, a letter appeared in The Southern Israelite accusing a Cobb County Conservative rabbi of making disparaging remarks regarding Reform Judaism, in a Shabbat D’Var Torah. The con troversy was generated by the fact that it was a Bat Mitzva, more than likely Reform Jews would be in attendance, and that such com ments would best be left unarticu lated at such a time. Frankly, I had no intention of answering the letter publicly (I have replied privately) but some congregants have urged me to respond nonetheless. Therefore, for their sakes, for the curious among you and for my many Reform friends I will relate the events of that fateful Shabbat morning. First of all, nothing I said was dramatically novel. Every observa tion that I shared with the congre gation has appeared in countless periodicals, journals and publica tions. To emasculate the pulpit and protect the public from that which is public, is absurd. At any rate, this is what I said, so that this non issue may be put to rest. 1) The Rabbinical Assembly, at its convention, approved the ex pulsion of any Conservative rabbi who implements patrilinealism. 2) Patrilinealism was overwhelm ingly rejected by the R.A. with an appeal to the Reform to reconsider their embracing of the doctrine. 3) Reform Judaism has grown in direct proportion to intermarriage and many Reform congregations have considerable numbers of mixed-married couples on their membership roles. 4) Patrilinealism was an approach to insure Reform Jewish continuity in light of high interfaith marriages and ominous demographic trends. 5) Reform Judaism has been lobbying in a variety of forums and forms for Conservative Judaism to adopt patrilinealism. On Shabbat morning we have our largest crowd, with or without a Bar Mitzva, and I use the oppor tunity, with or without a Bar Mitzva, to inspire, to teach and to stimulate the congregation. I am not by intention a belligerent soul, but reality and truth are oftentimes discomforting. I trust this sets the record straight and we may all work towards Tikun Olam. Rabbi Shalom Lewis Congregation Etz Chaim Reader values ‘gift of freedom’ Editor: A few more days and this glor ious country of ours will celebrate 210 years of freedom. Having spent most of my life under dictatorial regimes, I for one can appreciate how wonderful it is to live in a free and open society. The gift of freedom must never be taken for granted. We don’t have to go back very far in history to see how free people can become oppressed overnight, as happened in Czechoslovakia, first in 1939 and again in 1948. Once freedom is lost, even the most heroic of mea sures may fail to restore it. Such was the fate of Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968. The one country that best under stands this is Israel, which there fore keeps its forces always on the alert and ready, if necessary, to fight for its continued existence as a free and enlightened country. At Entebbe 10 years ago, anti freedom forces threatened over a hundred Israelis with death. The government of Israel didn’t hesi tate and sent its forces on a peri lous mission thousands of miles away to rescue their countrymen who were being held hostage there. These captives were restored to freedom through the heroic deeds of their compatriots. But the raid on Entebbe had its price, in the rescue attempt the commander of the Israeli forces lost his life. As we celebrate our freedom this coming July 4, let us pause for a minute to render tribute to the memory of Jonathan Netanyahu, the brave Israeli leader whose life 10 years ago was the price of free dom for 100 other Israelis. Egon Petschek Praise for Cultural Affairs Department Editor: The people of the metro area of Atlanta may not be aware of the efforts and accomplishments of the Atlanta Department of Cultural Affairs. In furthering the richness of the cultural life of the city of Atlanta, Mayor Young and Ms. Shirley Cooks, director of Atlanta’s De partment of Cultural Affairs, ex tend generous support to the cul tures of all groups, without regard to race, color or creed. American ORT Federation, a worldwide organization dedicated to the rehabilitation and im provement of all peoples through education and training, with the cooperation and support of Atlan ta’s Department of Cultural Affairs, featured An Evening Of Modern and Traditional Cantorial master pieces on Tuesday evening, June 17, at the Atlanta Civic Center. The program was well received and became part of the blend of the cultural fiber from which Atlanta’s rich fabric is made. At a time when criticism of government is rampant, one must give it some balance with praise. The Atlanta Chapter of Men’s ORT adds its praise and thanks to Andrew Young, mayor of the city of Atlanta and Ms. Shirley Cooks, director of Atlanta’s Department of Cultural Affairs. Marvin P. Nodvin Yiddish book drive Teddy Weinberger, Atlanta area spokesman for the National Yid dish Book Center, announced plans to round up discarded and unused Yiddish books from cellars and attics throughout Atlanta. Col lected volumes will be sent to a central repository in Amherst, Mass., where they will be restored and made available to teachers, students and university libraries. Yiddish literature once enjoyed enormous popularity among the area’s immigrant Jewish popula tion. Sets of Sholom Aleichem, Y.L. Peretz and other Yiddish classics were to be found in almost every Jewish home. In later years, however, assimilation took its toil. Books which had been treasured by parents and grandparents were often packed away and forgotten by a new generation of American- born Jews, who read no Yiddish. Today, after a gap of almost 50 years, Yiddish is experiencing a startling revival. Courses in Yid dish language and literature have been introduced at more than 60 North American universities. Long-forgotten Yiddish books are urgently needed by a new genera tion of students and scholars. Efforts to collect Yiddish books began nationally in June, 1980 with the founding of the National Yiddish Book Center—a non-profit agency dedicated to the preserva tion and dissemination of Yiddish culture. Administered by faculty members from Amherst, Hamp shire, Mt. Holyoke and Smith Col leges and the University of Massa chusetts, the Center has retrieved more than 425,000 rare and out-of- print Yiddish volumes in its first four years of operation. Organizers hope that many needed volumes will be found in local homes. All donations of Yid dish books and periodicals are welcome. Books should be brought to the area drop-off point, located at Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Rd. Pick-up service is also available. For more information please phone Teddy Weinberger, 982-0680, or Beth Jacob, 633-0551. PAGE 5 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE June 27, 1986