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PAGE 8 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE August 1, 1986 Professional & Personal Home Health Care 1 The cutting edge NURSING CENTER 373-2858 — Decatur 351-0009 — Brook wood 767-7721 - S. Fulton Hospital A rea Tender Loving Care RN’S, LPN'S, NA S Homemakers Live-in Companions Elderly Person Aides Critical Care I. V. Therapy Royal vows cause flap ORIGINALS BY BONNIE BROSIU5 LADIES DESIGNER IN STORE OPEN TO PUBLIC 290 Hildebrand Drive Balcony Shopping Ctr, 2nd Floor, Suite 6 Mon - Sat 9:00 - 5:30pm Phone 255-9454 Congregation Or veShalom’s Mother's Morning Out Monday-Frlday, 9 a.m.-Noon 16 month-30 month Toddlers Jewish Awareness • Directed Activities Small Classes •individualized Attention s 6 Per Day Limited Space Available .Register Today Call Michelle Mamane, 633-5295 or OVS Office 633-1737. by Edwin Black The royal wedding is over, but London's Jewish community is still buzzing with rumors that Prince Andrew insisted that the words “Zion" and “Israel” be deleted from any Psalms recited during the cere mony—this to avoid offending Arab dignitaries. The flap began about a week before the wedding with a report in the London Times “Diary" column. The Diary column is a quasi-gossipy roundup of political briefs. Buck ingham Palace’s policy is to not confirm or deny such stories from any source, and their silence only fueled speculation along Fleet Street. “Three or four of our staffers tried damn hard to pin it down,” reports London Jewish Chronicle news editor Lesley Friedman, “but we couldn’t.” The Chronicle finally ran a front page story citing the Times, and Buckingham’s dismis sal of the item as gossip that they would not comment on. The Jer usalem Post ran with the story, but was equally unsuccessful in pro voking a confirmation or a denial. Originally, London’s Jewish community reacted with noncha lance. In an interview with the London Jewish Chronicle that was edited out for space, Jack Gewirtz, the Board of Deputies’ feisty civil rights spokesman, characterized the Times report as “idle gossip.” But the mood at the Board of Deputies quickly changed to one of uncer tainty. One communal leader a- mended his early rejection with these words: “At this point, we can’t confirm it, nor can we dismiss it.” The mood change was prompted by a multiplicity of factors. Not Florida’s Best Spa Value “The Great Rate” As low daily P.P.DBL.OCC. 10 of 174 rooms Until 8/10 Continuous 14 Nite Stay You get all these Spa extras for the price of an ‘‘ordinary” hotel room **America’s Most Affordable Spa” 3 nutritionally balanced meals daily Massages Nutritionist Weight loss plans Sauna & steam Swimming pools Whter exercises Free tennis Golf (available) Facials • Herbal Wraps In room cable and HBO Day and evening activities including: bingo, dance classes, dinner dancing & shows l orn */hsA/m s or Call for Information & Reservations 1-800-SPA-SLIM 7900 HARBOR ISLAND. NORTH BAY VILLAGE FL. 33141 only did Buckingham Palace refuse to deny the story to reporters, they failed to offer private assurances to the Jewish community as well. Then, a second round of articles appeared, this time led by the au thoritative Sunday Observer. In an article entitled "Hymns and Hers,” the Observer declared, “Prince Andrew created a small storm by saying he did not want one of the many Psalms which refer to Israel.” Psalm 128 was specified, its rejec tion based on the phrase 'yea that thou shall see they children’s child ren and peace upon Israel.’ The day after the Observer fea ture was released, a Jewish com munal spokesman reacted to quer ies with the comment: “The Sunday Observer and Times are very relia ble newspapers. One is reluctant to call this report a total fabrication. Anything is possible.” When Buckingham announced Psalm 48 was chosen, there was only a brief sigh of relief. “Psalm 48 abounds with references to Zion,” explains the Chronicle’s Friedman, “but when we checked it out, we found that the anthem to be sung at Westminster Abbey was based on two verses of Psalm 48 that do not mention Israel, Jerusa lem or Zion.” Little inference could be drawn however. “The anthem selected was composed ages ago, long before the marriage was announced,” as serts Friedman. A Jewish commu nal spokesman warned that the Jewish community was therefore reacting with extreme caution. “We must treat this very carefully,” he said, “and with great skepticism. We can’t make a case on what is not present. The choice of that anthem might just be a coinci dence.” Other Jewish communal lead ers, speaking on condition of ano nymity. reflected extreme sensitiv ity. “The relationship between the Jews and the Royal Family has always been a very close one,” declares the spokesman. He added however, “if it was shown conclu sively that Prince Andrew did issue such an instruction, it would not affect our attitude toward the Royal Family, only toward Prince An drew.” Arab dignitaries themselves, such as the Saudis in London, refused to confirm or deny that they would take offense at a Biblical mention of Israel, or that they encouraged any verbal boycott. And Israeli sources, aware of the extreme sen sitivity of the matter told this re porter, “Do us a favor. Keep us out of it. We’re not involved.” Ironically, and almost comic ally, the entire affair was only complicated by a gracious loyal gesture to the Jewish community. When the official program was published, Jewish leaders were surprised to see a tribute to rabbin ical wisdom. A forward to be recited by the Archbishop of Canterbury read: “As Jewish teachers some time say, ‘In the love of husband and wife, there dwells the divine presence.’” Jewish leaders were both deligh ted and astonished. “This is a Christian marriage in a Christian country,” explained an official of a Jewish organization dealing with the wedding question. “A reference like this is almost out of nowhere. If you had a conspiratorial mind,” he added cautiously, “you could identify this as some sort of quid pro quo—deleting any mention of Israel so as not to offend Arabs, going out of one’s way to include something Jewish to make up for it.” Finally, however, just 24 hours before the wedding, Buckingham Palace agreed to issue a specific and authoritative denial to this reporter. The curt denial, “no sub stance in that,” conveyed by a Palace spokesman, was described as a departure from the royal fami ly’s rule of not commenting on “gossip.” The next day, the world swooned as the royal couple took their vows, rode from Westminster in a gilded carriage and finally appeared from a balcony to wish the crowds well. What words were spoken or not spoken hardly seemed relevent to a moment of romantic enchantment. “Now it’s something of the past," reported one Jewish leader shortly after the ceremony. “Nobody’s going to carry old grudges, when they didn’t make a fuss even before the wedding.” More relevant to some observers was the way London Jewry itself reacted. In the face of royal silence, some sources wondered why Anglo- Jewish leadership didn’t simply take the initiative and ask Buckingham whether there was truth to the alle gation. The answer reflects the precarious position of British Jewry, and their clear awareness of it. “This whole matter is very difficult for us,” explained one top Jewish leader. “Anything is possible. But the Palace wouldn’t comment, and frankly we preferred not to ask. You might say we were afraid of what we would find, if we did.” Authentic Ethiopian Cuisine Featuring Spicy Lamb, Beef, Chicken and Vegetables. Open 7 days, Lunch & Dinner Major Credit Cards Accepted 810 N. Highland Ave., N.E. (404) 872-6483