Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 August 1974 — Page 8

Th» Jewish Posl Friday, August 2, 1974

Pervading Sense Of Fear Anyone who follows developments in Israel and the American Jewish community closely can detect the great unease, more in America than in Israel, over the situation in which Israel finds herself vis-a-vis not only her Arab neighbors but the nations of the world. That this distrust is very evident in the United States more so than in Israel, also is understandable. The Israelis have to go about their business and are doing things. We in America sit and worry and are frustrated. Yet to comprehend why there is this pervading sense of fear or even of doom becomes not only valuable but extremely important, and can serve to some extent to allay the kind of emotion that is debilitating instead of restoring self-confidence. The answer is change. There is a vast change going on in the Middle East, but also in the w T orld. It is not for this editorial to elucidate and extrapolate on these changes. Here we want only to point out that at times of substantial change, the unease feeds on itself unless those involved understand the psychological process and allow for it. We must not let out fears run away with themselves. We need to guard against this kind of disintegration of our beings. We are not here urging that w'e let down our guard, but we are suggesting that we must keep the faith that we will work through this period and come out stronger in the long run for it. We must have confidence in ourselves and in Israel and its leadership. Nothing is ever sure in this world, but it is more certain to eventuate if we believe in our abilities to cope with whatever is in store for us.

Zionists Afraid To Let Loose The rebuff given the proposal by Arye Dulzin when be suggested that the World Zionist Organization do what the Jewish Agency has done successfully — give a voice to the local Jewish communities in the diaspora instead of being composed only of Zionist bodies — "•as not the total loss it may seem to be. Dulzin was telling the Zionist General Council that it no longer had the constituent support in the world Jewish community, and no longer was the seat of power in the diaspora. The message was long overdue, and the unfortunate part is that the Zionist bodies recognize the accuracy of Dulzin’s analysis but do not have the courage to do what needs to be done. It is a matter of failure of leadership, and will be rectified soon or the whole Zionist ruling hierarchy will fall into desuetude, if it has not already done so. Dulzin, as also the members of the Zionist General (Council, have seen the Jewish Agency’s enlargement to include 50 per cent representation from other than Zionist organizations bring new life into the Jewish Agency. They also have seen that the non-Zionist delegates to the Agency have taken it over lock, stock and barrel. That it now is an effective instrument of the world Jewish community does not move the Zionists as much as the fact that they no longer control, and lhat to them unfortunately is crucial — not the welfare of Israel.

Egyptian Woman To Report On Israel JERUSALEM — Egypt which Egyptian’s Vision of Peace,” so far has looked calmly on the which saw in the diswritings of Sana Hassan which engagements possibilities for have won her support from such lasting Arab-Israeli-peace, top Israelis as Mrs. Abba Eban appeared in the New York and Arye (Lovaj Eliav, has 'Hmes. She has also been taken the precaution of dis- published in Cairo, and the owning her. Here reportedly to Jerusalem Post reprinted the do a series of articles for the article that appeared in the New York Times, the daughter Times. of a former Egyptian Am- The latest Cairo reports debassador to the United States, rided her Arab affinity, asis a doctoral candidate at serting that she was more of Harvard. an American than an Egyptian and that she had spent most An article by her, “An of her life in the United States. lOt Fifth Avo , New York, N. Y. 10003 989-6363 Subscription price $13.50 per year Single copies 35c; Back issues over 3 months old 50c All editorial correspondence should be adressed to tho Indianapolis Office, 611 North Park Ave. 46304 GABRIEL COHEN, Editor and Publisher CHARLES ROTH, Executive Editor

The EDITOR'S CHAIR

We were the first Jewish paper to comprehend the importance of the work that Dr. Fred Massarik is doing as head of the National Jewish Population Study (NJPS) of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, and carried the first tallies on his study of intermarriage which has given to the Jewish community the first substantial documented figures on the situation in this area. And we have kept in touch with him. Because any findings must be reported at the general assemblies of the CJFWF, he will not give us any scoops despite the fact that we have plagued him with letters and placed David Weissman, our man in Los Angeles, on his door steps. Yet every once in a while, we do eke out a scoop, as per below, which is an exchange of letters from one of our readers, and we think the facts important enough for your edification. Editor, POST & OPINION: You constantly deride “intermarriage alarmists” by noting that the Council of Jewish Federations National Population Survey shows that 96 per cent of the children, whether in households that are intermarried or not intermarried, are raised as Jewish. But there is no comfort in the figure. 1) It is based on all marriages exisiting at the time of the survey, including the older seasoned marriages. Thus, in the sample from which that figure derives, wily about 10 per cent of the marriages were intermarriages. But from 1966 to 1972, 40 per cent of the marriages were intermarriages (without conversions). Imagine how that reduces the number of children “raised Jewish.” 2) The survey includes only existing marriages — it takes no account of those previously dissolved; and the divorce rate among intermarrieds is about four to six times greater than among non-intermarrieds. 3) The study does not extend beyond 1972: if the rate of increase in intermarriage from 1940 to 1972 is extended (to be done only with caution), then about 62 per cent of the marriages during 1972-1978 would be intermarriages without conversion (up from 40 per cent in 1966-1972). In any event, the study shows that Jewish survival in the United States is threatened not so much by Gentile hostility as by Jewish indifference. A clear challenge to each Jew and to Jewish citizenry. BENJAMIN S. ASIA Tower Bldg. Seattle, Wash. 98101 DR. MASSARIK REPLIES: Mr. Asia is correct in noting that some of the data contained in the NJPS Intermarriage Report refer to all marriages existing at the time of the survey, including older “seasoned”

marriages. There is little doubt that for marriages in which the husband is Jewish and the wife is not Jewish (which is the majority of intermarriages), there is a significant dropoff of children being raised as Jewish. One must ask, however, what would have happened if these same Jewish men had married Jewish girls? Given an underlying attitude of relative indifference, it would most likely be the wife that would initiate a possible tendency toward Jewish education and other involvement. If this kind of Jewish man had married selectively a Jewish girl who, however, would have matched his relative indifference and lack of Jewish identity, the decline in meaningful Jewish upbringing might have resulted as well. On this basis, it is hard to know as to the kind of comparison that should be made in assessing the differential impact of intermarriages such as these. It seems to me that the issues are related primarily to identity and to Jewish commitment anyway, and that the matter of intermarriage is a symptom primarily and a cause only secondarily. Mr. Asia also is correct in noting that this particular report deals only with existing marriages. However, data is available for terminated marriages. Future analyses will deal with these marriages specifically. I know of no “hard” data, however, to support the assertion that “the divorce rate among intermarrieds is about four to six times greater than among non-intermarrieds,” at least as far as Jewish marriages are concerned. (If Mr. Asia has such data I would be most interested in receiving the appropriate reference.) Further, increased divorce rates among intermarriages again do not necessarily lead to the conclusion that it is the intermarriage itself that is the cause . . . one may speculate once more that underlying dynamics related to identity and to other personal and interpersonal issues may be fundamental to a raft of problems, of which marriage dissolution is but one outcome. I do not believe that one can project the trend line of intermarriage rates from 1972 to 1978 without recourse to substantial additional data. I would question the 62 per cent projection contained in point 3 of Mr. Asia’s letter. It would be great, however, if one could obtain necessary funding to make possible ongoing studies that might monitor such trends. I do concur, personally rather than in any formal capacity, that various forms of “Jewish indifference” including fundamental uncertainty as to the significance of Jewish values, Is by far a greater source of concern than “Gentile hostility” or some other external challenge to American Jewish life. DR. FRED MASSARIK 6245 Scenic Ave., Hollywood. Calif. 90068

We Are Fighting For Our Children, That Is Enough

By RABBI MAURICE DAVIS ♦Continued) I have no quarrel with the kids. They are clean-cut, and they dress nicely, and they speak softly, and they smile a lot, and they talk a lot about God, and love, and peace. And they abstain from liquor, tobacco, drugs, and sex except, of course, for marriages arranged — and sometimes rearranged — by Reverend Moon. I have no quarrel with the kids, however confused and mistaken they may be. My quarrel is with the movement. This movement preys upon the young, the young of all religions. The Moon people are out to get them all, to convert the world by 1980 for Sun Myoong Moon and his Messiahship. This movement preys upon the young, upon the disturbed, upon the frightened, upon the idealists, upon those who hunger

for acceptance, or certainty, or simplistic answers in a world that is too complex. It preys upon those who sincerely dream of a better world, and who reach out for short cuts. It preys upon those who are unhappy at home, unhappy with themselves, unhappy with their parents, unhappy with t h e doubts and the struggles of life itself. TO ALL of these it offers acceptance of love, and authority, and protection, and a sense of sublime commitment. And all it demands in return is total submission, submission of body and soul, an end of thinking for themselves, a blind acceptance of the word of the Master, and the abandonment of family and faith and values and reason. They speak of love and introduce satanism. The kids at Tarrytown are bussed into New York to see the “Exorcist” to show them what will happen to them if the devil gets inside. Is it any wonder then that I was delighted to join the neighborhood group which successfully removed the Moon people from the rented house

on the corner of Earlwoode and Soundview when they violated the zoning law? And I will speak out against them whenever and wherever I can. Please understand how I feel. THEY HAVE every right to exist, so long as they obey the laws of this land. And I would not even attempt to deny them their civil rights. But we, too, have rights. We have the right to know them for what they are, to condemn them for what they do, to expose them before they get to our kids. We have the right to prepare a brief, as some are now doing, for presentation to the Attorney General to see if, in fact, they have violated the laws of this land and perhaps to unravel the mystery of Reverend Moon’s finances. This we can do — and should. The question that keeps me awake at night, however, is why our kids ~ even a few of them — are so vulnerable. How is It possible that one weekend at Tarrytown can destroy a lifetime of family and values? For, believe me, it happens and who is there among us so secure (Continued from Preceding Pg.)