Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 1981 — Page 17

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Schindler On AAoral A/\ajority Not Speaking For All Jewry

Editor, POST and OPINION: The recent assertions by leaders of the Moral Majority,

especially by Jerry Falwell and Bailey Smith, have added a new and ominous dimension to the problems confronting American Jewry. Because these spokesmen and their -movements can be farreaching and destructive to Jewry, careful, rational and responsible reaction on the part of our leaders and repre-

sentatives is indispensable. Rabbi Alexander Schindler,

president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (Reform) has publicly stated that the activities of the Christian radical right are indirectly responsible for the anti-Jewish outbreaks and acts of vandalism against Jewish institutions and individuals. He also urged Jews to dissociate themselves from the “chilling power of the radical right" and instead

“seek allies among other Christians and Blacks.” An altogether different

assessment of this delicate and sensitive issue was presented by Rabbi Abraham Hecht, president of the Rab-

binical Alliance of America (Orthodox). He said that he

met and cooperated with the leaders of the Moral Majority and that “these leaders are men of integrity, having many traditional beliefs of the Jewish people — values which have long ago been

rejected out of ham] by Schind-

Bitter Graenum Berger Charges f Jewry Ignoring Falasha Plight |

ler and his ilk.”

Obviously, there exists a sharp and distinct division of opinion among the various representatives of American Jewry as to the proper attitude, policy and program toward the Moral Majority and the radical right move-

ment in general.

Schindler has recently become very vociferous. He arrogates to himself an unauthorized role of leadership in American Jewry. It is only fair and ethical that when he speaks on matters pertaining to Kloll Yisoel that he make it crystal clear and unequivocal that he speaks only as the head of the Reform movement and he does not express the views of the Orthodox or the traditional branches of American Jewry. When Rabbi Hecht made his comments on this subject, he only answered Schindler and stated the position of Orthodox Jewry. There is too much at stake in accusing religious groups, taking sides, supporting certain sects and issuing public statements on matters that affect the wellbeing and very existence of

American Jewry.

Schindler should be aware of the Biblical injunction, “Chachomim Hizharu Bidvoraichem”, — Wise men, be careful with your words.

MILTONS. TURK 3339 W. Argyle St. Chicago, 111.60625

Editor, POST and OPINION: Your favorable comments about Howard Lenhoff’s and my role in arousing the Jewish world to rescue and resettle the Ethiopia Jews is always welcome. But your account of the Falasha episode at the General Assembly in Detroit hardly does justice to the subject. To squeeze in, and then only reluctantly, the Falasha story between a report on Iranian and European Jewry, two settings where the Jews can hardly be compared as being in the same helpless position as the Ethiopian Jews, and then having to force the rigid management of the Council of Jewish Federations to give some token recognition to the existence of a Falasha problem, borders on obscenity. Benno Weiser Varon in the December 1960 issue of Midstream, in an article that dramatically entitled “Don’t Rescue Latin American Jews!” writes that to compare the Falashas with other Jews in “Troubted Lands,” as so many conferences and programs in local communities are doing, smacks of the “grotesque.” So some of us are not alone. The moment of silence originally suggested only for the Falashas was made part of a ritual for all Jews, who might be in so-called “jeopardy.” To watch Mandel rapidly grab the petitions from Daniel Shapiro and Baruch Tegegne at the extreme end of the three-tiered dias, and not permit this white and black Jew to walk across the platform and make the presentation directly to the Prime Minister in the eyes of the cameras, was an obvious

Oregon Student For Zionist Revival

Editor, POST and OPINION: Zionism, the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, is perhaps the most deliberately misunderstood political term of our day. This is true not only among the an-ti-Israel forum, but by the prospective recipients of Zionist aims: the Jews themselves. I feel it appropriate to address in a Jewish forum a reaffirmation of Zionist aspirations. Bill Gives Rights To Non-Orthodox, If JERUSALEM - A bill granting Reform and Conservative Jews equal rights in Israel was headed for a stormy career in the Knesset although it had the support of a number of individual Knesset members. Much depends on the position taken by Shimon Peres. He disappointed supporters of the bill when he welched recently on a statement of support for non-Orthodox rabbis he made last in Toronto.

Prior to the re-establish-ment of Israel, Zionism was not as popular as it has become today. But with that popularization has come a severe dilution of the movement. We rest on a euphoric sense of acceptance in such liberal societies as the United States and Great Britain, and blatantly lie to ourselves about our security in the Ayattolah’s Iran and in racist South Africa. Zionism is now a euphemism for an “Israel Fan Club”. The Zionist of today no longer has a commitment to aliyah. The Zionist idea has been transformed into a celebration of existing achievements. Telem, the movement for Zionist fulfillment of which I am a member, seeks return Zionism to the commitment to aliyah. We believe the goals of the Zionist movement have been lost. The commitment to a strong Jewish identity and education have been replaced by partisan politics and fundraising which have

preempted the primary component of Zionism: Aliyah. Telem requires its members to make Aliyah within six years of membership. In those aggregate years we will stand at the forefront of raising Zionist awareness throughout the respective communities in which we live. If as a result of this call to arms, masses of Ollm flocked to Israel, our aim would be a reality. Yet I am the first to admit that such dreams and aspirations are idealistic and their implementation will be the emphasis of our continued struggle. I am as proud to say that even though I am currently studying in Oregon, there is a Zionist voice in this community, if only for a limited period. This voice is committed to living and working in a truly Jewish existence with our people in our land, the land of Israel. TOM ROSE 452 Round Hill Rd. Indianapolis, In. 46260

attempt to reduce this act of protest to an impotent gesture. This is what aroused the young people to chant “Let Baruch Tegegne speak.” The only Black Jew at the conference was neither invited initially to speak at the morning session, nor given the visibility at the dramatic evening plenary. Even the Prime Minister’s remarks about the Falashas seemed like an after thought inserted in his text at the last moment seemingly to placate the growing voice of protest that the government .and Jewish Agency are experiencing in not acting fast enough to rescue Falashas. After 32 Vi years of the Jewish state there are still less than 1,000 Falashas in Israel. Ten times that number have probably disappeared over that time span. Those still there, even the less than 10 percent aided by ORT, do not Know horn day to day what is in store for them. A recent article in the “St. Louis Jewish Light” Indicates that even those under CRT’s aegis do not have sufficient clothing and that there has been little funding from ORT itself for the entire operation. Imagine how the other 90%.. of the Falashas fare in a country where the per capita income is only $100 annually. If I am'bitter, as you write, it is because American Jewish leaders and their organizations are content to

pass resolutions, which I will fnot even dignify by terming 5them “pious,” and absolve ? themselves of all respon- 3 sibility for both the conditions 3 they have permitted to exist £ for Jews on the brink of living ° in Ethiopia as well as in i! saving their Black Jewish- § lives. Perhaps some of us will &- finally have to walk naked, c like Isaiah of <gd, in the | streets of America and Israel, m to call Jews to 'account for 5 their own iniquity against S their fellow Jews. Appeals to the authorities in charge have so far brought very little results. This subject ought to be a weekly frontpage expose, not merely described objectively in your persoqal column, where if one does not get Into the interior of your journal.

1 Jewish folk. Thanks for your devotion to this cause. Wish we had the same support from the rest of the Jewish press. But I guns the Falashas will have to be

fore notice will be paid to their terrible condition. Or, I’m beginning to expect, even such savagery may not change current Jewish policy of neglecting their rescue by the admoni-, tion to secrecy. GRAENUM BERGER

Onward Christian Soldiers

Editor, POST and OPINION: I would like to share a bit of nostalgia with you. It should (I. think) give you and your readers a chuckle. Back in the 1920’s who ever heard of a “nice” Jewish boy in the United States Army. Jewish boys listened to their parents and studied hard to become lawyers and doctors, although quite a few wound up as pushcart peddlers. As for the Army, they took a look at the few who had wandered into its ranks and decided to make believe that they weren’t there. And thereby hangs a true tale. In 1926, as a 16 year old, I went to the Citizens Military Training Camps for 30 days of military training during summer vacation. The first one I went to was at Plattsburgh, on the shore of Lake Champlain in New York State. Here we were given excellent training by the officers and non-coms of the 26th Infantry Regiment. . On Sunday mornings everyone, Gentile and Jew, had to go to religious services — no exceptions. The Army in those years, had no time or sympathy for non-believers. The fact that Jews prayed on Saturdays instead of Sundays, presented too complicated a

problem, so all of us went on Sundays. There being no Jewish chaplain, the two Gentile chaplains prevailed on the local rabbi in town to come out and lead the Jews. Services were held iq the open air along the lake shore in three groups — Protestant, Catholic and Jewish. Came the first Sunday, we fell into formation with our chaplains, then all together we marched to the lake, led by the 26th Infantry Band playing “Onward Christian Soldiers”. At the first area we halted while the Protestant boys fell out. The march, resumed again, to the tune of “Onward Christian Soldiers”. At the next area the Catholic boys fell out. On we went again, this time the Jewish boys alone. What do you think the band played? You guessed it — “Onward Chrisiian Soldiers”. HAROLD DIAMOND 8331 Sands Point Blvd. Tamarac, Fla. 33321

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