Page 6 - The Canadian Jewish News, Friday^ February 4,1972
Editorial page
Vague on acting
Sadat has second thoughts on war
President Anwar Sadat, shortly before the new year, announced to his troops: "perhaps this is the will of God, who gave me the opportunity to meet you now to tell you that our decision is war." However, a few weeks laterJie was explaining that the Indian-Pakistan conflict had uiKtaged his war and that the matter was therefore postponed to a more opportune time.
He has now declared diplomatic efforts to ease Israel out of Sinai useless, leaving only war as the means of regaining lost territory. But Sadat is vague as to when the fighting is likely to occur and has'even suggested that it may be a long vwy off.
Sadat is in a peculiar position. He cannot announce a reversal in Egyptian policy; he cannot even suggest delaying the effort to drive Israel into the sea. Too many years of propaganda have created a mood of hatred not readily dissipated. But what if Sadat, in spite of the belligerence of his words is saying, "Israel cannot be pushed out of the Sinai by diplomatic means and she is too strong militarily to be pushed out by force of arms. Therefore, let us first of all abandon all those time-consuming, fruitless, diplomatic manoeuvrings and concentrate on putting our country on a war footing. Second, since Israel has such a large technological and educational advantage over us, let us concentrate on reducing that advantage. In order to achieve an equal war footing with Israel we shall devote the next 25 years to our own domestic problems."
Egyptian university students, sensitive to the subtler meanings of the speeches of Arab spokesmen, must have recognized a note of possible peace in Sadat's statement. This led to the series of demonstrations staged by students demanding action against Israel.
The new Egyptian Premier, promptly answered their belligerent cries by inviting them to join the Egyptian armed forces. He knew full well that Egyptian university students are not outstandingly eager for personal sacrifice. In the past, they have preferred to absent themselves when the fighting became too savage.
If Sadat has, in fact, made the decision
to postpone war, that decision is based on a number of important realities.
First and foremost is Israel's strength. Without Israel's marked ability to defeat any __Arab thrust across the^Suez Ganal, Sadat would have been tempted, as was Nasser, to engage in some cavalier adventure to estab-. lish his leadership.
Russia has also been a deterrent. In spite of the USSR's peculiar dislike for a Jewish state, her own interests are not furthered by a Middle East in flames, even if she has supplied the flamethrowers.
Sadat also recognizes that Egypt can count on very little help from its allies. Libya, Syria ahd Algeria, while urging Egypt towards war, have been very cautious about direct involvement themselves.
King Hussein of Jordan, comprising the "Eastern Front," has clearly stated that his country - minus the West Bank - does not have the resources for a new war.
Whatever the reasons, Israel would welcome a prolonged period of non-fighting even if there was no forrnal peace. Israelis are confident, that given time, they can break through the cycle of suspicion and hatred which has motivated Arab actions.-They are confident that if there is no fighting they can establish positive human relationships with Arabs in Gaza and the West Bank. They are certain that the swarms of Arab summer visitors, the coming and going of thousands of pilgrims to Mecca and the growth of informal trade relations will create a new atmosphere in which real pieace becomes possible.
If, for the moment, Sadat finds unthinkable a peace that would permit Golda Meir to shop on the weekend in Cairo, time may make it nrtore plausible. The longer Israel exists, the more acceptable her continued existence becomes, even in Arab eyes.
Some of the signs are hopeful, but still much too tentative. We in Canada may continue searching for the first signs of peaceful intent on the part of the Arabs, but we must never cease our efforts to help Israel remain strong. Now, more than ever before, we must make certain that the reality of Israel's strength remains clear to Arab leadership.
Congress of transition is label applied to lacklustre sessions
The London Jewish Chronicle has offered a succinct summary of the World Zionist Congress which ended last week. It read:
'The 28th Zionist Congress has ended with the adoption of the usual massive complement of resolutions, but it cannot be^id to have accomplished anything which would place it among the memorable Congresses of the Zionist era.
It is probably best described as a Congress of transition - one which has seen the beginning of the realization of Zionism's greatest post-1948 dream, immigration from both capitalist America and Communist Russia, but has not yet decided on its proper role in the years ahead or how best to apply its energies in the service of Israel and the Jewish people.
The Congress was also transitional in the sense that the veterans are not yet re^dy to yield the leadership to the younger generation, while the young are not yet ready for the responsibilities leadership entails, even
though they are demanding a greater share of it. In this connection, it is interesting that one of the loudest rounds of applause was reserved for a young speaker who attacked the platform for what he described as "the same platitudes, the same political speeches, the sarne careerism and the same opportunism."
Rabbi Dr. Arthur Hertzberg, an American conservative rabbi, summed up the 28th Congress as "a'rtot-quite'Congress."
He said that it had "not quite made up its mind whether the Diaspora would continue to exist or was finished; whether Israel should be open to criticism or not; whether the World Zionist Organization should be the dominant factor in all Jewish forums or whether it should listen to others as equals."
The Congress had also not quite made up its mind "whether it was happy with the present organizational forms or sufficiently unhappy with them to seek change," Rabbi Hertzberg said."
Tourism booms despite war threat
The war clouds hovering over the Middle East have failed to cast shadows oyer Israel's tourist industry. It might have been expected that .tourism would suffer in a country under arms and where a state of war might be proclaimed without warning.
But what happened in 1971, and what is occurring in_the new year, indicates that Israel exerts a magnetic pull on Diaspora Jews tb_5uch an extent that they are oblivious'to the very realjirospect of war. They come-in their hundreds of thou^nds, to strengthen their affinity with the national homeland, and to undergo a spiritual experience that at one timewas no more than a dream.
In 1970, Tsrael played host to 437,000 tourists. Last year the figure jumped to one in excess of 650,000. Net earnings of the tourist industry alone were oyer $150 million. An increasing number of Canadians are
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■ '/  ■ ■  : Directors: ' Albert J. Latner, Murray B;.Kofflar. Ray D. Wolfa Majnaoing Editor, Sc^ll. Llttman Editor, Ralph Hyrnan-r—^
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making the pilgrimage to Israel, 24,000 having been there last year, as compared to 18,000 in 1970. The outlook for 1972 is most pronfMsing.
To accommodate'the heavy volume of tourists, Israeli business interests are building new hotels and stepping up other aspects of the service industry. The rate of hotel construction is slow by North American standards but thiTtempo is speeding up. P'rospec-tive visitors are advised to use travel agents who can save, travellers money and t!me, to say nothing of inconvenience. Very few hotels will answer a personal request for reservations and none of the-touring com--panies will.
Tourism ranks high as a source of foreign exchange. But it is far more than a money maker; it is the key to establishing ever closer rapport between the Diaspora Jews and the citizens of Israel.
Vol. XXXIII;No.56 (678)
PubUihed l>y The Canadian Jewish News (A corporation without shara capital)
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19 SHEVAT SIDRA: VISRO Candlallaht|nfl: Toronto 6:14; MontrMl 4:47
Prime Minister Golda Meir fai ccnversation with the new Chief of Staff, Rav AM Elazar.
An insider's viewpoint
Mira Avrech, who writes for Yediyot Ach-ronot, is one of Israel's most distinguished newspaper correspondents. She is the confidante of people in high places and possessor of a thorough understanding of the country's political, social, cultural and economic problems. Her column on personalities and events will appear from time to time in The Canadian Jewish News.
By MIRA AVRECH
During his lifetime Tevye the milkman followed his limping horse from hut to hut in Czarist Russia's little village of Anatevka, worked and s^^eated to feed his large famih, but hardly made enough rubles to marry off his daughters. Had Shalom Aleichem.Tevye's creator, been alive toda>. he would have been stunned to see his hero - impersonated b> Topol - cover the world in jet speed in the interest of charitv. In two weeks Topol attended eight openings of Fiddler on the Roof, all benefits, from Los Angeles* Mount Sinai hospital to the Hebrew Universit>, Weizman Institute. Haifa's Technion and VarietN Club. All in all. the\ netted close to SI million. 575,000 of which came from the Canadian opening night.
******
Topol has made his own private contribution to Israel's Variety club, too. All proceeds from each and ever\ one of his records sold in Israel as well as all his other various profits go straight to the club.
"I don't even see the accounts. . ." sass Topol. "If I *ish to know if I am popular in my own counlrv and if my records are being bought, I have to call Varietv and ask how much mone\ they have got. . . " *       *       •       ♦       * *
Jerusalem's dvnamic ma>or didn'twaitfor the Fiddler to arrive in Jerusalem. He attended the Baron Rothschild - sponsored opening in aid of the Hebrew University, which was held in Paris's opera house. Asked to address the audience, Koliek did so in Hebrew, thus being the first man in the history of Paris's opera house to address anyone in Hebrew from its stage.
Said Koliek in his translated speech: "If Palestine at the time had been a French and not British mandate,our French language as well as our cuisine would have been considerablv better todavl"
I don't suppose it will make much difference to New York's Plaza Hotel or Essex House, but Israeli personalities who used to frequent the hotels will be sta\ing in less expensive quarters in future times.
Finance Minister Pinchas Sapir has requested all cabinet ministers and army generals who go abroad for the Israel Bond Campaign and the United Jewish Appeal to refrain from staying at expensive hotels at public expense. Oh, yes, - and please not take a suite but a single room.
This does riot appiv to Dr. Nachum Gold-mann. A wealthv man in his own right, he travels at his own expense. At New York's Essex House he was victim to a theft a fortnight ago. When the thieves lefthis rooms Dr. Goldmann found himself minus his passport and 10,000 Swiss francs.
Sorrv about the mone>. As to the passport. I understand that Dr. Goldmann, who was a citizen of the United States, and Switzerland, has an Israeli passport and is now a resident of France. He has a few spare passports on him. Which country? You ma\ have your pick. . .
* *       *       •       • * Regarding the visit of the four African
heads of state, or as it is generallv called, the visit of the four wise men, now it ma> be told: When Prime Minister Golda Meir first met Nigeria's GeneralCowonuponhi^ arrival in Israel, she exclaimed: "How well I know your country! I was there 10 years ago. Things have changed. . . it was much easier then!"
The President of Nigeria stared at Mrs. Meir: "You mean, the military rule?" he asked, his voice cold.
Mrs. Meir's eyes opened wide: "Militarv rule? God, no!" she declared innocentl>. waving the diplomatic incident off before it ;>ad started. "I mean, then - I was foreign minister. That was easy. Now as prime minister I know how difficult it can be!"
* «       *       *       *       » .
President Ahigo of Cameroon, too, was stunned by Mrs. Meir: "I was inydurcountry 10 years ago!" she said as soon asthe> met.
"Oh really?" the president asked politel>. "And what, may I ask, weVe you doing there?"
"Ah. . ." said Golda. "I took part in a beauty contest!"
Lost for words the president could not but stare at her.
"I was heading the jury. . . " Golda said at last.
Photocopies of mezuzah not halachic
1. A friend bought me a mezuza made in Israel. It looks hand-written in the proper manner but is, in fact, a photo copy of a mezuza on paper which looks like but is not parchment. Is it permissible to use this mezu^?
RESPONSE:
The basic halachic problem which arose after the invention of printing was whether those things which require to be written - a safer Torah, Tefilin, a mezuza, a Get - can be-printed. Does printing fall under the definition of "writing" as given in the Talmud? A comparatively early discussion of the problem is found in the famous commentary to Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim by Abraham Combiner (d 1683) entitledMagen Avraham (32 note 57 and 284 note 1).
The Talmud (Yoma 38b) tells of a certain Bar Kamztar who could write all four letters of the Tetragrammation at once by
■ holding four pens in his hand and who was criticized for not imparting the art to others. In another passage (Gittin 20a) it is said that engraving is treated as writing if the letters sand out in relief. In the letter case there is no actual writing of the letters.
However, it can be argued that in printing the machine does the work and this is not called "writing" at all. It was, in fact,
■ entirely unknown in Jewish life for printed mezuzot to be used and this is the consensus of all the halachic authorities.
Apart from the weighty halachic objections there is surely much to be said for the view that mezuzot, etc., should be written by a dedicated human person not mass-produced by a soulless machine. All this would apply even if the mezuza were printed on parchment and would apply a fortiori to a photo copy on paper. It is clear, therefore, that your mezuza cannot be used.
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' 2. Why do the rabbis insist that the bene-' diction be made over a whole loaf on the Sabbath and do not necessarily insist on this requirement during the rest of the week?
RESPONSE: . fiabbis do not insist on this requirement throughout the week because it is not always possible to begin a whole loaf at every meal during the week. First, what is one supposed to do if one does not finish the loaf at a previous meal. Second, there are many who simply cannot afford to begin a vyhole loaf at every meal. Generally, the experience of beginning a new loaf was a luxurious experience. Hence, such luxuries were reserved for the Sabbath to show that the Sabbath is a special day, unlike the ordinary day, and even one's daily bread is more luxurious on the Sabbath. The challah itself is usually a "richer" kind of bread ti^an the ordinary bread eaten during the week.
Israelis deeply affected by military changes
By MAJ. GEN, CHAIM HERZOG
People in Israel are only too aware of the vital importance to their very existence of the calibre of the man serving at the head of the defence forces. Hence the almost obsessive interest displayed by the public in the choice of "a new chief of staff, which takes place every three or four years. . The average Canadian or American, who has not the vaguest idea as to the identity of his chief of staffs must consider the universal national interest focused on the appointment of a chief of staff in Israel to be an indication of an inherent militarism in the nation. Nothing, paradoxically; could be furth-" er"from the triith;
The fact is that the chief of^aff represents-more than a mere military appointment. He represents part of the life of every citizen. Every sixth iifdividual in the country is directly involved in one way or another in the reserves, not to mention the fact that : practically every citiz~en has, at some time or another, at least one relative serving on . active duty. "
What goes on in the Israel defence forces is, therefore, an integral part of the mosaic of daily life in the country for every single individual.
Many have drawn attention to the very salutary effect of the system of rotation at the head of the armed forces, with its inevitable refreshing influence 9n the quality of command, and have thought aloud about the revolutionaryeffect such a system could have if introduced to otlier aspects of public life, such as politics, where the very reverse of the principle of rotation cxistsr^ J
Every chief of staff has influenced, in one way or anotheri the devclopmelnt ofithe Israel
Major General Chaim Herzog
defence forces and has left his imprint on its character,-sonrie more than others.
One of the two major figures who left their imprint on the army was Yadin, who is seen as the father of the unique organizational system of Jhe Israel defence forces, particularly the reserve system-He_is also the man who brought about a fii'sionbfthe varjous elements, frequently rivs(l, which initially constituted the Israel defence forces, siich as the Haganah, the PalmacI]!, the other underground organizations, and the ex-British Army personnel. He set the organizational pattern which has, by and large,been adhered to since. ■
The other outstanding commander was Dayah. who discarded much that was accepted as inevitable, who infused a fighting spirit into the army, who.created a fighting elite
and then forced the army forces to rise to the standard of that elite and widened.it to encompass the whole army.
His personal example, courageandcharismatic power of leadership, together with his ruthless personnel policy and wieeding out of misfits, combined to create a military machine honed to a fine point.
There is no'doubt that General Barlev will, now join Yadin and Dayan in the first rank of Israel's chiefs of staff. For four years he led an army through a war of attrition in circumstances which could have broken weaker ' men and which only a man of his strength of character and inner stability could have withr . stood. —
The Israel defence forces have been trained for the lightning attack with a great deal of dash and ryerye, but had never been tried in the far more difficult task of holding lines of ^defence for years against overwhelming firepower, with inevitable daily casualty lists. Leading the army under such circumsitances and attuning it to fight under these new conditions, without losing its aggressive quality, was Barley's great contribution.
General Elazar, the new chief of staff, comes from the same background as General Barley - Palmach, armor; wide iexperience on the field of battle, coupled with a university education and it is fair to assume that he is more than likely to maintain the pattern laid down by Barlev than to create some new revolutionary patterns.
His wide expijrience in armor, coupled with that of his new deputyTGerteralTal, a master of philosophy at the( Hebrew University and oric of the universally acknowledged authorities on armor in the world today, will combine to re-remphasize the prime-place of armor- in Israel's military thinking, after that of air power.