63 Yean : .Sewing I Pacific I Northwest •: Jewry
Publisher and Edi.lor'in-Chiel SAMUEL KAPLAN
Our 63rd Year
Since 1930 the pnJy weekly public'aiion serving Jewry of the Pacific Northwest
An Independent Newspaper
Advertising Manager RON FREEDMAN
Assistant Editor ARIELA FRIEDMANN
News Desk ETHAN MINOVITZ
Wednesday, September tS^f^^
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After the slaying of Rabbi Meir Kahane on Nov. 5, 1990 and the astonishing conviction of El Say id N osair not for itiurder but on the lesser offence of a weapons charge, officials of the New York Police Department issued a statement saying that Nosair was a lone assailant who acted on an individual whim.
Three-and-a-half years later^ U.S. federal officials haye had a change of heart and have re-arrested Nosairalong with Sheik Abdel Rahman on a conspi^ racy charge accusing them arid other coconspirators of attempting to wage a war of terrorism in the United States and Egypt.
In court for the arraignment of the Sheik, Nosair and their co-defendants, was Amcha president Rabbi Avi Weiss: whose life had been threatened along with Rabbi Kahane's.
Rabbi Weiss afterwards issued a statement noting: "Today is a bittersweet day: bitter because it evokes metriories of the assassination of Rabbi Meir Kahane and the bombing oif the World Trade Centre and the other plots. But it's sweet because for y^ars we struggled to get a federal trial of El Say id Nosair for the murder of Rabbi Kahane. Last March we marched on the Sheik-$ mosque, and
later on his home, ihsisting that he had masterminded terrorism.
"If only federal officials would have done what they've d o ne tod a y right after the Kahane murder. The World Trade Centre bombing would never have happened dnd six New Yorkers who are dead would be alive today," Rabbi Weiss stated.
Nosair is to be re-tried on a little known American statute stretching back to the Civil War which permits prosecution more than once for the same crime if it can be tied to a greater conspiracy.
Sheik Rahman and his co-defendants denied in court all charges against them, but their denial of guiit reminds one of the comment offered by Henry Kissinger in another context: "When people threaten to murder ydu, it is not unlikely that they might also lie to you.''
For more than two decades now. specialists faihiliar with the terror tactic§ employed by a small group of Muslim fundariientalists (who have disfigured the reputation of one of the world's great religions) have warned Americans of the potential threat represented by these fringe groups. Yet even the wanton murder of Rabbi Meir Kahane failed to motivate American officials to act — until no\y.
The bombing of the World Trade Centre this year and a close monitoring of the activities of a number of associates of Sheik Rahman have finally induced fedei-al officials to move dramatically to charge 15 people under the conspiracy statute.
The charges relate not only to the World Trade Centre bombing and the Kahane assassination, but also to plans by the defendants to destroy Hudson River tunnels leading from New York City to New
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Jersey, to murder FBI agents, certain individuals/ and to attack a training camp run by the Jewish Defense League. '
The New York Times, editorializing on the arrests, offered a sobering comment: "Since some of the alleged organization's members remairi at large, there's at least a chance of'further incidents. And since the indictment asserts that one of the accused conspirators. El Sayid A. Nosair, plotted further terrorist acts after his imprisonment, even detention seems no guarantee of deterrence."
Despite this present danger, the American government has finally realized that politically-tinged inertia towards terrorists has encouraged these brazen attacks on law and order. It's about time the Sheik, Nosair and their ilk are brought to justice. ..
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By YITZHAK RABIN
Fromdur common house in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the State of Israel and the everlasting capital and the spiritual home of the Jewish people, I send you my warmest wishes for a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Shand Tova.
Rosh Hashana is a time of soul-searching for the Jewish people. Therefore 1 would like to share with you sonie of my thoughts at one of the most significant times in the history of the Jewish State.
•' Let me begin by saying that the Jewish people in Israel share the deep concern Of our fellow Jews throughout the world; oyer the demographic future of the Jewish people. The open pluralistic societies as well as other less fortunate ones have given Jews opportunities to integrate; however, they have also posed the greatest challenge to the task of preserving Jewish identity, the danger of assimilation.
RABIN
Indeed, Israel follows with great anxiety the growth of anti-Semitism, bigotry and racism. The old demons of anti-Semitism have found new ways to lure us. It is our sacred d uty to combat fanaticism, to remain alert and to carry the historic message of oiir Jewish religion, a message of tolerance and openness.
Every Jew ih the world should know that the days of wandering are well behind us. Our duty is to be the safe haven of the Jewish people and this mission is deeply entrenched in our minds. ■ s
The Zionist thinker Ahad Ha'am foresaw the Jewish State as the spiritual centre for all Jews, a source of pride, and a focus for ourstrongest energies. By the early decades of the next century, we will almost certainly reach a great Zionist milestone, and the State of Israel will become the largest Jewish community in the world.
Israel today is a strong country. And it is from a position of confidence that we are negotiating with our Arab partners. Peace is the essential elenient of our security doctrine. However let there be no misunderstanding: There will be no unilateral compromises on any front. The security of the State of Israel and its citizens is our first and foremost
Mesgafle from the Prlirie Minister of the State of Israel, Yitzhait Rat>in,^n th^Cdccasiori of the Jewish New Year.
concern. Nothing will allow it to be compromised. That is the main principle that guides us. Let me also assure you, Jerusalem will remain united forever, under Israeli sovereignty, as the capital of Israel and the Jewish people. This issue is riot open to negotiation.
Moreover»the whole world is no longer against us. Israel now enjoys full diplomatic relations with more than 120 countries. Japan, China, India and other nations, some of them previously hostile or indifferent to our interests are now our trading partners. Leaders from around the world are interested in developing and strengthening economic ties. Multinational firms are viewing us with new interest. The Arab boycott is losing its grip. And most important/ Israel's relationship with the United States is firmer and friendlier than at any time in history.
Pear friends, we know that your love for usas well as oursforyou —is undiminished by our geographical separation. We in Israel invite you and your children to come and make your lives here, to come here often, to invest in our industries. Send your children to explore our country, to study in our universities, to learn in our yeshivot, to participate in our youth programs.
There is no doubt in my mind that by.doing so, not only will the bonds between our communities be strengthened^ but the seeds for Jewish continuity AyiU be sown and Will bear fruit: We shall never forget that the Jewish communities around the world have played a central role in bringing to Israel close to half a million immigrants from the former Soyiet IJnion, Ethiopia and Yemen.
But this historical momentum should be continued. Especially now, greater energy and resources must be expended toenable hundreds of thousands of additional Je\ys to come to the Jewish homeland and to be properly absorbed.
Above all, our greatest challenge, and my most cordial arid heartfelt call upon you is to preserve your Jewish identity. There are still countless challenges and obstacles facing Israeland the Jewishpeople, but Rosh Hashana brings with it fresh optimism arid confidence.
May theyear 5754 be a year of peace, a year of strength, and a year of opportunity for the entire house of Israel. As we proclaim on SimchatTorah. Chazak, chazak v'nitchazek — from strength will come yet greater strength. Shana Tova U'Mevorechet, Ktiva Vachdtima Tova.
ByDEBRAN
NEW YORK (JTA): — Jewish tradition has it.that the 10 days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are among the most important of the year:
his during those days that change and repentance are believed to have an especially powerful impact on the fate that the Almighty is considering for each person for the cOming year.
For many Jews, even those who do not take thei traditional view literally, the 10 days are a spiritually charged time, a period in which to focus on the mis-
takes and transgressiions of the past year and to ask forgiveness of those who may have been hurth>ran unkind word or action. ":{'
Now the Chofetz Qhaim Heritage FoundationlTask-ing all Jews to focus on refraining from ■ a particularly egregioiis sin during the 10 days of repentance: lashon harah, or talking about other people. The sages have compared engag-uingin slander and gossip to committing murder.
The foundation is dedicated to spreading the lessons of Rabbi Israel Meir
HaGphen (1838-1933), who on the topic of shmirat hla-short, or guarding the tongue, Sefer Ch ofetz Chaim. Ghaim Heritage is asking le to concentrate on-not speaking, listening to or reading lashon harah for two hours each everiing during the period of tesh-uvah.
Initiators of the effort decided to encourage people to start out by not committing 7fl5/io/iWa^ for two hours a day because "in Judai sm, i her ement a I c hariges a re la stiri g changes," said Micfiael wrote the classic Jewish text
Rothschild. a spokesman for the campaign.
The effort is being publicized by distributing 1 5o;opo flyers and posters in the United States, Israel, Canada, England, South Africa, Russia and Belgium. The foundation is also taking out advertisements in Jewish riewspapers in the United. States land Israel.
"Prayers said by a pure mouth will be much mOre powerful," said Rothschild. "When it comes to heavenly justice, how you're treated is based on how you treat others. It's important to have your act together when coming before G-d."