2—THE BULLETIN—Thursday, January 27, 1977
Perspective
dy Shalom Cohen
enge
PEOPLE WHO roENTIFY with the labor movement but who are unhappy about the state of the Labor Party in Israel will be having mixed feelings about the new party of Yigael Yadin.
The new Democratic Movement for Giange, incorporating the Shinui post-Yom Kippur War protest movement is close enough in spirit to the labor "family," but independent and non-committal enough, at present at least, to create wariness among those who are committed to labor but who also want change.
The labor movement embraces a wide range oi people: those who belong formally, the sympathizers who share an ideology —■ or a sentiment — with Labor-Zionism, assorted leftists — both secular and religious -r and even progressive liberals. Of these., how many will be prepared to express their discontent and protest by voting for another, party, such as Yadin's?
Labor movement loyalists, frustrated over the "state of the nation,'* will be placed in a quandary. Will the new party's appearance in the political arena have a saliitory effect on the Labor Party^ or will iti: in the end, deal a: crippling bIow:^Jth4 %b^ : throw the baby out with the bathwater?
And would that matter? Or, put another way, has the labor movement become an' anachronism, has it played out its historical role? Labor Zionists are now being forced to give overdue answers to basic ideological questions. This is all the more difficult in view of the continuing abstinence of the Labor Party leadership from facing up to theoretical and ideological problems. Or its inability to do so. Skeptics who consider this,/ question academic ought to realize tJiat Labor's omission in this area'ohiy leaves'"^a' vacuum crying to be filled by another mystique, characterized by the "blofod and fire" of the extreme right.
Questioning labor movement adherents will probably detect in populist party names like "democratic" "popular" or "national" mere exercises in vote catching. The Democratic party of Yadin at present enjoys credibility as a genuine reform party. Yadin himself, and some of his colleagues, with their Hagannah background and their close association with the ^bor establishment, are not psychologically put of bounds for the labbr-oriented; But who else will rally to the Yadin banner later on?
"Greater Israel" advocates who are wor^ ried about the internal situation? **Doves" similarly concerned, but who see Yadin as a "moderate and realist" on the external front? . Or will the new party include polar opposites, and end up with the same stultifying schizophrenia which has long been suffered by the Labor Party?
MORE THAN a few in the Labor camp how many the polls might show —r are disenchanted or disillusioned by the factionalism and the power struggle as dramatized by the Rafi experience, and latterly by the mushrooming of party "circles." They see the Party dominated by a self-perpetuating apparatus, and its failure to inspire by personal example. They see how it has failed to modify institutions with the changing times and to come up with original thoughts and fresh, ideas. Achievements of the Rabin Government, as in the fight against crime and tax evasion, and the efforts to deal with tax reform and labor relations, are insufficient to make up for the Labor Party's omissions, even though these were inherited from previous administrations.
Through all three Labor-dominated Governments since Ben-Gurioh — those of Eshkol, Meir, and Rabin — the political impasse on the external front has helped create a hothouse atmosphere conducive to the "wars of the Jews." Political leaders of all stripes have been tempted to exploit national issues for sectional purposes, and even to create
artificial ones. The Labor Party, with most to lose, has been no exception.
In this situation, the broad public might think any change is for the better. But will labor movement followers be willing to abandon 'terra firma' for the unknown and untried? THe Yadin party — whose spokesmen hope for 2Q.seats in the next Knesset — . offers the prospect of a substitute for the National Religious Party or Independent Labor Party as a linchpin in any new Government. But what is the new party's own policy as regards joining a coalition?
IT IS COMMITTED to electoral reform, but that concerns the one-after-neirt general elec? tions. some will say that whatever the reform, in Israel's little society the party ■machines will rule. Still, electoral reform spells change, where nothing else seems to budge.
More important, labor movement followers will consider the implications of the right-wing trend manifested in recent years. While it could be argued that this is a worldwide trend, a major cause of it in Israel is the fact that, the idea of the left. has become . associated in many Israeli minds with Israel's enemies; and this: desj)ite Israel's being the only democratic and social-democratic state in the region. Add other possible factors — increasing dependence on capitalist U.S.; artificial economic prosperity and its materialistic spinoff; the decline of the influence of the kibbutz movement; the corruptive effects of prolonged Labor power ~ and yoii. have the makings of a general right-wing trend.
The question ifor the discontented labor movemient loyalist, in weighing the Yadin choices, will be: will a Yadm success mean a ' :hirilier;;p^ movement, and is the'risk worthwhile? A clear Likud victory at the polls could send the Labor Party into a soul-clean$ing wilderness j and help it close its ranks. But would it be the same if the ne\y Yadin party, with its progressive aura, gaineld a decisive influence?
TO PUT IT somewhat differently, the question is, does the Labor Party still eintertain an idea that is greater than the retention of power? Does the new Yadin .party, for that inafter,hav^ one, p ' inerely an instrument to fulfill an immediate, limited roll? The simplest, and most convenient, answer for the imaginary labor movement habitue will be to say that the Yadin development will give the Labor Party the necessary push, compel it to mend its fences and produce convincing reasons why it should in fact remain in power.
Hope never dies, they say, but time is running out.
(J^rnsalem Post)
(Reprinted courtesy Jerusalem Post)
PA&fiWlAO
Trt£OWlR«AV
nclOgfD UP
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Protest beef fit in pickigei! cuoMes
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
It has become very difficult for vegetarians to find packaged cookies or crackers made with., only vegetable oil for shortening. The presence Of lard and beef fat in so many products irtiist present a problem to the Jewish community too.
This is really deplorable as Canada produces large quantities of rapeseedf oil that is not ex-pensive , and / is excellent for; CO^ing^,--..- ',,',,'/l",'4,V '
An orgahiziBd drive by people of • your faith Would be qiiite effective in changing this situation. I would like to suggest that Canadian rabbis present a group protest to the manufacturers. A pers(Mial call on each producer by a local rabbi would also be in order.
HARLAND W. CLARK
Remember the
YAD VASHEM IN SWifZERUND
GENEVA—A committee of Yad Vashem has been created in Switzerland to support Yad Vashem in Jerusalem amd prcqoose new ideas and programs adapted to the conditions in this country.
The aim is to keep alive the memory of the Holocaust and the Jewish resistance;
The committee was set up by representatives of the culUiral and youth departments of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities and -meinbers .of "the rabbinical and teachers assOc-•iations;^^ o^/^:'"
January 16
As ahother Bulletin' ebmihunlty ser« viee feature. Deaths will be published weekly as they are regis* tereci:-^HE PUBLISHER.
Sabbath begins, light candies
Friday, Jfumaiy 28, 4:43 Sedra Bo, Exodus
Sabbatib ends, Havdallah Jannaiy 29, 5:43
Friday, Febmaiy 4, 4:54
Sedra Beshalach, Exodus
iShabbat Shirah Sabbath ends, HevdaUah
Febrniuy 5, 5:54
JEWISH CALENDAR LUACH 5737-1977
To B*Shevat.......... .Feb. 3
Rosh Chodesh Adar ... .Feb. 18
Fast of Esther..;..... .Mar. 3
Porim.................Mar. 4
Rosh Cliodesh Nisan .. .Mar. 20
^fiSSOVGF* • • • •• • • • • • • •
Endoreed Apipeails
Dimier.... ^ •... .Feb. 13 Hlstadrat
campaigia.....Feb. 13-Mar. 31 Sholoch Monos Campaign-
Pion. Women.Feb. 18-Mar. 12 Moess Chlttei^ Campalgn-JFSA ...i.....Feb. 18-Apir. 1
Social Calendar
Womeii's Role in Judaism - 3
day seminar (Rabl>i Y.
Winebeig ........... Jaii; 30
CZF-PAD—Ybath Sem.. .Jan; 30 J.C.C. Board Meeting - Special'
Spealier............ .Feb. 10
Ciiffibad House
Sympdsiom...... .Feb. 11,12
Teen Dmc^ - S^^
Tzedeck...........^ .Feb. 12
Newcomers' Cabaret... .Feb. 13
Endorsations are published as a BulleiUt community service. Errors or omissions can be corrected only by Jewish Commun-cry Fund & Council, phone 261-810h
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