Ohio Jewish Chronicle, 1977-02-10

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VOL. 55 NO. 6
FEBRUARY 10,1977 - SHEVAT 22
Knesset Approves Abortion Bill
JERUSALEM  (WNS)   -
v   The'Knesset adopted a bill
legalizing abortion Jan. 31
over [the strong opposition of
the,'religious parties who ,
called it "murder" and
vQwed to overturn it. ~
FeVnitiists in the Knesset,
Tnowever, said the bill did not
go far enough because it did'
, not permit abortion on
demand.
The bill allows abortion in
the early stages of preg¬
nancy  if  approved _by  a
! committee made up of two
doctors — one of them' a
gynecologist — and a social
worker. The committee's
approval must be based on
such criteria as the birth
would injure the emotional
or physical health of the
mother, the child'may be
born with a physical or
mental handicap, the mother
lives in social conditions
where an additional -child
may be an undue burden and
the mother under }6 or.over
"40.
■ ^Orthodox, women who
demonstrated .outside the
Knesset during the voting
began reciting prayers when
' they were' told the bill had
passed. Three Aguda MKs
immediately introduced bills
torescind.the.new.law. •■-   -- -
Both Ashkenazlc.' Chief
Rabbi' Shlotnti "Goren. and
Sephardic - Chief   Rabbi
. Ovadia   Yosef   condemned
' the -bill. But MK Marsha
Freedman said the law was
defective because "doctors
are still in charge of a
women's womb and shecan-
not decide for herself.''
Illegal   abortions   have
30 Senators Sponsor
Emigration Measure
By Joseph Polakoff
WASHINGTON (JTA) -
The Senate received Jan. 26
"a freedom of emigration"
resolution sponsored by 30
Senators. It expresses the
concern of 'the American
people' over the treatment of
Jews and other minorities in',
the Soviet Union and" urges.
the Soviet government to
comply with the Helskinki
declaration's human rights^
provision. ' -- '
The resolution was intro-''
duced by Sen. Frank Church
(D. Idaha) who said' that
- Rep. Toby Moffet (D. Conn)
will introduce a similar reso¬
lution in the House where 70
members have already ,exg
pressed   support   for' it.'
"The continued harass¬
ment of Soviet Jews and
other minorities seeking to
reunite with their families
makes this resolution
imperative," Church told the
Senate.
Urging Congress to
reaffirm its commitment to
(CONTINUEDON PAGES)
been performed in Israel at
the rate of 40,000 - 70,000-a
year.- Proponents of legal¬
izing abortion have argued
that up to now only women
who can afford the high fees
for illegal abortions could
have them.
In New York Feb. 2, the
Rabbinical " Alliance
attacked the new law as
"irresponsible, reprehens¬
ible and highly immoral."
The alliance, which claims
to represent 500 orthodox
rabbis in the US and Canada,
said that "it grieves us no
end when we realize that this
new law will' do us more
damage than all the efforts
of - the combined Arab
nations... It seems cynical
and sacreligious that the
Jewish State with only three
million Jews should now lead
the way and show a complete
disregard for human life."
No Place For High Rollers
NEW YORK — Several unidentified players sit at a
blackjack table as they participate in a synagogue-
sponsored "Las Vegas Day" in New York. Under a new
law which became effective Feb. 1 (some groups began
prematurely), New York churches, synagogues and
charitable organizations are permitted to sponsor
casino-type games of chance. But under the rules put
together by the state legislature, "Las Vegas Nights"
will be no place for high rollers. There will be a $10
limit on bets, the gambler won't know until the end of
the night how much he has won and he won't be able to
win more than $100 per game.
RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO
Women's Div. Luncheon Slated As Campaign
High Point, Early Reservations Are Suggested
Every woman in the
Jewish Community of
Columbus is invited to attend
a special luncheon meeting
<in Monday,-Feb. -28-at' 11:30-
a,mf at the She'ratoh-Colum:
buSjMotor Hotel. A pledge of
$100 minimum gift to the.1977
United Jewish Fund Cam¬
paign' is required for
attendance.
According to Mrs. Gerald
Swedlow, chairwoman of the
Women's Division, a large
attendance is expected-at
this function, which will be
the highlight of the Divi¬
sion's activities for the
current campaign.
"We are all excited about
this function," stated Mrs.'
Swedlow. "We think we have
the makings of one of the
most outstanding meetings
ever held by the Women's
Division. We are bringing in
the Rev. John Stanley
Grauel, who was on the ship
Exodus, ' as our guest
speaker, and we have an
extra special event for our
guests that day — a.drawing
Mrs. Michael Bloeh
' for a free trip to Israel I''
Co-chairwomen Mrs.
Milton Levitin and Mrs.
.Michael Bloch are also
enthusiastic about the work
of their committees for the
afternoon. "If the quality of
performance by our leader¬
ship is matched by the
attendance," they stated,
"this will be the largest
function of the Women's
Division in many years. We
have been able to make
arrangements with the
Sheraton   for   a   special,'
reduced-rate parking fee for
the day, and we urg£ women
to get together in car-pools to'
come to th^j^ndieon!-vvhich-
will beginaTlT:30a7m."
The special drawing for a
free trip to Israel will be
limited to women who come
to the luncheon meeting,
according to Mrs. Tehodore
Schlonsky, who is in charge
of the drawing. "The all-
expense-paid mission , to
Israel will be valid for a full
year," she stated, "and will
be part of the United Jewish
Appeal National Women's
Division Mission tqjsrael's
People.
"It will include round-trip'
(CONTINUEDON PAGE 10)
Vance Reaffirms U.S. Policy
Of Not Meeting With The PLO
WASHINGTON (JTA) -
Secretary of State, Cyrus R.
Vance, reaffirmed, Jan. 31
long standing United States
policy regarding the
Palestine Liberation Organi¬
zation by saying neither he'
nor any US. designated offi¬
cial will meet with the
terrorist group under
present circumstances.
"It is difficult to see how
progress can be made," on
the Palestine question^
Vance said, since thePLO up
to this point has refused the
right of Israel to exist or
recognize the framework of
UN Security Council Resolu¬
tions 242 and 338. However,
he added, "we continue to
believe recognition of the
legitimate interests of the .
Palestinian people will be
critical- to any peaceful
settlement."
Responding to questions at
his first news conference at
the State Department,
Vance said that "there are a
number of views among the
parties" regarding the
Palestinian issue and he ex¬
pected \o discuss .them with
_theJVHddle East leaders-on
his weeklong trip to Israel
"and five Arab countries be¬
ginning FebTR'He hinted he
has his own views too but
would not reveal them at
present.
Vance said 1977 is a Vcriti-
cal year" in th*^Middle East
settlement process since "all
parties have indicated will¬
ingness" to proceed
promptly to Geneva. "If this
is allowed to drag out and we
do not proceed then all kinds
of disruptive factors may
occur."
.   However, he cautioned, "it
Busy addressing invitations for the Women's
Division Luncheon scheduled for Monday, February 28
are (left.to right) Bobbie Kohn, Shirley Levy, Libby
Geichman and Betty Ziskind. Early reservations are
urged for this major function.
NEW YORK (WNS) - A majority of 71-6 percent of
Americans disapprove of the Arab boycott of US
companies that do business with Israel, according to
the Louis Harris poll. The poll also finds that a 44-27
percent majority favors legislation to impose tax
penalties on companies that comply with the boycott. A
42-29 percent majority favors tougher laws and
penalties against those mat comply.
NEW YORK (WNS) - Chaim Herzog, Israel's
ambassador to the United Nations, has decided not to
leave his post in order to run for theKnesset in the May
17 election. During a recent visit to Israel he reportedly
discussed his possible candidacy with the Labor Party
and the Democratic Movement for Change. Herzog
said that he felt it would not be "right for me to leave
my post, at the UN at this critical stage of serious
developments in the Mideast." ,   ,%■<*.
WASHINGTON (WNS) - Jewish member" of
Congress were among the leaders of those demanding
the resignation or removal of Federal Trade
Commissioner Paul Rand Dixon for calling consumer
advocate Ralph Nader a "dirty Arab" in a.speech to a
business group. Nader is of Lebanese descent. "No
individual, appointed or elected to public office, should
continue to serve in any position of public trust who has
demonstrated such poor judgement and lack of
- sensitivity,"Sen. AbrahamRibicoff (D-Conn)said.
would be foolhardy" to hold
a conference "until the
groundwork is thoroughly
explored and plans arrived
at so there is a realistic
chance of a constructive so¬
lution." He declined to
suggest a deadline for a con¬
ference date. •
(CONTINUEDON PAGE})
Northwestern Prof
Claims Holocaust
Was Zionist Hoax
NEW YORK "(WNS) -
• Northwestern University
plans no action against ,
Arthur R. Butz, an electrical'
engineering professor at the
Evanston, Illinois school,
who is the author' of a book
that claims -the Nazi
slaughter of Jews is a hoax
and a Zionist myth,
- according to Jack O'Dowd, a
spokesman for the
university.
He said action would only
come if Butz violated the
rules- of. the : American
Association of University
- Professors^-' but' -the- - bookr
"The Fabrication 6f a
Hoax," was not' such- a vio^
lation. i,
Raymond W. Mack, the
university's provost, issued
a statement saying the uni¬
versity agreed with the stu¬
dents and faculty members
who,feel that a distotion of
well-documented historical
facts constituted "a con- '
temptible insult to the dead
and the bereaved."
Mack noted that "it is a
right available to any citizen
of the United States under
the First Amendment to
have his writing published.
But, it is a shame when that,
right is used to insult survi¬
vors of concentration
camps." .   - -
Butz's book, which is not
' on sale in the U.S., was
published in Britain last
May. The uproar over' it
started recently when North-
western's student news¬
paper reported on the book
after learning about it in an
article in the Jerusalem
Post .
Butz claims in his book
that Zionist leaders invented
the -Holocaust to obtain
support for a,Jewish state in
Palestine. Butz contends
that there was no German
policy to exterminate Jews
and that millions of Jews
were not deliberately
murdered' in Nazi con¬
centration camps.
Many students and faculty
members, have. signed
-petitions denouncing the
book and its author saying
the book gave "academic
legitimacy .to anti-Semitic
propaganda."