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Page 2-THE NEWS-February 1981 THE CHARLOTTE JEWISH NEWS Published monthly by: Charlotte Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Center Marvin Bienstock, Director Charlotte Hebrew Academy Raphael Panitz, Director Editor a Ann Langman Rita Mond Copy Editor Mel Cohen Club Editors Rose Maasachi & Mary Gordan Feature Writers Muriel Levitt & Saul Brenner International News Marta Gorelik Copy Reader • • Fran Burg Photographers Ellie Luski & Michael Shapiro Copy deadline the 5th of each month P.O. Box U220188, Charlotte, N.C. 28222 Thoughts From The Lubavitcher Rebbe Editorials “ITie Bell Jar” “ITie Pearl” “Animal Farm” “Catcher in the Rye” “Brave New World” “The Lottery” “Flowers for Algernon” “Up the Down Staircase” “Jaws” 1981 or 1492? **Textbooks are Soviet propaganda. Textbooks are destroying our children. (We must) rise up in arms to throw out every textbook not reflecting (our) values. ** — The Rev. Jerry Falwell, leader of Moral Majority. The “New Right” book ban-wagon is gathering momen tum and censorship has already begun around the nation, ^y should the Moral Majority be allowed to inflict their ideologies on an entire nation comprised of many different groups? ITiis country was founded on the principles of freedom — freedom to worship as we please — freedom of speech — freedom of the press — freedom of choice. The Moral Majority now rises upon the scene and is compiling lists of books and publications to be banned from our libraries and classrooms across the U.S. The saddest part is that these books are written by some of the world’s finest authors and are now considered classics. Our state chairman of the Moral Majority said the lists, which will include books that ignore the biblical account of creation, should be ready this month and will be distributed to parents in communities with Moral Majority chapters. Some of the books that have already been banned from libraries or classrooms across the nation are: “Red Badge of Courage” “A Farewell to Arms” “'I’o Kill a Mockingbird” “Death of a Salesman” “For Whom the Bell Tolls” “Grapes of Wrath” “Huckleberry Finn” “Tom Sawyer” “The Red Pony” “1984” “The Gk)od Earth” “Catch-22” “The Fixer” “Working?” “To Sir with Love” “Of Mice and Men” “Saturday Night Fever” Magazines banned include Time, Newsweek, Ms. and U.S. News & World Report. Dictionaries banned include Doubleday Dictionary, Ran dom House College Dictionary, American Heritage Dic tionary, Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary and Webster’s New World Dictionary of the English Language. This list speaks for itself! They don’t want our children to be taught how to think but want them to be taught what to think. Shades of yesteryear ... are we going back to the mid dle ages? Survival Our country has just witnessed the inauguration of a new president. We hope that he will have the strength and fore sight to guide our nation through the difficult times which lie ahead. The events of recent months have been disturbing both at home and abroad. We have written and reported on stories in this newspaper of terrorism which has struck Jewish synagogues and buildings housing Jewish organizations throughout the United States and in France. We have reported on the growth in influence of the New Right and the resurgent activities of the Ku Klux IGan, the Khomeinis, the PLO, and other factors including the spiral- ing cost of living index. The frightening trend of anti-Israel, anti-Jewish feeling in the United States is one to be dealt with. All of these events awaken us to the fact that vigilance on our part is necessary. We are afraid that once again the Jewish tragedy is not necessarily the world’s tragedy or concern. We must stay in touch with our Congressmen and President ^agan. We must keep them constantly aware of the threat to our freedom and of Jews all over the world. They must never cease to negotiate with the international community for peace. We must also prepare our young people for the reality of the world around them and teach them that ultimately the Jew must rely on himself We must impress upon them self- reliance and a strong Jewish consciousness. They and we must recognize that the survival of the State of Israel is es sential to the survival of Jewish people all over the world. Torah Freedom and the Moral Crisis We bring here a short excerpt of an address by the Luba vitcher Rebbe commenting on the Torah solution for our current moral crisis. The ad dress was delivered to a gather- ing of seven thousand Chassidim and supporters from around the world on the 25th an- niversary of the Rebbe’s leadership, Shvat 10, 5735 or Januap^ 22nd, 1975. At the gathering, accolades, awards, letters of greeting, keys to cities, etc., were presented to the Rebbe by a personal emissary of the President of the United States and by other dignitaries and representatives from around the globe. In response to these honors, the ^bbe spoke at length on the unique position, role and responsibility of America. A great deal is heard lately of by Rabbi Yoseph Groner the energy crisis, economic crisis, etc., and of ways and means to cope with them; but not enough about the spiritual and moral crisis. American history tells us that this nation was founded on the inalienable rights of men. First and foremost among these rights is the right of religious freedom. As everybody knows, the Pilgrims came to America to be able to practice their religion, free from persecution. The ma jority of the early settlers were religious refugees who firmly believed in G-d and in His word, the Bible. They were determined to foster this belief and to protect their right to bring up their children in the belief in G- d. (Parenthetically it may be added that all newborn nations and states, barring none, would do well to emulate the principles upon which the American na tion was established.) The belief in CS^-d which rc: i aUKHiNq THE MIPHI0KT OIL brought the early Americans to these shores was not an abstract belief in a Supreme Being Whose Presence is confined to the Seventh Heaven. It was a belief that permeated every aspect of their everyday life, particularly the education of their children. It was this un compromising belief that prompted and guided the found ing fathers to formulate the Bill of Rights. Times have changed, but the truth never changes. Yet, through circumstances which need not be delved into here, the spirit and letter of the Constitu tion on religious freedom has come to mean to some freedom from religion. We are witness to a sad phenomenon. Some well- meaning Americans, even some organizations, use the very same Bill of Rights in a way that is weakening and undermining the belief in G-d in American life. It has prevented financial aid, federal, state and local, to any educational institution where children are taught to believe in G-d. Even the mere mention of ^ Supreme Being in a brief non-denominational prayer to start the day off has been proscribed. ITiere can be no doubt that the intent of the founding fathers was to preserve religious freedom, not to deny it; to preserve religious equality, not to wean the nation away from G- d, G-d forbid. Juvenile delin quency and crime have become 80 rampant as to pose a serious threat to society. Clearly, a child who is brought up without fear of G-d in his heart will have no respect fora police officer, lliere is no substitute for restraining the child, unless he or she is brought up from infancy and throughout the formative years in the belief in the Supreme Be ing, Whose Providence extends to each and everyone in dividually at all times and in all places. Or, as the great teacher Maimonides expressed it: “I’he foundation of all foundations, and the pillar of all sciences, is to know that there is a Supreme Being, the Creator of all ^ings that exist....” Across The £kUtors* Desks Reassess Award We were quite pleased to hear that Sol Jaffa has been recognized for his work with BBYO. But the B’nai B’rith Human Relations Award? Really!! It seems to us that there appears to be some confusion as to what the award stands for ... is it in recognition of being a great humanitarian or is it being given lately as an ad ditional award for dedicate volunteerism? We think B’nai B’rith should do some serious re- evaluation on their award categories. — Names Withheld Upon Request (Ed. note: The Human Relations Award is not given by B’nai B’rith. It is a local award es tablished by the Charlotte Chapter of B*nai B’rith Women and has been given annually ex cept for a couple of years when the group felt that the candidates recommended did not meet the criteria of the award. It was established in 1962 and has been given to many outstanding in dividuals, the first recipient being Ms. Bonnie Cone, one of the "spearheads” of UNCC. Some others have been Kays Gary, Mayor Stan Brook shire, Ty Boyd and the late Emma Lassiter.) Thanh You Dear Rita & Ann: I would like you to know how much I appreciate your taking on the job of editors. I know it is a thankless job, and I just wanted to let you know my personal feelings. 1 think you are doing the community an outstanding job. Warmest regards, Allan S. Oxman, CLU To the Editors: We extend our sincere thanks to those in our Jewish community who gave so selflessly of their time and energj in the annual Christmas Day substitution. The event, sponsored by Charlotte Lodge B’nai B’rith and Temple Israel Men’s Club, was able to free up a significant number of positions at Presbyterian and Mercy Hospitals and Mecklenburg County Jail. This allowed some of our Christian brethren to spend their im portant day with their families. Sincerely, Murray Bodner, President Temple Israel Men’s Club Michael Shapiro, President Charlotte B’nai B’rith Lodge
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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