Page 2-THE NEWS-March, 1984
Editorials
The Syrian Record —
Unchanged
The release of Lieutenant Robert O. Goodman, Jr. was good
news which all Americans celebrated. His imprisonment in Sjria
was traumatic for his family and upsetting to the nation at
large. Reverend Jesse Jackson deserves credit for helping to
secure Goodman’s release.
No credit, however, should extend to the Syrian regime, which
not only lost nothing but gained much by allowing Lieutenant
Goodman to go home. As the New York Times pointed out in
its Jan. 4 editorial, the Syrians let Goodman out “because they
want to encourage agitation in America for withdrawal of the
Marines from Lebanon” and “because they want to make
Lebanon safer for Syrian domination."
George WiU, speaking on ABC’s Nightline put it more
graphically. The S}n*ians used the Goodman release “to stick
a finger in the eye of the U.S. govemment...Second, S3ria, which
almost certainly was instrumental in the killing of 241
Americans with one truck bomb has gained a tremendous
enhancement of its image...”
Let’s hope Will is wrong on that second point. Americans
should not be impressed by President Assad’s transparent at
tempt to puU off a public relations coup. Afteif aU, Syria’s
abysmal record of human rights has in no way been altered by
the Goodman release.
S}a'ia, under President Assad, remains one of the most
flagrant human rights violators on the planet. There was, of
course, the murder of 241 American servicemen in Beirut. That
followed years of Syrian attacks on its various foes (real or
perceived) in Lebanon not to mention President Assad’s just-
concluded war on his former PLO allies in Tripoli.
There was also the 1982 Hamah massacre in which, accord
ing to Amnesty International, as many as 25,000 Syrians were
killed because of their opposition to the Assad regime. Torture
is also standeird operating procedure in Syria — against critics
of the regime, against Syrian Jews, and (in 1973-1974) against
Israeli soldiers who fell into Syrian hands.
One could go on and on. But it isn't necessary. The Syrian
record is no secret and cannot be obscured by the release of one
prisoner, as welcome as that release is. Those who insist on ig
noring that record do so either out of ignorance or cold calcula
tion. Clearly, the nature of the Assad regime remains unchanged
despite the wishful thinking engaged in by some media pun
dits and pro-Syrian apologists.
Assad’s Coup
It is an inexplicable phenomenon. Jesse Jackson’s successful
mission to Damascus has produced an outpouring of media (and
some Reagan Administration) good will toward the Hafez Assad
regime. CBS television’s top-rated 60 Minutes devotes prime
time to a pro-Syrian newsreel. Newsweek suggests that the
United States has no choice but to play ball with the Sjo^ians.
An anonymous Administration spokesman says that Israel may
have to pull out of Lebanon even if the S5ndans do not. These
are only a few of the dozens of items in the press and electronic
media which indicate that President Assad’s decision to free
Lieutenant Robert O. Goodman, Jr. was a historic public rela
tions coup.
The irony is, of course, that freeing Lieutenant Goodman cost
the Syrians absolutely nothing. It was a risk-free move, one that
would have caused little sensation if it were not mixed up with
Presidental politics and the need of some journalists to turn
complex foreign policy events into simple contests between the
good guys and the bandits.
This is not to suggest that Goodman is not a hero. He is —
and an attractive one. The Goodman family is the kind of
American family in which we can all take pride. However, his
ordeal and his response to it does not change the nature of the
Syrian regime which let him go. The Assad regime remains a
flagrant human rights violator and a close ally (and occasional
tool) of the Soviet Union.
Nor has Syria changed its position regarding Lebanon’s
future. It refuses to end its occupation of that country (refus
ing even to recognize that it is an occupation). It demands that
Lebanon abrogate the May 17 agreement with Israel and it con
tinues its support of international terrorists.
On Jan. 9, David Ottaway reported in the Washington Post
that Syria is using Lebanese and Iranian terrorists “to cow the
Lebanese government into submission and chase out its
Western allies.” Ottaway writes that Baalbek in Syrian-
occupied Lebanon is the staging area for “joint Iranian-Syrian
covert terrorist activities...”
This is nothing new, although Ottaway’s report gives new
details on the extent of Syrian-Iranian cooperation. It is,
however, additional evidence that S3rria’s “humanitarian”
gesture obscured rather than illuminated the real nature of the
Assad regime.
It is doubtful that many Americans are falling for the pro-
Syrian public relations blitz. Most of the praise for the S}aians
is coming from the usual suspects: commentators hostile to
Israel and reporters who prefer sensational journalism to the
serious analysis foreign policy stories require. Still, it does
demonstrate once again that President Hafez Assad is not to
be underestimated. He understands the American media and
has shown that he can play it like a master.
(EkUtor'a Note: Reprinted from Near East Report)
From My Desk.
• •
In this year preceding the
Jewish Community Center’s move
to its new facilities, the question
of the “J’”s expanded role and
function in the community
emerges. Historically, the “J” was
created in 1974 thanks to the
generosity and vision of Amity
Country Club members and
others who recognized the need
for a new broad based communal
institution. Over the years the “ J”
has become a positive force in the
community’s effort to strengthen
Jewish identity, while providing
recreation and social activities for
its members.
As the architectural plans for
the new site we being finalized, it
is obvious that the recreational
facilities and other physical
amenities far surpass anything we
have seen in the past. Tlie center
is projecting ad^tional staff to
help manage these facilities in
cluding a full time health and
physical education director, a
he^th club director, and aquatics
personnel to provide the
necessaiy supervision to ensure
that our building and programs
are utilized to the fullest. We are
confident that with the help of the
Board and our committees the
athletic and recreational portion
of the center program will offer
something for everyone and will
be implemented in a highly profes
sional manner.
TH6 JOK^ISWILD
Letters to tlie Editor
Sliaring a Mitzvot
Editor’s note: This letter was
sent in to “share” with our
community.
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Spatz,
It is my pleasure to formally
acknowledge with many thanks
receipt of the following prayer
books which you presented to our
Deputy-Director, Dr. Jonathan
Joel when you visited The Jewish
National Library in Jerusalem on
Dec. 21:
Mahzor. 1893/
Lemberg: W. Kobler, 1893, Part
One.
(Bound in burgundy-coloured
velvet, with gilt ornamentation)
Tefillot, Mourners’ Prayers
1) Lemberg: S.W. Menkes, 1895
2) Wien: Appel & Co., 1933 (?)
We are delighted to be the reci
pients of these publications,
especially since these particular
editions were not as yet amongst
our extensive holdings of
Hebraica: they will be most
welcome additions to our collec
tions of rare and special books.
A presentation bookplate has
been affixed, in your honor, to the
“Mahzor”, and enclosed herewith
is a sample of the bookplate.
We wish to express our sincere
appreciation to you for having
Cfmtributed your treasured fami
ly heirloom - your grandmother’s
“Mahzor” - as well as the two lit
tle brochures.
With reiterated thanks for this
fine gift, I am, on behalf of the
Jewish National and University
Library.
Yours truly
Roberta Markus
Advertising Pays
My ad in your classified section
has certainly increased my
business. I have several new
clients already. It really pays to
advertise. Many thanks.
— Hannah Miller
}Nb encourage our readers'
viewpoints. Letters should be
submitted typewritten and
double-spaced and signed.
We reserve the right to edit.
Marty Schneer
JCC Exec. Director
The more complex and impor
tant issue for the center remains
its approach to dealing with a
whole range of Jewish concerns
facing the community, as well as
how it functions in coordination
with other Jewish institutions and
groups. An outsider viewing the
tremendous success Charlotte has
had to reach this stage in our
development might comment that
the key apparently has been our
ability to work together, negotiate
and compromise f^r the greater
good of Charlotte Jewry. At the
risk of sounding redundant I
would assert that our success
depends on the willingness of
diverse community groups to con
tinue in this manner, establishing
forums for the purpose of com
munity planning and coordina
tion. The Center is committed to
this path and has undertaken a
number of jointly sponsored ac
tivities and programs. For exam
ple we have worked closely with
Temple Israel to field four youth
basketball teams in a local
parochial league and are reaching
out to their Jr. Kadima group, in
cluding them in our Club 46 ac
tivities and membership. The
Center’s Children’s Director pro
vided invaluable program
assistance to Temple Beth El dur
ing their recent youth convention.
We have also worked with Federa
tion’s Social Service Department
to develop a Family Life Educa
tion Series. In addition, the Center
has taken the lead in organizing
a community wide Israel In
dependence Day Celebration. We
are still relatively few in nmnbers
here in Charlotte and it is essen
tial that we pool our resources and
avoid duplication of service.
The Center is beginning to ap
preciate and formalize its role in
maximizing Jewish educational ef
fectiveness. We hope the impres
sion that the “J” simply offers
courses for adults and children
will soon fade as the cultural and
educational aspects of our pro
gram take on added significance.
Events such as Jewish Book
Fairs, Jewish Music Month
Celebrations, lecture series. Fami
ly Shabbats and other programs
emphasizing Jewish content
demonstrate our commitment to
the perpetuation of our Jewish
heritage.
The Center is in a unique posi
tion to provide opportunities for
various segments of our communi
ty to work together in an infcnmal
setting. Our potential for achiev
ing a strengthened, imified Jewish
community is limitless if we can
■ maintain our autonomy while
seeking coalitions that facilitate
enhanced communication and the
attainment of community goals.
THE CHARLOTTE JEWISH NEWS
Published montMy by:
Charlotte Jewish Federation
Foundation ol Charlotte Jewish Community
Marvin Bienstock, Director
Jewish Community Center
Martin Schneer, Director
Charlotte Hebrew Academy
Eleanor Weinglass. Director
Editor Rita Mond
Advertising Blanche Yams
Copy deadline the 10th of each month
P.O. Box 220188, Chark>tte. N.C 28222
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