Reform Rabbi Hails Decision on Abortion
JEW!
New York, N.Y.-Now that the Supreme Court has ruled on abortion legislation, Catholic Church leaders and other critics were implored to c e a s e their divisive tactics on this question and instead, help individuals in their own decision making process regarding "an individual's right to life." Rabbi Balfour Brickner, Dlrector, Commission on Inter-
faith Activities UAHC, said, "It strikes me as divisive to hear leaders of institutions long committed to law and order demn this ruling in hart unseemly language," The religious leader felt the Catholic Church and ot> critics "might belter serve U welfare of society by urging acceptance of this new law and compliance with the orderly processes of our country." He suggested that these critics should now "call for a halt to , any further efforts. to circumvent tho implications of MONSEY, N.Y. (JTA)-The this landmark case. Let them Rabbinical Council of America help people everywhere recoghas gone on record "deploring" nize that the individual's right the Supreme Court ruling on: to life, as he sees that right abortions. through the filter of his own Rabbi Fabian ScHbnfeldof; religious or personal underNew York, first vice-president, standing, is not in the least saTd ''we a c c e p t the high impaired by this decision. To court's decision even if we disagree with its wisdom. As re- the c o n t r a r y the Supreme ligious leaders, however, wo Court has guaranteed the indimust continue to teach the vidual right to all persons to moral imperative and religious choose just when and how they dictates which frown upon the; will bring life into this world." faking of, the life of fetuses : The religious, leader hailed even during this early period. the Supreme Court decision as Rabbi Schonfeld a s s e r t e d "wise: and courageous." He that more than 600,000 abor- added, "This country's citizens tions were performed last year ought to stand in deepest gratiand that the number of abor- tude to a system of government • tions tliis year is expected to which, in its ability to keep bo closer to 1.5 million. "Will church and state separate, inthe .decision of the high court sures the right of both to funccreate a climate for additional tion freely in a pluralistic society.". permissiveness?" he asked.
Serving Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Lincoln, Omaha OMAHA, NEB., I'll I., FEB. O, 197S
Orthodox Rabbis Rap Ruling on Abortions
Mark Zalkin to Head Cultural Arts at JCC
New'york; (JTA) — The recent murder of nine Iraqi Jews who had;been in p r i s o n for some months was reported on Feb. 1 by Jacob Stein, chairman of the Conference of Pres-; idents of Major American Jew- • ish Organizations. Declaring he had received; this information from unimpeachable sources, Stein urged the governments of the world to protest this latest atrocity inflicted upon the small Jewish community in Iraq, now numbering less than 500, compared to some 150,000 in the 1940s. Stein expressed "great concern over the worsening of the situation that threatens the total extinction of the Jews residing in Iraq. My information is that the government of Iraq has seized the property of all its Jews through newly • enacted regulations. The situation of the Jews in Iraq has tragically deteriorated in the past few months to a point where life there for Jews is completely intolerable. .Their
only hope for life is immediate emigration." _. _ Exit Visas Diplomatic sources in Paris said that 20 Iraqi Jews have been given exit visas by Iraqi emigration a u t h o rities. This followed reports of the nine Jews executed. The sources said that the families of three of the victims have reportedly left the country and the families of the other six'were presumably hiding in Baghdad.
nitsa, and Yefim Davidovlch of Minsk. The SSJ entered the Aeroflot o f f i c e and posted signs demanding freedom for the Jewish prisoners and also 'hung up an Israeli flag on ona of the walls.
Protests ' . In Copenhagen, the Danish League for Human Rights cabled the Iraqi government protesting the killing of the nine imprisoned Jews. In New York, the American Jewish Congress called on the New York (JTA) - Fifteen government of Iraq to confirm members of the Student Strug- or deny the reported execuj gle for Soviet Jewry staged a tions, two-hour sit-in at the offices A spokesman for the Iraqi of Aeroflot, tho Soviet airline Mission to the United Nations here. TKey left the premises, said that tjiere was no infor.after police arrived.-No arrests mation regarding the reported were made and apparently no executions. In Washington, the complaint was lodged. State Department also said The students were protesting that it had no information. .the pending trials of three RusThere has been no - official sian Jews—Lazar Lubarsky of comment in Israel on the reRostov, Isaac Skolnik of Vin- ports of the e x e c u t i o n s . A source in Jerusalem said: "Very disturbing reports havo reached Jerusalem of the physical torture of the Jewish prisoners held in Baghdad and there is reason to believe that some of them are no longer Des Moines—"Mission of the 6, and will a r r i v e in Des alive. There are also reports of mass expropriation of property Generations," a unique oppor- Moines at 7:15 p.m. Group fare .for parent .and from the Iraqi Jewish comtunity for parent and child to munity reminiscent of the consee' and hear Israeli Premier child will be $215. Banquet cost fiscations which preceded the Golda Meir, will take place for two will be $50. Hotel reser- show trials and hanging's (of vations at the Hilton for two soon in New York City. i, will be $35, for a total of $300. Jews) in 1969." Mrs. Meir will be honored at a banquet there on Mar. 5. The "Mission oi the Generations" will permit a Des Moines parent to present to a teen-age child the experience of seeing and hearing her in what is perhaps her last visit to the United States as prime minister of Is-, rael. The Jewish Welfare Federation has reserved 20 places at tho banquet and has made transportation arrangem e n t s for 20 to New York. The first ten parenticliild pairs who re-' spond will bo able to participate in tho Mission. The groupat the banquet will be among the top leadcrslilp of the American Jewish community. The Federation will make an effort also to arrange a meetSecretary of State William P. Rogers makes a plea for reopening' ing between the group of parof negotiations between Israel and Egypt as the first step toward* ents and children with one of Middle East peace at farewell dinner honoring Ambassador Yltzthe four Israeli ambassadors hak Rabin sponsored by the Conference of Presidents of Major who will be there, and possibly American Jewish Organizations. (L. to r.) Ambassador Rabin, Seceven with Mrs. Mclr. retary of State Rogers, Jacob Stein, chairman, and Yehuda Hell-
Omaha — Mark Zalkin, the now Director of Cultural Arts at the Omaha Jewish Community Center, is a native Omahan who is "pleased to be back in the home town" and is "excited by the potential of his new position." Announcement of Zalkin's appointment was made this week by Charles Monasee, chairman of the Jewish Community Centor Board. "The additlqn of a Cultural Arts Director to the Center*staff is an important' part of our planning for- tho new JCC," Monasee said, "In addition to directing the current adult education program of the Jewish Cultural CommitMarkZalkiu tee, Mark will bo responsible for the develppment and staff- do, as well as directing choirs ing of classes and activities in in Denver and Chicago. music, art, drama fcnd dance." Before returning to Omaha,' Mr. Monasee said that it is Zalkin was a member of the tho intention of the JCC board , faculty at Colorado Academy to have an extensive- program ' Prep School in Denver where of activities and services developed prior to the completion .he taught vocal music. Commenting on his return to of the new Center facility. "Tho cultural arts represent a major Omaha, Zalkin said, "I really area of JCC programming," believe there are exciting opMonasco said, "and wo look forward to new exciting pro-' portunities in midwestern comgrams under Mark's direction." munities that are not possible in tho larger cities. I wish Tho son of Mr. and Mrs. Al- there had been more Jewishlen Zalkin, Mark is a 1967 honor graduate of- Central High oriented cultural arts available School. He- atended the Uni- during my high school years versity of Denver and received in Omaha and I'm delighted his Bachelor of Music Educa- with tho kind of planning that tion degree and Master Degree is being made in that area for. frpm Northwestern University tho hew Jewish 'Community" Tho group wilj leavi in Evanstoh,'Illinois. p&nier. I'm pleased to have! tho >»JMoines at 7 n.iji ;• A'bass'Soloist, Z a l k i n has.j the*opportunity to be a part''df'« '5, and arrive in 11 a,m. They 'wl served-as b Cantor for congregations :la Illinois' and, .Cplora-,., that effort.!',.. ..,. ,
Students Stage Sit-in
Des Mpines f© Send 20to "Mission of theGenerations"
Secretary Rogers Urges Re-opening Of Peace Talks Between Israel and Arabs
nferen e.'ln appearing, •fy orh inlzatlons corm JRofley I'mado his first.