July 17, 1987

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SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920 Vol. LXIV No. 42 Omaha, Nebr.

20 Tammuz, 5747 Friday, July 17, 1987

U.S., Israel agreed on Iranian contact WASHINGTON-(JTA)-Lt. Col. Oliver North said that while Israel and the United States may have had some different objectives in the Iranian initiative, there as a "basic fundamental agreement" on the need to open contacts with the more moderate elements in Iran. "I believe that there was sufficient congruence between Israeli objectives and American objectives that made this project worthwhile," North said during his third day of testimony before the Senate-House special committee investigating the IranContra affair. He said both countries "saw the need to get to some faction within the Iranian government that would lead to a more moderate, more pro-Western government in Iran, if not immediately, then over time."

The former National Security Council aide explained that both countries feared that with no relationship with Iranian moderates, the "chaos" that might result when the AyatoUah RuhoUah Khomeini dies would allow the Soviet Union to move into Iran. In addition. North said there is need to control the threat from "Iranian sponsored fundamentalist Shiite terrorism" which, he stressed, exists not only in the Middle East, abut also in the Phillipines, Indonesia, and elsewhere in the Far East. Explaining the different objectives of Israel and the U.S., North said that the U.S. wanted an end to the Iran-Iraq war, while some in the U.S. believe "Israel may like to see the war go on."

'Who is a Jew?' defeated 60-56 The Knesset has defeated two controversial bills which would have given the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate exclusive right to approve conversions performed abroad. A measure introduced by the ultraOrthodox Shas Party would have amended rehgious regulations dating from the British Mandate in Palestine by requiring that all converts to Judaism procure the Israeli Chief Rabbinate's endorsement to be fully recognized, as Jews in Israel. Despite support from Premier Yitzhak Shamir, it was defeated by a vote of 60-56 with four MKs absent. A proposed amendment to the Law of Return, sponsored by the National Rehgious

Party, would have had the same effect— invaUdating conversions performed by nonOrthodox rabbis in cases of Jews-by-choice seeking Israeli citizenship as Jews.' It was defeated 62-53 with two abstentions and three absences. This bill has been defeated each timecit has been brought before the Knesset in past years. Shamir pledged to the Shas Party two months ago that Likud would "do all in its power" to gain passage of the Shas measure. He made no secret that this was to be in exchange for Shas support of Likud efforts to prevent the Labor Party from dissolving the Knesset and calling early elections.

A Jewish perspective on State of Nation

AJCongress' 'Inventory of Democracy' warns Jews of 'single issue' danger The American Jewish Congress has cautioned the Jewish conununity against being seen as a "single issue" community whose only concern is the survival and security of Israel. The Jewish organization st^s that such a limited view of the American Jewish community "is a misperception shared even by some good friends of Israel and of the Jewish people." The warning is contained in a new A JCongress publication entitled 'Inventory of Democracy: A Statement of Priorities for 1988 and Beyond.' But the statement is careful to stress the continued importance of Israel in Jewish life. The publication sets forth the organization's stand on a range of domestic and foreign issues in light of current American policies. Theodore R. Maim, president of AJCongress, said this is a first attempt by a major American Jewish organize-

tion to assess a broad range of developments and issues in contemporary American Ufe. Copies of the 24-page document are being distributed to members of Congress and the Administration as well as to organizations within the Jewish community. The report credits President Reagan with being flexible on foreign issueaand describes his.readiness to negotiate with the Sovjet government on nuclear disarmament as _ "significant progress." ' ---<''Moreover, on support for Israel, the Administration has "written an exemplary record that can be faulted in only a few instances." But, the statement.says that the President has earned "poor grades" on domestic poUcy, especially on fiscal ^nd economic responsibiUty, social reform, and affirmative action. It places blame on an "overly simplistic" philosophy that calls for the federal government to relinquish responsibil-

ity for the "poor, sick, elderly and the homeless." It criticizes the President for his "narrow vision of a trickle-down society in which a wealthy minority is provided with special attention and privileges, at the expense of educational opportunity, decent healthcare, housing and access to employment for ordinary Americans, including the 22 miUion Uving below the poverty line. - .The statement singles out for special criticism the federal budget deficit which it attributes to the Administration's "irresponsible fiscal and tax policies and explosive military budgets." The statement also defines American Jewish Congress policy on a number of other issues including: The Religious Right, PoUlical Extremists, Black Jewish Relations, Social Justice, Women's Rights, Energy, International Terrorism, Nuclear Disarmament, Vatican-Israel Relations, Apartheid, and Middle East Peace.

National ADL director dies Nathan Perlmutter, national director of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, died Sunday of cancer in New York City. He was 64. ServicesI took place Wednesday in Manhattan. Mr. Perlmutter joined ADL in Denver in 1949 after ^BSJV' /!;.-, graduating from law school HB^& Bif and stayed with the organi- Perbnutter zation for his entire career with the exception of time spent as associated national director of the American Jewish Committee and as vice president of Brandeis University. Last month, Mr. Perlmutter was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award. "He is a hero indeed, a hero of the human spirit," said President Reagan at that tune. In addition to his wife, Ruth Ann, Mr. Perlmutter is survived by a son, Dean of Scottsdale, Arizona, and a daughter, Nina Mohit, of Prescott, Arizona.

Two local ADL leaders provided statements to the Jewish Press following news of Mr. Perlmutter's death. James Wolf of Albion, member of the National Executive Committee of ADL, said: "During my almost 38 years of association with the ADL, I had the privilege of working with two national directors, Ben Epstein and Nathan Perlmutter. I have never known two finer men and professionals. It was a privilege to work with these men. The single, most outstanding thing was that they were always ready and able to speak up on behalf of ADL's principles in a sound and convincing way. This is ADL's hallmark, to speak out regardless of the time, place or circumstances." E. Robert Newman, president of ADL/ CRC, said: "I had the opportunity of meeting with Nate in his office and have heard him speak. I have a great deed of respect for him, his views, his leadership qualities. It is a sad day for all of us to lose a man of this caliber."

'Glasnost' no help to Soviet Jewry

(PhOt0 hyAtnir Weinberg)

bpiasn in tne desert (BEERSHEVA, ISRAEL) — A Ben-Gurion University of the Negev student plays swimmiiig instrnctor to an EtUopian child at the anivwdty pool. Stndents serve as companions and tutors to efaiidrcn of an estimated 8,000 Etiikfifaii settlers in the Negev.

By Marlene Goldman NEW YORK (JTA) - Despite the new Soviet "glasnost" policy, Soviet Jews eligible for emigration are still denied exit visas, according to refusenik leader losif Begun. Begun testified by telephone to a hearing on Soviet Jewry held by the New York Council Subcommittee on Human Rights, chaired by Noach Dear of Brooklyn. "There has been no improvement in the (treatment of Soviet Jews), in our case, with immigration," said Begun from a Moscow apartment where refuseniks were gathered.

With Begun was former prisoner of conscience Leonid (Arij Volvovsky, who was released from prison in March and then was denied an exit visa allegedly because be possessed secret documents. He will not be allowed to apply again until 1992. Dear also spoke with Begun's wife, Inna, via telephone at their Moscow home. She attributed the wid^read knowledge about Begun's case to American support of Soviet Jews and said the only chance for his emigration is through continued support and pressure on the Soviet government.