Identity called biggest Jewish question
By PATRICIA PRUITT
The historic attitude of the Gentile world is that to be Jewish is to be different. At times, KU Jewish students seem to operate from this attitude.
A small number attend services regularly and seek out the Jewish atmosphere at B'nai B'rith Hillel Counselorship, the student organization.
Others believe in the faith, but do not participate. Others call themselves "ethnic" Jews. Still another small minority "change their names and bob their noses—or wish they could."
But all are highly aware of their heritage and way of life, which is different from the pervasive Christian society of the U.S.A.
THEIR awareness expresses itself in two extremes: pride and emphasis of their community spirit and desire for freedom from the law and the label. These are the extremes. Students may or may not undergo a fluctuation between these two.
"Hillel can reach only those who want to be found—those who turn in the religious preference IBM cards," said Herb Friedson, Cleveland, Ohio, graduate student.
"Many Jewish students feel college is the place to let loose a bit and the religion they put aside. But later on, if they want to make a definite association, the Hilfel and Jewish community are there. The younger ones seem to be floating," he said.
Advisor Lawrence Sherr, assistant professor of business, agreed that particularly underclassmen from strict home background rebel the minute they get to the Hill.
"THEY do question," he said. "They don't buy everything their parents tell them. Therefore, we try to communicate to them that religion is relevant to them and
Third of a four-part series
is not dull. We try to reach them in a social manner, then give them food for thought once they come.
"Questioning has been one or Hillet Counselorship's purposes; we have yet to come up with hard and fast answers.
"The University forces questioning of knowledge in classes;
it is only natural that students question religion. I find it healthy."
The traditional conflict among the three Jewish divisions—orthodox, conservative, and reform—shows up in discussions of interdating, intermarriage and degeneration of the religion. But intense conflict is not noticeable.
"Those who don't like it, don't come," said Friedson, "though we try to appeal to everyone."
RELIGION IS ethnic in that it is the way a person has been taught to address God and life. Because these elements are so basic, the ethnic factor is great in the drawing power of Hillel.
85 pilgrims die in bus crash
MANILA — (UPI) — The worst road disaster in history occurred today when two chartered buses jammed with Roman Catholic oilgrims collided on a narrow road and plunged to the bottom of a 60-foot ravine.
At least 85 persons—many of them children—were killed. Rescue workers on the ravine floor said another 70 persons were seriously injured.
Authorities said the buses were en route to a religious festival in a caravan of some 57 other vehicles when the accident occurred in Cavite province, which includes the island of Corregidor of World War II fame.
U. S. NAVY RESCUE TEAMS were called to the scene. Helicopters, blood plasma and a giant crane were rushed to the crash site as rescuers removed the dead and injured from the tangled wreckage.
Each of the two buses were believed carrying as many as 150 persons when the accident happened.
Authorities said the brakes of one bus in an eight bus portion of the caravan apparently failed on a sharp curve in the zig-zag road.
The bus slammed into the one ahead of it and both plummeted over the edge of the ravine and smashed onto the floor some 60 feet below.
Syrians fire on Israelis
JERUSALEM, Israel —(UPI)— Syrian tanks and soldiers opened fire today on Israelis in a series of border incidents, an Israeli military communique said.
The communique said the latest trouble began at mid-morning when an Israeli working on a tractor was fired upon by Syrians while he cultivated uncontested border land.
A BROADCAST. monitored in Beirut, quoted a Syrian military spokesman as saying the tractor crossed the joint armistice line near Azeizin north of the Sea of Galilee shortly after an Israeli position opened fire on Syrian farmers.
It said intermittent firing continued for 90 minutes and then Syrian tanks from Khirbet-Dica fired two shells at an Israeli position north of Almagor.
The border fighting erupted as Syria's Damascus Radio claimed an explosion rocked the Saudi Arabian consulate in the Jordanian sector of this divided city last night, heavily damaging the building.
Syria also reported in a Damascus radio broadcast that Saudi Arabian Interior Minister Price Fahd Abdel Aziz narrowly escaped death when would-be assassins raked his car with bullles while he was driving across a Saudi Arabian desert.
Ruby was being buried in the family plot near the graves of his parents. Jewish immigrants from Poland. The 9 a.m. services were closed to the public.
Ruby buried
CHICAGO—(UPI)—Jack Ruby was eulogized today as a man who acted in a "rash moment . . . as a kind of avenger" when he killed President John F. Kennedy's assassin.
HONG KONG —(UPI)— Enemies of Mao Tse-tung launched a bold campaign to depose the aged ruler by splattering Peking buildings with posters denouncing Mao as a "fanatic," sources reported today.
Signs denounce Mao
It apparently was the first time in Mao's 18-year-old rule that opponents ran the risk of carrying
antigovernment posters into the public places. With Red Guards roaming the streets, it could cost their lives.
"Being a Jew means more than an association with the religion," says Les Cohn, Overland Park sophomore and president of Hillel. "It's an association with the people and a heritage. If you ask some kids if they're Jewish, they're fighting proud, but in religious practice the reaction is nil. For me, the religious aspect is the biggest thing in my life."
JAPANESE CORRESPONDents in Peking also reported that Mao revealed that he was forced from the presidency in 1958 by the men he is battling in China's power struggle.
Philatelists pay off forger
HARRISBURG, Pa — (UPI)— Philatelists rejoice! It took 20 years, a lot of money and a cloak and dagger operation—but it worked.
Raul De Thuin is out of the stamp collecting business.
The 76-year-old Mexican didn't collect stamps—he forged them.
IT WAS ESTIMATED that De Thuin had produced "more than S3 million" in fake stamps over the past 30 years, but the old forger's operation was so slick, he
At a news conference here yesterday, the American Philatelic Society related how the old master stamp imitator was put out of circulation. They had to buy him out.
could not be touched by Mexican law.
The Society finally put De Thuin out of business by buying up his equipment-stamps, dies, etchings, inks-at an undisclosed price. No one is saying how much.
He made imitation stamps and covers of nearly every country in the world. He was so good that one of the largest stamp advertising agencies advertised his wares to stamp enthusiasts. Experts examined his stamps and pronounced them genuine.
Under the arrangement the forger signed an admission of duplicating rare stamps and agreed never to return to the "business."
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"Because it's so small, Hillel's sense of community is emphasized," says Judith Scheff, New York City graduate student. "You do look for a Jewish face, someone you can exchange a Yiddish expression with."
"My Jewishness affects me in the religious sense to some degree, in the cultural sense to a great degree," says Mike Davis, Kansas City senior. "Hillel is a way of getting a Jewish atmosphere in a community and you can get together with those with whom you have something in common."
"Coming from a predominantly Jewish community, I feel more need now than before for identity," says Bruce Fiman, University City, Mo., freshman.
The cultural identity and the reliance on heritage of laws causes a paradox at times, however. Students will call themselves Jews, ethnically, and may practice the faith without believing in God.
"I DO CALL myself Jewish and I do follow as much ritual as I feel comfortable doing. But the one most important thing is that I'm not convinced of God. I'm really not sure," Davis said.
A graduate student who parted company with the religious aspect of Judaism still calls himself a Jew.
"One thing I like about Judaism is that it places great emphasis on law and philosophy, on conduct rather than belief. I don't think that this is too contradictory, however, because if you follow laws, then you have good dealings with people. If you fail with people, then you're not a good Jew. This is second only to belief in God.
"The merit of the religion," said Davis, "is that ritual is meant to aid in dealings with people. You have to develop your own moral core, however, influenced as it is by background."
"AS FOR THE existence or non-existence of God, I don't know. I am in no position to say, and just don't give a damn. He is irrelevant to me," he said.
"I do feel my Jewish background, however," he added. "The basic tenet of education has influenced me considerably. I usually don't think of myself as having a Jewish outlook on things, but friends tell me that I do. I don't fight it."
Daily Kansan 5
Friday, January 6. 1967
TV DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL Channel 11
"Florence: Days of Destruction"
An Account of the November Flood Narrated by Richard Burton
Friday, 6:30 p.m.
TV's in Main Lounge & Trophy Room—Kansas Union
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