Volume LXII, No. 12 Seattle, Washington Pub. No. ISSN0021-678X 19 Sivan, 5746 June 19,1986 Washington Special issue: Association of "Community Jewish perspective Communities on Jewish WAJCO at 2 education" comes of age Starts on page 1 by June Raynor Descriptions In a unique effort which is drawing na­ tional attention, seventy-five delegates from large and small Jewish communities of schools across Washington state met in Ellensburg May 30-June 1 for the second annual con­ ference of the Washington Association of and photos of Jewish Communities (WAJCO). Rabbi Anson Laytner, one of the organizers of the association, said "WAJ­ graduates CO serves as a tremendously important link among the Jewish communities of the state. Starts on page 7 Through WAJCO we can provide more assistance and resources to member com­ munities. Also, the communities, speaking with the voice of the whole association, can have a much more powerful impact in terms of political clout." "One People — One Destiny" was the Increasing theme of the second annual conference, and delegates responded enthusiastically to the keynote speaker, Michael Berenbaum, conflict in Professor of Theology at Georgetown University. Among other subjects, Beren­ baum addressed the subject "How To Be. Israel Yakov Gorodetsky speaking in Seattle . Jewish Without A Rabbi," a problem faced by the many small communities throughout between Continued on page 21 religious and Call for massive campaign against non-religious Jews Soviet anti-Semitism Page 3 Gorodetsky urges new effort by U.S., Israel by Richard Gordon Yakov Gorodetsky was a mathematics forefront of the campaign for Soviet Jews teacher, living in Leningrad, when he ap­ to obtain the rights guaranteed them by After meeting this man it's not hard to plied to emigrate to Israel nearly eight years Soviet and international law. The Waldheim understand why the Soviets decided finally ago. He was fired from his job for having He "was at the very hub of the refusenik to let him go. sought to emigrate. He began teaching community in Leningrad," according to He is vocal, sharp, very funny, impas­ Hebrew to others, and came to the Continued on page 3 election: sioned. He is built like a slab, but his solidness and strength seem to be far more than physical. He is outspoken and, one Shame on might say, critical to a fault; but that criticalness appears to be entirely motivated A community perspective by real love and concern for Jewry, in the Austria? U.S.S.R. or wherever. One imagines that the Soviets found him to be such a thorn in on Jewish education Page 4 their side that finally, it was easier for them to let this one go than to punish him fur­ by Kay Pomerantz ther. One also imagines that finally, perhaps they also ended up respecting him, Dramatic changes are taking place in Jewish education in our state. just a little. While supplementary schools remain the most popular form of education for Jewish Months after his release, Yakov children, three Jewish day schools now operate in Greater Seattle with growing overall PLO in Gorodetsky is working single-mindedly on enrollment and increased community interest and involvement. Young parents whose behalf of the Jews still oppressed in the childhood Jewish education was limited now are seeking Jewish day school or sup­ Soviet Union, calling for "a great cam­ plementary education for their children. Community leaders of every orientation paign against Soviet anti-Semitism," acknowledge that education is critical to the meaningful survival of the Jewish people. shambles? directed at Soviet leader Mikhail Gor­ Demonstrating its strong and growing commitment in this area, of the total dollar Page 3 bachev, and a policy of trading U.S. goods amount allocated in 1986 by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, 42 percent was and technology only in exchange for allocated to Jewish education. Soviets agreeing to emigration based on the A September 1985 Jewish Education Council survey of Jewish children in Seattle principle of repatriation. Continued on page 6 Superb Selection Records/Tapes Bergman Classics, Imports, Jazz, Folk Film, Theatre, Children's . At Discount Prices. 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Both Washington and Jerusalem oppose Soviet participation since it backs religious and nonreligious Washington — Dispatches from Cairo the PLO. Israel has long warned against describe the Palestine Liberation Organiza­ any attempt to "impose" a peace. by Richard Gordon and signed by "People Against the Ultra- tion in "a shambles" and Yassir Arafat's The Washington Post reported that Religious." elements in it "fighting for their physical "Arab analysts have suggested that Jordan Conflicts between non-observant Jews Later last week the eruv encircling Jeru­ and political lives" — this time against and Syria may be acting in concert to bring and Orthodox Jews in Israel, always a part salem was cut, and on June 15 vandals fellow Arabs. The reports came after Arafat to heel. Their aim is described as of Israeli society, have escalated smeared swastikas on a Tel Aviv synagogue British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's part of a larger plan to foster reconciliation dramatically in recent weeks from a dispute and ransacked two religious schools over­ visit to Israel when she suggested that an between Syria and Iraq" which would over bus stop shelters to synagogue burning night, scrawling "Khomeinism" and alternative to the PLO be found to help "please the U.S. and Britain," noting that and defacement. "Down with religious coercion" on the negotiate an Israeli-Arab peace. Thatcher had endorsed "Jordanian and Two weeks ago, ultra-Orthodox Jews walls and ripping talisim and prayer books, The Associated Press reported that Israeli arguments for ditching the PLO for began burning or defacing bus shelters that according to the New York Times. former Gaza city mayor Rashad al-Shawa more pliant Palestinian leadership in any carried advertisements of women in swim- Premier Shimon Peres and Foreign has "called openly for the superpowers to future peace negotiations." suits, or women "cavorting" with men. Minister Yitzhak Shamir have been meeting impose an Arab-Israeli settlement, with or The reports seem to indicate inspiration Eventually over 100 shelters were defaced with Israel's Chief Rabbis and other without the PLO." Al-Shawa, who is 77, from London to Hussein, who is trying to °r burned around the country, going religious leaders in an effort to calm the said the U.S. "must join" with the Soviet convince France, Britain and the United beyond religious neighborhoods into neigh­ situation, but the only concrete result so far Union and "implement a solution" after States to help him work out a rapproche­ borhoods of non-observant Jews as well. has been the creation of a committee to ex­ obtaining "minimum acceptable terms for ment of some sort between Iraq and Syria, On June 11, a Tel Aviv synagogue was amine the incidents. the Arab moderates and Israeli although Jordan backs Iraq and Syria sup­ set on fire in apparent retaliation for the Israel's press has called for the govern­ moderates." Al-Shawa did not identify ports Iran in the five-year-old Iraqi-Iranian bus shelter burnings. A note was left on the ment to use strong legal sanctions against "moderates" or outline what their terms war. synagogue door saying "we will burn a all those breaking the law, whether synagogue for every bus shelter set afire," religious or non-religious.