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P««* 22 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE December 23, 1977
(Ktjrtstmas tit tlje sc
Continued from page 1
Admittedly, our children enjoy
•haring with their classmates
stories of the Jewish holidays. The
rabbis lb Atlanta with whom I
have spoken agree. Observances of
Christmas and Easter in the public
schools should be discouraged and
that applies equally with Hanuka
and Passover. This does not
preclude studies of comparative
religion, the role religion has
played in society and in human
development.
We at ADL have worked with-m^
committee of the Atlanta Jewish
Welfare Federation in drawing up
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guidelines regarding religious
practices in the school. There is no
unanimity of opinion on the part
of Jews regarding what is
acceptable and appropriate in
terms of religious practices in the
public schools. Some are
“purists”—all semblances of
religion out—; others willing to
compromise to achieve what is
viewed as politically “possible.” It
may come as a surprise that the
committee of lawyers, rabbis,
professionals in community
relations, met frequently and
worked almost two years before a
statement was composed
acceptable to the committee and
the board of Federation.
Members of the committee took
the guidelines to all of the
superintendents of schools in the
multi-county area. This was to be a
low-key, educational effort. We sat
with each superintendent
exploring philosophically the
value of separation of church and
state, the contribution such
safeguards make to strengthening
democracy. Suggesting that our
guidelines serve as a model, we
requested that each school system
design guidelines of its own,
consonant with the particular
needs of its community. These
were needed, we explained, so that
all concerned with the schools
framework.
There were two positive results.
One system within several months
furnished us with a document,
somewhat ambiguous and vague,
but guidelines to which we could
refer. Another system, as the result
of numerous calls on our part,
issued a memorandum to
administrators prohibiting the
distribution of Gideon Bibles, a
practice which has existed for
many years.
You may ask why we are not
more militant and go directly to
the school board, whose
responsibility it is to set policy. The
experience in other communities
with more “openness” has
frequently been disastrous. The
community conflict exposed has
far outweighed the abuses
corrected.
Has there been progress? No
need to remind you of the diehards
who would deal with declining
academic achievement and
violence in the school by “bringing
God back in.” Even one set of
guidelines from a major school
system is an achievement, when
none had existed previously.
A most encouraging change.
Our young people value first
amendment rights. They call our
office. Seek advice. “What do I
say?”, they ask and then they speak
out.
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This week there were two
disturbed calls. A Jew for Jesus
posted himself in the high school
hallway. We were told he asked
students, “Are you a JewT When
an affirmative repsonse was
received, he attempted to push
tracts upon them. The Jewish
student on the phone queried
somewhat timorously, “I threw
them down, but what should I do?”
“Talk to the principal,” she was
counseled, which she forthrightly
did. I spoke to the principal
immediately, too. He was pleased
the student came to him. “1
escorted the man out of the school
and told him if he returned we
would swear out a warrant for his
airest.”
He added, “I can’t have him
singling out Jewish students for
books. If he offered a book to
everyone, that might be different.”
I pointed out, “That depends
upon the content. If it were a
Gideon Bible that would not be
acceptable either."
(Betty Cantor is Southern Region
Education Director of the Anti-
Defamation League)
Mrs. Clara Samuels
Mrs. Clara Hoechstetter
Samuels, 93, of Atlanta died
Thursday, Dec. 15.
Graveside service was held
Sunday, Dec. 18, at Crest Lawn
Memorial Park with Rabbi Alvin
M. Sugarman officiating.
A native of Germany, Mrs.
Samuels was a member of the
Temple. She was the widow of
Arthur M. Samuels.
Survivors include a daughter,
Mrs. Hazel Glick of Atlanta; a
sister, Mrs. Lina Mueller of
Pittsburgh; a brother, Herbert
Hoechstetter of Pittsburgh.
Mrs. Ida Finestone
Mrs. Ida Schlossman Finestone,
86, of Atlanta died Sunday, Dec.
18.
Graveside service was held Tues
day, Dec. 20, at Greenwood
Cemetery with Rabbi Marc
Wilson officiating.
A native of Russia, Mrs. Fine
stone was a member of Pioneer
tYomen, Workmen’s Circle and
Hadassah.
Survivors include her hjsband,
Barney Finestone of Atlanta; a
daughter, Mrs. Raymond Gebiner
of New York City; a son, Harry
Finestone of Los Angeles; a
brother, Herman Schlossman of
Atlanta; and five grandchildren.
Samuel Penso
Samuel Penso, 61, of Atlanta
died Tuesday, Dec. 20.
Funeral was to be held Friday,
Dec. 23, at Green Lawn Chapel
with Rabbi Marc Wilson
officiating. Burial was to be in
Greenwood Cemetery.
Mr. Penso was a member of
Congregation Or VeShalom, the
Jewish War Veterans, the Masons,
the Shriners and the Elks. A
realtor, he was a veteran of World
War II.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs.
Lena Hazan Penso of Atlanta; a
daughter, Mrs. Bruce P. Cohen of
Atlanta; two sons, Irving and
Elliott Penso, both of Atlanta; two
sisters, Mrs. Sue Toledo and Mrs.
Ray Cardinale, both of Brooklyn;
a brother, Dave Penso of Los
Angeles; and two grandchildren.
Aaron Udinsky
Aaron J. Udinsky, 76, of
Savannah died Sunday, Nov. 27.
Funeral was held Sunday, Nov.
27, in Savannah.
A native of Russia, Mr.
Udinsky had lived in Savannah
most of his life. He was a member
of Congregation B’nai B’rith
Jacob and its Brotherhood,
Workmen’s Circle, Chevera
Kadesha, and the Jewish
Educational Alliance.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs.
Pauline Gertman Udinsky of
Savannah; a son. Burton Udinsky
of Savannah; two brothers.
Nathan Udinsky of Jacksonville,
Fla., and lzzy Udinsky of Atlanta;
three sisters, Mrt. Annie Cooper,
Mrs. Becky Womble and Mrs.
Menie Benzel, all of Savannah;
three grandchildren, a great
grandchild and several niece* and
nephews.
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——Cairo
Continued from page 1
in the Middle East, had the
opposite effect and failed to wean
the antagonists from their
intransigent positions.
In Cairo, the presence of the
United States seems to be a source
of confidence and encouragement
for Israel and Egypt though it will
become more delicate when the
