' ia ■ At MtiA* AN 41,44.:P 16 Friday, January 2, 1981 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 5 lbs. of MATZO Readers Forum Materials submitted to the Readers Forum must be brief. The writer's name will be withheld from publication upon request. No unsigned letters will be published. Materials will not be returned unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is enclosed. I If I can't Beat Your Best Deal Margolis Household Furniture Idea for Jewish Critics of Israel 6 Mile, 1 Blk. W. of Schaefer ARNOLD MARGOLIS INTERIOR DECORATOR SERVICE OUR 34th YEAR SHARPENING the PENCIL On All Name Brands Furniture and Bedding •SCHOOLFIELD •SELIG 'SIMMONS •SEALY •SERTA 'SPRING AIR •LA-Z- BOY •STIFFEL LAMPS •KROEHLER •AMERICAN •BURLINGTON •BASSETT •BARCALOUNGER •LANE •UNIOUE 13703 W. McNichols , 342-5351 Hrs. Mon thru Sat. 9:30 til 5:30 1 Editor, The Jewish News: For years, as a young, loc- ally residing Zionist, I ex- perienced frustration with what I saw of the Zionist movement in Detroit. I could not understand how so many of us could be "Zionists" while so few of us made aliya. I have since realized that the word "Zionist" must always ap- pear in quotation marks. The longer a "Zionist" re- mains in Chutz la'Aretz (outside of Israel), the more DON'T WEIGHT NAUTILUS COMES TO HAMILTON The finest in modern exercise equipment has arrived at Hamilton Place. Nautilus is here. Just one more reason to join Hamilton Place. Take a dip in the indoor pool, jog around the indoor track, sauna, dine in the gourmet restaurant and ,tore!. You can do it {including Nautilus)...Now at Hamilton Place. * * Associated Racquetball membership at Oakland Racquet Club GOLDEN MUSHROOM COMES TO HAMILTON PLACE Golden Mushroom owner, Reid Ashton, and internationally acclaimed Chef Milos, will also be directing food services at Hamilton Place. Join Now and taste the difference. CALL NOW FOR SPECIAL OFFER 646-8990 r=eSno1une1id3 RMdile Rd ) obvious the quotation marks become. Unfortunately, my frus- trations are not at an end, thanks to the Committee for a New Jewish Agenda. The fledgling organization really ha's one heck of a nerve! No one expects all of American Jewry to agree completely with all of the policies of any Israeli gov- ernment. There is no reason why American Jews should not discuss their disagree- ment with Israeli govern- ment policy. However, the public expression of this dissent, particularly in the mass media, serves no con- structive purpose, educa- tional or otherwise. In fact, it helps erode public support for the state of Israel, especially (but not exclusively) among non-Jews. Realize, that most, of America does not differ- entiate between the gov- ernment of Israel and the state (or people) of Israel. For that matter, why should the distinction be made? The Begin government is presently the democratically-elected gov- ernment of Israel. It does represent the people of Is- rael. The tactless public dis- sent of the New Jewish Agenda just hints at the au- dacity of the committee: its supporters actually demand that their opinions be taken -into account when decisions are made by the Israeli gov- ernment. Once again: Israeli citi- zens decide the policies of their state through the democratic processes pro- vided by Israeli laW. Israeli citizens live in Israel, work in Israel, and fight in the armed forces of Israel. They therefore have the right to vote in Israel. Can American Jews, safe and secure some 6,000 miles away from Is- rael, make decisions, in- cluding those of life and death, for the people of that state? The answer should be obvious (but just in case: no). I have a suggestion for the members of the Committee for a New Jewish Agenda. Go. The state of Israel needs your presence in Israel much more than it, needs your meetings and dona- tiOns, certainly more than it needs your bad-mouthing. In Israel, your expression of dissent would be heard, encouraged and moral. Here, it is only heard. - Nathan Bigman * * A New Breira HAMILTON PLACE • Editor, The Jewish News: A new Jewish organiza- tion has appeared on the American Jewish scene, "The Committee for A New Agenda." It is already mak- ing waves, the. kind of news and propaganda that should concern all of us. "The New Agenda" is nothing more than a rein- carnation of the now- defunct and not-at-all mourned "Breira." perusal of the names of th, sponsoring and organizing committee-in-formation in- cludes those of Israel's so- called friends: I.F. Stone, Arthur Waskow, leaders of Americans for Progressive Israel, rabbis, professors, and others who supported and played a decisive role in "Breira" and many of whom signed the infamous letter to Prime Minister Begin which appeared as an ad in the New York Times. Louis Panush Maccabean Town Is Re-kindled NEW YORK — The story of the modern rebirth of the ancient Maccabean town of Hadasha through the ef- forts of young Israeli men and women, is told by Uriel Ofek, in the December 1980 issue of Olam Hadash, the American-Hebrew monthly for young people. More than 22 centuries ago, in an area halfway be- tween Jerusalem and Ramallah, the Maccabees founded Hadasha, in the midst of the very same hills had in which they triumphed over King An- tiochus and his Greek hosts commanded by Nikanor. Until the advent of the Six-Day War in 1967, Ofek writes, "the region of Hadasha was part of the Kingdom of Jordan." With the war's end, and the vicin- ity's return to Israeli con- trol, archeologists came to the area to study this an- cient Jewish town. They un- covered valuable mosaics and the remains of ceramic workshops dating back to the Greek and Byzantine periods. Several weeks ago a band of young Israelis founded new Hadasha. Ofek relate how they have alread, erected several buildings and have begun ,planting trees in the process of re- storing life to the region. Oldest Ketuba NEW YORK — The Women's League for Con- servative Judaism has pre- sented an award to Cong. Shearith Israel of New York for the oldest American signed copy of a ketuba, the Jewish marriage certifi- cate, located in the league's recent national ketuba hunt. The ketuba was written for Manuel Myers and Miriam Pinto in 1759. ' ''