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Friday, May 24, 1985

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

BNAI BRITH

Marry Or Divorce?

Continued from preceding page

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and foremost. Secondly, our
devotion to Jewish youth — it
is B'nai B'rith Women's inten-
tion to continue to support,
both with dollars and dedica-
tion, both BBYO (B'nai B'rith
Youth Organization) and
Hillel.
"If we are denied the oppor-
tunity to do so by B'nai B'rith
International, then we would
have to find another way in
which to ensure our future,"
possibly through scholarships.
She also expressed BBW's con-
tinuing commitment to the
Anti-Defamation League. All
BBW chapters, she said, would
be encouraged to continue
programs which they pre-
sently support.
Horwitz concluded, "I be-
lieve that the vision I have
presented of a new B'nai B'rith
Women separate and apart
from B'nai B'rith Interna-
tional will indeed integrate
the best of the past with the
best of the new to produce an
organization that is more
meaningful in the modern
world." She asked those
women who are delegates to
attend the (now canceled)
delegate assembly in June in
Chicago "to make your voices
heard."
- After the speech, question-
ing from the floor increased.as
emotional issues were raised.
Among the concerns was the
future status of BBYO if there
is a split. Horwitz stressed
BBW's commitment to BBYO
and other programs. "There
can be a divorce and the chil-
dren still are not cast out to do
their own thing," she said.
"There can be and there is in a
divorce situation, joint cus-
tody. There are options for the
care and the support of the
offspring."Of the 80 women in
attendance, approximately 40
had comments or questions.
Some of the women simply
couldn't understand the pro-
posed split. As an explanation,
Horwitz described a scenario
where there could be women in
B'nai B'rith International and
B'nai B'rith Women compet-
ing for funds for the same proj-
ects.
I'd like to know that if we do
break away what are we are
going to call ourselves?" asked
Helen Tatarka. Horwitz could
not answer, but disclosed that
attorneys believe the name
"B'nai B'rith Women" prob-
ably belongs to the men (B'nai
B'rith International).
Sima Shaw, a member of
B'nai B'rith Women for 18
years, was incited to take the
podium herself to express her
views. "I can understand that
B'nai B'rith International is

doing everything they can to
save themselves," Shaw began
"Can we deny them (the men)
their means of functioning?"
Shaw is hopeful that the prob-
lem will be resolved soon and
feels that too much outside at-
tention is being focused on this
matter. "A family should not
fight in public," she added, ex-
pressing her view that this
ought to be worked out ami-
ably soon without disassociat-
ing from BBI. There seemed to
be no general consensus of
opinion at the meeting. Linda
Garfield explained that it had
been called as an informa-
tional meeting, with no deci-
sions to be made at the gather-
ing.
The B'nai B'rith men are
also troubled by this issue. Sol
Baltimore, executive director
of the Detroit Men's Council,
explained that local leader-
ship could not comment. Art
Shulman, director of com-
munications for BBI in Wash-
ington, explained that since
the proposed split had not been
discussed in any BBI forum at
this time, there was little to be
said.

Shulman stressed the im-
portance of the meetings May
20-21.
He said BBI wanted to bring
the women into its ranks in
order "to catch up with the
20th Century."
Ralph Miller, president of
B'nai B'rith District 6, told
The Jewish News that "Both
the men and women could lose
a lot from this thing. It's not a
comfortable situation. In the
past we have worked very
closely with the women. We
can work as a team very har-
moniously." Because of this
strong harmony between the
local groups, Miller is hoping
for an amiable agreement to
be reached soon.
"I hope that we are able to
resolve this situation to the
satisfaction of everyone in-
volved," said Garfield. And
that remains the official
statement for both sides. ❑

Women's Parley
In Ann Arbor

"From Tradition to Tomorrow'
is the theme of the B'nai B'rith
Women's East Central Region
conference slated to take place
May 31-June 2 at the Marriott Inn
in Ann Arbor.
Eadie Albion is the conference
chairman, and Betty Eidelman,
program chairman. International
B'nai B'rith Women President
Beverly Davis will be among the
speakers. Linda Garfield is
regional chairman.
For information, call the B'nai
B'rith Women's office, 552-8150.

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