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Between Greenfield & Coolidge, Berkley 545-7393 The BL P NEWS Youth Respond To Rabbis' Soviet Embassy Protest BY HEIDI PRESS Local News Editor From "a law is a law" to "I'm behind you all the way on this," children in Detroit' Conserva- tive religious schools wrote to the five rabbis — the Maccabees Five — who were jailed last month as a result of their pro- test too close to the Soviet Em- bassy in Washington. Some of the children's letters were harsh, criticizing the rab- bis for trespassing on the prop- erty of the Soviet Embassy by bringing their protest within the 500-foot limit. Other letters were supportive and giving vent to what they called the injustice served on the rabbis. The letter-writing campaign was initiated in New York by Rabbi Allan Meyerowitz, Soviet Jewry chairman of the Rabbini- cal Assembly, the association of Conservative rabbis. It was picked up in Detroit by Rabbi David A. Nelson of Cong. Beth Shalom, who alerted the other Conservative rabbis here and the United Hebrew Schools to urge their students to send let- ters to the incarcerated rabbis. (Rabbi Nelson is the president of the Michigan Region of the RA.) The jailed rabbis, Steven Bayar, Leonard Cahan, Bruce Kahn, Mark Levine and David Oler, served time in the Federal Correctional Institute in Petersberg, Va. They were sen- tenced to a probationary period with a $50 fine, but rejected the sentence. Bail was denied, and they were not allowed time to appeal. They served a two-week sentence, during which time they celebrated Chanukah while imprisoned. In general, letters from the students were supportive, and some were hilarious. Fourth grader Robbie Wine started to address his letter to "Dear Fel- low People in Slammer," and amended it to read "Dear Fellow Rabbis in Jail." Seventh-graders M. Waldman and Ryan Cascade expressed the sentiment of most of the children in their letters which follow: To Maccabees 5, I don't agree that you should be kept in jail for picketing. I think that you should have the same rights that the others have and should be let go. Sincerely, M. Waldman 50%-70% OFF ALL NAME BRANDS • Vertical Blinds •.Levolor Blinds • Pleated Shades • Wood Blinds Dear Maccabees 5, I agree with what you did. I hope that justice will be serviced on (sic) day.' I might have done the same thing. A caring Jewish person, Ryan Cascade Free Professional Measure at No Obligation Free in Home Design Consulting Beth Shalom seventh-grader Todd Krieger took a stronger stand: THE BLIND SPOT The Congress Building 30555 Southfield Rd. Suite 255 Southfield, Michigan 48076 Dear Rabbis, Showroom by Appointment 644-1001 bun.- lb.— rte I have heard about what hap- pened to you and my Hebrew school and synagogue are trying to free you! I plan to write to the White House also. Student of Cong. Beth Shalom, Todd Krieger A few of the students were not as kind. Seventh graders Brian F., E. Konstant, R. Friedenberg and L. Eidelman took a more conservative stand. According to Brian F.: You know what? That was a pretty stupid thing to do. I don't agree with you. I really don't care. Brian F. P.S. Don't do it again! A law is a law. E. Konstant, R. Friedenberg and L. Eidelman Rabbi Bayer responded to the student's letters, thanking them for their concern. In the case of the latter two, he pointed out the lesson that can be learned from the situation: "Thank you for your letters, sent to us while we were in prison. It was important to us to receive both letters of support and letters of criticism. Obvi- ously not everyone in the Jewish community agrees with what we did. As R. Friedenberg, E. Konstant and L. Eidelman point out, a law is a law. "We broke the law. We were arrested and would have willingly paid the fine, etc., without ha s sle, but for one or two points. Is it fair when the law is not enforced equally among all people? When does a law stop commanding the re- spect of the governed? Three- thousand people have been ar- rested in front of the South Af- rican Embassy, not one has been prosecuted. One-hundred forty- two people have been arrested in front of the Soviet Embassy. Why are we the only ones prose- cuted? "However, more important: If a house is burning and you see someone who needs to be saved, are you allowed to break into their house to save them? You are breaking a law to keep a higher law. You trespass in order to save their lives. We had information that six Hebrew teachers were to be singled out for special punishment. We demonstrated to call attention to them in the hopes that the pub- licity would 'save' them. Does that mean we were guilty? "The reason we decided to go to prison was the refusal of the judge to allow us to present our case. She would not allow our defnse of necessity and effec- tively decided we were guilty without allowing us our day in court. Given all the above, do you still hold, with your assess- ment — a law is a law? "Gandhi, King, Thoreau are all famous men who broke the law using civil disobedience. We are acting within their tradition as well. Are we wrong? "As for you Brian, to say that what we didi was stupid, or that you don't care sounds more like you didn't want to do the as- signment than you put your real feelings down on paper. Why don't you sit down with your parents and write me a real let- ter criticizing my actions. I will be glad to answer you."