Who's Carin g
For Our Kids.
Orthodox
And Single
Page 32
Page 73
SH NEWS
THIS ISSUE 50c
SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY
JANUARY 9, 1987 / 28 IYAR 5747
Grand Rapids Menorah
Enflames Community
Chanukah symbol on Calder Plaza has divided the
Jewish community and may be a lau)suit target
ALAN HITSKY
News Editor
A citizens organization is con-
templating a lawsuit to prevent erec-
tion of a menorah in a downtown
Grand Rapids public square next De-
cember, Grand Rapids' 1,600 Jews also
are opposed to the Lubavitch-inspired
menorah and Grand Rapids city offi-
cials may be caught in the middle be-
cause of their open-door policy at Cal-
der Plaza.
An official of the 25-member
Grand Rapids chapter of the Ameri-
cans United for Separation of Church
and State (AUSCS) told The Jewish
News this week that his organization
may have to decide within the next
three months to file suit against
Chabad House of Western Michigan
and the city of Grand Rapids. Chabad's
20-foot-high menorah has been
erected since 1984 on the Calder Plaza
site, in an area reserved as a "public
forum."
Items as large as 20 feet high and
20 by 15 feet long can be displayed for
up to ten days with a city permit, ac-
cording to Norm Tubbs, general ser-
vices director for the city. "Years ago
we had Christmas decorations," said
Tubbs, "but because of the cost we ha-
ven't had any for at least ten years."
In 1984, the menorah was erected
for the first time in spite of strenuous
objections of the American Civil Liber-
ties Union. Albert Dilley, attorney for
Americans United for Separation of
Church and State, also pointed out
objections from leaders of Grand
Rapids' two synagogues, Congregation
Ahavas Israel (Conservative) and
Temple Emanuel (Reform), which
were printed in the Grand Rapids
Press as letters to the editor.
Continued on Page 12
Soviets May Answer
Request This Week
DIALOGUE of
the DEAF:
Jews and Arabs In the
West Bank and Gaza
Foreign Ministry meetings in Moscow encouraged
Keith and Svetlana Braun
Staff Report
Detroit attorney Keith Braun will
make a pivotal telephone call next
week to the Soviet Embassy in
Washington, D.C. He hopes to be told
his wife of two years will be allowed to
leave the Soviet Union and join him in
the United States.
Braun returned this week from a
ten-day visit with Svetlana in Moscow,
optimistic that his meetings with
"reaonsably high-level Foreign Minis-
try officials" will translate into an exit
visa for Svetlana.
The Brauns are among 50 divided
spouses on a list prepared by the U.S.
State Department. The Braun s have
been trying to win Svetlana's release
since their marriage in 1984 while
Braun was a student in the Soviet
Union.
Continued on Page 12
Amazing Marketplace
79
Wolf Blitzer
40
Births
72
Engagements
67
Entertainment
51
Obituaries
94
Single Life
73
Synagogues
50
Torah Portion
30
Women
64