EDITORIAL
Good Beginning
The Neighborhood Project in Oak Park and Southfield will mark
its initial success this weekend. An ice cream social at the Morris
Branch of the Jewish Community Center on Sunday will serve as a
celebration, as an educational process, and as a boost for theJewish
neighborhoods which are trying to retain their Jewish flavor and
presence.
Has the Neighborhood Project been a success- in its first year? The
answer to that question depends upon the criteria. The program
utilized its complete allocation from United Jewish Charities to help 65
Jewish families purchase homes in Oak Park and Southfield. It has re-
ceived an additional allocation from UJC to continue its program for a
second year, and is busily establishing community groups and commit-
tees to keep the neighborhoods viable and desirable. Such programs
can only benefit the general communities and surrounding areas as
well as the targeted Jewish neighborhoods.
The truest measure of success, however, is the bottom line: are
more Jewish families staying in these targeted neighborhoods, with
their wealth of Jewish community institutions and organizations, or
are more families deciding to move to the new goldene medirui in the
more western and northern suburbs?
The Jewish Welfare Federation is preparing to study these and
other trends in our Jewish community. The Neighborhood Project,
whatever the answer, is a worthwhile effort to preserve an area and
institutions which will be very expensive to replace. Realistically, no
one knows the outcome of the effort, but it has been a noble effort that
has borne first fruits.
Say 'No' To The Saudis
The current arms deal would provide the Saudis with $360 million
worth of sophisticated military equipment, including 1,600 Maverick D
missiles, a new all-weather, infra-red weapon never exported before.
(The Saudis already have more than 2,500 Maverick B missiles, a less
sophisticated version. Israel, by contrast, has 900 of the Maverick B
missiles.)
Such a sale would not only upset the delicate Mideast arms
balance but would reward a country that continues to fund the PLO
and Syria, punish Egypt for making peace with Israel, and seek to
intimidate Israel through the Arab boycott.
An arms deal with an Arab country that refuses to recognize Israel
is never a good way of promoting the peace process; to do so at this
time, when the Iran-contra hearings underscore the need for Congress
to have a greater role in shaping American foreign policy, is
particularly inappropriate.
Sixty-one Senators, to date, have signed a resolution disapproving of
the proposed sale — 67 are needed to override a Presidential veto of
the resolution. We trust that more than the needed two-thirds of the
Senate will oppose the sale, providing a message strong enough to
encourage the Administration to withdraw its proposal and reconsider
its policy.
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The Reagan Administration is at it again, having just proposed the
sale of advanced arms to Saudi Arabia.
A similar proposed sale was pulled back in the face of strong
Congressional opposition a couple of months ago, but the White House
no doubt feels that it can best re-establish a more firm footing in the -
Persian Gulf region through such an arms deal.
We respectfully disagree. To begin with, while the Administration
has gone out of its way to praise the Saudis for their offer of medical
assistance at the time of the Iraqi missile attack on the USS Stark, it
should be noted that the Saudis were asked by the U.S. to intercept
the fleeing plane and did not. That lack of response is consistent with
their position regarding U.S. requests: the Saudis have turned down a
U.S. proposal for base rights and, most importantly, have refused to
endorse American peace initiatives.
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LETTERS
Leaders Respond
To Jewish Concerns
I was the master of
ceremonies at the "trialogue"
(not a debate) that the three
men's clubs sponsored May 28
at Cong. Shaarey Zedek,
dedicated to Jewish Unity. I
want to compliment The
Jewish News on the coverage in
the June 5th issue, and to com-
ment on the reason for the
panel discussion and what im-
pelled 360 people to come .. .
1.) The need for adult Jewish
education — a joint school or
college where rabbis could
teach members of other
congregations.
2.) Some Reform rabbis are
encouraging members to im-
mediately convert all adopted
children and have divorced
couples apply for a get
immediately.
3.)We have to talk to each
6
Friday, June 12, 1987
other; we can learn from each
other; we don't have to give up
our principles - maybe
"private" rabbinic assemblies
are more acceptable.
4.) We must find areas of
"mutual respect" — Jews sing
and hear different melodies —
all Jewish.
5.) We need to invoke the
oneness of God and work
toward the oneness of the
Jewish people.
6.) We have to modify conver-
sion and divorce procedures • so
they are acceptable to all Jews.
Denver had great success for
two years, until national organ-
izations found out. It can be
done (and) it can be done here.
7.) Long Range Goal: a na-
tional Beit Din for all Jews.
8.)There are many prominent
Modern Orthodox rabbis who
support Rabbi Yolkut's liberal
position that we must com-
municate. He and they are to be
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
commended and encouraged.
Our "leaders" do respond to
the wishes of their "followers!'
We must let them know that
they must be reasonable - that
they must try to find an accom-
modation to each other .. .
Arnold Michlin
Program Chairman
Cong. Shaarey Zedek Men's Club
Jewish Agencies
Need Sunset Laws
On Feb. 27, The Jewish News
published an article question-
ing the necessity for continued
support of (Sinai) Hospital .. .
I wish to call attention to a
phenomenon known as sunset
laws . . .
A sunset law calls for the
periodic review of a law (in this
case an organization or institu-
tion) to determine its need for
continued existence .. .
The Jewish Family and
Children Service and the
Jewish Vocational Service both
have their origins in noble ser-
vice to the Jewish community
. . . However, if the Jewish
Welfare Federation were to
establish a sunset law commit-
tee, they might want to con-
sider the following rhetorical
questions and answers:
1.)Is their primary purpose to
perpetuate Jewish values,
education, religion, etc.?
Answer: No.
2.) Do they serve the Jewish
exclusively?
community
Answer: No.
3.) Do they hire Jewish staff
exclusively? Answer: No.
4.) Why do they have
"Jewish" in their titles?
Answer: Past practice and
support.
5.) Are there other private or
governmental organizations
that serve the same purpose?
Answer: Yes.
6.) Do they receive a large
portion of their support from
other charities to which Jews
also contribute? Answer: Yes.
7.)Are they more successful
than other private or govern-
mental agencies that perform
the same function?
8.) Are those non-Jews serv-
ed by these agencies made
aware that the services are pro-
vided in part by Jewish chari-
ty? Answer: Unknown.
9.) Is there still a need for
the Jewish community to con:
tinue to support these institu-
tions? Answer: Unknown.
Hopefully, the Federation can
see through bureaucracy, self-
interest, and the tendency for
self-preservation to make the
necessary Solomon-like deci-
sions on the allocation of funds
and the major direction of
Jewish charities.
Richard Leland
Southfield