UP FRONT
Ecumenical Institute
Reaches For Solvency
HEIDI PRESS
News Editor
s
ince its founding in 1982,
the Ecumenical Institute for
Jewish-Christian Studies has
faced a constant struggle to survive.
But, now, with the aid of persons ex-
perienced in Jewish communal fund-
raising activities, the institute is
working its way to long-term solvency.
Headed by Rev. James R. Lyons,
a Congregational minister, the in-
stitute was founded to combat hatred
and misunderstanding between
religious groups, to promote Israel
and its importance to Christians and
to probe the role of Christians during
the Holocaust. Based in the North
Congregational Church in Southfield,
the institute's only funding comes
from private contributions and help
from foundations.
To better provide for the continua-
tion of the institute's projects aimed
at achieving these goals,
members have created a Guardian
Council, a fund-raising drive which
will provide a base of financial sup-
port, which is expected to be sup-
plemented by parlor meetings and
other fund-raising activities.
The Guardian Council is compris-
ed of a group of about 100 individuals
who have pledged to donate a
minimum of $5,000 to the institute.
According to businessman and com-
munal leader Harvey Weisberg who
initiated the idea, the Guardian
Council was established "to help raise
the level of commitment to the in-
stitute so there'd be continued finan-
cial support." A member of the
Ecumenical Institute board, Weisberg
said that persons who become part of
the Guardian Council are making a
commitment of annual support.
Richard Lobenthal, president of
the board of trustees of the institute
and Michigan/Midwest regional direc-
tor of the Anti-Defamation League of
B'nai B'rith, said that program
development had been hindered by
lack of funds. He said he hopes that
the establishment of the Guardian
Council will "produce stability in the
funding of the agency and allow the
organization to address issues pro-
grammatically."
In addition to the Guardian Coun-
cil, a parlor meeting is planned for
Nov. 24 in a private home. Lyons said
he hopes he can spread the parlor
meeting idea to the Christian
community.
Lyons estimated it costs about
$110,000 per year to run the institute,
paying for salaries for Lyons and an
administrative assistant, phones,
mailing costs and materials. Rent is
free. Lyons said plans are for a full-
time secretary as well. Although he
receives honoraria for the many
speaking engagements he undertakes
each year, Lyons said that he turns
that money back into the institute.
Some foundations have been ap-
proached and Lyons added that the in-
stitute is "building relationships"
with other institutions, such as the
University of Detroit, Bar-Ilan
University and the Hebrew Universi-
ty, to be able to utilize their educa-
tional facilities. In addition, an effort
is being made to involve churches
throughout the metropolitan area.
Currently, a program advisory corn-
Continued on Page 16
TheSe windows were "spared" in 1938.
Shards of Kristallnacht
Shatter Chicago Area
repeat performance in Chicago are
still unknown, though the Anti-
LILA ORBACH
Defamation League is working close-
ly with local authorities in the in-
hree Chicago synagoges and vestigations. Windows of several
nearly a dozen stores were stores on Devon Ave. in West Rogers
vandalized Monday night on Park on Chicago's North Side were
the 49th anniversary of Kristallnacht smashed, including those at a Hebrew
— "The Night of Broken Glass:'
bookstore, Kosher butcher shops, a
On the night of Nov. 9-10, 1938, bagel bakery, a fish store and a
a highly organized assault was laun- Korean grocery store. The attacks
ched on the Jewish community of Ger- took place between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m.
many by the Nazis, leaving 36 Jews and no witnesses have come forward.
killed, scores injured and at least
"It seems to represent a
30,000 Jews arrested and sent to con- deliberate attempt to mimic
centration camps. In addition, more Kristallnacht," said Chicago's ADL
than 200 Austrian and German regional director Michael Kotzin.
synagogues were destroyed.
"These local acts cannot be dismiss-
The piercing sound of Nazi ed as harmless pranks. They remind
soldiers smashing windows influenc- us that the kind of hate that
ed the name, "Kristallnacht."
generated the Holocaust still ex-
The perpetrators of this week's Continued on Page 16
Special to The Jewish News
T
ROUND UP
Pistons Play
The Borsht Belt
The Detroit Pistons warm-
ed up for their 1987-88 NBA
basketball season opener last
week by hitting the Jewish
banquet circuit. Owner Bill
Davidson hosted a team din-
ner at Tam O'Shanter Coun-
try Club, and the Pistons paid
tribute to their host last
Thursday by attending the
Shaarey Zedek Israel Bonds
dinner held in Davidson's
honor.
Noticably absent at
Shaarey Zedek were all-star
guard Isiah Thomas and
coach Chuck Daly. But the
rest of the Pistons made quite
a stir, signing autographs and
circulating through the
crowd. Seven-foot-five Chuck
Nevitt and six-foot-eleven Bill
Laimbeer attracted plenty of
attention, with their belt
buckles at eye level of most
on-lookers.
Inspired by the Pistons
perhaps, the crowd invested
$10 million in Israel Bonds in
Davidson's honor.
Mansdorf Plays
New York — Israeli tennis
star Amos Mansdorf will com-
pete next week in the
$375,000 South African Ten-
nis Open in Johannesburg
despite a protest from the
Foreign Ministry.
said
ministry
The
Mansdorfs plans violated the
spirit of the Cabinet's deci-
sion to sever S. Africa ties.
Palestinian
Takes Offer
Jerusalem (JTA) — Yosef
Shapira, the National
Religious Party militant who
raised a storm of protest when
he suggested that every Arab
'who volunteers to leave Israel
or the administered ter-
ritories be given a $20,000 in-
ducement, backtracked Mon-
day when approached by a
young Palestinian apparently
prepared to take up his offer.
Bassem Abdel-Fatah, 23,
from Ramah village near
Jenin in the West Bank, came
to Shapira's office to make in-
quiries. He told reporters he
was considering immigration
to Canada. Shapira, a cabinet
minister-without-portfolio,
told the youth he had been
quoted out of context and
could offer him nothing more
helpful than a letter to the
Canadian Consulate.
Nip And Tuck
New Orleans — The
American Academy of
Pediatrics has decided not to
review its 1975 decision that
circumcising male babies is
"medically necessary,"
despite new evidence to the
contrary.
Recent studies indicate that
uncircumcised men are more
likely to catch AIDS from an
infected partner, and uncir-
cumcised baby boys face a
greater risk of urinary tract
infections and kidney disease.
DZF Supports
Planned Protest
The Detroit Zionist Federa-
tion came out in favor Tues-
day of a demonstration plann-
ed to protest the Jewish Com-
munity Center's sponsorship
of James Abourezk and
Hyman Bookbinder's Book
Fair appearance Sunday.
A press statement announc-
ed, "The Federation favors
honest argument and mean-
ingful controversy, but objects
to this effort to use a Jewish
forum to spread anti-Israel
propaganda . . ."
The demonstration is ex-
pected to take place at 2:30
p.m. Sunday, prior to
Bookbinder and Abourezk's
appearance.