EDITORIAL
Time To Act
Many Israelis and American Jews would prefer to discuss other
topics than the troubles with Palestinians and Israeli Arabs, now
that relative calm has been restored. But no one should be fooled
into thinking that Israel's show of military strength in deterring
violent disturbances has achieved more than a temporary solution
to a problem that will not go away.
It is true that much of the responsibility for the violent upris-
ings lay with the PLO and other Palestinian agitators. It is also true
that much of the responsibility lay with the leaders of Arab states
who have always used the Palestinians in Gaza as pawns and who
have refused to hold direct negotiations with Israel concerning the
fate of their brethren. And it is certainly true that the media coverage
in the U.S. has lacked balance, focusing on armed Israeli soldiers
vs. rock-throwing Arab youths rather than exploring the historical
reasons for. the unrest.
But in a sense, all of this begs the question: what is to be done
to break the tragic cycle?
Long-held Israeli beliefs that the status quo can be maintained
without shattering the Zionist dream, that an unpopular occupa-
tion can go on indefinitely without endangering the Jewish or
democratic character of the state, must be reexplored.
One of the most frightening aspects of the recent violence is that
the Arab youths are openly defying Jerusalem because they have
given up all hope. People commit violent, suicidal acts when they
have no hope.
The Arab states should be taking the initiative to give the Palesti-
nians hope, but they will not. It is not fair that Israel should take
the initiative, but she must.
make improvements to their property. The Jewish Community
Center is seeking approvals to expand its Jimmy Prentis Morris
building and Federation Apartments is undergoing an expansion
of its own. Add to this the "decks" spanning 1-696 and connecting
otherwise divided sections of Oak Park and Southfield, the string-
ing of an eruv for the Sabbath observant and the opening of a kosher
delicatessen/restaurant and it appears reasons for flight may be
waning.
It is within this context that recent comments by leadership at
B'nai Moshe about possibly leaving Oak Park and seeking "greener
pastures" must be seen. Politicians and communal leaders are
displeased that B'nai Moshe leaders are saying publicly what has
been uttered in private all along . . . that the "demographics" poin-
ting toward a growing, thriving Orthodox community in Oak Park
and portions of Southfield doesn't benefit a Conservative congrega-
tion watching its membership move elsewhere . . . and affiliate
elsewhere.
The concentration of Orthodox synagogues, yeshivas, bookstores,
butchers and bakers, the eruv and relatively inexpensive housing
have made Oak Park and portions of Southfield "hot" for Orthodox
throughout the country.
While a move by B'nai Moshe — or another non-Orthodox con-
gregation — would be a severe setback for plans to reverse the trends
toward flight, the litmus test is ultimately whether Orthodox Jews,
Orthodox institutions and businesses come, stay and take advantage
of loan subsidies and an expanded Jewish Community Center .. .
or also head to always alluring "greener pastures."
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Demographics. Trends. Flight. When linked, these form an almost
unbreakable chain of movement. From Dexter and Davison to Liver-
nois to Oak Park to Southfield to West Bloomfield, as "the
demographics" of neighborhoods change, Detroit's Jewish community
follows a path toward greener pastures — real and imagined — leav-
ing behind synagogues, community centers, schools and ways of life.
Recently, significant attempts have been made to reverse the
trend of Jews fleeing Oak Park and Southfield. The Jewish Welfare
Federation's Neighborhood Project has made no-interest loans
available to eligible Jewish families seeking to buy houses in por-
tions of these cities. Over 100 loans worth more than $500,000 have
been made, with similar volume anticipated for 1988. A related pro-
gram involving B'nai B'rith Covenant Credit Union is making below-
market-rate loans available for Jewish homeowners who want to
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LETTERS
Our Own
Worst Enemy
Throughout history Jews
have been their own worst
enemy. The Metro Detroit
New Jewish Agenda is conti-
nuing this process with the
views expressed in the letter
of Dec. 25.
The Agenda stated "the
time is long overdue for
representatives of the State of
Israel to meet with represen-
tatives chosen by the Palesti-
nians themselves in the con-
text of an international peace
conference!'
6
FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1988
Did the Agenda forget that
the Palestinians were
blackmailed into choosing the
PLO as their sole represen-
tative? Why is the Agenda
even suggesting that Israel
negotiate with anyone who
has not recognized Israel's
right to exist? To date no liv-
ing Palestinian leader has
recognized Israel's existence.
Any Arab leader who has
recognized Israel's existence
has been murdered by ter-
rorists. Why does the Agenda
completely ignore the pro-
blems the PLO have caused
the Palestinians? Israel can-
not negotiate with the
Palestinians as long as they
support the PLO .. .
The Palestinian question is
very complicated. It will not
be solved by bleeding hearts
like the Agenda who fail to
take a realistic view of the
situation. The first step is for
the Palestinians to recognize
Israel and to denounce terror
and the PLO. As soon as the
Palestinians do this, they will
have the requisite credibility
necessary for any negotia-
tions with Israel. Until then,
no one, including the Agenda,
should give them support.
Michael Neuvirth
Farmington Hills
Contemptuous
Attitude
Leonard Wanetik's opinion
piece (Jan. 1) displayed the
same contemptuous attitude
that led us to terminate our
long-standing relationship
with B'nai Moshe. Any
knowledgeable Conservative
or other traditional Jew can-
not divorce the synagogue
from the community in which
it stands. The synagogue is
central to the community. We
bought our home to be within
walking distance of B'nai
Moshe, as did many families
before and since, relying on
the synagogue's committ-
ment to the area.
B'nai Moshe lay leadership
began turning its back on
Oak Park years ago . . . The
lack of outreach in the com-
munity is nowhere more ap-
parent than in the dwindling
numbers of B'nai Moshe's
youth program. This once
thriving lifeblood of the
synagogue, which we were
proud to have worked for, has
been cut off. lbo many of the
children represented the
wrong families — those
without the incomes to sup-
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