I EDITORIAL
Voting On Foot
We came by the thousands, streaming up Drake and Walnut Lake
roads, circling Temple Israel, stopping briefly for refreshments, and
walking back to the Jewish Community Center as part of the largest
gathering of Detroit's Jewish community in recent memory.
An estimated 5,000-8,000 Detroiters participated throughout
Sunday in a glorious salute to Israel and her 40th anniversary, pro-
claiming an affinity for the Jewish state that goes far beyond a mere
celebration. It was, indeed, a chance for Jewish Detroit to vote with
its feet, to show the world where it stands in support of Israel, and
perhaps to respond to negative publicity surrounding five months
of unrest in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Detroit news media missed a golden opportunity. A rally of
thousands — even if peaceful and celebratory — is still news. Had
they been interested, television and radio reporters could have in-
terviewed Jewish Detroiters of all ages and origins. The cameras
could have glimpsed the face of our community and reporters could
have probed what binds us to a Jewish state two continents away.
Interest in the rally would have balanced coverage of mock funerals
by 100-150 local Arabs in support of the Palestinian uprising.
The problems of the Middle East will not be solved by counting
numbers at opposing demonstrations. But Detroit's Jews should be
satisfied. On a near-perfect spring day we came together in a massive
rally to show our support for Israel and for our community.
primaries too much as a horse race, with odds proffered weekly on
each candidate's chance for victory.
And too little has been addressed by too many candidates. Of
issues, there have been too few. It is troubling to recall that almost
a year ago, eight Democrats were rushing about the country, rais-
ing money and trying even harder to raise enthusiasm. But what
memorable issues did they — or the GOP candidates (Bush, Robert-
son, Dole, Kemp, Haig) — raise?
We have witnessed campaigns this year largely void of substance.
We have heard about the "miracle" that Dukakis wrought in
Massachusetts and about George Bush's loyalty to his president and
about Jesse Jackson's rap-rhyming on the stump (not to mention
Gary Hart's amorous adventures). But as this long, long election pro-
cess finally whittles down to the last of the primaries, it would also
be great to have some substance — and not merely rhetoric, image
or titillation — with which to judge the apparent nominees.
414a
Anxious For Substance
The long haul is over, we are told. The nominations are all tied
up. Mike Dukakis will lead the Democratic ticket in November. And
George Bush, undoubtedly, will be the GOP standard-bearer. Just
a few weeks ago, the news magazines featured covers asking such
questions as "What Does Jesse Want?" Now, they have all but writ-
ten Mr. Jackson's withdrawal speech for him. And gone is Robert
Dole, who, for a few fleeting moments, thought he was on his way
to toppling his Republican rival, Vice President Bush.
In the annals of American political history, this will not be a
four-star primary season. The media, especially, has treated the
LETTERS
Bar Mitzvah
Celebrations
Regarding the bar mitzvah
parties described in last
week's issue, I see no problem
a priori to having unusual
parties. What is unfortunate
is that so many of these bar
mitzvah celebrations involved
both chilul Shabbat and the
eating of treif food. I find this
particularly distressing as
many of these bar mitzvahs
were formally celebrated in
Conservative shuls.
What is the message to
children when the rabbi can-
not even eat at the meal after
the ceremony?
I am sorry that the article
did not include anyone who
had a bar mitzvah in Israel.
I do not know the Sterns, but
I certainly hope that they
manage to get their family to
Israel before their younger
son's bar mitzvah — and Ari
turns 20! I don't want to pick
6 FRIDAY, MAY 6, 19$8.
on them but it troubles me
that so many in the communi-
ty view a visit to Israel as
something tantamount to the
Haj.
Israel is a beautiful country
which is constantly growing
and changing. I would hope
that those who could afford to
would visit Israel not once in
a lifetime but every few years.
Aaron Lerner
Royal Oak
Thank You .
From Hillel
The Jewish News carried an
article by Susan Tauber-Hyke
about the B'nai B'rith Hillel •
Foundations of Metropolitan
Detroit in the April 8 issue.
We are writing to thank you
for carrying the article. We
felt that it really captured the
essence of what we are trying
to do.
We've gotten a lot of
favorable responses from our
friends and from people who
learned about our organiza-
tion from the article.
Louis Finkelman
Wayne State University
Carol Kaczander
Oakland Community College
Sandy Loeffer
Oakland University
Alger Reunion
Was Boosted
.
On behalf of the Alger
School Reunion Committee, I
would like to take this oppor-
tunit to thank both The
Jewish News and Danny
Raskin for helping to make
our affair a huge success.
Due to the publicity
generated by the Danny
Raskin column, some 335 peo-
ple enjoyed themselves im-
mensely at this reunion.
Louis Linden
Farmington Hills
Rabbis Question
Festival Food
It is with great pain and
anguish that the Council of
Orthodox Rabbis of Greater
Detroit finds it necessary to
lodge a public protest over the
shocking lack of sensitivity
towards the kosher observant
public displayed at the Jewish
Festival '88 observance, May
1. The affair held on the
Jewish Community Center
grounds and sponsored by the
American Jewish Committee
included a number of food
booths which were under no
rabbinical supervision.
We now know for a fact that
much of the food served was
not kosher. The Jewish com-
munity of Detroit has prided
itself on having the food serv-
ed at the Jewish Community
Center supervised by the
Council of Orthodox Rabbis.
We are certain that many
an unsuspecting participant
in the festivities assumed
that all the food served on the
Jewish Community Center
grounds in honor of Israel's
40th birthday were kosher.
Most recently the Council of
Orthodox Rabbis was asked
by the coordinators of the
Southfield and Oak Park
neighborhood "Fun Days" to
oversee the kashrus of their
functions. We were more than
happy to oblige them in see-
ing to it that all members of
our community are comfor-
table in their community
functions. At the same time
Continued on Page 12
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