The Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Cordially Invites You To Attend
"Sunday at the Seminary . . . In Detroit"
Sunday, November 6, 1988
10:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.
Congregation Beth Abraham Hillel Moses
5075 West Maple Road — West Bloomfield
AIPAC lobbyists might well
argue that, in a changing
world, moral support doesn't
count for much against ultra-
sophisticated weaponry. But
the argument is a complex
one, with all kinds of nuances.
Finally, lobbying is an ag-
gressive business—and some-
times the aggressiveness that
works well for groups like
AIPAC spills over into ques-
tionable activities of the sort
considered in the 60 Minutes
segment.
"It's similar to presidential
campaigns!' said one critic of
AIPAC on the Hill. "You want
a lot of people with fire in
their hearts—but you have to
realize that these people have
to be kept under tight reign.
It's where campaigns get in
trouble, and I think it's where
AIPAC gets into trouble. This
is by no means a problem
unique to AIPAC."
If AIPAC is knocked down a
few pegs, what will the conse-
quences be for Israel?
Some Jewish leaders
privately argue that a reduc-
tion in AIPAC's power would
encourage American Jews to
develop a more mature rela-
tionship with Israel—a rela-
tionship that would help
nudge Jerusalem away from
the deadly status quo in the
region.
But others worry that a
weakened AIPAC can only
create a vacuum that would
be rapidly filled by a growing
array of forces hostile to
Israel.
As a new species in the
Jewish world, AIPAC is the
subject of endless fascination
and a degree of contempt. To
be a journalist for the Jewish
media in Washington is to be
pervaded by talk of AIPAC-
rumors, legitimate criticisms
and an endlessly fascinating
saga of Capitol Hill intrigue.
AIPAC's accomplishments
are real and very visible. So
are its flaws, which often
stem from the aggressiveness
and the single-mindedness
that are part and parcel of the
group's success.
In the real world, it's im-
possible to go backwards. But
what is the correct forward
step for the pro-Israel
community?
There is another way to put
the question. If this is the way
the system works—with all its
secretiveness, wheeling and
dealing and out-and-out
pugnacity—is there a special
danger in Jews playing the
game?
"Jewish activists have a
special need to be ethical in
dealing with public policy
issues!' said one Jewish ac-
tivist here who generally
reflects a critical attitude
towards AIPAC.
Or do Jews, concerned
about Israel's future in a
changing world, have an
obligation to use the system
as it exists, even if that means
accepting the risk that ag-
gressiveness will go beyond
the elusive ethical standards
of this murky new realm of
political activity?
On these questions a good
part of the Jewish political
dialog in coming years will
hinge.
AIPAC Down, Not Out
After '60 Minutes'
ANDREW SILOW CARROLL
Special to The Jewish News
A
beleaguered Ameri-
can Israel Public Af-
fairs Committee
emerged bruised but standing
after its bout Sunday night
with CBS-TV's "60 Minutes!'
AIPAC said in a statement
Monday that Mike Wallace's
report on the powerful pro-
Israel lobbying group attemp-
ted to depict its influence as
"something negative or
sinister!"
But while agreeing with
AIPAC that the program lack-
ed balance, leaders of
American Jewish organiza-
tions for the most part felt its
charges were tame, compared
to what had been feared in
the weeks prior to the
broadcast.
Those had been trying
weeks for AIPAC, which is the
most powerful voice in
Washington on behalf of
Israel and one of the most in-
fluential of all American lob-
bying groups.
AIPAC attempted to deflect
ahead of time Wallace's
charges that it sets the line
for some 80 pro-Israel
political action committees,
in violation of federal laws
governing PACs.
But then last week, the
group was placed on the
defensive after three major
Jewish agencies were
reported to have criticized
AIPAC for acting "out of step
with the consensus of the
10:00 A.M.
10:30 A.M.
11:30 A.M.
12:15 P.M.
AND THE BUSH MOM
WAS NOT 11.11K
CONSUMED `70K
Brunch and Registration
Class I
Class II
Closing Session
There will be no solicitation of funds.
Baby-sitting services available.
Class Selections
I.
Instructor:
Ruth S. Fagen
Instructor of Talmud & Rabbinics
The Jewish Theological Seminary
Topic:
Rabbinic View of the Family
II.
Instructor:
David E. Fishman
Associate Professor of Jewish History
The Jewish Theological Seminary
Topic:
Glasnost and Anti-Semitism
Instructor:
Rabbi Morton Leifman
Vice President,
The Jewish Theological Seminary
Topic:
History of Liturgy: Siddur and Mahzor
For reservations call:
Metro Detroit Office • Jewish Theological Seminary
17117 West 9 Mile Road, Suite 408 • Southfield, Michigan 48075
Phone: 559-9112
DETROIT ZIONIST FEDERATION—FORUM
*
Jordanian Option Dead
What Now?
PANEL • • •
(affiliation given for identification only)
Herut-USA
RABBI MILTON ARM
American Jewish Committee-
DAVID JAFFE
Mizrachi
DR. HERSCHEL SCHLUSSEL
Labor Zionist
BENNY SCHWARZ
MODERATOR .. .
NORMAN NAIMAR
President, Detroit Zionist Federation
Thursday, November 3, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
United Hebrew Schools
on West 12 Mile Road, East of Lahser Road
THE DETROIT JEWISH_NEWS
an