CLOSE-UP
The Right Road
New leaders Paul D. Borman and David Gad-Harf aim to continue
Jewish Community Council programs . . . and promote Israel
KIMBERLY LIFTON
Staff Writer
p
aul D. Borman's philos-
ophy is illustrated in a
poem he keeps framed on
his office wall: Keep It
Simple.
It's an approach he applies to
meetings, writing and American
travel to Israel. Accordingly, Borman
said his mission as the newly elected
president of the Jewish Community
Council is clear-cut — he simply must
help boost American travel to Israel.
Borman isn't alone in his views.
In fact, his sentiments are echoed by
Council Executive Director David
Gad-Harf, who came to Detroit to
replace Alvin Kushner, who retired
after 14 years with the Council.
"Our target is the Jewish com-
munity," Gad-Harf said. "We are fin-
ding ways to encourage and help get
people to go to Israel?'
In September, the duo launched a
campaign to increase American travel
to Israel. Travel has declined by at
least 25 percent since Arab unrest in
the West Bank and Gaza Strip started
last December.
At Borman's urging, the Council
tried its hand with advertising. A
local newspaper ran a full-page
spread in September which depicted
Moses leading Jews through the Red
Sea into the Promised Land.
"Remember when nothing stop-
ped people from going to Israel?" the
ad reads. "It is convenient. And Safe
. . . Just remember, whatever you do
to get there, don't let anything stop
you."
Now for the first time in its
50-year history, the Council is plann-
ing a mission to Israel. Details and
the date of the trip are expected to be
announced at the Council's Israel
Travel Fair — This Year In Jerusalem
— to be held Dec. 8 at the
Maple/Drake Jewish Community
Center.
"There now is an abandonment of
American Jews going to Israel," Bor-
man said. "It is shocking, and my gut
feeling is that is must be dealt with.
It is my No. 1 project?'
As the new executive director,
Gad-Harf said he wants to build on
the existing foundation set by the
Council's last leaders. Borman, chief
- defender of the federal defender's of-
.
24
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1988
want to make Detroiters more aware
of the Council's role in the communi-
ty. They hope to continue improving
Jewish/black and Jewish/Arab rela-
tions in Detroit and its suburbs.
"We will meet with leaders of
other ethnic communities and discuss
priorities," Gad-Harf said. "The key
is personal contact. We will look for
opportunities to collaborate with
these groups and pool our resources.
We need to solidify such relationships
in order to move into the second phase
of the strategic plan."
Borman said he will follow his
simple philosophy to tighten up
JCCouncil meetings, and make them
more specific and organized.
By the end of March, Borman add-
ed, the Detroit Jewish community
will know that the Council is an in-
dependent agency waiting to serve
the public.
"It is important to get viewpoints
from all over," Borman said. "Instead
of long speeches from Council board
members, we want to hear from you.
We will always be represented from
Allementschen.
Borman, who moved up with the
Council from the treasurer's spot, is
a past chairman of the Allied Jewish
Campaign. Among his ac-
complishments, Borman was the 1987
Jewish Labor Committee's 1987 reci-
pient of the Labor Human Rights
Award.
Gad-Harf came to Detroit from St.
Now it's easier to go than ever before.
And now is the right time to go. Visit where more information about traveling
Louis, where he headed the Jewish
And it's not just easy. It's convenient. Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, Safad, Jaffa; and Eilat. to Israel will be available to you.
Community Relations Council since
And safe. Probably safer than other places Missions or Special Travel Groups for all (For information call 962-18801.
many of us are planning to visit this year. ages are always available, and in October,
Just remember, whatever
Jewish
1984.
What's more, unlike back then, today in The Detroit Jewish Community Council you do to get there, don't Community
Originally from Erie, Pa., Gad-
Council
Israel there are many friends to greet us. will host a "This Year In Jerusalem" rally, let anything stop you.
Harf graduated magna cum laude
from Harvard University with a
The ad helped the Jewish Community Council launch its campaign to boost tourism.
bachelor's degree in government. He
Tice, also said he wants to put the separate religion and state, foster then worked in a variety of political
blueprint into use. Among the plans coalitions with other ethnic and health-related jobs, and earned a
are strengthening relations with minorities and coordinate activities of master's degree in public health from
other ethnic and racial communities its constituent organizations.
the University of North Carolina
and attracting more volunteers.
On the drawing board are pro- before joining the Jewish communal
Those who know Borman and posals put into place by immediate world.
Borman, who earned undergradu-
Gad-Harf said their partnership is a past president Leon Cohan, who co-
good shidach for the Council, the um- workers said left the Council with its ate and law degrees from the Univer-
brella of the community that aims to first long-term strategic plan and in- sity of Michigan and a master's
bring together Detroit's estimated itiated a proposal to restructure the degree from Yale University, has
spent most of his career working for
300 Jewish organizations. The Coun- organization's internal makeup.
cil, completely funded by the Jewish
Gad-Harf, Cohan said, brings causes.
In addition to his position as a
Welfare Federation, aims to further youth, character and a "sense of high
the interests of Detroit's estimated professionalism" to the Council. Bor- defender, Borman — a self-professed
man, he added, is commited and "FDR-Democrat" — has worked in
65,000 Jewish population.
the legal departments of the U.S.
rib do so, the Council works to sup- energetic and cares about people.
Gad-Harf and Borman said they Commission on Civil Rights in
port Israel, combat anti-Semitism,
Remember when nothing stopped
people from going to Israel.