THE JEWISH NEWS THIS ISSUE 60(P SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY '89 Campaign Opens With $19 Million ALAN HITSKY Associate Editor Calling the record total and the record crowd a victory for Jewish uni- ty, Detroit's Allied Jewish Campaign leadership announced Monday that $19,234,000 has been pledged so far for the 1989 Campaign. Campaign co-chairman Paul Bor- man told 800 persons at Temple Beth El on Monday that the total was an increase of nearly $1.9 million over last year. An additional $1.8 million has been pledged for Detroit's Project Renewal program in Yavneh. The 1988 Campaign opened last fall with $17.7 million and has reach- ed $25.5 million. Jewish Welfare Federation leaders have been worried since the Israeli elections Nov. 1 that the push by some Orthodox factions to change Israel's Law of Return would harm Campaign contributions from Conser- vative and Reform Jews. Campaign co-chairman Jane Sherman told Mon- day's audience, "We are a people destined to build, not to destroy. When we stand together we can turn deserts into gardens." The Campaign funds more than 60 Jewish institutions in Detroit, the United States and Israel, and aids more than 400,000 needy Jews in 34 countries through the Joint Distribu- tion Committee. The opening of the 1989 Cam- paign was aided by $10 million in pledges at the annual meeting in September hosted by Max Fisher and by last Sunday's Super Sunday phonathon. A record $1,083,855 was achieved on Super Sunday, $150,000 more than was pledged last January. Super Sun- day was moved to December to reach more Detroiters before they leave on winter vacations. Four hundred volunteers recorded pledges Sunday from 3,200 contributors. The large crowd at Monday's opening was attributed to guest speaker Geroge Will, nationally syn- dicated columnist with a long history as a staunch friend of Israel. "Who is a Jew is an easy question for this gentile," Will said. "The Jews are the ones having the stones thrown at them." That opener brought laughs and acknowledgement from an au- dience anxious to hear positive statements about Israel after a year of criticism linked to the Arab uprising. Will compared flaws in Israel's democratic system to flaws in the United States, showing that Israel did not deserve the intense media DECEMBER 16, 1988 / 8 TEVET 5749 World War One A Jewish writers' conference becomes explosive over the Middle East. Page 42 Continued on Page 30 Local Quake Relief Contributions Urged STAFF REPORT The presidents of the Jewish Com- munity Council and the Jewish Welfare Federation have sent letters to leaders of Detroit's Armenian and Jewish communities, pledging sup- port after last week's devastating ear- thquake in Soviet Armenia. Paul D. Borman and Dr. Conrad Giles sent joint letters to Rev. Vahan lbotikian, Armenian Congregational Church in Southfield, and to Mrs. Ar- pinne Shrikian, co-chairman of the ARS Earthquake Cause at the Arme- nian Cultural Center in Dearborn. The letters to Jewish leaders urg- ed "support to the international relief effort, and comfort to the many local Armenian Americans who have been touched by this tragedy." They urged contributions be sent to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee/Armenian Earthquake Relief, 711 3rd Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017. A former Detroiter, Dr. Nicholas I. Sol, left for Armenia on Monday with a medical team from Denver, Colo. Dr. Sol is a podiatrist and ankle specialist. Last week, B'nai B'rith Interna- tional donated a $2,500 check to the Soviet Embassy in Washington for Armenian relief. On Sunday, two Israeli cargo planes carrying 50 Israel Defense Force, Hadassah Hospital and Magen David Adorn medical specialists and tons of relief supplies were turned away from Armenia because of over- crowded airspace. Two relief planes, one Soviet and one Yugoslavian, crashed last weekend trying to land in Soviet Armenia. The Israelis flew back to Armenia on Monday. krafat failed to meet U.S. an sraeli conditions, but his Geneva speech had a goal of division.