rr THIS ISSUE 60(P SERVING DETROIT'S JEWISH COMMUNITY Baker Speech Stuns AIPAC Audience JAMES D. BESSER Washington Correspondent Secretary of state James Baker's recent speech to the policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has given the pro- Israel community a serious case of the jitters. _ But in private, administration of- ficials insist that the speech, which called on both Israel and the Palesti- nians to show a greater flexibility in pursuing the peace process, did not represent any shift in U.S. policy, or a deliberate attempt to put pressure on the government of Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir. "People have to understand that we have been urging more flexibility all along," said one high-ranking state department official who attended the AIPAC banquet later in the day. "The United States clearly intends to play a mediating role; you don't do that by being a cheerleader for one side or the other." Other analysts point out that the speech was even tougher on the Palestine Liberation Organization. In his remarks, Baker demanded that the PLO "renounce the policy of `phases' in all languages, not just those addressed to the West." The secretary also used blunt language in insisting that the PLO amend its charter, and find ways to turn the violence of the intifada into a genuine political dialogue. "What he was saying is that 'we agree with you about 80 percent, but we want you to go further,' " said Barry Rubin, a Middle East analyst for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "If people expected an `image' speech, they were mistaken. As a policy speech, it was realistic!' Rubin pointed out that the speech's key elements — including Baker's insistence on some form of Palestinian self-rule short of an in- dependent state, and his strong war- nings against annexation of the oc- cupied territories — have long been part of U.S. policy. Continued on Page 18 Cantors Hold Off Women Membership ALAN HITSKY Associate Editor Proponents of admitting women to the Conservative movement's Can- tors Assembly outpolled tradi- tionalists 108-82 last week, but fell 19 votes short of the two-thirds required to admit women. Last year, the vote to admit qualified women cantors failed 95-97. "This has been an ongoing debate for two to three years," said Cantor Chaim Najman of Southfield's Con- gregation Shaarey Zedek and a member of the Cantors Assembly ex- ecutive council. "There are some deeply felt emotional concerns here. "We want to protect those members who feel strongly about changes in the profession. And there is an overriding concern about the women who have worked hard and graduated from the Jewish Theological Seminary." Fellow executive council member Cantor Larry Vieder of Adat Shalom Synagogue said traditionalists oppose women cantors because as shlichim tsibor — messengers of the congrega- tion — they would occupy a different role as prayer leaders than women rabbis do as speakers. Other local cantors who attended the Cantors Assembly meetings in the Catskills include Max Shimansky of Congregation Beth Achim, Samuel Greenbaum of Congregation Beth Shalom and Sidney Rube of Shaarey Zedek. None of those contacted would discuss their vote on the issue. Representatives of the two oppos- ing factions within the Conservative cantorate will meet this year in an ef- fort to resolve their differences, said Cantor Samuel Rosenbaum of Buf- falo, N.Y., executive vice president of the Cantors Assembly. "It will be harmful if we vote on this issue year after year." Cantor Rosenbaum said six women qualify for membership under Cantor Assembly rules requiring a bachelor of sacred music degree with a JTS diploma of hazzan. A Cantors Assembly committee studied the admission of women two Continued on Page 18 NEWS MAY 26, 1989 / 21 IYAR 5749 I CLOSE-UP The Collectors Fire memorabilia, miniature shoes and antique matchstrikers — the one thing they have in common: the passion with which several Detroit area residents collect them.