NEWS
TIFFANY & CO.
I
Abortion
Continued from Page 1
Bob Naftaly:
'We need support from the
Jewish community.'
A new umbrella organiza-
tion, Citizens For Personal
Freedom, last week was form-
ed to fight the pro-life cam-
paign. It will be chaired by
Milliken's wife, Helen
Milliken, and former United
Auto Workers President Doug
Fraser. Former state budget
director Bob Naftaly will lead
fund-raising efforts for the
organization.
"You don't have to be for
abortion to be pro-choice,"
Naftaly said. "It is a basic
fundamental right of a
woman to make a choice."
Naftaly said he will solicit
members of the Jewish com-
munity to raise funds for the
campaign.
Paloma Picasso's
Love and Kisses
Paloma Picasso's exclusive pin and earring designs
in eighteen karat gold.
JULES R. SCHUBOT
jewellers— gemologists
`The role of
religion is to
educate, not to
legislate.
_M EMBE R_
GEM SCC>
3001 West Big Beaver Road • Suite 112 • Troy, Michigan 48084 • (313) 649-1122
Escada or
Key Largo
$49995
4 Chairs
48" Glass Table
Assorted Colors • Immediate Delivery
(No rusting • No painting • Maintenance free)
Sitting Pretty
Evergreen Plaza
19747 W. 12 Mile, Southfield
HRS: Mon.-Sat. 10-6, Thurs. 10-7, Sun. 12-4 •
22
FRIDAY, JULY-14, 1989
552-8850
"We need support from the
Jewish community to
counteract the powers on the
right," he said. "First they
take away the rights of poor
women; next they will take
away the rights of all women
and soon there will be prayer
in public school."
Along with the NCJW,
Hadassah, the American
Jewish Committee, the
American Jewish Congress,
the Religious Action Center of
Reform Judaism and the Na-
tional Jewish Community
Relations Advisory Commis-
sion last week formed a coali-
tion with the National Abor-
tion Rights Action League
and other pro-choice
organizations to discuss a
strategic plan.
Among the options, coali-
tion members are talking
about possible federal legisla-
tion or a constitutional
amendment to secure abor-
tion rights. But emphasis is
being placed on state govern-
ments, where mass numbers
of anti-abortion bills are ex-
pected to be introduced.
Members of the Orthodox
and Lubavitch communities,
who maintain that abortion is
murder according to Jewish
law, are keeping low profiles
on the subject.
Neither the local Lubavitch
Foundation nor the Council of
Orthodox Rabbis of Greater
Detroit would comment on
the Supreme Court's 5:4 deci-
sion upholding state regula-
tion of abortion. But several
rabbis from both groups de-
nounced abortion as an inap-
propriate response to un-
wanted pregnancy.
Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg,
a member of the Council of
Orthodox Rabbis, said he
understands that the abor-
tion controversy is a
humanitarian issue involving
freedom.
But, he added, "Jews must
divorce their emotions and
develop religious attitudes
that commence with the
Torah.
"The court has spoken, "
Rabbi Silberberg said. "We've
done enough. We've publiciz-
ed the Torah viewpoint and
there is nothing more we can
do."
Meanwhile, the Union of
American Hebrew Congrega-
tions is calling on Reform
Jews throughout the country
to work with existing groups
to oppose attempts by state
legislatures to limit the right
of free choice in abortion.
United Synagogue of
America Chief Executive Of-
ficer Rabbi Jerome Epstein
said the Supreme Court
damaged the cause of
women's rights.
"Jewish law doesn't share
the belief that life begins at
conception, but the Conser-
vative movement believes you
must consider other factors.
"Abortion may be offensive
to people, but it's got to be the
woman who decides what to
do," Rabbi Epstein said. "The
role of religion is to educate,
not to legislate."
❑
Reaction Mixed
On Displays
KIMBERLY LiFTON
Staff Writer
ewish groups had
mixed reactions to the
U.S. Supreme Court
ruling restricting religious
displays on government pro-
perty and banning them if
they endonie a religion.
The justices ruled that a
Christmas display at a cour-
thouse violated the First
Amendnief,;:,, which prohibits
governmen , endorsement of
religion. r court also ruled
that a menorah and
Christmas display outside a
city hall was constitutional
because it -'as a seasonal,
secular dismay.
j
: