1

•°11immmil NEWS I

Sharansky
Is Assailed

Tel Aviv (JTA) — While
Israelis debate the govern-
ment's preparedness, or lack
of preparation to absorb the
current influx of Soviet olim,
politics are heating up
within the Soviet Jewry
movement itself.
Natan Sharansky, accla-
imed as a hero even before
he arrived in Israel in 1986
to rejoin his wife, Avital,
after nine years in the Soviet
Gulag, is now under attack
for allegedly trying to usurp
the movement.
Mr. Sharansky heads the
Soviet Jewish Zionist
Forum, an organization es-
tablished to help Soviet im-
migrants and to lobby in
their interests. He warned at
a news conference this week
that the failure to suc-
cessfully absorb Soviet • Jews
streaming into Israel by the
thousands each day could
lead to civil war.
He was promptly accused
by Michael Kleiner, chair-
man of the Knesset's Im-
migration and Absorption
Committee, of trying to
become a "macher," or "big
shot" in Yiddish.
"I once held Sharansky in
great respect," Mr. Kleiner
told reporters Dec. 2, em-
phasizing the past tense.
"Sharansky acts like a
`politruk,' " a "political
operator," he said.
Robert Golan, chairman of
the Association of Soviet
Olim, a rival of Mr. Sharan-
sky's group, said the former
prisoner of Zion claimed to
represent Soviet Jews who
never elected him.
According to Mr. Golan,
his association "is the only
organization authorized to
help these immigrants."
Mr. Kleiner referred to
reports that Mr. Sharansky
agreed to appear at British
and French United Jewish
Appeal fund-raising dinners
on condition that his Zionist
Forum got a percentage of
the receipts.
The Zionist Forum had a
$2 million budget in 1990
built on contributions from
the Jewish Agency, private
donors and other sources.
About 15 percent goes for
administrative expenses.
Uri Gordon, head of the
Jewish Agency's Immigra-
tion and Absorption
Department, came to Mr.
Sharansky's defense, calling
on all parties to desist from
personal attacks.
"I would suggest that
Sharansky's criticism
should be judged profes-
sionally," Mr. Gordon said.

CANDY ASSORTMENTS
$1 OFF 1 lb. box
$2 OFF 2 lb. box

BUY TWO 20oz. toppings
Get a FREE 1/2 gallon of ice cream

Rainbow Plaza
29405 W. 12 Mile Road
Just West of Middlebelt
Farmington Hills, Michigan 48018

Nit/INFER SAL

SAVE

500 /0

ON TAGGED
MERCHANDISE

EXTENDED
HOURS!

December 17th thru 21st

OPEN

10 9 MON.-FRI.

-

10-6 SAT.
12-5 SUN.

TABLES & RACKS

$990 $19"
1/2 OFF

FINAL SALE • EXCLUDES PREVIOUS SALES

SALE ENDS 12/24/90

Stride Rite • Keds • Nike • 9 West • Jumping Jack • Miss Capezio •
Converse • What's What • MIA • Bass,• Reebok • Tretorn • Poppies
• White Mountain • Danexx • L.A. Gear • Sporto • LaCrosse
• Red Ball Jets • Rachel • Weatherguard
• True Stitch • Amiana • Toddler University
WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S SHOES AND BOOTS

ORCHARD MALL

851-5566

West Bloomfield

Greg

SHOES
Serving the Community for 34 Years

EVERGREEN PLAZA

559-3580

Southfield

1247 Pairs

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

21