EDITORIAL
The Roots Of War
In The Persian Gulf
It's probably a moot point, now, to point
out that Israel has nothing to do with the
Persian Gulf conflict.
Only two weeks after his troops con-
quered Kuwait did Saddam Hussein men-
tion Israel, asserting that his takeover is
analogous to Israel's occupation of the
West Bank and Gaza.
Logic and facts faded in the face of the
Iraqi leader's repeated verbal attacks on
the Jewish state. So what if Israel con-
quered the West Bank and Gaza during a
defensive war against an array of Arab
states while Iraq's rape of Kuwait was an
unprovoked violation of international law
and morality?
Saddam has been compared to Hitler, but
in some ways he has acted more like
Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda czar, ad-
vancing The Big Lie. In this case, it is to
link the rape of Kuwait with Israel's oc-
cupation of the West Bank — an argument
that has been frighteningly successful.
Do people really believe that Saddam at-
tacked Kuwait, tortured and murdered
many of its citizens, and took hostages
from the Western world to aid the Palestin-
ian cause?
The American people need to be remind-
ed that this conflict is not about Israel but
about stopping a powerful, evil man in a
critical part of the world before he becomes
even more powerful.
Saddam Hussein is neither insane nor
suicidal. Rather, he is a product of an Arab
nationalism that proclaims that one need
not be victorious in battle to become a hero.
One need only engage in battle, as was the
case of Egyptian President Nasser, whose
crushing defeats by the Israeli army only
strengthened his position as the leader of
the Arab world.
Now Saddam Hussein, who has waged
chemical warfare on his own citizens,
threatens more deadly weapons against his
enemy, Israel. Indeed, though Israel has no
part in this conflict, she is the only country
that has faced explicit threats of destruc-
tion.
Israeli President Chaim Herzog, address-
ing his nation on Jan. 15, noted that in the
past, when Israel warned about the
dangers of Saddam Hussein, "we were
mocked; when we were compelled to
strike in order to halt his ability (by
destroying Iraq's nuclear reactor in 1981),
we were condemned. Now the world under-
stands that we were right. But why was it
necessary to pay such a high price?"
None of us want bloodshed. But we must
remember that this war began with
Saddam's invasion of Kuwait and it was
his decision, in refusing to comply with the
United Nations' deadline, that has
escalated it. The remaining question is
when will it end, and at what price? In the
meantime, we pray for a safe and speedy
conclusion to a war that need never have
begun.
Sinai's Assets
Make The Difference
Equipment. And land. And buildings.
And receivables. And wholly owned physi-
cians' practices. These are the types of
assets which Sinai Hospital shows on its
books. But it will be the so-called intangi-
ble assets Sinai possesses which determine
its ability to survive in a cut-throat and
over-bedded health care market.
The Detroit Medical Center's proposal to
buy some of Sinai's assets —and close the
hospital's Outer Drive facility — sparked a
surge of renewed commitment to Sinai by
the black and Jewish communities it
primarily serves. But physicians loyal to
Dry Bones
Sinai have provided what it needs most —
more patients.
These physicians, and the recently
organized Medical Staff Council, are giving
Sinai another opportunity to shape its
future. While maintaining an independent,
financially viable Sinai in an era of
mergers and mega-health care delivery
systems may be unachievable, Sinai's in-
tangible assets — the loyalty and commit-
ment of its physicians, staff and friends in
the community — don't show on the bal-
ance sheet . . . but contribute mightily to
the bottom line.
LETTERS
Great Rabbis,
Great Respect
I am dismayed at the ongo-
ing argument regarding Rab-
bi Shach. At this time when
Israel can be blown to bits we
are arguing about the
greatness of Rabbi Shach?
Although I don't unders-
tand Rabbi Shach's comments
regarding the Holocaust,
nevertheless, I believe in Rab-
bi Shach's virtues. I also
believe in the Lubavitcher
Rebbe's virtues although I am
not a Lubavitcher. I do believe
that there are other great
Rabbis alive today who merit
recognition.
This is no time for the
Jewish community to argue
amongst themselves. The
Beit Hamikdosh — the Holy
Temple — was destroyed
because of uncalled for rejec-
tion of a fellow Jew. We
should be tolerant of the
teachings of all our great rab-
bis and hopefully demon-
strate that we've learned the
lesson of the destruction of
the Temple.
Didn't we have great
leaders — Beit Shamma (the
stricter Rabbi) and Beit Hillel
(the more lenient) — who ex-
isted at the same time, had
conflicting points of view and
who are both highly
respected? Are we to show
that we haven't learned the
lessons of history and don't
deserve the miracle of the
State of Israel?
Glenda Weiss
Oak Park
Community Needs
Sinai Hospital
The effort to save Sinai
Hospital is more than an at-
tempt to save one outstanding
and needed health facility. It
is rather an attempt to con-
tinue and enhance the in-
tegrity of the Jewish corn-
6
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1991
munity and the vitality of
Jewish life.
Sinai Hospital represents
all the best of Jewish com-
munal life — commitment to
high ideals, service to
humanity as well as respect
for Jewish tradition. But it
also represents the success
story of the Jewish communi-
ty. Our community, though <
small in numbers, is well
organized, has learned to ap-
peal to the best instincts of its
members, and makes a dif-
ference in the lives of both the
general community and our
own constituents.
As a result of Sinai Hospital
and similar projects, we Jews
have a right to feel proud of
how much we have achieved
communally. While it
reminds us of how much more
we have to achieve, it also
shows how far we have come.
A Detroit Jewish communi-
ty without a Sinai Hospital
would be a lesser place. Our
sense of communal achieve-
ment would be greatly reduc-
ed; our commitment to a
vibrant philanthropic Juda-
ism would be jeopardized.
We need Sinai Hospital not
just because of the outstand-
ing care it provides, but also
because Sinai Hospital
reminds us of the commit-
ment we made on Mt. Sinai —
to build with God a better,
holier world.
Rabbi Allan S. Meyerowitz
Congregation B'nai Moshe
FBI Worries
Arabs And Jews
The American Arabic and
Jewish Friends is a group of
American citizens in south-
east Michigan, of both Arabic
and Jewish backgrounds, who
work to promote better
understanding between the
two communities.
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