DETROIT

Bias Incidents Decline
In Michigan, Up In U.S.

ALAN HITSKY

Associate Editor

R

ichard Lobenthal
takes no solace in the
fact that Michigan
last year recorded a major
decrease in the number of
reports of anti-Semitism.
In the three weeks since
the beginning of Operation
Desert Shield in the Persian
Gulf, Mr. Lobenthal's Anti-
Defamation League office in
Southfield has taken a dozen
reports from area Jews who
have received bomb threats.
In 1990, the Michigan ADL
received a total of 22 reports
of bias incidents or threats of
any kind.
While Michigan experi-
enced a major drop in bias

Since Jan. 15, ADL
has received a
dozen reports from
area Jews who
have received
bomb threats.

reports from 1989 to 1990 —
from 39 to 22 — Mr. Loben-
thal believes the war in the
Persian Gulf and the econ-
omic downturn in the United
States will lead to more in-
cidents of bias against all
minorities.
The national ADL released
its annual audit of anti-
Semitic vandalism and other
bias incidents this week. The
report showed a near-record
number of incidents nation-
ally and an increase for the
fourth year.
A total of 1,685 incidents
reported to the ADL includ-
ed 927 incidents of anti-
Jewish vandalism and 758
incidents or threats of
harassment or assault
against Jewish individuals
and institutions.
Mr. Lobenthal, director of
the Michigan Region of
ADL, says Michigan is ex-
periencing a change in the
type and severity of in-
cidents, despite the drop in
the number of reports.
"There is a diminution
of vandalism by Nazi
skinheads, which I think is
directly attributable to
(Michigan's) Ethnic In-
timidation Act," he says. "A
small group was accountable
for a large number of acts in
1989."
He sees more significance
in a drive-by shooting inci-
dent at a Lansing synagogue

20

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1991

in recent weeks and a major
increase in anti-Semitic in-
cidents on Michigan and
U.S. college campuses last
year.
Michigan recorded one
campus incident in 1989. In
1990, there were 10.
They included an incident
of dormitory vandalism and
verbal abuse at the Univer-
sity of Michigan; vandalism,
verbal abuse, hate mail, an-
ti-Semitic literature and an
assault at Michigan State;
an incident of verbal abuse
at Eastern Michigan; and
anti-Semitic mail and an an-
ti-Semitic message at Wayne
State.
At Eastern Michigan and
Oakland University, Mr.
Lobenthal says, "small, fr-
inge, black groups have in-
vited some anti-Semites to
speak and have been respon-
sible for some anti-
Semitism. But they don't
represent most black
students."
He says the As One group
at MSU has brought in Rev.
Louis Farrakhan "and has
been at war with MSU
Hillel. But As One repre-
sents the fringe."
All minority groups in the
United States are reporting
more incidents of bias, Mr.
Lobenthal says. "Gay, black,
Hispanic, Asian groups
—everyone is reporting
more. But the breadth of the
incidents is changing," he
says. "In addition to the low

974

927

U.S. ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS

845

823

715

694

638

594

1981

KEY:

1982

■

ri

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

VANDALISMS

HARASSMENTS, THREATS AND ASSAULTS

level vandalism, which we
seem to always have, the se-
verity of incidents is increas-
ing."
"Any time you see a high
profile Israel, or Jews in a
controversial role such as a
businessman who is in-
dicted, you see increases in
manifestations of hostility.
Simultaneously, in times of
stress such as an econmoic
downturn or a war, you see

hostility against minorities.
This seems to be an underly-
ing malaise within the
American public when they
are psychicly stressed."
Mr. Lobenthal says the
local ADL is continuing to
address security needs of
Jewish institutions, working
with local police, and is
stepping up education pro-
grams geared toward
tolerance.

Its World of Difference
program has trained
4,000-5,000 local teachers in
half-day seminars in the last
few years. The ADL received
a one-year Skillman Foun-
dation grant of $65,000 for
World of Difference. The
grant has been stretched
over 21/2 years through con-
tributions from area school
districts, Mr. Lobenthal
says.

❑

UJA Pledges Are Increasing
On American College Campuses

KIMBERLY LIFTON

Staff Writer

C

arey Talbert never
thought much about
Israel before Iraqi
leader Saddam Hussein on
Jan. 17 dropped Scud mis-
siles on Tel Aviv.
"I guess I took it for
granted," said Mr. Talbert,
21, a University of Michigan
senior from Long Island,
N.Y. "You don't realize how
much you appreciate things
until they are threatened."
Mr. Talbert, raised in a
Reform household, said he
soon will make his first
pledge to United Jewish Ap-
peal and added he is ready to
take his first trip to Israel.
"Before, I felt no inclina-
tion to go, but now it is diff-
erent. I must visit," he said.
Across the country, college

and university students
have been rallying to sup-
port Israel, and campus or-
ganizers for United Jewish
Appeal have been flooded
with phone calls from
students who want to help
solicit funds for Israel.
Most Michigan colleges
have not yet started their
campaigns, but U-M in Ann
Arbor has seen one of the
most noticeable increases,
said Elissa Lieberman,
UJA's director of university
programs in New York.
"This crisis brings out
positive, Jewish feelings,"
Ms. Lieberman said.
U-M set its campaign goal
at $5,751 as a symbol of the
Jewish calendar year. Al-
ready, U-M, which is
halfway through its cam-
paign, has received close to
$8,500 in pledges.

"We have had positive re-
sponses. A lot of people are
more interested in Israel,"
said Steve Susswein, co-
chairman of UJA for U-M.
"A lot of people are saying
`How can I help?' We want to
hook them into the net-
work."
Ms. Lieberman said UJA's
university programs divi-
sion has increased its 1991
national fund-raising goal
from $450,000 to $500,000.
Yet she expects students will
surpass that figure.
"The Campaign has just
started," Ms. Lieberman
said. "But every campus co-
ordinator has said more peo-
ple are working, more are
making phone calls, and
more are doing face-to-face
solicitation."
In past years, campus
solicitors asked students,

many who hadn't yet given
to the Campaign, to donate
between $18 and $36. This
year, solicitors are asking
students to donate between
$36 and $54, she said.
"The students are very ex-
cited," said Immanuel Spira,
a Los Angeles lawyer who is
chairman of the UJA uni-
versity programs national
board. "Everybody wants to
do what they can to help the
victims of this crisis. We are
sitting over here frustrated,
wanting to do something.
We want to show our sup-
port.
"We are getting students
involved who traditionally
were not involved based on
perceived needs," Mr. Spira
said. "Each person who
makes a small pledge today
has the potential of being a
major giver tomorrow."

❑