I INSIDE WASHINGTON A MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST Question: What is a good teacher? Someone who: A. B. C. D. Makes the Jewish holidays fun? Brings Jewish history to life? Talks to a student who needs help? E. Sets high goals and helps a child reach them? Helps a student appreciate what it means to A be a Jew? Answer: of the above If you know a teacher he or who fits these criteria, she could be your candidate for the Schochet Family Outstanding Teacher Award* in Recognition of Excellence in Jewish Education Any member of the Jewish community may nominate a teacher at a Jewish school. • Nominations should be sent to the Schochet Award Committee, which will notify each candidate. • Upon notice of nomination, a candidate who wishes to be considered for the award must submit a proposal. • The recipient will be awarded up to $3,000 for a project in any area of Jewish learning and teaching. The fourth Outstanding Teacher Award will be presented in the Spring. Deadline for submitting the name of your candidate is January 31, 1992. Detailed brochures are available at all Jewish schools and from the Schochet Award Committee, c/o The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, P.O. Box 2030, Bloomfield Hills 48303-2030, or by Fax: 642-4941, Attn: Diane Sasson. For information, call Diane Sasson at the Jewish Federation, 642-4260, ext. 220. *Sponsored by the Frank and Freda Schochet Fund of the United Jewish Charities, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit 28 FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1992 New Islamic Alliance Feared JAMES D. BESSER Washington Correspondent A possible consequence of the breakup of the USSR — alliances between countries like Iran and the Islamic republics that were formerly part of the Soviet Union — is giving Jewish activists in Washing- ton a lingering migraine. Last week, the National Conference on Soviet Jewry expressed its concern to the State Department about Yassir Arafat's swing through the Central Asian republics, apparently an at- tempt to build bridges bet- ween the Palestine Libera- tion Organization and the emerging Islamic nations. "Given his (Mr. Arafat's) background, it is certainly likely that he is trying to in- fluence emigration policies," said Martin Wenick, ex- ecutive director of the Na- tional Conference on Soviet Jewry. "And again given his background, U.S. officials should be concerned that he is visiting republics with nuclear arms supplies." One possibility of concern to Jewish leaders here is Yassir Arafat: Visiting republics. that as economic conditions in the former Soviet Union worsen, Islamic republics may ask wealthy Arab coun- tries for economic aid. "One can sketch out some pretty unhappy theories," Mr. Wenick said. "Diplomatically, this could be a major problem." Next week, represent- atives of the Soviet Jewry group plan to discuss these concerns in a meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger. AJC Pursues Pacific Rim One American Jewish group has positioned itself to influence the rapidly chang- ing relationships between the Western world and the booming Orient. David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, recently returned from a trip to Japan and Korea, countries that have been the focus of the AJC's new Pacific Rim Institute. The trip, said Mr. Harris, intended to "continue our longtime effort to create ever deeper and wider relations in Japan. We also want to pursue specific strategies for developing better relations between Japan, Korea, Israel and American Jews." In both Japan and Korea, Mr. Harris participated in the highest level talks ever held between government of- ficials and representatives of American Jewish organiza- tions. Mr. Harris reported that his meetings in Japan pro- duced some progress on breaking the Arab economic boycott against Israel: "We were encouraged by the potential for growth in economic ties between Japan and Israel, but realistic about the pace at which this will proceed. It's important to note that Japan-Israel trade has increased in recent years and that there is now some fledgling Japanese in- vestment in Israel. But there's clearly much room for growth." The Jewish delegation also discussed direct air links between Israel and Japan, and the anti-Semitic books that sell briskly in Japanese bookstores. In Korea, Mr. Harris and his colleagues discussed reopening the Israeli em- bassy in Seoul, which Israel closed for budgetary reasons in 1979, and many Korean companies' compliance with the Arab boycott. That problem, said Mr. Harris, may diminish. "Thousands of Korean companies are sprouting," he said. "Many do not have business ties with the Arab world, and could be very at- tractive partners..