DETROIT a 4 Three Congregations Approve Joint School ALAN HITSKY Associate Editor T TRADITION. Isn't there one more worth carrying on? Friday night. The end of the week. The beginning of Shabbat. A time to relax, reflect and renew. And as much a part of this tradition as the candles and the challah was knowing the weekly Jewish News had also arrived. It brought news about the community, the nation and the world. lbday, that tradition hasn't changed. In fact, it's gotten better. Each week award-winning journalists combine the warmth of community with world issues using candor and compassion to strengthen Jewish identity and...tradition. Keep the tradition alive. Give a Jewish News subscription to a friend, a relative, as a special gift. If you don't subscribe, (and you find yourself always reading someone else's copy) maybe it's time to start your own tradition. The Jewish News. It's a tradition worth keeping. THE JEWISH NEWS No Other Publication Has More Faith Save 40% over the newsstand price. Receive 52 award-winning weekly issues plus five Style magazine supplements for only $33.00 (out-of-state $45.00) ❑ Yes! I want to be a faithful reader of The Jewish ❑ Why should I be the only_one to enjoy? I'd like to News. I'd like to order my own subscription. send a gift subscription. ❑ Payment enclosed ❑ Bill my MC VISA I yr 2 yrs Send my thoughtful giftto - Card # Exp. Date Signature Name Address MOName City My Address State Phone City State Zip Gift card to read Phone Please send all payments along with this coupon to: The Jewish News, 27676 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI 48034 12 FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1992 Zip hree congregations have given their ap- proval to a joint school opening in the fall. Students from Congrega- tions Beth Abraham Hillel Moses, B'nai David and Beth Achim, as well as unaf- filiated students, will be able to attend classes either in Southfield or West Bloom- field. The congregations have established a joint school board and expect the curriculum to be synagogue- intensive. "The idea is to have the students comfortable with the syangogue and ser- vices," said Arthur Smith, president of Beth Abraham Hillel Moses, at a meeting last week with presidents Lawrence Traison of B'nai David and Eric Gordon of Beth Achim. The three said the school would show the similarities of prayer services at all three congregations and would involve the clergy of the three synagogues at both school buildings. Classel will be held at Beth Abra- ham Hillel Moses and Mt Beth Achim. Mr. Gordon said the clergy will be involved far more than previously. Said Mr. Smith, "The kids will see they rabbi as a friend, someone they can relate to." The program has• been named Congregational Re- ligious School. It has receiv- ed $70,000 from the Jewish Federation, a figurcii equivalent to the total the Beth Achim branch would have received next year if it had remained under Unitee Hebrew Schools (UHS). The i Agency for Jewish Educa-1 tion's UHS elementary divi-4 sion will be phased out after"' the 1992-93 school year. Several funding proposals for Jewish school program,1 1 will be considered at the September meeting of the Federation board of gover- 4 nors. A Federation spokes- man declined to discuss the proposals prior to the meeting. ❑ 41 , Jewish Hospice Creates New Living Will ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM Assistant Editor M embers of the Jew- ish community who wish to give direc- tives about the extent of their medical care should they become comatose or terminally ill may now do so by using the Jewish Living Will. The second of its kind to appear in recent months (the Agudath Israel of America also has issued a Halachic Living Will), the new will was created by the National Institute for Jewish Hospice (NIJH), a Los Angeles-based organization headed by Rabbi Maurice Lamm.. It allows signatories to de- scribe, in detail, the care they wish to receive should they no longer be able to communicate. This includes the option of withholding — but not withdrawing — medical treatment. The decision not to offer the choice of active euthana- sia guarantees that the will remains halachically ap- propriate, an NIJH repre- sentative explained. The majority of Orthodox rabbis do not believe Jews have the option of removing lifesaving medical support! calling this comparable to active suicide, which is for- bidden by Jewish law. Mau l Conservative and Reform rabbis disagree, Rabbis from all movements agree that ✓ passive euthanasia, which means not instigating heroic care when the patient is cer- tain in any case to die, often 11 is acceptable. Available at no charge, the will must be approved by aiel lawyer, signed and witness- ed. It includes a durable power of attorney, which allows the signatory to name '4 someone to make health* care decisions for him should he be unable to do so. Among the questions ask- ed on the living will are the level of medical care one wishes should he (a) become I brain damaged so that he., may no longer lead a "meaningful life"; (b) fall w into a lengthy coma with little chance of recovery; (c) is in a persistent vegetative state. For information, contact the NIJH, 1-800-645-4286. ❑