5he has never feared for her
safety.
"I don't scare very easily,"
'— he said. "It just makes me
angry when I'm provoked in
that fashion."
Today, with the South
rican government trying
to work out some kind of
interim governing arrange-
wient with the African Na-
tional Congress and the
competing Inkatha Freedom
Party, the South African
Jewish community is at an-
other turning point.
"A lot of them are very
v.ervous," she said. "Many
accept that majority rule is
inevitable and are hoping for
the best. But you have to
remember that a lot of Jews
eft South Africa during the
apartheid regime because
they did not like living
under an apartheid govern-
ment. Those who are leaving
now are the ones who are
frightened of majority
overnment."
Many of South Africa's
110,000 Jews are worried
that a transition to black
rule will unleash anti-
Semitism based on the long
and controversial military
relationship between the
South African government
and Israel, she said.
"I've often been asked by
black leaders about how
srael can have dealings
with a South African
government that has a long
record of racial discrimina-
ion. My answer is survival.
South Africa needed the
know-how that Israel could
give them, and Israel needed
the very important mineral
resources that South Africa
could supply," she said.
Economic sanctions
against the South African
government, which were
supported by most American
Jewish groups, made the
situation more dangerous for
both blacks and Jews in
South Africa, she argued.
"To me, it's a question of
curing the disease but kill-
ng the patient," she said.
"A great deal of our
unemployment can be traced
back to the sanctions that
were imposed on the labor-
--Antensive part of the econo-
my, like agriculture and
mining. When we lost our
Coalition markets and our
agricultural markets for
sugar and fruit and wine, a
lot of people lost their jobs."
, ‘ == She indicated that Ameri-
cans are often surprised to
hear a longtime apartheid
"i'be speak out against sancj
tions.
"I make it clear that I
understand the moral
outrage that induces this
sort of action," she said.
"But I live in the country,
and I've seen the actual con-
sequences of such a policy.
Therefore, however much I
would like to see the
government crushed, I don't
want to see everybody
brought down into poverty."
American Jews, she said,
should continue to monitor
events as South Africa
gropes its way toward a
more equitable system.
"There is no guarantee
that a government
dominated by the black
majority will be any more
careful and caring about
human rights than the
previous minority govern-
ment," she said. "So we need
a bill of rights; we need an
independent judiciary.
Those things have been offi-
cially accepted. But it's an-
other thing to make sure
they are implemented."
As for the future of her
country, Ms. Suzman said:
"I'm not optimistic; I'm
not pessimistic — I'm just
hopeful. I don't really see
that there is any alternative
in South Africa except to
resume negotiations, since
the government is on a
totally irreversible
track."
According to Jewish
tradition, Rosh Hashana
is a time of renewal and
hope. May it truly be a
joyous commemoration
for each of us, a year of
health, prosperity and
fulfillment. For all of us,
may it be a time to
rekindle and rebuild the
America of our dreams.
May it be as it was
meant to be, a year of
new birth for all the
world. May we, by
year's end, come closer
together as a people, as
a nation and as a com-
munity of nations. May
this year bring Israel the
peace it has longed for.
We wish you a
Happy New Year.
May you be inscribed
in the book of life
in this New Year
5753.
Paid for the Clinton/Gore '92 Committees.
Group Apartments
for the Elderly
❑
Groups Hail
Leave Measure
New York (JTA) — Jewish
organizations have hailed
congressional adoption of
the Family and Medical
Leave Act and urged Presi-
dent Bush to sign the mea-
sure into law.
Mr. Bush has threatened
to veto the legislation, which
requires employers to give
workers 12 weeks of unpaid
leave for family and per-
sonal medical emergencies.
The bill was adopted Sept.
10 by the House of Represen-
tatives by a vote of 241-161.
The Senate had passed the
bill in a voice vote last mon-
th.
Endorsing the measure as
a means of supporting the
family against the pressures
of the workplace were the
American Jewish Congress,
B'nai B'rith Women and the
National Council of Jewish
Women.
The bill represents a com-
promise from earlier ver-
sions and provides greater
flexibility for employers,
AJCongress President
Robert Lifton said in a letter
to Bush.
The act covers businesses
with 50 or more employees,
which account for 5 percent
of all companies and about
50 percent of the nation's
workforce.
BILL and HILLARY
CLINTON
A Jewish Family Service Program
Since 1979
• Luxurious apartments, with private bedrooms, for shared living.
• Supportive care provided by Geriatric Care Workers and Social
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If someone you know desires a family-like setting,
please call Zena Baum or Jan Bayer at 559-1500.
JEWISH
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Limited space is currently available.
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(313) 350-0120
A full service florist
creating floral designs
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•
Rosh Hashanah Remembrances:
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dining table centerpieces
fresh cut flower bouquets
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other gift ideas
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Wishing our family, friends and
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Open Sunday, Sept. 27th, 12 Noon-4 p.m.