All the news that fits__ / Compiled by Elizabeth Applebaum

Is HUD Considering Contract
With Nation Of Islam Force?

It's Not Just
`The Holy Land' Any More

I

by is this trip to Israel differ-
ent than all other trips to Is-
rael?
The vast majority
of Christian-spon-
sored visits to Israel
identify the Jewish
state only as "The
Holy Land."
Now a new push to
get Christian visitors
to the country, spear-
headed by singer Pat
Boone, features a
brochure inviting
tourists to "Israel, the
Land of the Bible."
The tours are being
advertised on Christ-
ian television and radio stations. Those
interested will receive an 18-page book-
let about different tours to Israel, a gen-
eral guide to the state, and a "Pilgrims
map of the Holy Land," bearing a pre-
printed note signed by Mr. Boone. It
reads in part, "A visit to Israel is a once
in a lifetime experience."
Mr. Boone, a born-again Christian,
last year was named a spokesman for
the Israel Ministry of Tourism, with the

goal of bringing 60 million Evangelical
Christians to visit Israel.
Mr. Boone approached the Ministry
of Tourism and of-
fered his services at
no charge. He volun-
teered to make com-
mercials encouraging
travel to Israel, air
time for which is be-
ing paid by the
Tourism Ministry.
Though in the
past Israel has aimed
special tour packages
at Evangelical Chris-
tians, this marks the
first time a popular
personality was used
for such a drive. The
ministry earmarked $250,000 for the
campaign.
The push to encourage Christian vis-
itors to Israel began just before the Gulf
War. After Iraq's invasion of Kuwait,
Jewish travel to Israel declined by 50
percent. Tourism among Evangelical
Christians, however, declined by 35 per-
cent, according to Ministry of Tourism
statistics.

Able Nathan Builds Tent City
To Feed Refugees From Somalia

coalition of national Jewish or-
ganizations has joined with Is-
raeli peace activist Abie Nathan
in his effort to help build a tent city to
house and feed 20,000 refugees from
Somalia.
The tent city, to be located in Kenya
near the Somalian border, is expect-
ed to cost about $1 million. It has re-
ceived the endorsement of the United
Nations and the Kenyan government,
and will be built by American and Is-
raeli volunteers, along with Kenyan
workers.
The government of Somalia, which
does not have diplomatic relations

A

with Israel and has refused Israeli or
Jewish aid of any kind, will not be in-
volved.
Thirty-six members of Israel's
Knesset, representing different polit-
ical parties, have signed a statement
endorsing Mr. Nathan's campaign.
Once the tent city is completed and
fully operational, it will be turned over
to the U.N. High Commission on
Refugees, which will be responsible
for its operation and administration.
Donations may be sent to the Joint
Distribution Committee Somali Re-
lief Fund, 711 Third Ave., New York,
N.Y. 10017.

he American Jewish Committee
has called on the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment to closely scrutinize, and invali-
date if necessary, proposed federal
contracts with the Nation of Islam se-
curity force, a technically separate group
the AJC believes to be linked to, and
promoting the discriminatory practices
of, the Nation of Islam.
It is "regrettable but understandable
that some inner city residents have had
to call on private security firms to pro-
vide them with the safety and liberty all
Americans have a right to expect," an
AJC policy statement reads. Yet gov-
ernment funds must not go "merely to

T

Flying Easier
For Disabled

I Al Israel Airlines recently re-
modeled passenger seats to per-
mit easier seating for the disabled.
The remodeling included the instal-
lation of new armrests in some aisle
seats, making them wheelchair acces-
sible. All planes will be equipped with
the new seats.

E

Tel Aviv University
Seeks Alumni

he American Friends of Tel Aviv
University are seeking alumni to
join the new National Alumni As-
sociation.
The Alumni Association is planning
its first reunion later this year in New
York.
For information, contact Jill Strass-
ner-Verschleiser, (212) 687-5651.

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Temple Guild
Seeks Musicians

he Guild of Temple Musicians, an
affiliate of the American Confer-
ence of Cantors of the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations, is
sponsoring a contest for Jewish com-
posers 35 and younger.
Pieces must be a three- to five-
minute setting of a text relating to one
of the Jewish holidays, for four-part
congregational chorus.
For information, contact Ben Stein-
berg, chairman, GTM Young Compos-
er's Award, c/o Temple Sinai
Congregation, 210 Wilson Ave., Toron-
to, Ontario, M5M3B1, Canada.

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the lowest bidder" without taking into
account the capacity of the group for
responsible action. "Responsible
means, among other things, one that is
neither anti-Semitic nor racist."
The Nation of Islam has an anti-white
policy, according to the AJC, and its
leader, Louis Farrakhan, labeled Ju-
daism "a gutter religion."
The Nation of Islam Security Force
appears to be a separate legal entity, the
AJC notes. Yet "it may well be so close-
ly intertwined in ideology, practice and
personnel with the Nation of Islam that
awarding a federal contract may violate
laws enjoining discriminatory employ-
ment and operation practices."

Jewish Orphanage
Opens In Moscow

he first Chamah Jewish Home
and Educational Center for Or-
phans and Underprivileged Chil-
dren in Moscow is set to open in a
matter of weeks, with more than 100
children already signed up.
Chamah, an international society
dedicated to promoting Jewish culture
and tradition among Russian Jews, re-
cently obtained from the Russian gov-
ernment a complex of three, two-story
buildings for the home. The Moscow
city government has made a donation
to the facility and is participating in its
renovation and maintenance. It also is
arranging for the transfer of all Jewish
children from other Russian orphan-
ages.
The Chamah orphanage will be

equipped with educational facilities, a
kindergarten, an elementary school and
a gym.
For information, contact Chamah at
78 Pearl St., New York, N.Y. 10004, or
call (212) 943-9690.

NCJW Fund Benefits Children

he National Council of Jewish
Women has established a fund
to aid children left destitute after
Hurricane Andrew.
Contributions will be used to rebuild
day-care centers destroyed in the storm,
and to provide immediate assistance in

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the form of diapers, food, formula and
toys to emergency centers serving the
migrant community.
Send contributions to the NCJW
Hurricane Relief Fund, c/o Greater Mi-
ami Section, 12944 W. Dixie Highway,
North Miami, FL 33161.

