CONFRONTING page 31 SINAI HOSPITAL The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Sinai Hospital is pleased to announce that Richard Bronsteen, M.D. has joined David B. Schwartz, M.D. Gregory Goyert, M.D. Debra Wright, M.D. in the care of problem pregnancy For more information about the available services, please call: Perinatal Center Sinai Hospital 6767 W. Outer Drive Detroit, MI 48235 313 493-6060 Women's Center Berry Health Center 28500 Orchard Lake Road Farmington Hills, MI 48334 313 851-5445 ?Ntinai tef SHUMAll ta„ motor sales Inc CHRYSLER Corner of Pontiac Trail & S. Commerce Rds. WALLED LAKE • 669-2010 • Plymouth transmit tradition and build community in an America he described as "the most individualistic society in world history." He called for the need to "wrestle with God" in ex- ploring ideological issues and suggested that a Jewish community that has been "bound up with God and the commandments for 3,000 years" cannot ignore re- ligion. Mr. Eisen asserted that 40 percent of American Jews are unaffiliated because "we haven't made Jewish life viable and exciting." He added that only positive Jewish experiences — not guilt — can help reverse the trend. In an age of infinite op- tions, Mr. Eisen said that each of us must choose to be Jews. "All of us in North America today are Jews of choice," he said. Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, the founder and president of CLAL, compared the organized Jewish commun- ity's response to assimila- tion to that of General Mo- tors' response to Japanese car makers: initial denial of the problem, followed by evasion, followed by engag- ing in the struggle. Rabbi Greenberg called for a total commitment to Jew- ish renewal. "We did it for Israel and we should do no less for ourselves," he said, suggesting that in reviewing priorities nothing should be sacred. He cited as an exam- ple, weighing the benefits of funding programs for Jewish life on campus vs. tradi- tional large sums for Jewish defense agencies. Announcement was made of a long-term task force on Jewish continuity to be chaired by Marvin Lender, but the most tangible effort was the creation of an Israel Experience program that will make a trip to Israel a universal rite of passage for American Jewish youth. The five-year project of the CRB Foundation of Mon- treal will provide funds to help local federations pro- mote trips to Israel and pro- vide scholarships for teens interested in such trips. Charles Bronfman, presi- dent of the CRB Foundation, told the delegates that, in partnership with CJF, the United Jewish Appeal, the Jewish Community Centers Association and the Jewish Education Service of North America, he hopes to see the number of young Jews visiting Israel a year go from the current 8,000 to 50,000 in the next seven years. Local federations will be asked to provide three dollars for every dollar offered by CRB and its part- ners. Mr. Bronfman noted that ' visits to Israel have proven to be a powerful, positive ex- perience for Jewish young people. A unique highlight of the GA was a two-hour learning j session in which thousands of delegates studied Jewish texts in small groups with more than 80 rabbis and educators. But there was no shortage of skeptics who felt that the GA did not deal directly enough with specific pro- posals or programs to counter assimilation. Robert Aronson, executive vice president of the Jewish Fed- eration in Detroit, said that the calls for funding Jewisl-l-, We did it for Israel and we should do no less for ourselves. identity may end up on "the trash heap of other well-' intentioned ideas that the Jewish community just can't-, afford right now." With fun,! ding low and social service needs great, he said th-7 assembly should have focus- ed on "ways to find new money," primarily in en- dowments to fund creative pilot programs. Others questioned whether federations will not duplicate the same mistakes of bureaucracy, turf battles and lack of real motivation that doomed the Institute for Jewish Life in the early 1970s. But Carl Sheingold, assis- tant executive vice president' of CJF, said the base of sincerely committed leaders is far broader now and the need is even more compell-c), ing. "If we fail this time, it won't be for the same reasons," he said in ari interview following the GA. The key challenge, he said, is "to know what to do, to be willing to be experimental,( and to be able to measure ) success and failure. I think we'll do it because we have to do it," he concluded. No one is expecting over- night miracles but there is a sense that communities wilU, be looking for innovative ideas and proposals in the next few months. Otherwise, the feeling will grow that Federations are better at identifying problems than dealing with them.