ton Party
ill co-chair
I dinners.
KIMBERLY LIFTON STAFF WRITER
Previously, Mr. and Ms.
Owen had served on the
Presidential Inaugural
Committee.
inauguration,
The
scheduled for Jan. 20,
includes four days of fes-
tivities. Events include
three ($15,000-per-table)
dinners for 600 people and
10 balls ($125 a ticket,
down from the $175 price
tag of previous inaugural
balls).
All money raised will be
used to help offset costs
for the eight public
events, including a Walt
Disney-sponsored salute
to youth and children.
On Jan. 21, after the
swearing-in ceremony, the
Clintons will open the
White House to the public.
"This campaign has
made a commitment to
Inaugural co-
chairs Faylene
and Larry Owen.
making itself accessible,"
Ms. Owen said. "This
history in the making. It
is the most exciting event
in this century. When Bill
Clinton said it was time
for a change, he meant it."
The Owens are urging
Michigan supporters to
attend inauguration fes-
tivities. Already slated to
attend are Detroit Jewish
activists Robert Naftaly,
Mr. Hermelin, Ralph
Gerson, Zina and Michael
Kramer, Lanie Pincus,
and Nathan and Joan/
Schafer of Flint.
"They are really trying
to make these events for
today's citizens — for the
people who get up every
day and try to make their
lives better," Ms. Owen
said.
❑
THE D ETROIT JEWIS H NEWS
Vaad Says No Dice
On Gambling Debate
14
Jewish woman from
Michigan, Faylene Owen,
and her husband, Larry
Owen, last week were
named co-chairmen of the
Presidential Inaugural
Dinner Committee.
In their roles, the
Owens, of East Lansing,
will join 18 other men and
women as co-chairs of the
prestigious committee.
The complete list of names
has not yet been released.
"I haven't been this
excited since John F.
Kennedy was elected pres-
ident, and I was really too
young to be of much help,"
Ms. Owen said. "We are
thrilled to be part of this."
The Owens' appoint-
ments did not come as a
surprise. The duo — attor-
ney Larry and political
consultant Faylene —
raised $1.5 million as the
Michigan finance chairs
for the Clinton-Gore cam-
paign. It was the most
money ever raised in the
state for a Democratic
presidential candidate.
Of the total, $400,000
came from a private fund-
raiser at the home of phil-
anthropists David and
Doreen Hermelin. Many of
those in attendance are
active in the Jewish com-
munity.
During a meeting in
Washington last week, the
Owens were asked to
serve as co-chairs by
Rahm Emanuel, the
Clinton transition team's
executive director for the
inaugural. During the
campaign, Mr. Emanuel,
an Israeli, was finance
director.
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSISTANT EDITOR
ome observers are
placing their bets
that permitting casi-
nos in Greektown
will mean big bucks for
Detroit. The Council of
Orthodox Rabbis says no
dice.
The Vaad last week
issued a statement label-
ing gambling contrary to
Jewish law.
"The basic premise that
has to be dealt with is
that the loser had hoped
to win," the Vaad state-
ment reads. "As a result,
the loser is not fully will-
ing to give over his money
to the winner. If under
these circumstances a
seller were to force a sale
on a buyer and take the
S
money, he could be consid-
ered in Jewish law to be a
thief."
The Vaad also takes
into account the fact that
gambling can be addictive
and that "criminal ele:
ments" often are involved
in gambling. Halachah,
the Council notes, does
not permit a professional
gambler to be a witness.
Gambling may soon
become new to Detroit;
but it is anything but
novel in Jewish history.
Earlier reports are
recorded, but it was dur-
ing the 15th century that
members of the Jewish
community really became
fascinated with popular
card games involving
,