"We applaud Rabin
and the decision to take
back 100 of the deportees
to the criminal justice
system where guilt or
innocence can be deter-
', mined," said Larry
Imerman, president of
Detroit's chapter of the
AJCommittee."We are in
full support of the U.S.
government and Rabin's
continuing efforts toward
the peace process.
"We are hopeful that
the relationship can blos-
som," Mr. Imerman said.
"Every new relationship
will have certain prob-
lems, and we hope these
problems can be worked
out."
UJA National Presi-
dent Joel Tauber said the
situation placed the
United States in a diffi-
> cult position.
"But they did the best
•
under the circumstances.
If this helps get us back
on track with the peace
process, then it will be
worth it," Mr. Tauber
said.
Mr. Tauber said it is
• too early to predict
• future relationships be-
tween the United States
and Israel.
the
"Historically,
Democrats have been
good for us," Mr. Tauber
said. "Clinton seems to
have positive feelings for
the Jewish community,
but he will have to repre-
sent all U.S. interests."
Lester Pollack, chair-
man of the Conference of
Presidents of Major
• American Jewish Organ-
izations, and executive
vice chairman Malcolm
Hoenlein applauded this
week's U.S.-Israel coop-
erative action in a memo
to member agencies.
"This move reflects a
positive cooperative ef-
fort between the two gov-
ernments and bodes well
for the future relation-
ship between the two
countries," the memo
states.
Washington lobbyist
Morris Amitay agrees.
"The fact that there was
• a problem and that the
U.S. and Israel worked
( together is very encour-
aging," said Mr. Amitay,
who also serves as execu-
tive director of the
Washington Political
Action Committee, a pro-
C -
Fashion Fiasco
Funds The Orchards
RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER
adly, no one ever
taught them how to
dress. Scott Kauf-
man and Brian
Siegel — two 20-some-
thing men with a mission
— were looking groovy in
bell bottoms and plat-
form shoes at a party
they tossed last week.
It was like time travel
back to the decade of
style un-conciousness:
the 1970s.
On the rockin' second
floor of Peking House (a
posh restaurant in hip
Royal Oak), these two
out-of-stylemeisters
greeted guests decked in
similar tacky attire.
S
John Travoltas
graced the dance
floor under
a glittering
disco lamp.
Mr. Kaufman and Mr.
Siegel hosted the gala
event with four other
friends — Caryn Nessel,
Stephanie Jacobson,
Meredith Colburn, and
Michael Fishman. All six
young adults set out to
raise money for the
Orchards Children's
Services. They invited
330 friends and acquain-
tances to do what the 20-
something crowd does so
well. Party.
Party for a purpose,
that is.
The Orchards, a child
welfare agency, operates
locally and provides fos-
ter care, residential care,
adoption and other ser-
vices to Michigan youth
in need. Though nonsec-
tarian, the Orchards
began as a program of
the National Council of
Jewish Women. It relies
heavily on private dona-
tions.
Though the hosts and
hostesses of Friday's
party might have had
misguided fashion sense,
their hearts seemed to be
in the right place. More
than $8,000 was raised
for the Orchards during
the bash.
"I think it was a good
way for people to have a
good time helping a good
cause," said Ms. Nessel.
More than 350 people
in their 20s and early
30s paid $40 to groove
the night away. John
Travoltas graced the
dance floor under a glit-
tering disco lamp. Wo-
men in velvet pantsuits
and beaded headbands
hustled to tunes by '70s
rock legend "Meatloaf."
(Kosher? Probably not.
But neither are polyester
leisure suits.)
Individuals who arriv-
ed at the party sporting
Guess jeans and Polo
shirts were accepted,
despite their garb.
Was the fashion fiasco
worth the results? Absol-
utely, say staff members
at the Orchards.
"It was really spectacu-
lar," said Melinda Kuhn.
"Until this event, the
younger individuals have
not been very involved in
this organization. This
has been really nice. It's
going to be these young
people who keep us going
in years to come."
The rewards might
prove reciprocal. The
hosts, who titled their
party "Children of the
`70s Helping Children of
the '90s," predict that
similar mitzvot might
help their own genera-
tion carve a respectable
identity for itself...one
that transcends hall-
marks like poke-your-
eye-out collars, drugs,
and KISS (the fire-
breathing acid rockers
who spat fake blood and
wore too much face
paint).
"We were after the
baby-boomers," Mr. Sie-
gel said. "We grew up in
the '70s, as pathetic as
that sounds. If we don't
have much of an identity,
then (the next genera-
tion) can become a lost
generation. And that's
worse." CI
50 YEARS AGO...
Churches Set Program
For Europe's Jews
SY MANELLO SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
I
n response to threats of
retaliation by Adolph
Hitler, church leaders
in Great Britain urged
the establishment of
places of refuge for
Jewish victims of persecu-
tion. Dr. Joseph Hertz,
chief rabbi of the United
Hebrew Congregations of
the British Empire,
issued a statement ex-
pressing gratitude for the
appeals and stressed the
sense of urgency. The
Board of Deputies of
British Jews issued a pro-
gram for immediate relief.
In Washington, a resolu-
tion urging the U. S. gov-
ernment to aid Jews in
Nazi-occupied Europe was
introduced by Rep. Arthur
Klein, D-N.Y., and placed
before the committee on
foreign affairs.
Elsewhere in the world,
there were a few positive
news items. Mussolini,
supposedly to strengthen
his position with the
Vatican, began to relax
anti-Jewish laws in Italy.
British military forces in
Tripoli tore down barbed
wire fencing which had
been erected around the
Jewish section of the city.
Cardinal Seredi of
Hungary condemned Nazi
racial theories and
demanded that Hungary
give protection to "all who
are menaced on account of
their beliefs or their race."
Help on the local front
has always come from the
United Jewish Appeal.
The UJA gave a report
on the aid that American
Jews have provided in the
last 10 years. More than
1,000,000 Jews had been
saved from destruction as
a result of relief, rehabili-
tation and resettlement
programs arranged with
the $74,885,285 con-
tributed since Hitler's rise
to power.
Local contributions to
the war effort took on a
concrete aspect with an
announcement made by
the Greater Detroit B'nai
B'rith Council. Their lat-
est war bond drive was to
be linked to the Treasury
Department's bond sales
program to sponsor a
fighting ship. When the
submarine chasers were
launched, they were to
bear shields announcing
the sponsorship of the
Council.
For those who have
been involved in the
Sepharad programs of the
last year, a special note
should be made of the
450th anniversary of
Columbus' landing that
was observed in 1943.
The Jews' part in the
making of America was
stressed in a series of
essays published by Lee
Friedman under the title
Jewish Pioneers and
Patriots.
A 70th anniversary
was reason for special
programming on the part
of United Hebrew
Schools. Hebraists and
lovers of literature gath-
ered to hear a lecture by
Simon Ginsburg.
Other groups were
hearing talks by promi-
nent members of the com-
munity. Karl Haas,
organist for Temple
Israel, spoke to the
Halevy Singing Society
on "The Jewish Con-
tribution to World
Music." Rabbi Joseph
Krickstyein of Mt.
Clemens spoke to Con-
gregation Mishkan Israel
on "The House of Worship
in War Time."
The movements of our
soldiers provided a flurry
of activity in the area.
Ensign M. D. Lieberman
left for his post on the
east coast following a 10-
day leave. Lt. Arthur
Pollack left to join his
squadron in the Naval
Air Corps. Lt, Walter D.
Schmier left for Fort
Schuyler in New York.
Milestones were hap-
pily recorded for mem-
bers of the community.
Among the new faces
were Lawrence D. Gelb,
Neil N. Atler, Judith
Weisswasser, Bonnie
Tucker. Proud bar mitz-
vah families included
those of Sherwin Rob-
inson, Hillel Sloan and
Paul Moretsky. Engaged
couples included Deborah
Springer and Cyril
Schwartz, Dorothy Levin
and Robert Miller, Billie
Landsberg and Howard
Winkelman.
CY,
C)
•Ct
CC
03
LL
15