750

1 SIVAN 5753/MAY 21, 1993

Alose Up

Engler's Appearance
Cites Jewish Ties

The governor is the first state leader to address
an agency annual meeting.

1:3

KIMBERLY LIFTON STAFF WRITER

May I Offer You
A Bit Of Advice?

o, your mother-
in-law came over
last week and she
couldn't help
noticing that you
need new carpeting — blue
would be nice — and the
brisket was good but it needed
a little more salt, and do you
really let little Sophie stay up
until 9 p.m.? Why dear, it's
just that in her day children
went to bed at 7:30...
You vowed you would
never, ever again listen to a
word of unsolicited advice.
Think again.
At last, here's some
unsolicited advice you can
actually use: a surefire recipe
for chicken soup, what to say
to comfort a family sitting shi-
va, how to find out about
Jewish life on a college cam-
pus, tips for rabbis whose con-
gregants find their sermons a
better sedative than Nytol,
and much, much more.
Story on page 40

olitical differences were put
aside Tuesday when Det-
roit's Jewish community
welcomed John Engler as
the first Michigan governor
to address an agency annual meeting.
Speaking before a crowd of about 200
Jewish Community Council delegates
at the Maple-Drake Jewish Community
Center, the Republican governor did
more than a sales pitch for the June 2
school finance and property tax cut bal-
lot proposal. He also announced his in-
tentions to name a trade team that will
have ties with Israel.
"It is significant that the governor is
here," said Eugene Driker, a Democrat.
"No matter who it is, or what party is
represented, it would be important for
a governor to speak to the Jewish com-
munity."
After a long day of speeches geared
•

Governor Engler:
Covering the bases.

at promoting the Proposal A ballot ini-
tiative, the governor gave equal time to
the state's Jewish issues. He spoke and
answered all questions — most about
Proposal A — for nearly an hour. "I
would like to emphasize how important

The Hidden Right

it is to me that, the positive relationship
between my administration and the
Jewish community continue to grow
and flourish," Mr. Engler said.
When the governor took office, the
state's Republican Party leadership and
the Jewish community had virtually no
relationship. Jewish Republicans Jim
Alexander, Paul Borman, Edward
Levy, Max Fisher and Andrea Fischer
have kept the governor abreast of key
Jewish issues within the state.
But most credit is given to the
JCCouncil, the Michigan Jewish
Conference and a community lobbyist
who have worked together to make bet-
ter known the Jewish community
throughout the halls of the state capi-
tol.
"The governor being here to speak
before the Jewish community means
our relationship has strengthened," said
Jeannie Weiner, JCCouncil president.
"He is becoming more sensitive to the
fact that there is a Jewish community
out there."
On Mr. Engler's agenda was praise
for the Jewish community for educat-
ing his top staff members with a trip to
Israel last fall.
"Because of that experience, our re-
lationship was made even stronger and

ENGLER page 24

aside

A panel of experts warns against the religious right wing.

Scratch The Surface

LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER

I

n the late 1970s and early 1980s,
they called themselves the moral
majority. Their issues were de-
feating the Equal Rights
Amendment, opposing abortion
and implementing the teaching of cre-
ationism in the public schools. The Rev.
Jerry Falwell stood at the helm.
Fifteen years later, Pat Buchanan
and Pat Robertson are leading nearly
the same movement — often referred
to as the religious right.
The ERA has been defeated and the
right to an abortion has been limited.
Creationism is still not taught in the
public schools. It remains part of the
religious right's agenda, along with
prayer in school and opposition to gays
and lesbians in the military.
May 11, hundreds of Detroiters met
at Adat Shalom Synagogue to learn
how to identify and combat this con-
troversial group.
The program, sponsored by the
National Council of Jewish Women and

the Jewish Community Council, fea-
tured Sharon (Shey) Howell, a com-
munity activist and professor at
Oakland University; Patricia (Pan)
Godchaux, a member of the
Birmingham school board; state Rep.
Maxine Berman; J.B. Dixon, a com-
munications specialist; and the Rev.
E. Anne Kramer of St. Andrew's
Episcopal Church in Clawson.
Howard Simon, executive director
of the American Civil Liberties Union,
moderated.
Ms. Howell said the origins of the re-
ligious right are deeply entrenched in
American history.
"The Ku Klux Klan is the second-old-
est political party in this country. It
was willing to use violence to protect
the race and class in power," Ms.
Howell said. "And that was just the be-
ginning."
Ms. Howell cited Father Charles
Coughlin and the anti-Semitism broad-

HIDDEN RIGHT PAGE 24

Harvey Ovsbinsky tells tales
of struggle and truth in Motown.
P:19e

Mission Moments

Most say it was a trip
they'll always remember.
Page 50

Walking Shoes

Thousands of Detroit Jews
demonstrate support for Israel.

091, 0- 7

arl. A3eitS O

113r1.

