Community Views

AIPAC President Addresses
Recent Criticisms

Editor's Notebook

When Jews Commit
Acts Of Anti-Semitism

STEVEN GROSSMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEW SH NEWS

PHIL JACOBS EDITOR
EPAC was created by the
ship. This mobilization cam-
The
coming
period
is
full
of
We learn from a
American Jewish corn-
cred and what is profane. For
paign will continue and accel-
new challenges and opportuni-
West Bloomfield
munity in 1953 — short-
any family, not just Jews, the
erate because we need more
ties.
The
pursuit
of
peace
in
the
Police Depart-
ly after the founding of
issue of what is offensive to
community involvement in the
region is intensifying and any
the Jewish state. It was given
ment report that
others is critical.
political process — it is a chal-
agreements
that
are
achieved
a nature area is
responsibility for one of the com-
It's unacceptable for our
lenging and rewarding experi-
will require strong backing from
vandalized by
munity's deepest concerns:
ence.
children to draw swastikas to
the
United
States
at
a
time
of
the painting of a
strengthening the U.S.-Israel
be "cool." If we ask young
We are immensely proud of
scarce resources. Weapons pro-
swastika. A
relationship through pro-Israel
modern Jews these days to
our pluralism. Indeed, we could
liferation
and
Islamic
radical-
prank by the
advocacy before Congress and
talk to us about drugs, they
not be effective without it. We
ism are changing Israel's
in the national policy arena. For
typical disgrun-
can come back with the state-
do not align ourselves with any
strategic
environment
and
new
tled youth who have no other
40 years, AIPAC has had the
ment, "Just Say No." If we're
political party or faction. To do
forms of American-Israeli coop-
way to exert their "coolness?"
privilege of participating in a
talking about sexual promis-
so would splinter our movement
eration
are
needed.
Vital
Amer-
When we arrest them, they'll be
dramatic expansion of the U.S.-
cuity and even the danger of
and reduce our effectiveness. At
ican assistance to Israel is under
given hours of community ser-
Israel relationship. One reason
AIDS, they automatically
AIPAC meetings, you will find
growing
pressure
as
the
feder-
vice to work, a quick lesson in
for our success has been that we
know to "wear a condom."
people representing virtually
al budget tightens and it is im-
Holocaust history, a paper to
learned to change to meet new
But the messages of having
every point of view on the peace
portant
to
mobilize
public
write and an apology to deliv-
challenges and opportunities.
respect for our neighbors and
process and on political issues.
support to continue to achieve
er.
As president of AIPAC, I want
sensitivity to one's own peo-
We will continue to be the place
successes
like
the
recent
vote
in
What do we do when the
to share with you the principles
ple
aren't seen too often as
where the community comes to-
which 92 of the 115 new mem-
prankster is a Jew? In this case,
and priorities that will guide us
the focus of a politically cor-
gether when it is time for action
bers
of
Congress
confounded
the
the West Bloomfield police
as we move forward to meet to-
rect ad campaign. Wearing a
charged two Jews and a gentile
day's new challenges.
with vandalism. That vandal-
The core value that gave rise
ism included the swastika.
\ to
- our movement, and the rea-
son
When an anti-Semitic act is
son that tens of thousands of
committed by a Jew, do we turn
Americans in every city and
our heads away and dismiss it
state work so hard for AIPAC
as a juvenile prank? Also, do we
and our cause today, is the se-
punish the Jewish youth any
curity of Israel, a vital interest
differently from the gentile one?
of the United States of Ameri-
Should he know better? Should
ca. We believe that Israel must
he operate under a different set
have the means to defend itself
of standards?
so it can deter or defeat any
Sharona Shapiro, executive
combination of aggressors
director of the Detroit chapter
should a threat arise. This en-
of the American Jewish Co m-
courages the move toward mod-
condom and saying no to
mittee, remembers as a tee n-
eration in the Arab world and
drugs are measures of self-
ager fellow Jewish studen ts
I\ creates the conditions for Arab
preservation. For Jews, sen-
throwing coins her way as a
/ acceptance of Israel and
sitivities to anti-Semitism
derogatory statement about h er
progress in the peace process.
and, for that matter any hate
Jewishness. She said that whe n
- – These primary goals —securi-
crimes or bigotry, are also
ty recognition and peace — are
a Jew commits even a pran k
parts of self-preservation.
,
that is anti-Semitic, it is a cas e
the foundation of AIPAC's mis-
Any coward can be cool. It
of an exaggerated form of car e-
sion. Only with security, recog-
takes strength not to-use an
lessness.
nition,
and
peace
can
the
Jewish
AIPAC
President
Steve
Grossman
with
Israeli
Prime
Minister
Yitzhak
Rabin.
\
ethnic slur when our buddies
-i state achieve its proper place
"There's an educational la g
do. If our kids hear us use
I\ among the nations of the world.
there,"
she said. "The suppo rt
these
slurs, it becomes OK for
on our consensus issue — the
pundits by voting for foreign aid
system isn't strong around th e
/--' To achieve these goals, we
them as well.
U.S.- Israel relationship.
and
against
isolationism.
family that's causing the chit d
have assembled an outstanding
David Gad-Harf, executive
We passionately support the
To meet these new chal-
to have a link to his Jewishnes
) team of volunteer and profes-
director of the Jewish Com-
peace process and the active role
lenges,
we
plan
to
enhance
our
missing somehow."
sional leaders, united by our
munity Council, says that the
of the United States in the
work with the Congress and the
One of the Jewish teen-age rs
shared sense of mission. We con-
Jewish kids involved here
search for peace. We take this
Clinton
administration.
We
will
accused in the crime told th e
,- stantly seek to involve new
should be treated with puni-
position because there is a con-
concentrate on leadership de-
West Bloomfield police tha t
grass-roots activists. The door
tive action such as commu-
sensus in the community that
velopment
among
our
lay
ac-
painting a swastika was not an
/=-- is open, and we offer almost un-
nity service.
direct negotiations are essential
tivists and at the professional
anti-Semitic act, but merely a
limited opportunities to partic-
"Perhaps only a direct in-
level. One of our top priorities is
prank.
> ipate.
volvement in a place like the
to continue to build grass-roots
For Richard Lobenthal, ex
AIPAC brings together, un-
Holocaust Memorial Center
political activism, including a
ecutive director of the area' s
der one umbrella, all elements
will impress upon them their
caucus in every congressional
Anti-Defamation office, the is
\ ? of the pro-Israel community in
actions," he said.
district.
We
will
continue
work-
sue of a Jew painting a swasti
America: Democrats and Re-
Being part of the crowd
ing
to ensure Jewish continuity
ka carries with it its own set o f
,` =, publicans, liberals and conser-
m eans being assimilated.
by
recruiting
the
next
genera-
serious concerns. Sometimes
vatives, hawks and doves,
And sometimes assimilation
tion to our cause, stressing in-
to fit in with the other kids, a
religious and secular citizens.
for Jews means even com-
creased
outreach
to
college
Jewish youth will do something
Indeed, we are proud to count
mitting
crimes of hate
students and young profession-
like this, he said. And the Jew-
as AIPAC supporters people
against Jews.
als.
We
will
continue
to
exam-
ish kid might think it funny.
who represent the richness and
These two Jews should re-
ine and improve our
diversity of the American Jew-
"Would it be just as funny to
ceive an education in the
to the long-term security of Is-
organizational
structures
and
• ish community, united by their
paint, `Kill the Jews' or 'Hitler
Holocaust with their parents
rael and its people. Converse-
practices to fulfill our responsi-
didn't kill enough'? Because this
unwavering commitment to ad-.
and their families. That
ly, we do not take positions on
bilities
to
the
community.
is what these kids did. The
vance the U.S.-Israel relation-
should
be the extent of any
issues where the community
These are the values, princi-
swastika stands for the genoci-
so-called "punitive" action.
has not arrived at a consensus,
ples
and
priorities
that
will
Steven Grossman was until
dal murder of Jews. There's
These kids can join the oth-
like the territorial issue. For
guide AIPAC during this peri-
1\ recently chairman of the Demo-
nothing funny about it," said
ers who have committed
this reason, we believe that the
od
of
enormous
political
and
so-
• cratic Party of Massachusetts
Mr. Lobenthal.
similar
crimes and pay per-
specific contours of policy in the
cietal change. We look to the
• and played a national role in the
Every family has as an oblig-
haps a bigger price. They'll
peace negotiations are to be es-
future
with
confidence
and
op-
'D ukakis and Clinton presiden-
ation to teach its children right
have to live with their ac-
tablished by the elected gov-
timism, as we continue to
from wrong. Children learn
tial campaigns. He is president
tions. Hopefully they'll learn
ernment of Israel and that it is
strengthen
and
nurture
the
of AIPAC.
from their parents what is sa-
from
them. D
not our role.
U.S.-Israel relationship. D

j

A

"Being part of
the crowd
means being
assimilated...
even committing
crimes of hate
against Jews."

Security,
recognition and
peace are the
foundation of

AIPAC's mission.

Cr)

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