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•
On Tuesday, an observance whose solemnity falls
in line behind only Shabbat and Yom Kippur will
take place. Yet, a small fraction of our people will
see it as anything other than another day at the
office.
Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month
of Av, is a time that commemorates the destruc-
tion of both the First and Second Temples. The
First Temple, built by King Solomon, was de-
stroyed by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnez-
zar in 586 B.C.E. The Second Temple was
destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. It is also said
to be the date that the Jews, after the Exodus
from Egypt, were not allowed to enter Palestine.
In more modern history, the ninth of Av in the
year of 1492 was the day of the beginning of the
expulsion of the Jews from Spain. It is said by
historians that World War I started on Tisha
B'Av, beginning a wave of destruction of Eurpean
Jewry that didn't end until World War II was
over.
Tisha B'Av is a day of great sorrow for our com-
munity. It's a time of fast, prayer and internal
searching. We have as a people so much to be
grateful for, especially in an America where Jews
can be outwardly spiritual and accepted by and
large by non-Jewish society.
Yet, as Jews we are still different. Our histo-
ry is filled with calamities by host or invading so-
cieties carrying out their hostilities toward us.
The historical descriptions of how the Temples
were destroyed are harrowing. The Temple, built
and then rebuilt and then destroyed again, has
never since been put back together. And maybe
it can't be. It can't be until we, as Jews, stop de-
feating its purpose.
When we refuse to get along together as Jews
— Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Humanistic,
Reconstructionist, right-wing, left-wing, Zionist,
etc. — we destroy ourselves from the inside out.
There is no way for a Temple to be built if we don't
stop the judging, if we don't start teaching our
children about our Torah, sages, holidays and
history. Along the way, we need to learn these
things ourselves.
The only biblical reference to the fast of Av is
found in Zechariah where it is labeled "the fast
of the fifth (month)." But we don't need a calen-
dar date to remind us that our success as Amer-
ican Jews comes with a terrible price paid by
scores of Jewish societies before us. If anything,
lest we get caught up in our successes here, let's
not forget that we've got a long way to go before
a Temple is rebuilt. Should you sit on the floor
on Tuesday and pray through the pain of the fast,
remember, it's the pain of our people crying out
through all of us that we be permitted to witness
a unity, a sanctified togetherness, a symbol that
best describes the Temple we now miss.
Military Madness
On Homosexuality
There was only one winner in Bill Clinton's an-
nouncement on Monday of his "Don't ask, don't
tell" policy regarding gays in the military: the
side of wrongheadedness. Mr. Clinton's cave-in
to demands from the military's top chiefs not to
change too much, too soon regarding their treat-
ment of homosexuals and lesbians was a retreat
of the worst sort — tactical, political, ethical and
moral — and no sweet talking from the Oval Of-
fice will disguise that disturbing fact.
"Don't ask, don't tell" puts gays in a moral
quandary. It tells them that they are safe in the
military — if they keep their mouths shut.
(„ Whether one approves of homosexuality or deems
• it morally repugnant, there is no denying that
= "Don't ask, don't tell" essentially asks gays to
"-I
be duplicitous and covert about their sexual pref-
(-1) erence.
•
The policy also puts the government in the po-
sition of sanctioning a certain form of job dis-
t crimination that encourages hiding certain facts
° from superiors.
cc
Overall, "Don't ask, don't tell" is equivalent to
"Don't think, do lie." It helps no one and it hurts
LU all.
It was brave of Mr. Clinton to raise the issue
of gays in the military during last year's cam-
paign, just as it was brave of him to make it vir-
tually the first order of business when he got to
4
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Praying For A Unity
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Cartoonists & Writers Syndicate
the White House in January. But ever since, he's
been backpedaling, trying to accommodate every-
one of every political and moral stripe. In the
course of doing this, he has invited the assump-
tion that he has a major stripe of his own: a wide
yellow one down his own back. This is something
we do not enjoy saying because we admired Mr.
Clinton during the campaign, and there is much
about him that we admire today. But a president
must lead, as well as test the political waters; he
must adhere to his own internal compass that's
geared to decency and morality and an unflap-
pable sense of right.
Yet, in this case, as in several others since he
arrived in Washington, such as Haitian refugees
and the slaughter in Bosnia, Mr. Clinton's first
instincts seem to have been his best and most hu-
mane. Then, he reversed himself once politics
raised its ugly head.
Mr. Clinton has his work cut out for him. He
must persuade Americans that on certain issues,
issues that address morals and ethics and just
plain decency, his support cannot be compromised
or weakened. Even if he ultimately loses such
battles, his undeterred conviction will be a relief
to a country that has witnessed too much hem-
ming and hawing and indecisiveness since Jan-
uary 20.
IrSUL6imAN),.,
You ORGAwi2E
THE STASEANGS
dF ISRAE
JEWS
Letters
Letter On AIPAC
Was Misleading
A letter ("The Irony of Dine's
Downfall," Jewish News, 7-16-
93) about the American Israel
Public Affairs Committee
(AIPAC) contained misleading
facts about the organization
and states erroneously that
AIPAC adopted a partisan
stance at the expense of its
members on the right.
As one who has been in-
volved with AIPAC for sever-
al years, I know from firsthand
experience that AIPAC is
strictly nonpartisan and has a
membership and staff that in-
cludes hawks and doves, con-
servatives and liberals,
Democrats and Republicans
and supporters of Labor and
Likud. The organization
makes it very clear — both in
its policies and its published
material — that it represents
the American, pro-Israel com-
munity and does not take its
cues from the Israeli govern-
ment or any political faction in
Israel.
The letter also misreports
that AIPAC, at one time, failed
to support "the democratically
elected government of Israel
(when Likud was in power)."
In fact, during Likud rule in
the 1980s, AIPAC helped forge
closer U.S. - Israel ties by lob-
bying for an aid package that
contained all-grant aid, which
is what Israel receives today.
AIPAC always has worked and
will continue to work with
whatever Israeli government
is in power (and whatever
American government is in
power) to bring our two nations
into a closer partnership.
Because of its appeal to peo-
ple across the political spec-
trum and because of its key
function in strengthening U.S.
- Israel relations, AIPAC de-
serves our continued support,
particularly here in Detroit. It
is the only organization of its
kind and it is the Detroit com-
munity's link to Washington,
D.C., where important deci-
sions are made that have a
very real impact on Israel. In-
deed, AIPAC works tirelessly
to ensure that both the United
States and Israel benefit from
their unique friendship.
Steven I. Victor
Birmingham
Rabbi Was Not
Disappointed
I wish to dispel an erroneous
impression created by the ar-
ticle, "Senators Are No-Show
at Bergstein Invocation" (Jew-
ish News, 7 2 93).
I appreciate the good will
and cooperation The Jewish
News has with the clergy and
am thankful for the coverage
and opportunities to express
myself occasionally, in these
pages, on matters of substance.
However, I was not disap-
pointed with the no-shows at
the Senate when I delivered
the invocation. This is because
it is standard for them not to
be there except for votes. I was
forewarned that only a hand-
ful of senators are ever there
at prayers, given the schedule
of conferences and committees.
Which brings me to Sen.
Riegle. My notes, which show
he came about a minute late,
also indicate my appreciation
for his cordial behavior and de-
votion to constituents. I am an
Orthodox, Chassidic rabbi in a
small congregation. He did not
have to come and be nice if it
were only for politics. I consid-
ered his interest to be genuine.
I apologize if anything I
wrote could have been con-
strued to be less than respect-
ful.
-
-
Rabbi Chaim
Moshe Bergstein
Bais Chabad of
Farmington Hills
.-/