WIIY?

Do Jews Care About
Farrakhan?

KIMBERLY UFTON STAFF WRITER

J

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further. He wraps Jewish ha-
tred in pseudo-scholastic en-
deavors."
Mr. Brown said he is con-
cerned about Mr. Farrakhan's
following. Among other things,
Mr. Brown worries about the

nity Council, agrees.
"I think. Jews are always con-
cerned about any right-wing
anti-Semitic statement or dia-
tribe — anything that is put out
into the broader community
"He has a lot of impact on a
that is offensive," Ms. Weiner
lot of people," said Ms. Miller,
said.
former national board
Ann Mandelbaum, for-
member for the Associa-
mer international board
tion of Reform Zionists of
member for the American
America. "And his mes-
Jewish Committee, be-
sage is hate. When people
lieves that Mr. Farrakhan
listen to hate and have no
is "too influential."
knowledge and embrace
"He is powerful and in-
the concept into their lives,
fluential among the
they look at hate differ-
blacks," she said. "Some-
ently.
body like him is somebody
"He is evil, and we know
to be watched. He is form-
he speaks hate," she said.
ing images and opinions on
Ms. Miller is not alone
people who may be a bit
in her views. Jewish peo-
naive."
ple spend great amounts
Rabbi Martin Berman
of time denouncing racist
of Congregation Beth
and anti-Semitic messages
Achim said the community
brought about by anyone,
must remain aware of any
whether it be Mr. Far-
negative remarks by in-
rakhan, the leader of the
fluential persons through-
Nation of Islam, or
out the world.
Leonard Jeffries, the black
"The Jewish commu-
history professor from New
nity is quick to condemn
York who teaches that the
influential figures we feel
Jews bankrolled the black
slight our neighbors,"
slave trade, among other
Rabbi
Berman said. "Often
Rabbi Martin Berman: "The priority is to show solidarity
things.
within the black commu-
and this aggravates tensions."
Throughout Detroit's
nity, the priority is to show
Jewish community, reaction to
minister's access to the political
solidarity. This aggravates
Mr. Farrakhan was strong. Dick
system through the Congres-
tensions." ❑
Lobenthal, Michigan regional
sional Black Cau-
director for the Anti-Defamation
cus.
League, called Mr. Farrakahn
"He is able to
"a professional anti-Semite."
address these
Robert Brown, area repre-
groups, and this
sentative for the American Jew-
makes him main-
ish Congress and a Jewish
stream," Mr.
community activist, said that
Brown said. "He
Jews must continue to pay close
does not hesitate to
attention to the preachings of
voice information
the minister because "Jews have
that is negative
learned from history to be wary
and factually in-
of anyone who specifically sig-
correct. This is
nals out Jews for unwarranted
something that
or inaccurate criticism and anti-
Jews need to be
Jewish feelings."
concerned about.
Added Mr. Lobenthal, "Louis
He is propounding
Farrakhan is very charismatic,
beliefs which tend
and his major source of audience
to inflame and ex-
is the college campus.
acerbate tensions
"He goes around talking to
between Jews and
young blacks about Jew bating
other groups,
and Jew hating," Mr. Lobenthal
specifically African
said. "We care because we would
Americans."
always care about any anti-
Jeannie Weiner,
Semite who promulgates a mes-
president of the Jeannie Weiner "Concerned about right-wing or
sage of hatred. He goes a step
Jewish Commu- anti-Semitic statements."

udith Miller, a Detroit
pre-school teacher,
cringes when she hears
the name Louis Fara-
rakhan.

