1994 And Its Promise

It's not typical form for us to write an editorial or
strategy for the Agency for Jewish Education. Fur-
pay much attention to the upcoming new year
ther discussions and implementations of family
when it's anything other than the Hebrew calen-
education programs and synagogue-based educa-
dar.
tional programs were urged. We believe in the
This year, though, we can derive a certain sanc-
mandate of the AJE and see it as a cornerstone to
tity from New Year's Eve and January 1 because
further 1994 growth.
both are graced by the Sabbath. Just a few hours
*As far as public school education is concerned,
after we light candles Friday afternoon, some of • the Jewish community needs to continue moni-
us will be heading out the door to parties and
toring the efforts of state reform under Gov. En-
toasts; others will choose to begin celebrating
gler. The governor's desire for charter schools did
maybe the next day after the Havdalah candle is
pass the Michigan Legislature. However, the
blown out.
schools, which are public institutions run by pri-
Let's understand here that the sanctity of the
vate groups serving as an alternative to traditional
Sabbath closing out a year and bringing a new year
schools, have limits that insure separation of
is an ideal way for the Jewish community, both
church and state. The fear, control by the religious
globally and here in Detroit, to move ahead. There
right wing, seems to be shelved for now. Still, Jew-
is so much unfinished business, so many goals we
ish groups in 1994 will be monitoring any efforts
need to set and go after that 1994 is already a crit-
by the Christian Right to seek control of any of the
ical year. Some key examples:
schools.
*This is the year that Borman Hall, the Fed-
There are some in the Jewish community who
eration's beleaguered nursing home, will either be
are probably disappointed by the dropping of school
sold or dose. Still, there have been few or no plans
vouchers. Families with many children have dif-
forthcoming on the dispersion of clients. (Nor have
ficulty affording day-school tuition. Again, the an-
there been any plans on future strategies for board
swer, we feel, is not to rely on the state, but instead
member criteria.) There are many reasons for Bor-
to push ahead for resources within the Jewish com-
man's demise. It's clear that
munity. It's not the state's re-
it cannot remain open, but its
sponsibility to educate our
closure and handling of its
children Jewishly. It's our pur-
clients and families must be
pose and the purpose of those
dealt with in a caring, grace-
generations before us that any
ful way.
Detroit Jewish child who
*The community will also
wants a Jewish education be
be watching- the growth of the
given that option.
Jimmy Prentis Morris Jew-
*Mayor-elect Dennis Archer
ish Community Center in
offers an administration of
Oak Park. We'll see just how
hope and cooperation. The
much effort is put into using the center as a way
new Detroit mayor has already reached out to the
to galvanize the area's Jewish communities and
suburbs in an effort to bring the entire metro area
how many programs are going on day-in and day-
together to help bring the city out of its state of fis-
out.
cal and social depression. For our part as Jews, we
*Another Miracle Mission for May of 1995 is be-
need to take the mayor's invitation and meaning
ing planned in 1994. The last one was an over-
seriously. For too long there's been a polarization
whelming success as 1,300 Detroiters filed into
between blacks and whites and almost all ethnic
three El Al jets at Metro Airport. Once in Israel,
groups. For 1994, we should be aware of our neigh-
over 30 busses shuttled the Mission members
bors, be they black or Arab or Chaldean, and we
around for 10 days. Most of those attending the
should seek to establish personal efforts of bridge
Mission were well over the age of 60. There's ab-
building. The days when all of us can run away to
solutely nothing inappropriate with that because
neighborhoods filled with "our own kind" are less.
it is difficult for students and younger adults to
A Jewish News, Wayne State and Jewish Council
take time away from work, school or families. Na-
study showed that blacks, Jews and Arabs have a
tional studies, though, are showing that younger
long way to go toward building relationships. As
Jews show less of a connection with the State of
we go right into the upcoming Black History Month
Israel. We, therefore, urge the Miracle Mission or-
and the commemoration of the death of Dr. Mar-
ganizers to this time facilitate programming for
tin Luther King Jr., we urge that even small steps
younger people. Maybe May 1995 isn't such a good
can have deep meaning toward mutual respect
time to go. Maybe, June or July when children are
and recognition.
home from school and vacation time can be more
*Finally, though there are many, many issues
easily taken, and programming attractive to those
facing us in 1994, maybe the biggest one facing the
45 and under should be considered.
world still is in Israel. With an April deadline for
*For about the 20th straight year, the Council
the establishment of Palestinian self-rule in Gaza
of Jewish Federations General Assemblies be-
and Jericho, we continue to urge Israel to make
moaned its concern about Jewish continuity. The
every move with the utmost of caution. Sometimes
answers to keeping the Jewish community strong
its seems that Israel is making almost all of the
and viable through the year 2000 and generations
concessions. But we believe in what Prime Minis-
beyond center on education. Yet, many federations
ter Rabin told North America at a gathering in
across the country, including our own, still are
Montreal last month, that it's up to the Palestini-
sending disproportionate amounts of their cam-
ans, not Israel, to govern themselves. He said it's
paigns overseas. We've suggested in the past and
not up to the Israelis to control the lives of the
we'll continue to urge the Detroit Federation to
Palestinians. We would only hope that the Pales-
change its allocations, to keep more of its funding
tinians would stop taking the lives of the Israelis
domestically so that programs in education can
if this peace is going to happen.
work.
So here's to a new year. We've got much to ac-
* 1993 showed major changes in personnel and
complish. ❑

Maybe th e biggest
issue fa cing the
world still i sin Israel.

Letters

Questioning Motives
Of Peace Plan

I applaud Mr. Hymie Cutler for
his true stand and the accurate
information about the Old City
of Jerusalem since its liberation
from Jordan in 1967.
In contrast, Mr. Abba Eban,
who was Israel's first ambas-
sador to the United Nations,
serving with a distinguished
record, calls "extremists" those
Israelis who self-defend, who
don't believe in self-restraint
when Jews are killed daily by
the so-called Palestinians. Self-
restraint was demanded by the
same party with a different
name in 1936.
Mr. Eban charged Israeli ex-
tremists with being anti-Zion-
ist. Are they really anti-Zionist?
Is it because these Israelis don't
fight to occupy Arab lands, they
only want what belongs to the
Jewish people, the land of Is-
rael? The radicals and anti-
Zionists are those who give
Jericho and Gaza First as ap-
petizers for the Arabs, seeking
to get all of Israel in the future.
Mr. Eban says "it is a matter
of liberating Israel from the
need of enforcing its jurisdiction
over Palestinians who do not
have voting rights. Why in the
world is Israel in Gaza in the
first place? Do you remember
the terrorists before 1967 when
Gaza was under Egyptian con-
trol? Israelis were killed then
as they are killed now. Arabs
don't have voting rights in
Yehuda and Shomron, but is
this a reason to give away land
and let the Arabs kill Jewish
settlers? Is this what the ruling
government of Rabin-Peres
wants to do, to give pieces for
a false peace?

Shlomo Micznik

Southfield

Remembering
Frank Faudem

The photo of the 1940 Central
High School baseball team in
The Jewish News dated De-
cember 24, 1993, on page 76 has
to be corrected to read, "Frank
Faudem is seated fifth from the
left." Frank was a southpaw.
Seated fourth from the left was
Big Joe Bale.
I was 16 when Frank Fau-

dem was killed by a Japanese
sniper on Leyte, January 1945,
while he was on jungle patrol.
Frank was 24.
My father Kap and Frank's
father Sol were brothers. Frank
was my first cousin and my per-
sonal hero. Our family was dev-
astated when we received the
telegram from the War Dep-
partment The hurt for me was
deep and to this day has not
gone away.
Frank was fun-loving, very
personable and admired and re-
spected by his friends and fam-
ily. He attended Central High
School where he excelled in ath-
letics. He was an outstanding
baseball player, playing both
center field and pitcher. After
leaving high school, he followed
his dream of becoming a major
league player. His baseball
prowess did not go unnoticed.
Frank was scouted by Wish
Eagen, chief Detroit Tiger scout,
and signed to a contract to play
with the Detroit Tiger minor
league.
Frank was drafted into the
army and after basic training
was sent to Hawaii where he
pitched on the army team
against Joe DiMaggio and oth-
er major league players when
the army played the air force
team.
For 49 years, when strangers
to me hear my last name, I have
been asked, "Did you know
Frank Faudem?" For those who
knew him during his short but
notable life, Frank Faudem has
not been forgotten.
Thank you, Benno Levi, who
met Frank in Guam, befriend-
ed him, shared post-war
dreams and was on Leyte when
Frank died. Thank you for
bringing the Frank Faudem
story to print as part of "Michi-
gan Jewish History" in the Jew-
ish Historical Society of
Michigan book.

Rod Faudem
Farmington Hills

Ignoring Talmudic
Account of Chanukah

In his letter regarding the ori-
gin of Chanukah (Dec. 24 issue),
Mr. Michael Egren raises in-
teresting points. He correctly
states that increasing under-

TALMUDIC page 7