The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit and Bais Chabad of West Bloomfield and Farmington Hills Present % S~PG THE MATZAH FACTORY Asian Americans Plan New Ties March 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 20 MONDAY - THURSDAY 10:00 - 12:00 noon and 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Sundays 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. * closed Friday and Saturday Families Religious Schools Welcome $2.00 per participant accompanying adults no charge -4• Please call Cheryl Kane for reservations at 661- 5092 THE MATZAH FACTORY IS WELCOMING.... Adat Shalom, Akiva Day School, Bais Yaacov, Beth Abraham Hillel Moses. Beth Jacob. Beth Shalom, Cheder Lubavitch, Friends of Soviet Refugees, Ganeinu, Hillel Day School. JCC Child Development, Jewish Parents Institute, Jewish Vocational Service, Me and My Grandchild, Me and My Dad. NCSY-AJE, Sharrey Zedek, West Bloomfield; Sharrey Zedek: Southfield, Shir Tikvah, Temple Emmanuel, Temple Kehillhe Israel; Lansing, Temple Kol Arni, Watch Group, Workman's Circle. MURRAY PERAHIA, pianist Wednesday, March 23, 8 pm Hill Auditorium An Ann Arbor favorite, pianist Murray Perahia enjoys an enthusiastic following around the globe. Known for probing the inner depths of each piece and infusing it with a combination of musicality, warmth, and passion, Perahia is one of the most accomplished and gifted pianists performing today. "Perahia is one of the greatest artists before the public today, or I suspect at any time." London Dilly Telegraph Cf) L1.1 Works by Brahms, Chopin, and Beethoven Cf) w For tickets, call or visit the University Musical Society CC F- LU LLJ 58 Burton Memorial Tower Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1270 313.764.2538 b"\\ Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Washington (JTA) -- Mem- bers of a group of prominent Asian Americans, just back from an eventful trip to Israel, are planning joint efforts between the Asian American and the American Jewish communities. While Jews and Asian Americans have long been involved in coalitions on various domestic issues, in- cluding immigration and hate crimes, the agenda has expanded to include foreign policy, said Neil Sandberg, director of the Los Angeles- based Pacific Rim Institute of the American Jewish Committee. "It seemed only natural to want to extend this (rela- tionship) to the world scene," Mr. Sandberg said. This shift is due in part to the increasing ties in recent years between Israel and Asian countries including China, Japan and India. The Feb. 19-28 trip was believed to be the first in- volving Asian Americans of varying backgrounds, in- cluding Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese. The 11 participants live in cities across the United States, from San Diego to Atlanta. This was the participants' first trip to Israel, and it happened to coincide with the Feb. 25 murders of Pa- lestinian worshipers in a Hebron mosque by a Jewish settler. Several of the participants, contacted after their return home, were still trying to sort out their emotions and impressions of the trip, which was sponsored by Pro- ject Interchange, an AJCommittee institute. "I got so much information from the trip, it will take me many days to digest," said Susan Lew of San Diego, a businesswoman born in China. North Vietnam-born Tony Lam of Westminster, Calif., did not wait to come home before contacting Viet- namese Americans to discuss his trip. While in Israel, Lam called a U.S. radio station that he said reaches 300,000 Viet- namese Americans and spent about 35 minutes on the air. Mr. Lam, who serves as mayor pro tempore of Westminster, an Orange County community with a heavy concentration of Viet- namese Americans, said he told his listeners about the Vietnamese community in Israel and put some mem- bers of this community on the radio. According to Mr. Lam, there are about 200 Viet- namese who fled their homeland and have been liv- ing in Israel since 1979. "They were the first boat people ever accepted by any country," Mr. Lam said. "They love Israel so much," Mr. Lam said. "They talk about how nice people are, and their children are in the army. To them, (Israel) is their country. That story is so good to the Vietnamese listener." "Early on, Israel was very forthcoming and sensitive to the plight of the boat people and took in a number of refugees," said Mr. Sand- berg of the Pacific Rim In- stitute. He added that Israel "has done a very good job in in- volving the Vietnamese im- Project Interchange has asked business groups to send material to participants. migrant community in the national life of the society," including in schools and in the army. "The area of escape from persecution is an area Jews know well," Mr. Sandberg said. Mr. Lam said that on his trip he gained an under- standing of the issues in- volved in the Middle East conflict. "It is a matter of survival for Israel to defend itself," he said. "I understand the conflict there now." He added that television news only showed rock- throwing in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank town of Jericho. He plans to talk to a Jew- ish group in Orange County about his trip. "I also work as an ambassador of good will, as a liaison between the two communities here," he said. Ms. Lew of San Diego, K K