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Sensitivity Is Still A Real
Issue In Our Community
It seems that were still a community that has dif-
ficulty facing our most "touchy" issues. As it turns
out, these are the ones we need to be staring
down with urgency. An esteemed president of one
of this nation's largest Jewish federations once
admonished a reporter from a Jewish newspa-
per: "There are maybe five Jewish homeless peo-
ple in this entire city, and you found them and
wrote about them. Instead of talking about the
people we help, you found the five that slipped
through the cracks. You were irresponsible for
writing about them and calling that journalism."
Certainly, there are going to be those who won-
der in a like mind, "What's the big deal with
touching? There are more important issues that
The Jewish News should be taking on."
It's not the touching that's the "big deal." It's
the fear people still have in our community and
in Jewish communities all over the world to seek
help if they feel they are being harassed, abused
or even touched inappropriately. Especially if
the person doing the touching is a person, such
as a rabbi, who might be beloved by everyone
else. We have heard and seen enough signals
from the Detroit Jewish community to bring it
up on our front page this week as an issue.
It's a simple thing, this touching business. Yet
people need to feel empowered enough to offer
appropriate signals if they approve or disapprove
of a kiss or a hug. Yes, the world would be a cold
place without hugging. It's left colder, however,
when we fail to recognize and understand what
is acceptable to others.
Jews should not be afraid to seek help, even
if it means conjuring up our own personal
demons or those of the community. Rabbis and
all community leaders should always be looking
to serve the people who "fall through the cracks."
Sometimes they are pushed through the
cracks by the insensitivity of a rabbi or commu-
nity leader. Sometimes it's as simple as some-
one's touch.
J E WIS H NE WS
Mob Culture
T HE D ETRO
H-
4
Angry at the political manipulation of the im-
perialistic United States, the mob gathers to
voice its fury.
As part of its protest, it masses in front of the
nearest symbol of American authority, in this
case the U.S. Consulate. It turns ugly. Someone
picks up a rock and tosses it at the building. Oth-
ers join in.
The guards inside become nervous. They do
not react this time, but they do think about
worst-case scenarios: Will they have to defend
their lives? Will they have to beef up protection
for Americans who work there? Can they depend
on local authorities to control the mob, which
will probably be back?
This latest crowd was not in Iran or Haiti. This
past Saturday evening, it was in west Jerusalem,
responding to PLO Chairman Yassir Arafat's
visit to Gaza and Jericho. It was an embarrass-
ment to Israelis and Jews everywhere.
These opponents of the PLO-Israel accords
stoned the U.S. Consulate in west Jerusalem,
and smashed the windows of Arab-owned shops
and cars in the city's eastern sector. Such be-
havior is beyond the bounds of legitimate protest.
Opponents to the peace process have a legit-
imate agenda. There are real security, religious
and emotional concerns that must be debated
and redebated by Israelis. There are campaigns
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CORRECT
and civil attempts to alter or influence the sit-
ting government.
But to turn such a debate into a platform for
anti-American sentiments is as wrong as it is
shortsighted. The United States has been — and
remains — Israel's best hope for achieving some
type of resolution, temporary or permanent, with
the Arab neighbors with whom it is still officially
in a state of war.
The mob violence has been encouraged by cer-
tain Israeli political and religious leaders who
refuse to propose a comprehensive, realistic al-
ternative.
The costs of the pre-accord status quo — spi-
raling defense needs, deadly reserve duty and a
new generation raised in hate — is unaccept-
able. Israelis decided that in their last national
elections. Although we have some concerns with
the peace talks, these are being responsibly ad-
dressed by Israel's government, which is head-
ed by an ex-military man who has ordered sitting
generals and others to conduct the hard negoti-
ations.
Detractors of the peace talks should come for-
ward with legitimate political response to a peace
process they consider damnable. Jews, here and
in Israel, need to consider all legitimate options.
No one needs the response of the mob — nor
where it could lead.
• „"To DISCUSS
ASS1M ItATON
UJ 1TH 0 VT
HAVING -- ro
ACTUALLy...
Letters
Gefilte Fish,
Scientific Jews
The July 1 article, "Teaching A
"Scientific' Torah To Immi-
grants," is amazing.
Being one of the Russian im-
migrants who received his first
positive Jewish experience in this
country, I was greatly impressed
with Ms. Novojenova. In just sev-
eral months not only she man-
aged to study Torah deeply
enough to teach others, but she
also developed her own "scientif-
ic' approach. Considering the
scope of the problem, this
achievement seems to be un-
heard of before.
As for me, my family, and
many Russian Jewish friends
who did put a lot of effort into get-
ting involved in Jewish life, send-
ing our shildren to Jewish
schools, learning Torah and, even
contrary to Ms. Novojenova's
opinion, practicing religion, we
find many of the article's state-
ments and especially their cate-
goricalness insulting for us.
True that most of us came to
America without any knowledge
ofJudnism, but in contrast to Ms.
Novojenova, we always had an
interest in something spiritual.
And we did find our Jewishness
here thanks to many great peo-
ple of this community who were
able to reach out and bring us
back to our roots. Among them
are Rabbis Avrohom Freedman,
Jacobovitz, Zaklos, Dovid Kagan,
Mishulovin, and Mrs. Bayla
Landsman. These people made
a real difference in the lives of
many immigrants.
Ms. Novojenova says "she knows
what Russian Jews need to hear
religion, and it has nothing to do
with God." May I ask what this
amazing confidence is based on?
Memories of her mother's gefilte
fish? And is not her "scientific" ap-
proach just more of the same
"gefilte fish Judaism"? As for us,
this is certainly not our diet.
ing, it did not adequately convey
the most important.
The Jews of Detroit, like else-
where, are thirsting for mean-
ingful Jewishness. It has been
my intense pleasure to be able to
bring the beauty and relevancy
ofJewish wisdom to hundreds of
individuals and families, and wit-
ness the changes that have oc-
curred. I don't know how to
adequately express the sense of
nachos from the phone calls that
a family or single has joined a
synagogue for the first time, con-
tributed to Campaign, decided to
visit Israel, enrolled a child in a
day school, committed to keep-
ing kosher, Shabbat or family pu-
rity, or decided to break off a
relationship with a non-Jew.
Such are the fruits ofJewish ed-
ucation, feelings that cannot be
measured.
I strongly believe that Detroit
needs a continued Aish presence.
In the last four years in Detroit,
Aish has been the catalyst for 30
families sending their children to
day schools, 40 homes going
kosher, teaching 500 people how
to read Hebrew and feel comfort-
able in synagogue, and much more.
Yet the battle is not even being
waged. Why are we sick of hear-
ing about intermarriage? Why
can't we express how it injures our
future? Why do we tire at the
thought of another campaign of
project to enhance Jewish life? All
this while "Jews for Nothing" set
traps to ensnare our future.
Aish HaTorah has one goal: to
show the relevancy of Jewish liv-
ing. To this end Aish develops
many educational tools: pro-
grams to teach outreach to
layleaders, new and exciting sem-
inars dealing with Jewish wis-
dom, such as the obligation to
love, to be happy, to have goals,
summer and winter programs for
college youth. They can all be
used right here! -
The presentation also did not
express my gratitude to the hun-
dreds of people who have been
Yosef Feldman very supportive of Aish HaTorah.
Southfield It is in their merit that so much
has been done. I thank you all
and I bless you all. My prayer is
Continuing Need
that Aish is able to continue here
For Aish HaTorah
and we all see a strong and com-
mitted
Jewish people in our days.
After reading Lesley Pearl's in-
Alon Tolwin
terview (July 1), I felt that although
West Bloomfield
it reflected some of my momentary
thoughts and feeling about leav- LETTERS page 10
(