ber, Jewish activists working on the domestic front have concen- trated their efforts on tracking congressional Republican pro- posals on welfare, balanced-bud- get amendments and school prayer. They did not, they said, expect threats to come from the White House. Under the administration pro- posal, 60 HUD programs would be combined into three mega- block grants for local communi- ties. Although low-income elderly housing providers could compete for diminished funds, Jewish pro- fessionals hold little hope that their programs would receive nearly as much funding as they do now, especially when compet- ing against disabled housing, public housing, and emergency housing. In addition, under the propos- al, beginning in 1998, elderly housing facilities will be compet- ing for the same funds with homeless programs and housing for people with AIDS. Calling the proposal "the final blow" to the "dismantling of pub- lic housing," Ms. Hoffman said, "We will have no place to send the low-income elderly. This is real- ly a crisis." Without low income housing as an option, senior citizens will be forced into nursing homes without the "dignity and inde- pendence we provide," she said. At a news conference, Secre- tary of Housing and Urban De- velopment Henry Cisneros argued that the restructuring will actually benefit low-income el- derly housing because the grant application process will shift from private organizations such as fed- erations and B'nai B'rith to lo- cal and state authorities. The private organizations would then be able to apply to the state and local authorities, which, according to Mr. Cisneros, can set aside funds for specific purposes. But some Jewish activists aren't buying his pitch. When asked whether she was reassured by Mr. Cisneros' assessment that funding would still be forthcom- ing, Ms. Feingold said, "I am con- fident of nothing." While eliminating funds for new construction poses a long- term threat to the elderly popu- lation, plans to eliminate grants for support services that some buildings receive pose a more im- mediate problem. Thanks to a HUD grant, for in- stance, over 500 low-income se- nior citizens living in B'nai B'rith's Covenant House in St. Louis currently eat hot meals sev- en nights a week instead of the five funded by private donations, according to Judy Lee, executive director of Covenant House. The $487,000 grant over five years also allows the Covenant House to provide transportation for its residents to doctors' offices. "I just don't know what they would do without this assistance," Ms. Lee said. Ms. Lee added that low-income housing "is important not only to the older members but to the families who are trying to do their best. The ripple effect would be dramatic." In the meantime, CJF will join B'nai B'rith and Christian non- profit groups in fighting to keep the grant program intact. Officials from Jewish and non- Jewish organizations that would be affected by changes at HUD met with HUD officials Monday night to air their concerns. Since Mr. Clinton will not de- liver his budget to Capitol Hill for months, activists plan to use the time to lobby the White House and prepare an all-out push on the Hill. `This is a significant battle that we are going to fight both in Con- gress and the White House," said B'nai B'rith's Meridy. A PREMIERE RENTAL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Terrorists Are Sentenced New York (JTA) — A Turkish court has sentenced three mem- bers of an Islamic terrorist group to 15 years and a fine for the Jan- uary 1993 attack against a mem- ber of the Istanbul Jewish community, the World Jewish Congress has reported. The attackers, members of an organization called the Perse- vering Workers of Islam, were convicted for the attempted mur- der of Jak Kamhi, a prominent businessman and leading figure in the Turkish Jewish communi- ty. The men were part of a heav- ily armed five-person squad that fired rockets at Mr. Kamhi's car while he was driving to work in Istanbul. The three men were also con- victed of membership in the Is- lamic organization, a group that is illegal in Turkey. They admit- ted they were trained for the at- tack in Iran. At the time of the attack, Mr. Kamhi, 69, who is a member of the executive committee of the World Sephardi Federation, was driving an armored car with per- sonal guards. The attackers escaped but left behind an anti-tank rocket, as- sault rifles, pistols and hand grenades. The attack on Mr. Kamhi was the third attack in less than a year on Jews or Jewish institu- tions in Turkey, a secular but mostly Islamic country that has historically been a safe haven for Jews. A week before that attack, two assailants hurled hand grenades at Istanbul's Neve Shalom Syn- agogue. 24111 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE • SOUTHFIELD 810-352-0208 SINAI HOSPITAL ARE YOU BEING TREATED FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? Sinai Hospital is currently conducting a study in patients with high blood pressure using a new agent for the treatment of high blood pressure in several dosages, with and without a diuretic. The study will be conducted at Sinai Hospital's main campus, 6767 West Outer Drive in Detroit, and at the Sinai Hechtman Health Center, 31500 Telegraph in Bingham Farms. For more information about the study, call 810-647-1770. 31 sinal • Mastectomy Bras, Breastforms and Swimwear all year. 13 osalM Mastectomy Shop Provider EGGS, Meckare, Medica.d 945 W. 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