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Positive Signs
On The Youth Front

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A group of high-school students from Grayling, heartwarming. Even without the students' trip
Mich., are traveling 500 miles on Sunday to learn to the Detroit-area Jewish community this week-
end, Grayling High School drama teacher Barn-
about Jews and Judaism (see page 15).
At the same time, Jewish youth groups in the bi Mansfield has to be considered a success.
An upsurge in involvement in Jewish youth
Detroit area are undergoing a resurgence (see
activities also is a positive sign. With young lead-
page 103).
Both of these stories are a welcome reprieve ers — barely older than the teens they guide
from the usual list of Jewish communal prob- — area youth groups are becoming more ap-
lems. And both of these successes can be attrib- pealing to the MTV generation. Having a lot of
fun with a dash of Yiddishkeit thrown in is a
uted to charismatic leadership.
A young teacher in Grayling, a gentile who workable formula for several groups.
It gives us hope that alienation and assimila-
grew up in Southfield, took the initiative to teach
her high-school class about people who are dif- tion are not the only themes of the 1990s Amer-
ferent. Her ability to overcome prejudice, pre- ican Jewish community.
conceptions and just plain ignorance is

AMERICA AND
ISRAEL. ARE

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Arms Trade
Disheartening

* Babylonian Jews supplied
funds and ammunition to the
Jews in Israel when they were
fighting the Roman army.
Thus, in the tradition of the
last 3 1/2 millennium, it was not
surprising to know that Ameri-
can Jews help our fellow Jews
around the world, whether in the
former Soviet Union or in Israel.
That is all as it should be. None
of us felt that we were doing any-
thing extraordinary. "We Are
One" has always been the Jew-
ish motto.
Therefore, it was very strange
to me to read Raviv Schwartz's
opinion in The Jewish News (Feb.
4). He was greatly offended that
we American Jews had the nerve
to suggest that the sovereign na-
tion of Israel suspend the "peace
process." Since it was only Is-
raelis getting slaughtered by
their "peace partners," we Jews
in America did not have the right
to make our voices heard. Indeed,
he spoke "as an Israeli citizen"
and that was the very heart of his
problem ...
It is because 'We Are One" that
American Jews include ourselves
in the worldwide Jewish commu-
nity. When we see a dangerous
mission gone bad, as in the case
of the so-called "peace process,"
we have the right to speak out to
the Jewish government in the
Jewish State of Israel.
Indeed, we are obliged to let
that government know that it is
in a runaway coach heading at
breakneck speed toward a cliff.
And we are obligated, at all costs,
to stop the impending disaster
because, like it or not, we are all
in the coach together.
Harriet Drissman
Farmington Hills

In the Feb. 3 issue of The Jewish
News, the article titled "Arms
Race: Israel Trying to Invade
British Defense Market" exposed
the competition for the interna-
tional arms trade market in
which Israel is engaged.
What could be more disheart-
ening?
Yes, it is always possible to
say, "If we didn't do it, others
would," but Israel is a country
richly endowed with human re-
sources; it does not have to rely
on the manufacture and pan-
dering of weapons of war to earn
its place among the community
of nations. Anyone who has been
member. The staff person had lobbed sexual ha- to Israel has been as moved as I
rassment charges at the Rev. Chavis.
to see the imagination with
The NAACP was also in turmoil over the Rev. which programs devoted to the
improvement of humanity have
Chavis' outreach to the Nation of Islam.
Spokespersons for the Nation had been lam- been conceived and executed.
There is nothing in the world
basting Jews for manipulating the slave trade,
that
contributes more to the on-
dominating blacks and being the general demon going
and escalating earthly vi-
behind all woes facing African Americans. The
olence that exists than the
Rev. Chavis insisted on working closely with that greed-filled trade of weapons.
group. Add to the list of problems a $4 million The United States is the largest
debt and recent furloughs for employees.
seller of arms; but other nations,
Ms. Evers-Williams clearly faces a daunting including Israel, are panting af-
task in righting the perception and direction of ter, trying to emulate this sorry
the NAACP. In the past, she has been an ad- example. This is not a matter of
vocate of strong black-Jewish relations. Despite need; it is a matter of greed. Is-
that, Jewish activists should not be mislead. The rael is pursuing a reprehensible
black-Jewish partnership is not Ms. Evers- industry. The Jewish News for
I thank
Williams' top priority. Nor should it be. Jews in bringing
this matter to the at-
the civil rights camp should keep their concerns
tention of the community. I think
at the ready — affirmative action topping the that we overlook it at our moral
list. But for now, they would do best to strength- peril. What, after all, will we tell
en the bridge between the black and Jewish corn-
our children?
Arlene Victor
munities by working with the NAACP's new
Bloomfield Hills
leader. Ms. Evers-Williams will need help to put
the group on solid footing. Only after that is done
can the NAACP effectively promote our mutu-
al interests and explore in an arena without ac- Jews Should
Member Praises
rimony the problems faced by American blacks Help Each Other
JCC Health Club
and Jews.
From the time that God told Cain
that we were indeed our broth- In response to Bert Green's let-
ers' keepers, Jews have been ter in the Feb. 3 issue of The Jew-
rAND 60n4
ish News, he and I do not appear
looking out for each other.
COUNTIES ARE
to be using the same JCC Health
Moses
challenged
Pharaoh
*
WATc NI MG -The and ended our slavery when he Club.
I too have seen dirty towels or
have stayed a prince in the
S1MPSoN 'TRIAL! could
dirty sinks when an inconsider-
royal palace.
* Saul came to the aid of Jew- ate member walks away after us-
ish hostages when he could have ing them. Members should treat
ignored their pleas and contin- any facility with respect for that
facility and the other members.
ued to farm his land.
* Esther stood up for her peo- They should leave a sink clean
ple even when she could have for the next user.
saved herself by remaining silent. HEALTH CLUB page 12

NAACP Priorities

Seemingly overnight, Myrlie Evers-Williams has
become a national leader in the civil rights move-
ment. Of course, she has been there for decades
and is only now receiving widespread recogni-
tion. She now will be watched closely by Jewish
supporters of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, the nation's old-
est civil-rights group.
On Sunday, Ms. Evers-Williams, the widow
of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, was
voted chairman of the NAACP. Her victory was
a narrow one. She eked past Dr. William F. Gib-
son by a vote of 30-29. One ballot cast in Ms.
Evers-Williams' favor was that of Rabbi David
Saperstein, head of the Reform movement's
Washington-based Religious Action Center. Jew-
ish involvement at the top level of the NAACP
is not new. At the turn of the century, Jews were
among the group's founders.
Despite a year of organizational trauma, many
Jews have not lost faith in the NAACP. Neither
are they blind to its problems. In August, the
NAACP board dismissed the Rev. Benjamin F.
Chavis after 15 months as executive director.
That came on the heels of the furor caused by
charges of financial mismanagement. The Rev.
Chavis and the then-board chairman had agreed,
without consulting others, to give hundreds of
thousands of dollars to a former NAACP staff

Letters

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