411k jarc HYSTERIA page 5 R at funded through the generosity of the Benard L. Maas Foundation at the JARC Annual Meeting and Election of Officers Tuesday, May 23 8:00 P.M. Temple Israel 5725 Walnut Lake Road West Bloomfield There is no charge. A sign language interpreter will be provided. As Miracle Mission II returns home, we remember the special once-in-a-lifetime Israel experience of JARC clients during Miracle Mission I. Harold Folkoff's trip to the Holy Land was an epiphany, putting him more in touch with his religion and with his feelings about being a Jew. For Jacob Feldman, reciting the memorial prayer in front of hundreds of his fellow Jews at Yad Vashem and being overcome with emotion while praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, were moments that will stay with him forever. These experiences, together with moments of their lives back here at home, make the 30 minute "Days of Joy" video documentary something special for the entire community. Lorraine Schwartz' Bat Mitzvah atop Masada was the self-described "thrill of a lifetime." "Days of Joy" was produced by Fran Victor and Bill Harder of Victor/Harder Productions and is scheduled for broadcast later this year. 1995-1996 Slate of Officers and Directors President Barbara Nusbaum Secretary Vice Presidents Sandra Dembs Daniel Medow H. James Zack Treasurer Robert Kaplow Ellen Labes Nominated for an additional three year term (expiring 1998) Ron Elkus - Joel E. Jacob Carol Kaczander Ellen Labes Beverly Laker Daniel Medow Hannah Moss Donna Pearlman Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg Nominated for a first three-year term (expiring 1998) Dennis Bernard Penny Blumenstein Paul Katzman Steven Traison 1A1' Oro 4 28366 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI 48034 (810) 352-5272 v/tty Jewish Association for Residential Care for Persons with Developmental Disabilities done. While I agree with Mr. Gel- berd, I think there's another is- sue, as well. I'm willing to bet that 75 per- cent of the parents of children at- tending religious school don't know what is going on in their child's classroom. It's not that they can't find out. It's that they are not interested. It's important for Jewish par- ents that their children succeed in school so that they can be ac- cepted to a good college and move on in life. Many parents are in- volved in their child's secular ed- ucation. They know what is happening in the classroom. The best educational experi- ences for children are shared with their parents. We want our children to marry within the faith. We want them to carry on the torch of continuity. So why is it that many of us don't have a clue about what is happening in our religious-school classrooms? I've written in this space be- fore that religious schools are for some parents nothing more than drop-off centers. Instead of soc- cer or basketball, parents rely on teachers to make their children Jewish. No excuse for the laughter. So, while I agree with Mr. Gel- . herd that the system needs im- provement, I think the ratio is more like 100 percent and 100 percent. Schools and teachers need to give 100 percent in edu- eating our children. But parents and families need to give 100 per- cent as well. There is no excuse for a Jewish child bursting out in laughter while a movie shows scenes of children crying as Nazi SS guards march in front of them. It has to be parent, child and teacher working together. If we don't come together, the per- centages of success will be closer to zero. Families, you need to recap- ture your children. If you don't think it's important that they know more about the Holocaust and other Jewish issues than pogs, sports, music and clothes, then don't be surprised by what happens in the future to our con- tinuity. If you think this is hysteria and that there are many politi- cally correct issues to weigh here, ones like "the kids were in pub- lic school all day and were tired by the time they came to religious school," then consider this piece of hysteria. A group of Jewish children were acting up during a Holo- caust movie. hysteria enough for T. hat's o me.