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Live-Wire Debate
If good fences make good neighbors, just imag-
ine what an eruv could do in Huntington Woods.
An eruv is a kind of symbolic boundary used
to extend one's home. Often formed by telephone
pole wires, as in Oak Park, Southfield and West
Bloomfield, it goes unnoticed by virtually every-
one.
But for observant Jews an eruv can mean the
difference between staying at home most of Shab-
bat — no small challenge in the summer, when
sundown is long past 9 p.m. — or being able to
take small children to synagogue, or help a wheel-
chair-bound senior to a friend's home for lunch.
(Halachah defines both pushing and carrying as
work, and as such they are not permitted out-
side the home on the Sabbath.)
We know it's vital for city officials to carefully
consider proposals, and that many such consid-
erations come their way each week. We also know
it's common practice for city officials to hem and
haw at meetings as they discuss and re-discuss
every inch of a plan that would affect their city.
But we find it odd that Huntington Woods is
making such an issue out of telephone poles and
wires.
Last month, the city commissioners heard a
proposal to establish an eruv in Huntington
Woods. Their reaction was lukewarm, to say the
least. One commissioner even asked how an eruv
was different from hanging a picture of Jesus in
a public school.
The difference, of course, is that an eruv does
not constitute an endorsement of Judaism. It is
no more "religious" than a kosher butcher or a
deli or a Jewish bookstore.
It is, however, much less a religious symbol
than the Lutheran church on Eleven Mile Road
in Huntington Woods. Yet as Jews in the Unit-
ed States, we fully support the right of that
church not only to exist, but to host programs
and events which are solely Christian in nature
— all right there in Huntington Woods.
Huntington Woods is one of the nicest areas
in metro Detroit. Its attitude toward the con-
struction of an eruv was, however, decidedly un-
becoming.
Whaddaya Know?
On these pages and in community forums we
spend so much time debating the nuances of the
Middle East peace process. So when the Amer-
ican Jewish Committee this week released a sur-
vey of American Jewish attitudes toward the
negotiations, a few statistics leaped out.
While supporting the talks, a majority of re-
spondents said that they distrusted the Arabs'
intentions and opposed aid to the Palestine Lib-
eration Organization with whom Israel's gov-
ernment is negotiating. Only 20 percent said the
United States should immediately move its em-
bassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, an action that
Israel's government believes would damage U.S.
credibility in the region and thus the process
itself.
But this sexy data should not overshadow the
more fundamental points demonstrated about
the American Jewish relationship with Israel.
Not surprisingly, the survey — a demograph-
ically representative national sample of 1,000
Jews — showed that 78 percent of those polled
agree that "caring about Israel is a very impor-
tant part of my being a Jew."
`LI
But for a population that expresses such a deep
affinity for the Holy Land, not many know the
2 basic facts about Israel — and even fewer have
LL., actually been there.
---:
__
According to the survey, 63 percent of Amer-
,Ts. lean Jews have never been to Israel and 22 per-
' cent have only been there once. When asked
I-
' whether Shimon Peres and Benjamin Netanyahu
belong to the same political party, 7 percent an-
', swered "yes" and 53 percent were "not sure."
Forty-seven percent of those polled did not know
that 1948 was the year Israel declared its inde-
=
LL
4
pendence and 64 percent did not know that 1967
was the year Israel took control of the West Bank.
Clearly, American Jews feel close to Israel emo-
tionally, but apparently not many care enough
to pay close attention.
Perhaps none of us is doing enough to educate
the public. In the rush to point fingers, we'll be-
gin at home. For decades, the American Jew-
ish press has covered Israel for insiders. We have
assumed a base of knowledge about the funda-
mentals of Israel's existence and we face the chal-
lenge of educating our readers beyond the
week-to-week quarrels between Israel's politi-
cians and between them and the Arab leaders.
We have typically reached those who are al-
ready deeply involved in the Jewish communi-
ty. It is these people who give money to Israeli
causes, go on missions to Israel and turn out to
hear Israeli experts and leaders.
Preaching to this small, but important choir
helps to raise money for Israel's hospitals, uni-
versities, immigration absorption and other pro-
grams. It does not create a grass-roots
educational effort.
So when a survey reveals that the American
Jewish public has strong feelings about the peace
process, we wonder on what information these
opinions are based. If an overwhelming per-
centage of the American Jewish community is
emotionally attached, but not well-educated
about Israel, how are they forming thoughtful
opinions?
In examining an increasingly polarized Amer-
ican Jewish community, we must recognize the
chasm between the educational haves and the
have-nots — and do something about it.
Letters
Subsidized
Terrorism
nity's commitment to its elderly.
Mr. Pollack was expressing his
personal views and not those of
the North American Association
According to President Clinton, of Jewish Homes and Housing for
"The Oklahoma terrorists are the aging (NAJHHA). We regret
killers and should be treated like that this was not made clear in
killers!" Liberals are very elo- Mr. Pollack's letter.
quent when it comes to promis-
NAJHHA represents virtual-
es, but they are deficient when ly all of the Jewish not-for-profit
it comes to implementing their homes and housing facilities in
words in the form of actions. the U.S. and Canada.
More often than not, their ac-
We are pleased and proud of
tions have no relationship to our member facilities in the De-
their words.
troit community, the Jewish Fed-
For example, Vice President eration Apartments, Prentis
Gore has recently returned from Manor and the Fleischman Res-
the PLO Gaza State where he idence. All are outstanding,
promised the legitimized terror- award-winning facilities, filled to
ists $90 million in U.S. aid. In ad- capacity with long waiting lists.
dition, Mr. Clinton recently
Further, we note with grati-
honored the IRA leader Gerry tude and appreciation the Fed-
Adams at the White House.
eration's guidance and leadership
U.S. support for terrorists is of the Elder Care Options Com-
nothing new. The U.N. has been mittee study/process which seeks
supporting PLO camps for years. to develop a new model of elder
If the Israelis wish to commit sui- care.
cide by providing terrorists with
The Jewish Community of De-
a territorial base, there is no rea- troit has much to be proud of and
son we must follow suit.
NAJHHA salutes its continuing
Until the U.S. taxpayer real- support of and commitment to
izes that our taxes are being used the care of its elderly.
to finance our enemies, primari-
ly via the Israeli-PLO peace ac-
Lawrence M. Zippen
cords, in the guise of foreign aid,
Executive Vice President,
we will be nurturing the very at-
NAJHHA
tacks we claim to abhor.
If a wave of international ter-
rorist attacks — beginning with
the U.S., Algerian, Filipino and
Japanese attacks, not to mention No Political
the fact that Israel is experienc- Endorsement
ing an unprecedented amount of
terrorist activity — is the nature I was surprised to see my name
of the "New World Order," then, listed among apparent support-
like the former Soviets, the ers of Sharkey Haddad, a candi-
names have been changed, but date for Southfield City Council,
the evil is alive and well and ter- in the Sept. 8 edition.
rorists are building bombs with
I want to clarify that my name
our financial support. Apparent- was used without my knowledge.
ly, the political altruism of the I have not and do not endorse Mr.
Welfare State cannot distinguish Haddad's candidacy. Mr. Haddad
between friend and foe.
said it was his public-relations
Marc Baker
Birmingham
Personal
Views
I am writing to correct any mis-
understanding that may have
arisen as the result of Mr. Mey-
er Pollack's recent letter (Aug. 25)
to you regarding Menorah House
and the Detroit Jewish commu-
person's responsiblity; I believe
it is the candidate's responsibil-
ity to ensure the accuracy of these
endorsements.
Throughout my career I have
made it a personal policy not to
endorse any political candidate,
and I want it made clear that pol-
icy remains enforced.
Rosemary Bannon
Executive Director,
International Institute (--/\
of Metropolitan Detroit .