BONDED page 3 ust because your children attend college out-of-town doesn't mean they have to be out-of-touch. Sure, you can call them every week. But you can't cover everything. After all, that's what we do. We'll tell them all about what's happening in their hometown, the nation and world. We'll give them stimulating viewpoints, and interesting features. But most of all, we'll bring them home every week. And that's good news for everyone. Now it costs a lot less to bring them home. Order a College subscription to The Jewish News. Nine months only $31.50* *Out-of state students $43.50. New subscriptions only. Call 810-354-6620 to order your subscription TODAY. MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Yes, I'd like my own subscription to The Jewish News. ❑ Please bill me. ❑ Charge to my ❑ I'd like to send a subscription as a gift to: ❑ Payment enclosed. ❑ MasterCard ❑ Visa Card # Name Exp. Signature (required) Address City My Name Phone My Address Gift Card message City Phone State Zip New Subscribers only Please send all payments along with this coupon to: The Jewish News, P.O. Box 2267, Southfield, MI 48037-2267. Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery THE JEWISH NEWS State Zip rectly endangered by this 'peace process.' " "Explain the dangers to them, and the urgent need to stop the `peace process' now before irre- versible changes are made," it read. * Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, dropped his 25-year commitment to his Orthodox synagogue after the rabbi there spewed "hate and vit- riol toward the elected leaders of Israel." "Having been a longtime mem- ber of this congregation, I re- member it as a center of diversity, tolerance and civility," Mr. Fox- man wrote in a letter published in the Jewish Standard, a New Jersey newspaper. "By the rab- bi's mandate, these values are no longer upheld there." Recent actions both here and across the United States have stirred a debate over the issue of politics during the holidays: Is it a moral obligation or is it sim- ply whipping up the political sen- timent of congregants during an emotionally vulnerable time? Over the years, political agen- das often have found their way to congregants through their rabbis. During the Vietnam War and more recently the Gulf War, the pulpits were a vehicle for transmitting Jewish values in relation to actions taken by gov- ernments. Fueled by a passion for Israel, some Jewish leaders this year are speaking out against the peace process. They argue that Israel Bonds are funds, lent to the Israel government, which are spent on support services given only within the green line. Funding is generally cut off for the 150,000 Jews living in the territories. Some leaders are urging an- nual contributions be made to or- ganizations that support settlers, either in lieu or in parity with Is- rael Bonds. "What is one person's politics is another person's fundamental Jewish value," said Rabbi Steven Pruzansky of Congregation B'nai Yeshurun, an Orthodox syna- gogue in Teaneck, N.J. Rabbi Pruzansky, the former rabbi of Abraham Foxman, has written several opinion pieces about what he calls the "traves- ty" of the peace process. Citing ac- counts of settlers who have been beaten, as well as expressing his outrage over funding going to the PLO, he has compared the Rabin government's actions to the Ju- denrat, the Jewish councils or- ganized by the Nazis in World War II Europe to administer Jew- ish affairs. "(Urging action against the peace process) is more than ac- ceptable. It is mandatory," he said. "One hundred and sixty Jews have died since September _1993._No s savingihat is an untruth. We have an obligation to speak out and prevent any more from dying." He is especially sympathetic about the plight of the settlers, Israelis who moved into subur- ban areas with the help of fund- ing from the Israeli government in the years before the peace ac- cords. During the peace process, the settlers were cut off from gov- ernmental funding and urged to move into Israeli-controlled ar- eas. They rely on funding from anti-peace process, pro-settle- ment groups such as YESHA to pay for basic infrastructure such as road repairs and ambulances. "There is a Torah principle, `You cannot stand by as the blood of your brother is shed,' Rabbi Pruzansky said. Although his congregation will still have the annual Israel Bond appeal on Yom Kippur, Rabbi Pruzansky's congregation also will push another appeal four weeks later, for the One Israel Fund/YESHA Heartland Cam- paign to aid the settlements. Rabbi Pesach Lerner, vice president of National Council of Young Israel, said the issue of in- fluencing a congregation to give to a particular fund rises above politics; it is saving a life. "We are not gambling here with a piece of property, we are not gambling with water rights," he said. 'We are gambling with people's lives. We are talking about life and limb." Others, mostly from Conserv- ative and Reform backgrounds, said the time for such appeals is not the High Holidays. Rabbi David Wolpe, assistant to the chancellor of the (Conser- vative) Jewish Theological Sem- inary in New York, said the High Holidays are a time to explore personal relationships as well as relationships with God. To incite political sentiment through the pulpit is not appropriate. "The primary guideline is that this is a time to guide Jewish souls and not rally around polit- ical causes," Rabbi Wolpe said. "To counsel against buying Israel bonds is a disgrace but ... what can you say?" Rabbi David Nelson of Con- gregation Beth Shalom believes that rallying against the Israeli government holds potentially dangerous ramifications. "I have great respect for the people who are leading the State of Israel," he said. "I am person- ally incensed and offended when it is said that they are not serv- ing the best interest of Israel." "I really believe in the freedom of the pulpit, but on the other hand you have to realize that you can't be a bully," Rabbi Nelson said. While the alternative cam- paigns are new, their effect is al- ready anticipated. However, totals for all campaigns will not BOMB oane i2 2 (/ \