i s .. • fit:.`` 14...ak Women's Joint Institute Day Important For Building Bridges So many good results can happen when people learn to listen to one another. That's what our community will experience this coming Thursday, Oct. 19, when Arab and Jewish women get together to discuss their ex- periences and insights in the areas of domestic violence, family life, education and the status of women. The Women's Joint Institute Day takes place at Adat Shalom Synagogue and will be keynoted by Israel Consul General Colette Avi- tal. What is really being created, however, is a meeting of the minds. Almost a natural out- growth of Beijing and Oslo II, here in our own back yard, women of different backgrounds and interests will discuss issues that, whether one believes in the Torah or the Koran, are impor- tant, "on the ground" concerns. With world events as a backdrop, it's also good to see local Jewish organizations such as Feder- ation's Women's Division, the Greater Detroit Chapter of Hadassah, NCJW and ORT, in con- junction with The Jewish News and the Abra- ham Fund, getting together and reaching out. If the goal is for peaceful coexistence within the - borders of Israel, then Detroit's Jewish women are showing the world that those issues are not a million miles away, but also are important here at home. The March's Messenger Next week's Million Man March in Washington, D.C., is intended to give African-American males a chance to stand for commitment to families and other traditional values. With this has come re- newed focus on the event's organizer, Nation of Islam leader the Rev. Louis Farrakhan. He has a well-documented record of anti-Semitism. The Anti-Defamation League first brought Mr. Farrakhan to national attention in 1984 when it compared the black nationalist to Hitler. That was in the wake of Mr. Farrakhan's comments that if Jews harmed then-presidential candidate the Rev. Jesse Jackson, "I warn you in the name of Allah, this will be the last ... (black leader) you harm." He was convinced, he said, that the ADL re- port critical of the Rev. Jackson might encour- age potential assassins. Mr. Farrakhan proceeded in the months that followed to call Hitler a "wickedly great man" and Judaism a "dirty reli- gion." In the decade since, neither his rhetoric nor the ADL's denunciations have waned. As recently as this past Sunday, Mr. Far- rakhan said, "If you look, the FBI and the ADL have worked very well together, and the Fed- eral Reserve was set up in 1913, and then the IRS was set up. How else is the Federal Reserve going to be paid interest on money that Ameri- Cr) LLJ CJ) LLJ 1.1.1 LU 8 ca borrows except through taxing the American people?" Somewhere in those inane statements is part of the ideology that Mr. Farrakhan pro- motes. The ADL, breaking rank with the other ma- jor American Jewish agencies, will not maintain a low profile about the Million Man March. The group has placed ads in the New York Times and the Washington Post lauding the event's goals, but repudiating Mr. Farrakhan's leadership. Jews must always remind others that they will not stand for hate — from the lips of Mr. Far- rakhan or from those of Mark Fuhrman, the ob- scenely racist former cop of O.J. Simpson trial fame. For that reason alone, we cannot march with those led by Mr. Farrakhan, despite the pos- itive messages that may be promoted along the way. The march will proceed and we have made our statement. The Nation of Islam will contin- ue to spew its twisted views. We must neither relinquish our obligations nor allow the Nation to monopolize the spotlight on the plight of in- ner-city America. We must continue to help all minority groups, in ways that they see fit, re- membering that we, too, belong to a minority. Our role, the Jewish promise to the world, is to bring the values of justice to all members of so- ciety. Letters Really Double Talk I read in The Jewish News last week an article from New York that the NAACP would like to re- ceive funds, once again, from the Jewish community and to renew its support and solidarity with Jewish Americans. Today I learned that, at least in Detroit, the NAACP is solicit- ing and collecting funds for the Million Man March on Washing- ton for the Nation of Islam and Louis Farrakhan, plus giving out T-shirts for this march. It seems to me this is really double talk: Give us your mon- ey and "maybe" we'll be nicer to you. My suggestion — if you con- sidered giving any of your mon- ey — is that you will be much 4--1. .1111 Ai PM. further ahead giving it to any of the various Jewish groups solic- iting funds at this time. The worst of them is better than the request that was made in New York. At least Jewish groups have your interests at heart, whether you agree with them or not. If you have friends in the New York area, you might also bring this to their attention so they will be alerted to the problem that ex- Letters ists within the ranks of the NAACP regarding the Nation of Islam and Louis Farrakhan. It would seem to me that the least that can be done, if the NAACP really is interested in assistance from the American Jewish community, is to de- nounce and renounce the Nation of Islam and its leader. I question why the article was published at all without anyone looking into the matter of whether it would even make sense to consider the interest of the NAACP in raising funds from our community without some reciprocal action on its part. Daniel Natow Southfield Fascination With Beth El I do not understand your news- paper's fascination with every- thing and anything negative about Temple Beth El. The head- line, "Beth El, Member Feud Over Fund" was only your latest in a string of negative stories con- cerning Beth El. Does any other synagogue in Detroit receive this kind of treatment? The Jewish News' prejudice against Beth El seems to mani- fest itself monthly. Please exam- ine your motives when you decide to print an article such as thi s one. Martin I. Darvick Birmingham Heartfelt Thanks Heart-transplant recipient Erik Morganroth and his parents felt blessed to be able to hold hands at Rosh Hashanah services. Erik Morganroth and his fam- ily begin the New Year with a comforting appreciation of com- munity. The notes, calls, chari- table donations, blood donations, prayers, daily vocal exchanges be- tween friends and strangers, and even the thoughts about us nev- er whispered, were each an inte- gral part of the energy we received and still receive. The Jewish News, through Jennifer Finer, a young woman wise beyond her years who spoke sensitively with the family, re- ported our story with dignity. Our leaders in the communi- ty recognized an audience wait- ing to understand the religious position on organ donation. Why? Because all of your won- derful energy ripened us for lis- tening. You, the community, has extended a good deed far beyond the good fortune of Erik and his family. Each of you in caring has already played an incredible role in furthering education about organ donation — education that has already produced more life- saving donations. Janice Morganroth Southfield Review Priorities I looked through a recent edition of The Jewish News, cover to cov- er, to find the article related to the Hebrew Free Loan's centen- nial celebration, with Elie Wiesel as the distinguished guest speaker. Other than honorable mention in a column, I was dis- mayed not to find any related story. How disappointing that our community had a Nobel Peace Prize winner, celebrated author and noted Holocaust survivor speaking in our area, and no fol- lowup coverage of such an ex- citing event. Please, for the upcoming year, review priorities in The Jewish News. Janet Parker Deitsch Farmington Hills Letters Policy Letters must be typewritten, double-spaced, and include the name, home address, day- time phone number and sig- nature of the writer. Brief letters (less than • a page), arriving by noon Tues- day, will be given preference.