LOOKING FOR MAX SOSIN?! He's living the great life at the ftElSCHMAN RESIDENCE! Why don't you come and join Max for: Three Kosher Meals Daily Medication Assistance Around The Clock Security Health Clinic Respite and Guest Rooms Available Daily Shabbat and Holiday Services in our Synagogue Daytime and Evening Activities Transportation, Laundry, Housekeeping Registered Nurse & Personal Care Assistance Nosh Nook, Gift Shop, Beauty/Barber Shop For More Information Please Contact KARI K PROVIZER, A.C.S.W. ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR/DIRECTOR OF RESIDENT SERVICES FLEISCHMAN RESIDENCE/BLUMBERG PLAZA 6710 W. MAPLE ROAD, WEST BLOOMFIELD, (810) 661-2999 (LOCATED ON THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CAMPUS) West Bloomfield Township Residents COMMUNITY FORUM Candidate for Township Treasurer Candidate for Township Supervisor BRUCE EPSTEIN LARRY WASSERMAN invite you to attend a Community forum on issues of concern to residents of West Bloomfield Township. Candidates Epstein and Wasserman will discuss and respond to your questions and comments. SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 1996 1:00 pm -- 3:00 pm Potomac Club, 6200 Farmington Road Refreshments will be provided. Just North of Maple Road Paid for by Epstein for Treasurer Committee, 4103 Orchard Crest Ct., W. Bloomfield MI 48322. 810-539-1247 & Wasserman for Supervisor Committee. 6575 Red Cedar Lane. West Bloomfield MI 48324, 810-360-6611 The Perfect Family Gift... A Subscription To The Jewish News. (810) 354-6620 Business PEACE page 45 and for our governments and for people in general: developing a sound economic base throughout the Middle East that will clearly cause peace to prosper, if we get it right. My exposure to the Israelis was that this is precisely what they're trying to do." General Motors did not and does not speak publicly about the Arab-inspired boycott of Israel, Mr. Pearce said, but he considers it to be moot at this point. "We were very respectful of our relationship with Israel and were not willing to throw it overboard. It was walking on a tightrope to have the relationships that made sense in the Arab world and not jeopardize our relationship with Israel, and we were able to ac- complish that. I think that issue is largely behind us, with the ex- ception of countries we have no particular interest in doing busi- ness with," he said. GM's vehicle assembly plant in Egypt is an example of the corn- pany's expansion in the Middle East in general, he said. "Israelis feel very strongly about American-made products. I sus- pect that comes a lot from defense purchases Israel has made over the years from U.S. defense com- panies," Mr. Pearce said. The sale of GM cars, including Cadillacs, Chevrolet Caprices and Chevy Suburbans, has quadrupled in a short period of time, via Uni- versal Motors Inc., GM's joint ven- ture with Israel, Mr. Pearce said. UMI distributes vehicles for Saab, COMPANY HEAD page 45 It's no big deal, said the 52- year-old father of two teens, an industrial engineer by educa- tion. "Our company has been do- ing business in Israel for the last 15 or so years, and the goal of the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce is to promote commerce between American and Israeli companies, so they thought it was appropriate," he said. Deco-Grand, with plants in Royal Oak and Troy, manufac- tures precision machine as- semblies for the automotive and diesel engine markets, includ- ing engine and transmission components and assemblies. The company grew from three or four employees 50 years ago to around 500 today. Mr. Grand doesn't think Deco-Grand was one of the first companies to do business with Israel, but it may be one of the largest local importers of goods from that country. One of its top suppliers is Deutch-Dagan in Ashkelon, site of a suicide bombing three GM-North America and Isuzu, selling 20,000 cars there last year. A free trade agreement between the U.S. and Israel means tariffs on cars, trucks and other equip- ment are not particularly high. And even though the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs is supposed to remove trade bar- riers between countries, each coun- try has its own set of regulations, safety or otherwise. GM, said Mr. Pearce, has had "good luck" with the Israelis in terms of getting its products into the Israeli market without confronting a lot of bu- reaucratic inertia. Mr. Pearce, 54, shook his head at assertions forwarded by GOP presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan, for one, that free trade agreements hurt the American worker. "It scares the life out of me to hear some of the statements made by Mr. Buchanan. It would be an absolute throwback to 100 years ago to bring down a curtain around this country and literally destroy the trade that has made the country what it is. Exports cre- ate jobs in this country; it's Econ 101, and I'm amazed Mr. Buchanan doesn't understand that." 0 so The America-Israel Cham- ber of Commerce Honors Din- ner begins at 6:30 pin. Sunday, March 17, at the Somerset Col- lection in Troy. Tickets are $100. For reservations, call the Chamber at (810) 646-1948. weeks ago. Deco-Grand im- ports a few million parts each year from Israeli suppliers. "The Israeli products we im- port are difficult, complex parts which we originally purchased here, but we found Israel was more cost competitive and met the very stringent quality re- quirements that are in effect to- day," Mr. Grand said. Deco-Grand also markets products here for six or seven other countries in Israel, but does not yet export to Israel. Another reason Deco-Grand was chosen for accolades this year is its openness and success in hiring new Americans and Israelis. Deco-Grand's chief engi- neer/plant manager is Israeli and the company employs about 40 Russian immigrants, some in technical jobs. Mr. Grand explained that it's a family tradition. "My dad was an immigrant from Russia and he always kind of set the pace with our company and with me in trying to help others who are living through the experience he lived through.