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Obsetvinglfoin. . Hazikaron
Monday At The Jewish Center
For many Americans, what is memorable about we need to show our children and witness our-
Memorial. Day is the money they save at the sale selves. Israel has paid a tremendous price in its
at the mall or the speed with which they are able quest for peace.
to get out of town traveling north on 1-75.
Some of the actions that have resulted in death
In Israel, Memorial Day isn't about sales or for Israelis make the international headlines. Sui-
vacations. Many of our Detroit friends and neigh- cide Hamas terrorists and Hezbollah rockets are
bors who attended the
difficult to ignore. Who
first Michigan Miracle
would have believed a
Mission in 1993 re-
year ago that we would
member vividly the Sat-
be including Prime Min-
urday night when the
ister Yitzhak Rabin in
haunting sirens sound-
our Yom Hazikaron
ed. Traffic on the
thoughts?
busiest Israeli roads
What goes virtually
came to a halt. Hotel
untold, however, are the
clerks pulled away from
"small" stories. An indi-
computer terminals and
vidual Israeli soldier is
customers to dry tear-
killed on the northern
filled eyes and seek
border. Terrorists kill two
comfort from a co-work-
more soldiers on patrol.
er. Military cemeteries At a military cemetery in Israel, a mother remembers her son. A life here, another life
that day were teeming
there. Over the days, the
with the grieving.
weeks, the months and the years, the numbers
Yom Hazikaron is a true memorial for the thou- begin to add up.
sands of Israeli men and women who have died
What we don't read or hear about is the impact
in their country's defense. It is fitting that Detroit, that the death of an individual soldier has on his
a Jewish community that has such an active eco- family, his friends. That impact can be seen in the
nomic, social and emotional bond with Israel, has faces of people all over Israel.
its own Yom Hazikaron commemoration.
If that impact can result in this community
On Monday, April 22, beginning at 7 p.m. at the lighting a candle Monday night at the JCC, then
Maple/Drake Jewish Community Center, we are we and our children will fully remember what this
all invited to attend this tribute. This is something day is all about.
Taking Care Of Business
With The Terrorists
Shimon Peres knew exactly what he was getting
into last week when he sent the Israel Defense
Forces to blast the Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The most experienced, debonair Israeli politi-
cian, Mr. Peres realized that right-wing critics,
who kept a low-profile after the Rabin assassi-
nation but raised their hardy voices following
the recent Palestinian suicide bombings, would
seize the opportunity to point a finger at him.
In fact, despite agreeing that Israel must knock
out the Hezbollah, right-wing critics have ac-
cused the prime minister of enlisting the IDF in
his shaky bid for reelection.
But the last thing Mr. Peres, who also holds
the defense portfolio, wanted to do was to send
the IDF to fight. He is a peacemaker. He wants
to be elected to lead as such.
The Hezbollah, however, has given him no
choice. Continuous attacks against Israeli troops
in the nine-mile wide Israeli Security Zone in
southern Lebanon in recent months and the fir-
ing of Katyusha rockets into northern Israeli
towns in recent weeks have made it impossible
for him not to_respond.
The IDF can squash the Hezbollah, but it will
only go as far as neutralizing this Islamic-fun-
damentalist terrorist organization, which, de-
spite vowing to strike back with dozens of suicide
bombers, is fragile in the face of Israeli military
might.
With some enemies, you sit at the table and
negotiate. With others, you fire away, then ne-
gotiate.
But even after he achieves a cease-fire agree-
ment with the Hezbollah, Mr. Peres will not rest
his efforts on this front. He realizes that with this
offensive, he is fighting a short-term battle. He
will still have to make peace with Syria to assure
a quiet future in Lebanon.
Israel wants Syria to use its vast influence
in Lebanon, where it has 35,000 soldiers,
to silence the Hezbollah's fire. But Syria holds
on to this card, hoping to use it to get back
the Golan Heights, which Israel conquered in
1967.
To be able to make this deal, Mr. Peres must
first win reelection. And to do that, this vision-
ary politician must show the Israeli people that
he can adjust to the Middle East's rocky reality
and flex muscles.
Letters
.
Jewish And Gay:
Finding A Place
The Needs
Of The Elderly
Cheers to The Jewish News for We hope that your insightful ed-
its article on "Reform Rabbis itorial and the article by Ruth
Push Gay Marriage Issue." As a Littmann in the April 5 edition
gay Jewish male, I was inspired on the closing of Prentis Manor
reading such a favorable and pos- by Federation and the Jewish
itive article on such a controver- Home for Aged will finally alert
sial and sensitive issue. My our community to the serious sit-
partner and I have been togeth- uation here.
er and plan to wed. Making it-le-
The closing of Borman Hall
gal and public is nothing less and Prentis Manor, the transfer-
than what other couples who ring of residents to Menorah
wish to marry want.
House and the constructing of a
For many years I have felt new facility in West Bloomfield
alone and isolated from the Jew- will all result in a loss of Medic-
ish community because of being aid beds. It makes no sense to re-
gay and wanting this right and duce Medicaid beds while the
recognition. Very little is said or population of needy elderly is
written in the Jewish communi- growing, but that is exactly what
ty on its gay and lesbian mem- is taking place. It is a reflection
bers. So what a pleasant surprise of this community's serious fail-
to read your April 12 issue and ure to address the needs of its
not only find this article but a pos- population.
itive second article on gays in the
The creating of two nursing
movies called "Out of the Closet" home facilities, widely disparate
and, thirdly, a review of the movie in amenities and number of Med-
The Celluloid Closet.
icaid beds, will result in the seg-
regation of the indigent elderly
at Menorah House in Southfield.
This must not be permitted.
How is it possible for Jewish
communities throughout the
country to maintain outstanding
nursing-home facilities while we,
in our affluent community, con-
tinue to flounder?
It's time for all of us to call a
halt to this shameful course of
events, to demand a re-examina-
tion of the priorities of the Fed-
eration and the JHA and to be
Producers/Directors Jeffrey Friedman,
certain that those in decision-
left, and Rob Epstein, right, with Lily
making positions are truly re-
Tomlin, who narrates The Celluloid
sponsible to both the values and
Closet.
the needs of this community.
Ten years ago when I came out
to my bubbie and told her that I
Nancy Cohen,
was gay, her response was, "Gay,
Elaine Weingarden,
shmay, just don't be alone, Yus-
Rozanne Sedler
sela." Her wonderful response
Farmington Hills
was an acceptance of who I am
and an understanding of the im-
portance of the relationship and
the connection to others and the
potential misery of feeling and be-
ing alone.
I was reminded of her reply I was very disappointed this past
when I read your issue. I feel a Sunday at the turnout at the
sense of belonging as your paper community-wide Yom Hashoah
printed such thoughtful and thor- Remembrance at the JCC in
ough information on being a Jew West Bloomfield.
In the several years of attend-
and also being gay.
ing this community event, I have
Joe Kort yet to see significant rabbinical
Poor Turnout
For Yom Hashoah
Grosse Pointe Woods
POOR page 22