The Road From Here
As we go to press, a definitive winner in Israel's
election has not been declared. Final votes from
army soldiers and diplomats are yet to be tal-
lied. Yet in the coming hours, a coveted tele-
phone call from Israel President Ezer Weizman
will come to either Labor's Shimon Peres or
Likud's Benyamin Netanyahu. Mr. Weizman
will ask the winner of Israel's first direct elec-
tion for prime minister to form a government—
even if it is a minority one, that is, one with few-
er seats than the opposition coalition. That, in
turn, will set offjockeying among the minor par-
ties to support the policies of the new prime min-
ister.
As Diaspora Jews, we are saddened about
what is missing from this equation. Included in
the negotiations will be long lists of promises
on items such as funding for yeshivot and civ-
il rights. Yet, there will likely be no considera-
tion — other than perhaps from Natan
Sharansky's immigrant party — for Israel's role
in the lives of world Jewry.
For a militarily and financially strong Israel,
this is understandable. Yet, it is regrettable.
Nor need it be the case. In the past decade, Di-
aspora Jews have recognized that, after decades
of fighting Israel's diplomatic battles, we now
need assistance from the Jewish state. There,
an economic, social and human miracle, in part
financed by us, has come about. We need Israel
to exhibit its pride to our children and, as a full
partner, to decide where we can now help one
another.
It is not hard to see why many Israelis, liv-
ing their Middle East version of the American
dream, don't worry much about world Jewish
affairs. But some Israeli leaders are noting that
their country shares more with Diaspora com-
munities than is desired: Much of their youth,
too, are alienated from and ignorant of their
Jewish heritage.
As such, we urge Israel's next prime
minister to make Diaspora-Israel relations a
priority. Yitzhak Rabin understood the need to
do so. In fact, at the time of his death, he was
in a heated dispute with Diaspora leaders, Jill Sklar is to be congratulated for
her recent stories about the life-
criticizing some for not supporting his saving value of bone-marrow
controversial policies. But he was willing to stay transplantation and the impor-
the fight. A week after his death, he had been tance of donor testing. We also
scheduled to address 4,000 North American greatly appreciate her mention of
Jews at a Boston convention. He had, as his 2-year-old Coby Levi, the grand-
widow later said, a love affair with the Jewish son of our members Mr. and Mrs.
Benno Levi, who is also in need of
people.
Sadly, we have seen no such concern from ei- a bone-marrow transplant and for
ther Mr. Peres or Mr. Netanyahu. Indeed,.Mr. whom testing may be done at the
Peres is obsessed with becoming a historical upcoming "Match for T ,ife" tissue
typing drive.
man of peace while his rival is immersed in
In her article, "Getting Typed:
managing a fractious coalition.
Quick Blood Test (May 17), there
Mr. Peres did appoint Rabbi Yehuda Amital is one error. While our new syn-
as a government minister charged with nur- agogue has occasionally been re-
turing Diaspora-Israel links and Jewish unity. ferred to in the press and public
But the rabbi's commission met only once in its in imperialistic terms in view of
almost half-year existence. That body's work our recent merger, Rabbi Steven
Weil is the rabbi of the Young Is-
must be allowed to move forward.
We understand the strength of unity. Trag- rael of Oak Park and not the
ically, we also have traveled the chilling path Young Israel of Southfield as writ-
ten.
of disunity. May Israel's new prime minister
bring peace to the land — and may he act upon
Steven D. Tennenberg, M.D.,
the critical need to embrace the Diaspora-Is-
President,
rael partnership.
Young Israel of Oak Park
Letters
Rabbi At Oak Park, Embarrassed
Not Southfield
By Noise
Rock-Solid Rights
Last week's Supreme Court decision striking
down Colorado's infamous Amendment 2 –
which bars local ordinances prohibiting
discrimination against gays and lesbians –
provides a stunning illustration of the impor-
tance of our nation's system of checks and bal-
ances.
In 1992, Colorado voters, alarmed by the
growing number of laws protecting homosexu-
als from discrimination in housing, employment
and public accommodations and goaded by
groups on the religious right, passed an amend-
ment to the state constitution banning such
measures.
Last week, Justice Anthony Kennedy, writ-
ing for the majority, said that the law denies
gays and lesbians legal protections that are en-
joyed by other Americans. Amendment 2, he
wrote, "classifies homosexuals not to further a
proper legislative end but to make them un-
equal to everyone else."
Homosexuality is an issue that divides
the Jewish community as it divides the rest of
American society. Many Jews abhor the
practice of homosexuality; many support the
gay rights movement. But the Colorado law
and the host of anti-gay rights initiatives it
spawned go far beyond the moral debate
over homosexual behavior. They seek to use the
democratic process to deny basic rights to
an entire class of citizens based on a single
trait. -
Regardless of our personal opinions about ho-
mosexuality, that is a chilling concept.
Today, gays and lesbians are lightning rods
for public resentment about a host of national
ills; at other times in our nation's past, Jews
and other minorities have served that grim func-
tion. Lest we forget, there are still Christians
who regard all non-Christians as inherently
sinful. Should they be allowed to use the elec-
toral process to deny fundamental rights to
Jews, Muslims and Hindus?
That's an appalling thought – but not incon-
ceivable, given the precedent the Colorado law
would have established had it withstood judi-
cial scrutiny. The citizens of Colorado voted on
the basis of passion and political fury; the Jus-
tices ruled on the basis of the enduring Unit-
ed States Constitution and the rock-solid
protections it affords to all citizens. And that is
exactly as it should be.
Pushing
Involvement
Once again while attending a
funeral service for a highly
esteemed Jewish individual,
my senses were assaulted by
the extremely high level of
conversational noise and absence
of decorum, so inconsistent with
the solemnity of the occasion.
Additionally I was also em-
barrassed in the presence of
many people of color and other
religions.
In my opinion, this issue needs
to be addressed by our rabbis and
community leaders. Rabbis have
often ignored similar behavior in
our places of worship. To be gen-
erous, this conduct is inadvertent
and when called to the attention
of those involved, they will be
made aware that it is totally in-
sensitive and improper.
Mike Weingarden
Southfield
Getting Involved
With Federation
In response to the May 24 letter
concerning Federation. You have
questions? Come ask them. You
I would like to respond to a letter have challenges? Come make
in the May 24 issue from Lenora them. You have some time (even
Noles. As to the closings of Bor- a little)? Get involved. Those are
man Hall and Prentis Manor, I the constructive ways in which
will leave those items to Mark to be part of our volunteer Fed-
Schlussel's column which ap- eration, which determines how
peared opposite the letter.
$14 million will be spent in our
I have spent countless hours as community each year.
a lay volunteer over the last nine
The Federation is your doctor,
years on an agency board and as your baker, your next-door neigh-
a Federation activist. It is the bor, your best friend's sister and
Board of Governors and other lay hopefully you. It is volunteers
leaders who must approve of who devote time each week
changes, closings, allocations and (some people every day) to try-
other decisions. Final decisions are ing to make the best decisions we
not made by the employees of Fed- can from our own life experience.
eration. Proposals do come from Like any family, we debate, we
both the Federation's manage- laugh, we agonize, we reconcile,
ment and the community.
we compromise. Some decisions
I would suggest to Ms. Noles are wonderful, some not so won-
that she, too, become involved. I derful. We grapple with the con-
don't always get my way, but at sequences.
least I have a hand in the decision
Whom does this organization
process. Just like in civic, political answer to? Who selects the peo-
and school issues, it is those that ple that are elected officers and
are involved who can influence put on the board? Your neigh-
events.
bors. Your friends. You can.
Harvey S. Bronstein
Southfield
Janette E. Frank
Bloomfield Township