"ASAntdN'

A Mission Of Immediacy

David Sorkin's arrival in Detroit as JCC execu-
tive director is as critical as it is timely.
We welcome him and look forward to his new
ideas and his energy.
Unfortunately, Mr: Sorkin's "honeymoon" pe-
riod here in Detroit will have to be on the short
side.
There's a great deal to do.
Since the announcement of his hire was made
by JCC board members, the line, 'Wait till David
gets here," is something that many in our com-
munity have heard.
What we urge from our new JCC head is the
vision to come up with a mission that makes our
Center relevant. While physical improvements
are a priority (what facility couldn't stand a new
coat of paint and new fixtures?), the urgency
comes more in learning how to attract new mem-

bers and develop new enterprising opportunities
so that the JCC is not only useful but important.
Jewish life is constantly changing. Data shows
that the traditional Jewish family of dad, stay-
at-home mom and children is no longer the norm.
We have dual-wage families, blended homes, sin-
gle-parent households, joint-custody arrange-
ments and many other family situations that are
no less valid, important and welcome components
of Jewish Detroit.
The JCC needs to make its two addresses in
West Bloomfield and Oak Park central to the
communities it services.
Now that David Sorkin is here, we look for-
ward to a well-planned and well-implemented
strategic plan. The urgency here is no longer just
maintenance. It's got to be redefined as relevance.
And with relevance comes survival.

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Letters

Crown Heights Suit
Needs Support

August 19 marks the fifth an-
niversary of the wanton murder
of the scholar Yankel Rosenbaum
by Lemerick Nelson in a near-
pogrom riot in Crown Heights.
Nelson will be tried as an adult
in federal court owing to the
monumental effort and financial
sacrifice by the Crown Heights
community.

Same Old Song

Israeli diplomat Abba Eban once said that the
Palestinians never missed an opportunity to miss
an opportunity for peace. Of course, former Is-
rael Prime Minister Golda Meir also denied the
existence of a people called the Palestinians.
The Israelis' conflicting statements are part
of the ever-shifting sands of Middle East diplo-
macy. Thus, it was no surprise when Arab lead-
ers, many of whom openly back the peace process
with Israel, convened in Cairo last weekend to
sign a nonsensical statement about the negoti-
ations, one that contradicts past declarations.
Such talk is more reminiscent of an encounter
in the Arab suk, or market, than meaningful ne-
gotiations.
But never fear. Neither Israel nor the Arabs
will abandon the peace process. Both have ben-
efited tremendously from it — and there's much
more to come. Aid, industry and goodwill is flow-
ing into the region as never before. Once covert
alli ances are being forged openly, between Israel
and a host of Arab states, as well as with Turkey
— the Islamic but not fundamentalist giant on
the Middle East's northern periphery. And who
wants to jeopardize the coveted American fi-
nancial and political support?
The Arabs warned Israel not to delay what
they consider to be the peace talks' foregone con-
clusion — total Israeli withdrawal from lands
captured in 1967 and an independent Palestin-
ian state with Jerusalem as its capital. If Israel

BACKED

SOMON fERES

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THE ELECTION

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no one had to wait at-any station,
and everything necessary for a
smooth operation was provided.
It was wonderful to see so
many young people involved in
this project. If this is an indica-
tion of their capability and devo-
tion, the future of our community
is in good hands.

Rene Lieberman

West Bloomfield

Marrow Drive
Became A Circus

This past Sunday, my wife and I
attended the "A Match For Li fe"

does not comply, the Arabs said, it would "com-
pel" them to "reconsider steps taken in the con-
text of the peace process, in relation to Israel."
Finally, they stated that if this occurs, "the Is-
raeli government will bear sole and full respon-
Now, final depositions for a civ-
sibility." But they did reaffirm peace as a strategic il lawsuit against New York City
goal.
are ongoing to prove the then-
The response from Israel Prime Minister Dinkins administration respon-
Binyamin Netanyahu was equally predictable. sible in restraining police chiefs
He reiterated his pledge to carry out the metic- from providing basic protection
ulously crafted Oslo Accords if the Palestinian to the Crown Heights Jews dur-
Authority did likewise. He restated his belief ing three terrible days and nights
in negotiations without preconditions, which are under the city decision "not to
at the heart of the Oslo Accords. But Mr. Ne- make arrests for crimes of civil
tanyahu did hint about meeting Yassir Arafat if unrest." This promises to be a his-
toric court case and should be the
it would help bolster the security of the State of
concern of all champions of civil
Israel.
rights.
At first glance, so much for masah u'matan,
Successful prosecution of this
Hebrew for negotiations and literally "give and suit depends upon persistent de-
take." But, these long-stated Arab aspirations termination (not in short supply
were never accepted by the current or previous in the Crown Heights communi
Israeli government. And it is not the guise of Arab ty) and funding. Your tax-de-
unity that is driving the ongoing peace talks but ductible support is desperately
the practical economic and political needs of needed: Yankel Rosenbaum
states and groups with whom Israel is negotiat- Crown Heights Justice Fund
(Y.R.C.H.J.F.) 333 Albany Av-
ing.
enue, Brooklyn, NY 11213-9806.
It will take real compromise from all sides to
push the peace process forward. This, however,
Bertha Weil
must be addressed at the private negotiating
Royal Oak
table, not through the poorly cloaked attempt to
manipulate Israel through the media.
`Match For Life'

'SO Mk) W TH
EloB xe.6 PICKNG

up SPEED,I CANT
RISK coNsti ouimc
To eAcic qou.

-

An Astounding Feat

My husband and I were privi-
leged to volunteer for "The Match
for Life" project this past Sunday.
We've been part of many vol-
unteer efforts but have never
seen a program run as efficient-
ly as this one. The organizers are
to be commended in accomplish-
ing the astounding feat of testing
8,000 people in the two days.
To the best of my knowledge

bone marrow registry campaign.
What a noble effort by the people
of Rock Financial to help save the
life of a local child and register
people to save many other people
around the nation with similar
situations.
I was appalled at the circus the
event became. The tens of dozens
of T-Shirts with the "Logo" on
them. The car dealers showing
their wares. The politician with
the huge banner on a car. Couldn't
the money spent on all those T-
shirts been better spent attempt-
ing to find a cure?
Allowing people to ride the coat-
tails of this terrible disease with
their own personal agenda was
horrific.

Many good people put thou-
sands of hours of hard work to
help save this and many other
children from a horrible death.
Everyone there was making his
or her own attempt at "tikkun
olam," repair of the world, only to
be accosted with terrible com-
mercialism.
I don't condemn the companies
who gave direct help to the cam-
paign such as the soda-pop com-
pany who passed out free pop to

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