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1 11
Sense From A
Dizzying Summer
Summer 1996 has concluded in a series of whirl-
wind and historic events with each increment per-
haps more dramatic than the previous one.
We did not need to venture far on vacation to
escape. We just clicked on our television sets.
There, before our eyes, we watched corporate
America's showcase of athleticism, better known
as the Olympics, unfold in all the drama that is
worthy of competition. Would the dream teamers
accept their basketball gold in Nike warm-up suits
or Reebok? Did this group — whose members com-
bined seemingly had a larger gross national prod-
uct than the economy of some of the nations which
they played — really care about sport and mes-
sages that somehow linked them to history?
For the people "on the ground," was there ever
going to be a connection? Maybe with the Olympics
there's a pride for us that runs inside when an
American or an Israeli or a Jew from elsewhere
wins_ a medal. How close will most of us ever get
to participating in an Olympic Game? Perhaps
we'll see an Olympic medal on display in a muse-
um or at an exhibit one day.
Two weeks later and the GOP presents us with
its version of the dream team. Bob Dole and Jack
Kemp talk of a 15 percent tax cut and a Republi-
can party that is open to anyone. The pollsters say
the lead is cut. The challenger is turning up the
heat on the incumbent. Red, white and blue bal-
loons are released. Cigars are smoked.
Our challenges don't float away with balloons.
And Bob Dole, even with all of his optimism, isn't
in the car with us the next morning as we go out
to make a living. He isn't in the classrooms with
us watching as school systems have to eliminate
music programs so they can afford history text-
books.
Two weeks later, it's the Democrats' turn. "Four
more years," the delegates yell. "Let's win!" de-
mands Vice President Al Gore.
We watch from our living rooms again. We think
about the struggling family we met at synagogue:
Will they have to use the kosher food pantry for
help this year? What form will "help" resemble
once the President's welfare reform package takes
effect.
Red, white and blue balloons. The imagery is
striking as they float away from the people.
Two weeks later, a shofar will be blown. For
some of us, it has been heard every day in this
Hebrew month of Elul. Rosh Hashanah 5757.
We are on the ground. We are able to pray. No-
body wears a logo. Nobody is better. Our prayers
replace the gold medals and balloons. From a lev-
el playing field, we ask for forgiveness from God
— hopefully we've already asked it of others. And
hopefully we will grow as people with opportu-
nities through the prayers we pray and the ac-
tions we take.
We don't make promises of what we're going to
do. We put our plans into action. And that way,
we know that we can all be equal winners.
Letters
Hermelin Deserving
Of Butzel Award
to feel like America. And if you
turn the TV off for one second,
you'd discover that Israel is in-
fluenced not solely by American
Thank you for the wonderful ar- consumerism, but by Europe, the
ticle by Jill Davidson Sklar and Mediterranean and all of its sur-
your editorial regarding the se- rounding, contained ethnicities.
lection of David Hermelin as this It is this highly diverse cultural
year's Butzel Award winner. No conglomeration giving Israel, still
one has been more deserving, and today, its unique fee.
everything that was stated accu-
Despite the occasional Mc-
rately describes David and Donald's, one can travel minutes
Doreen Hermelin.
to escape. Go to Tzipori, Tzfat, the
Sea of Galilee and tell me if you
can still feel hounded by David
Letterman. Just because Ameri-
cans here and there focus on their
material encumbrances and "con-
veniences," doesn't mean the Is-
raelis do. I have faith in the true
people of Israel, the hard edged
realists who know what is truly
important — beyond a ham-
burger at McDonald's.
Erin Madorsky
Bloomfield Hills
Remembering
Forgotten Harvest
❑
A Bold Step Forward
When he perceived the late Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin as accelerating the negotiations
with Palestinian Authority head Yassir Arafat too
quickly and dramatically, a surprising voice on Is-
rael's political map declared, "Slow down." Now,
with the peace talks all but frozen, President Ezer
Weizman has again stepped to the forefront. This
time, it's to tell Prime Minister Binyamin Ne-
tanyahu to get moving. As with Rabin before him,
Mr. Netanyahu did not respond joyfully.
hi making his move, the 72-year-old Mr. Weiz-
man, Israel's president since 1993, boldly stepped
out of his role as ceremonial head of state. The
president told the prime minister of his own in-
tention to meet Mr. Arafat in the absence of a
tanyahu-Arafat meeting. In only two and one-half
months, Mr. Weizman concluded that zero talks
(/) were a greater risk to the security and future of
Israel than none. We agree.
--, Mr. Weizman's public actions were an irritat-
ing shove to a prime minister under enormous
cc pressure. Mr. Netanyahu is stalling on the pledged
'a: Israeli troop withdrawal from most of Hebron and
° continued talks with the Palestinian Authority.
1
L-
i– -' We recall that following his May victory, Mr. Ne-
tanyahu vowed to continue the Rabin/Peres-ini-
tiated peace process, albeit in a way in which
security brought peace and not vice versa.
LU
o
20
Just as during Mr. Rabin's tenure, Mr. Weiz-
man should be given credit for taking his nation's
pulse. He is attempting to steer his country down
a middle road, one where progress, albeit cautious,
must be made. Mr. Weizman knows that the peace
process, no matter how controversial, is the piv-
otal point for Israel's economic resurgence, both
regionally and internationally.
And he has forced Mr. Netanyahu to respond.
"We have passed over the declarations," the Israel
prime minister said, acknowledging his president's
dissent and agreeing to a future meeting with Mr.
Arafat. Yet, he has added, "I was not elected to be
the prime minister of the Palestinians."
We suggest that Mr. Netanyahu not get caught
up in his own declarations. He must recognize that
the peace process' momentum cannot be reversed.
It can be tweaked and manipulated, but it will not
be idled. Mr. Netanyahu must remember, as for-
mer Prime Minister Shimon Peres said last week
on the eve of his own meeting with Mr. Arafat,
that almost 50 percent of the country voted for the
Rabin/Peres agenda. They have not gone away.
Neither have the Palestinians or the issues of Is-
rael's security and growth. Mr. Netanyahu can-
not keep those issues to himself.
Mr. Weizman was bold and courageous to step
forward. Now it's the Prime Minister's turn. ❑
David Hermelin:
A role model.
Beyond all of that, may I add
that David is the world's best
mentor. He teaches us to enjoy
life to its fullest and he will take
time to offer his advice on any
matter.
Just having the Hermelins as
friends gives all of us strength.
Harvey Bronstein
Southfield
Inaccurate
Conclusions?
If I were standing in the new
Somerset North and declared,
"It's really a shame Michigan
doesn't have a regional charm
anymore," would this be an ac-
curate statement, or would I be
drawing inaccurate conclusions?
Commenting on the Aug. 9 Is-
rael "Americanization" article, I'd
like to say that if you go to Israel
acting like an American sitting
and watching TV, then it's going
The Jewish News is to be com-
mended for its fine article about
Forgotten Harvest on the occa-
sion of the organization's reach-
ing the 2 million pound mark of
food delivered to feed hungry peo-
ple in our community. We thank
Mara Reinstein for her interest
and a well written piece.
The Jewish News readers may
wish to know that the featured
performer for Comedy Night V
for Action Against Hunger on Oc-
tober 12 will not be Harry An-
derson. Instead, we are pleased
to announce that Louie Anderson
will perform along with comic
magician Michael Finney.
Miriam Schey Imerman
Executive Director,
Forgotten Harvest
Important Part
Of The Community
I am responding to the article,
"Back to School," in the Aug. 16
edition of The Jewish News. In
particular, I'm responding to a
comment by Shula Fleischer, a
teacher of 21 years at Hillel Day
School.
I, too, am a teacher of about as
IMPORTANT page 22