THE JEWISH NEWS
UP FRONT
This Week's T o p Stories
E
yes closed, dreaming of a
place where Jews recog-
nize an obligation of to-
getherness.
That place: Jerusalem.
This is what Young Is-
rael of Southfield Rabbi
Elimelich Goldberg want-
ed his congregation to remember
foremost during Sukkot. Israel
was embroiled in deadly conflict.
It wasn't about the opening of an
PHIL JACOBS
archeological tunnel, according
EDITOR
to Rabbi Goldberg. There was,
instead, a much bigger picture
for Jews to see.
At nearby Shaarey Zedek, uni-
ty was also the message of Rab-
bi Irwin Groner: the need to
continue to give the Netanyahu
government unconditional sup-
port.
Trees and cool afternoons at
Camp Maas provided the back-
drop for questions on the Middle
East from Shir Shalom Rabbi
Michael Moskowitz's seventh-
and eighth-graders on an au-
tumn retreat.
For Rabbi Harold Loss, the also very clear: Diaspora support
pulpit was a pre-college class for of Israel cannot be shaken.
"Whenever violence occurs in
high-school seniors at Temple Is-
or
near Israel, Israel is blamed,"
rael.
Shir Tikvah's Rabbi Arnie said Rabbi Groner. 'The mindset
Sleutelberg answered question of the Western world sees Israel
after question from his congre- as always responsible, even when
gants on the future of Israel and Israel is the victim. It is easy from
the peace talks. They wanted to the safe and comfortable place we
are in for us to say that Ne-
know "the truth."
That message of truth, ac- tanyahu didn't advance the peace
process or did not do
cording to Rabbi
all that Arafat ex-
Goldberg, was diffi-
pected him to do.
cult to find.
"But the hard re-
"In the Koran, the
ality is that the
Muslims write that it
prime minister of Is-
wasn't Isaac but Ish-
rael must balance
mael whom Abra-
the hope for peace
ham bound in the
against the harsh re-
Akeida. Mohammed
alities of protecting
had tried to attract
and defending the
Jews to Islam. And
people of Israel."
when it didn't work,
Rabbi Groner will
Jerusalem was pass-
Rabbi G oldberg:
also sermonize that
ed over for Mecca.
An obli gation.
the Palestinian police
Islam has always
violated both the let-
looked toward the
ter and the spirit of
Jew. Mohammed,
the Oslo Accords and
though, was never
the peace process by
accepted by Judaism,
participating in the
largely because he
violence.
saw himself as the
"It revealed a blind
`seal of the prophets."'
and irrational rage
Rabbi Goldberg
that continues to be
added that part of Is-
pervasive in elements
lam has always
of the Palestinians,
wanted to take over
and it raises serious
Jewish points of ho-
questions about how
liness for its own. Ju-
Israel must protect
Rabbi M oskowitz:
daism, he said, has
The ki ds care.
its people," he said.
been a theological
Rabbi Mosko-
thorn in the side of Is-
witz's middle-school-
lam.
By extension, he told his con- ers "were curious," he said.
gregation, "everything has to be "Some of them had older siblings
sublimated and international- on the Teen Mission from the
ized. The tunnel situation is one summer. They care, and at that
age they're beginning to appre-
big lie."
Rabbi Groner's message was ciate what is going on. I told the
IVIssage
[I 1
Rabbis and congregants
wondered out loud about the
tragic events coming from Israel.
kids that this is a difficult time
for Israel, and we have to wait
and see what is going to happen.
"Last week was almost too aw-
ful to watch. I told them, though,
that we can't judge the situation
yet, but we have to always make
sure that we continue to support
Israel."
Rabbi Loss talked with Tem-
ple Israel's high-school seniors on
Monday night about the situa- deliver far more than Peres could
tion in Israel. He stressed the have. Because as the represen-
need to keep themselves in- tative of the other half of Israel,
formed about important current Netanyahu can strike deals that
Peres would have
events.
been powerless to
"They know that
achieve.
we can be both criti-
"I do have fears
cal and supportive of
though. I'm con-
Israeli policy and
cerned because Ne-
American policy,"
tanyahu promised
said Rabbi Loss."I
security for Israel,
wanted them to
and it seems as if Is-
know what was go-
rael is anything but
ing on. It is impor-
secure."
tant for them to
Beth Achim's Rab-
understand what it
bi Herbert Yoskowitz
means when Israel is
Rabbi Yoskowitz:
talked from the pul-
in crisis. Our re-
Mixed images.
pit about the mixed
sources cannot be
images of the beau-
knee-jerk reactions.
ties of Sukkot and
We have such won-
the horrors of the re-
derful resources we
cent events.
can share with the
"This is truly a
students, and that's
time of Sukkot," he
what we want to do."
said. "Life is really
Rabbi Sleutelberg
fragile. The peace sit-
answered many
uation of yesterday is
questions on Israel's
the war situation of
timing.
today, and the war
"I 'told my congre-
situation of yesterday
gation it was my
is the peace situation
guess that if the
of today. How quick-
peace process had
Rabbi SI eutelberg:
ly things change.
been proceeding with
Answering questions.
"We pray for Is-
any kind of diligence,
rael, and at the same
the tunnel opening
wouldn't have been an issue at time we rejoice in the happiness
all," he said. "I'm hopeful that Ne- of this holiday."
For Rabbi Dov Loketch of Agu-
tanyahu will choose to move for-
ward in the peace process. He can
MESSAGE page 24
New Name In Town
The Anti-Defamation League picks a former Detroiter
to head the Michigan Region.
ALAN HITSKY ASSOCIATE EDITOR
on Cohen returns to De-
troit with a new name
and a new job.
The 37-year-old direc-
tor of the Jewish Community
Relations Council of Dayton,
Ohio, will replace Richard
Lobenthal as Michigan Region
director of the Anti-Defamation
League (ADL).
Although he formally starts
Monday, Mr. Cohen was in De-
troit last week to put in a bid on
a house, find an apartment, and
address the anneal board meet-
ing of Michigan ADL.
`They asked me to come in for
the meeting, and the next thing
I know I'm the main speaker,"
Mr. Cohen joked.
He grew up in Detroit as Don
Rogers, graduating from South-
field High School in 1977 and the
University of Michigan in 1981.
D
His father, the Don Cohen:
late Jerry Rogers, New name,
new job.
was a founder of
the Detroit Com-
mittee for Soviet
Jewry and an ac-
tive Zionist.
During his high
school and college
days, Mr. Cohen
managed two ex-
tended visits to Is-
rael through
Young Judaea's
Year Course and
Central Region
United Syna-
gogue Youth. After graduating
U-M, he worked on Sen. Don
Riegle's re-election campaign in
1982.
His work as U-M student co-
ordinator for the United Jewish
Appeal led him into Jewish corn-
munal work: UJA field repre-
sentative for non-federated
communities in Michigan, UJA
Midwest cam-
pus coordinator,
and associate at
the San Anto-
nio Jewish Fed-
eration for 2 112
years.
It was in San
Antonio that he
met his wife
Keri, now a
staff writer
with the Day-
ton Daily News.
The couple have two daughters,
Hannah, 7, and Emma, 5,
whom their father described as
"active members" of the Jewish
community.
It was in 1985 that Mr. Co-
ANTI-DEFAMATION page 23