Vve....PAV"
THE PROMISED LAND
by Jordan B. Garfinkel
teHROuGHOUT THE AGES, JEWISH
MATING RITUALS HAVE MAINTAIN-
ED THE PROPER SERIOUSNESS AND
SOLEMNITY REFITTING THE INSTI-
TUTION OF MARRIAGE AND THE
coNTINUITY OF OuR HERITAGE.
ti
We Need To Pay Attention
To The National Agenda
For Jews across North America, there are two fall
seasons. The first, of course, is the High Holiday
one. It is an opportunity for us to come together,
to pray, and, with the exception of Yom Kippur,
to eat and enjoy the company of those we love.
Then, there's the second season: the banquet cir-
cuit. Advertised in this publication and others are
dinner after dinner, honoring notables, fund-raising
and bringing Jews together to pay and ... to eat.
All of these fund-raisers are for beneficial caus-
es that range from feeding the Jewish hungry to
supporting education here and in Israel. But in
reality, fund-raisers immediately involve only a
small portion of the Jewish community, despite
the laudable causes.
Understandably we often use this space to dis-
cuss Israel and the global issues affecting the Jew-
ish people. But there is a huge and looming story
that cannot be ignored. It's right here. On Nov. 5,
it will take a fateful turn, but it will be far from
over. There is a clear need for Jews as citizens to
involve themselves with the issues in their own
communities.
Where we as Jews in large numbers can be most
effective comes not in getting dressed up and
spending the evening in a banquet hall. Instead,
a trip to the voting booth in only a few weeks can
be worth much more to the Jewish community
and even Israel than a fancy chicken dinner. Vot-
ing is free of charge, yet the cost of not exercis-
ing that privilege is high.
But it's more than voting. We have to be aware
that much of the current national debate has a di-
rect effect on our federations and Jewish agencies.
A single legislative vote can mean a cutback in
programs feeding our neighbors, providing day
care to our children or medical services to our el-
derly. And if the slightest nuance in a national bill
passes, we can end up playing catch-up, wonder-
ing why we have to pay more for services that used
to be covered.
The efforts to reform government services are
needed, but they must be done in ways to maxi-
mize, not diminish, help to the vulnerable.
When candidates debate, it's not the same old
story. It's important to pay attention to the issues
on the platform.
Were we required to get dressed up, write a
check to support a candidate, sponsor a table to
hear politicians debate, or even pay to vote, we'd
probably assign our own political process more
value. But we don't because we do not see such
events as relative to our lives. That mistake is
tragic.
If we don't pay attention to issues "on the
ground," then, just to receive basic services, we
will have to dress up more and pay more due to
an increased need for fund raising by Jewish com-
munity agencies.
The bottom line: Focus more on the political
process so some of your neighbors can eat.
We may be free to ignore what is happening in
our state and national government chambers. But
doing so will only ensure that our programs will
be modified or disappear. One thing is certain:
We'll be taxed. Sometimes, that tax will come with
a chicken dinner. But it will still cost us.
❑
Super Sunday: A Day
Of Personal Phone Calls
LLJ
LU
(7)
CC
LLJ
LU
H-
18
There should be a sign in the Butzel Conference
Suite of the Max M. Fisher Building in Bloomfield
Hills this Sunday that reads, "Personal Calls Wel-
come."
Super Sunday is about personal relations and
commitments.
This year, we can look at Israel and see an
emerging nation, just like we dreamed it would
be, a country more self-sufficient than ever. Israel
still needs our support, but there is another bat-
tle going on. Only this time it is being waged on
the home front more than ever.
Detroit's 1996 campaign disbursement was
$27.6 million with $9.05 million going to domes-
tic causes. This is an increase of some 6 percent.
If there's anything "Super" about Super Sun-
day, besides the generosity of the donors and the
time spent by volunteers, it's the need that's there.
There's nothing "super" about the federal gov-
ernment's welfare reform. Just ask a newly ar-
rived emigre, who is coming to this country for a
new chance at life.
Welfare reform means that emigres who have
not become citizens will be ineligible to receive
‘_
Letters
Showing Respect
Despite Differences
I enjoy it when The Jewish News
presents a question to different
affiliated Jews. What is upsetting
to me is when one affiliation goes
beyond presenting its point of
view and insults another affilia-
tion. I will not cite any examples.
The comments were derisive
enough the first time. I suggest
that if a rabbi or other person has
a point of view, that they state
it without criticism of another.
Those representing an affilia-
tion should state the group's po-
sition with some logic and some
reasonable references.
We will not always agree, but
we can show each other some re-
spect.
Melvin Eisenberg
Southfield
benefits such as Medicaid, Aid to Families with
Dependent Children and the rights to other pro-
gram participation.
Before, the safety net was the federal govern-
ment. Now, it has to be Federation. Funding cuts
for food stamps, health benefits and cash for dis-
abled children put further burdens on families
and individuals at risk. At the same time, they
tax Federation and its constituent agencies.
When that phone rings on Sunday, try to asso-
ciate the face of a child with the voice of the vol-
unteer on the other end of the line. That child is
asking for you to help his father or mother get a
job. That child is hoping for a healthy meal every
day of the week, not just once in a while. That child
wants to grow up with a sense of a Jewish com-
munity caring for him. That sense is what will
make that child grow up and contribute one day
in our community's time of need.
And that's what's really "Super" about Sunday.
It's about neighbor calling neighbor and helping
out.
That's what makes this event so personal. Our
response is what will make it "Super."
❑
Batting
Out Of Order
I enjoyed the baseball aspects of
the lead article on Brad Ausmus
in the Sept. 20 issue, but I didn't
understand why it was published,
and why it was given such promi-
nence.
While Ausmus' mother is Jew-
ish, he has never practiced Ju-
daism. If his connection to
Judaism is this peripheral, what
relevance would this subject have
to your readers?
Lawrence S. Katz
West Bloomfield
Confusion
On One Issue
I have been reading your news-
paper for several years now and
I am quite confused on one issue.
Kerri Strug: A Jewish role model?
I do not understand why you are
highlighting certain people who
are high profile and who are ei-
ther a small part Jewish or are
Jewish and do not practice.
For instance, you have includ-
ed articles recently about Ken-i
Strug (who was too busy practic-
ing gymnastics to attend Hebrew
school) or about Brad Ausmus (a
Tiger player who has a Jewish
mother but does not practice Ju-
daism). Being someone in the
limelight with a shred of Judaism
in one's family does not constitute
a person to be highlighted in The
Jewish News.
It seems to me that you are
sending the wrong message to
your readers. It also seems that
what you are saying is, "If you are
a high profile figure, it is OK that
you do not practice Judaism, only
that you admit that you were
born a Jew."
There are so many people in
sports and in Hollywood, too
many to name, that have chosen
not to practice because it is in-
convenient or not the "in" thing
to do. I would rather see articles
about famous people who are not
too busy to practice Judaism. I
think it would send a more posi-
tive message to your readers, es-
pecially when the rate of
intermarriage is so high.
Alayna D.F. Langnas
Farmington Hills
LETTERS page 20
\