UNITY page 3

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THE DETROIT J EWISH NEWS

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10

Laureate Pleads Vanunu's Release

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could

and work together where we the movements sign that decla-
can."
ration," she said. "It is wonderful
The event, called Unity Shab- that there are traditional rabbis
bat, will take place for the second in the community as well as
Year' beginning today at sundown those on the liberal end of the
and ending tomorrow night. Or- spectrum."
ganizers are asking Jews in
Some who were not included
metro Detroit to set aside their in the ad said they planned to do
differences for the day, light an something in honor of the Shah-
extra candle in the name of uni- bat in a show of support. While
ty and, perhaps, invite someone his name was inadvertently left
from another denomination to off the list of rabbis, Rabbi Her-
share in a Shabbat celebration.
bert Yoskowitz of Congregation
In its second year, success of Beth Achim said he wouldn't
Unity Shabbat is difficult to pass up the opportunity to speak
gauge. "Because it happens in on the theme of unity at services
people's homes, it is impossible Saturday.
to track the level of participation,"
Rabbi Feldman said, noting that
thousands of instructional pack- Many are unaware of
ets have been distributed in the
Unity Shabbat.
Jewish community.
But some of the people the
Council is trying to reach remain
"It is a good attempt to bring
unaware of Unity Shabbat. An
informal survey conducted at the folks together," he said.
Rabbi Shaiall Zachariash of
Jewish Community Center in
West Bloomfield found that not Congregation Shomrey Emunah
one of 20 people randomly said people asked why his name
quizzed knew about the event. did not appear in the ad. He is
Many, in fact, could not correct- not sure he received the solicita-
ly identify- the JCCouncil or its tion asking for support.
"I can't say. I don't recall," he
purpose.
"They take care of all of the said.
While he has posted a Unity
charity in the area, right?" said
Shabbat flier sent to Detroit area
one woman.
In addition, advertisements congregations in his shul, he has
meant to drum up support for the nothing out of the ordinary
event showed a lack of response planned for the day.
'e embrace every Jew. Every
from the Orthodox community.
Of the 22 Orthodox congrega- Jew is important to us," he said,
tions in the metro area, only noting that a sermon on unity "is
three Orthodox congregational our regular sermon."
The same weekend has been
rabbis lent their name to the ad;
most Conservative and Reform designated Disabled Awareness
Shabbat, leaving many rabbis to
rabbis signed it.
Rabbi Feldman said all area weave two messages into their
rabbis were sent letters around sermons.
The date of Unity Shabbat was
the High Holidays asking for
their support of Unity Shabbat. chosen because of its proximity
While many returned letters of to the yahrtzeit of Israeli Prime
Minister Yitzhak Rabin, whose
endorsement, some did not.
"It is like the old saying, `You death profoundly depicted the
can lead a horse to water, but you schisms in the community. Prime
cannot make him drink,' " said Minister Rabin was assassinat-
ed last fall by a Jew who aimed
Rabbi Feldman.
"I think it is a pretty dramat- to end the Middle East peace
ic thing to have rabbis from all of process.

American Red Cross

Jerusalem (JTA) — An inter-
national group of scientists,
lawyers and human rights ac-
tivists gathered for a conference
in Tel Aviv, where they called
on Israel to release Mordechai
Vanunu.
Mr. Vanunu is serving an 18-
year sentence for disclosing
Israel's nuclear weapons capa-
bilities to the Times of London.
Mr. Vanunu, a technician em-
ployed at Israel's nuclear facil-
ity at Dimona, was lured from
London to Rome in 1986 and
kidnapped by Israeli agents,
who brought him to Israel.
Among those attending the
first international conference
demanding Mr. Vanunu's re-
lease was Joseph Rotblat, who

had worked on the first atomic
bomb.
Mr. Rotblat, who was award-
ed last year's Nobel Peace Prize
for his efforts to ban nuclear
weapons, told the gathering that
Mr. Vanunu's sentence did not fit
the crime.
"Vanunu is not a traitor, but a
whistleblower," said Mr. Rotblat.
Mr. Vanunu, who was con-
victed after being tried in secret,
has spent 10 years in solitary con-
finement.
He is not permitted to talk to
or be photographed by the media,
but he nonetheless managed to
have a note smuggled out and
read at the conference.
"I am happy for revealing what
I revealed," the note said.