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we go from there, now that's what is important.
Jewish unity isn't about annual meetings and din-
ners. Unity has got to come "on the ground." We are
still out there putting one another down, no matter
what our denomination. There are appalling myths
about and disagreements between Orthodox, Con-
servative, Reform, Reconstructionist and Human-
istic Jews out there. You know who perpetuates these
myths and disagreements? Orthodox, Conservative,
Reform, Reconstructionist and Humanistic Jews.
Unity? It shouldn't come down to a Shabbat in Oc-
tober. It should be something the Jewish Council
and the rest of us work on every day. It should come
from heightening our awareness, learning about our
fellow Jew and teaching our children not to deal in
stereotypes but instead, civilities. But we have to
learn these civilities and practice them ourselves be-
fore we teach them to anyone else.
Unity?
Every Friday night after Unity Shabbat, we should
light the candles that our tradition has already giv-
en us as a show_of unity. We encourage everyone
to continue that practice.
But to make the message work even better, let's
do a better job of learning and reaching out within
our own community.
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Of course, we encourage the community to take the
lead of the Jewish Community Council and partici-
pate in the annual Unity Shabbat.
Whether it's lighting an extra Shabbat candle or
talking about Jewish unity from the pulpit, unity is
important.
But let's talk tachles here.
The concept of unity is beautiful. An extra candle
burning on Shabbat offers a powerful symbol of
warmth. The Council should be given credit for its
good intentions. But, in reality, there's not a sense
of overall unity in our community.
Sure there are times when the community comes
together for a cause it can identify with: At the Yad
Ezra dinner on Monday evening, 600 people came
together at Adat Shalom. Who wouldn't identify with
feeding the Jewish hungry? The attendees repre-
sented all walks ofJewish life.
Sunday, the Yeshiva Dinner will also offer up a
strong showing ofJewish diversity. Who wouldn't
support Jewish education?
But this is what we don't get.
When the banquets are all over with, we more of-
ten than not run in our own directions. It's easy to
attend a dinner, sit with people Jewishly different
from yourself and think, "How wonderful!" Where
i
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Unity: Something That
Isn't For Just Once A Year
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Letters
D E TROIT JEW ISH N EWS
28
Four years ago, about 75 percent of America's Jews
voted for the Clinton-Gore ticket. Republican in-
cumbent George Bush was perceived by some
Jews as a patrician who did not understand Jew-
ish passions and compassion.
Once again, now-President BM Clinton and Vice
President Al Gore receive our endorsement. But
we have our concerns:
• The Clinton administration has been too quick
in some situations to sacrifice for political expe-
dience. In particular, the barring of services to le-
gal immigrants in the recent welfare reform bill
was originally the president's idea. It should be
overturned.
• This administration seems unable to admit
that reforms on welfare, affirmative action and
other domestic matters are due in part to a GOP-
controlled Congress that, after much criticism,
avoids gridlock and government shutdowns.
• There is a continual flurry of allegations over
ethical conduct from Travelgate to the FBI files
scandal. Each charge needs adequate response.
"It's only politics, nothing substantial," is not suf-
ficient. We urge open and full disclosure at all
times from all parties.
We add that personal attacks on the president's
character — and that of his wife — are irrelevant.
There is no politician or individual who can with-
stand today's media hounding.
Yet, the pluses tip the scale. The Clinton ad-
ministration has largely stood by traditional Jew-
ish concerns on promoting minority rights,
education grants and affinity toward Israel. The
president has shown a genuine empathy with Is-
rael's citizens and in particular for the slain
Yitzhak Rabin.
The Clinton administration has blocked efforts
at mandatory public prayer and tightening limi-
tations on government-funded family planning.
Nor should we forget that the president has ef-
fectively worked long and hard toward difficult
peace in Bosnia, Ireland and Israel. And eco-
nomically, the country is experiencing a record
bull market.
On the GOP side, were vice presidential can-
didate Jack Kemp vying for the top spot, we would
look more closely. But we are presented with
Robert Dole. Although sadly inarticulate, he is an
outstanding legislator with deep integrity. As a
senator, he has been an outstanding deal maker,
but he does not project a vision of optimism need-
ed to lead our nation.
He has attempted to court the Jewish vote with
staunch pro-Israel advocacy in the past few years.
This does not erase concerns spanning the past
several decades.
Republicans hoping to woo the Jewish vote miss
the point: Not all Jews seem comfortable with a
liberal Democratic Party, but they welcome one
that straddles a centrist line. Further, in the GOP,
the word moderate seems an aberration. There is
a vocal contingent ofJewish Republicans. We en-
courage them to change the GOP from within and
we will work with all politicians on behalf of Jew-
ish interests.
But in this year's presidential election, our choice
is Clinton-Gore.
•
Four More Years
For The Incumbent Team
What is to happen now?
Responsibility
To The Aged
Kudos to The Jewish News and
Julie Edgar for bringing to the
forefront the serious problem fac-
ing our frail Jewish elderly and
their families who also happen
to have limited funds.
It has always been our feeling
that one of the prime responsi-
bilities of Federation and the
Jewish community should be for
our aged. The size of their bank
accounts should not determine
their level of care or preserva-
tion of dignity in their declining
years.
From the time we were small
children, there was always the
"Jewish Old Folks Home," where
elderly relatives and family
friends lived in a Jewish atmos-
phere regardless of their finan-
cial status. In later years, when
Medicaid was established, both
Borman Hall and Prentice
Manor had an adequate number
of Medicaid beds for our indigent
elderly. Those moving in as pri-
vate-pay residents were allowed
to remain living there even when
RESPONSIBILITY page 30