ADAT SHALOM
SYNAGOGUE
VOUCHERS page 22
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THURSDAY, MAY 1
at ADAT SHALOM
7:30 PM
Ti Ciadi for the concert may be obtained at Adat Shalom Synagogue. They will be
distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, There is no charge for general admission.
Special Renewed Section
There will be A LIMITED RESERVED SECTION for Chal Concertgoers at $18 per person.
Chai tickets include a reserved seat and admission to a Gala Afterglow, where
guests wilil have the opportunity to meet Mike Burstyn.
To purchase Chal tickets, please send a check for $18 per person to
Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middiebeit Road, Farmington Hills, M148334.
Chal tickets will be held for you at the door.
For further information, please call the Synagogue office, 851-5100.
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According to Rabbi Rabbi E.B. ers for parochial schools
Freedman, the issue of "Bunny"
from becoming public pol-
church-state separation is Freedman icy in the near future, but
a "red herring."
she is concerned by vouch-
"Basically, the government is er proposals. "I think it's impor-
completely in our [parochial] tant that we ... not siphon off
schools," he said. "I ran a [Jew- resources to allow individuals to
ish day] school for 15 years ... do whatever they want to do —
You have to comply with regu- maybe to the advancement of
lations, requirements, zoning, their child but to the disadvan-
health, school-lunch programs tage of the general good," she
said.
The [American Civil Liberties
"It's important that we main-
Union] claims [that with vouch- tain the public school system —
ers] government will tamper improve it, but not destroy it."
with instruction in religious
Ms. Straus argues that vouch-
schools — that's ludicrous."
er proponents ignore the social
Rabbi Freedman spoke in fa- and economic issues with which
vor of vouchers at a Jewish inner-city public schools contend.
Community Council hearing in "It's true [inner-city] schools are
March and is working with pro- not as good as they should be,
voucher organizations — such but they also face tremendous
as TEACH Michigan Education problems. School is not the only
Fund and the politically conser- agency that has an impact on
vative Washington, D.C.-based the child's ability to learn."
Jewish Policy Center — to pro-
Furthermore, she questions
mote public support for tuition the appropriateness of the gov-
subsidies.
ernment subsidizing Jewish
But opponents of vouchers ar- schooleI think for Jewish con-
gue that church-state separa- tinuity, it's the responsibility of
tion is a real issue and that the Jewish community, and we
voucher plans are nothing more shouldn't expect to be subsidized
than an attempt to destroy the by tax dollars for that," she said.
public-school system.
At a national level, Jewish
"No matter how good it opinion on vouchers seems to fall
sounds, it's a way of dismantling along political party lines. The
public education," said Judy Jewish Policy Center (JPC), a
Rosenberg, the state public af- think tank for Jewish Republi-
fairs chair for the Greater De- cans, recognizes that currently
troit Section of the National the majority of American Jews
Council of Jewish Women. oppose vouchers, but it has
NCJW has joined a coalition of made vouchers its No. 1 issue
over 30 organizations — among and, through networking at the
them the Anti-Defamation national and grassroots levels,
League, the Michigan Jewish it hopes to change opinions.
Conference and Women's Amer-
According to JPC Staff Coor-
ican ORT — that oppose vouch- dinator Jeff Stier, "School choice
ers and are monitoring relevant goes beyond Jewish continuity;
legislation.
school choice will help the Jew-
"Yes, [vouchers] will help ish community, but the most sig-
some kids go to day school," Ms. nificant beneficiaries of vouchers
Rosenberg said, "but it's such a will be inner-city parents ... the
small number. There should be ones that need it the most."
aid for day schools, but it should
Although Mr. Stier concedes
be done privately through the that no voucher program would
Jewish community."
pay the full cost of tuition, pro-
Kathleen Straus, president of viding parents with $3,000 per
the Michigan Board of Educa- child will spur the growth of low-
tion and the vice president of the tuition private schools.
Jewish Community Council, is
Furthermore, he argues,
confident that the Michigan "even if parents had to add a lit-
Constitution will prevent vouch- VOUCHERS page 26