Community Views Editor's Notebook A Different Dayenu, A New Outlook Please Tell Us Your Camp Tamarack Story JEANNIE WEINER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS PHIL JACOBS EDITOR I have a Jewish friend who works with Hindus, Buddhists, Chris- tians of a variety of denominations and people of dif- ferent races. It is not uncommon for her to enter- tain these colleagues in her home, and she is scrupulous in her plan- ning to be certain that each guest has appropriate food to eat and that each guest is made to feel comfortable and welcome. Yet this same friend bitterly complained to me that her Jew- ish organization was "having to accommodate" Jews who keep kosher at her organization's func- tions. One of the as- pects of Jewish life and Jews in gener- al that most pleas- es me is that we, as a whole, are people known for our sen- sitivity and toler- ance of others. We have organizations devoted to the de- velopment of good relations with our neighbors. We ad- vocate for other mi- nority groups. We form coalitions and sensitize our chil- dren to understand people who are dif- ferent — whether they are dis- abled or of a different race or ethnic background. Why then, do we have so much difficulty being tolerant of each other? How is it we can actually resent accommodating each other? How is that some of us tol- erate our own spiritual organi- zational leaders who verbally denigrate co-religionists who are seen as more or less "religious" than we choose to be? This year, as we do every year at our Passover seders, we dipped Jeannie Weiner is immediate past president of the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit. our spoons to reduce our cups of wine to remember the suffering of our enemies. Even in victory and celebration, we are sensitive to others. At my own seder table, we asked the Fifth Question from the Unity Readings for Passover by the Unity Committee of the Jew- ish Community Council. That question asks, "Why on this night should we celebrate the spirit of unity that binds together a free Jewish people ... ? One answer is that our Jewish community in Detroit is strong as well as diverse. Most of us par- ticipated in some way in a seder at which we reflected on the meaning of Passover in our lives. We do share a common history segregated from our own co-reli- gionists. Some of us have church- temple exchanges and yet, when another synagogue sponsors a "city-wide program," Jews not af- filiated with that "kind" of Ju- daism don't attend. As Jews, we are known for our hospitality; so how can we doubt that kosher food should be served at all events sponsored by Jewish organizations so that every Jew can be made welcome? As a community, we could use more care in using the commu- nity calendar so that we do not impact on true city-wide pro- grams that the entire communi- ty can share for purposes of education or celebration. Most of all, we should sensitize ourselves and oth- ers to the scur- rilous language we use in reference to each other. To avoid stereotyping, we could begin to learn about co- religionists who practice- Judaism differently. If we do not accept our differences, our di- visions could ulti- mately destroy us. As we celebrat- ed our delivery from slavery dur- ing Passover, we must continue to remember to em- phasize what unites us. We should strive to live by these words of "Dayenu" from the Uni- and common values. We also share a concern for our people's security and for Jewish survival. American Jews live in a plu- ty Readings for Passover: ralistic society as a minority reli- • If we would promote Jewish gion, but I think we have learned unity in our community, our con- how to get along with the major- gregations and our homes, ity cultures even better than we DAYENU. get along with each other. • If we would agree to disagree We teach our children not to with other Jews on issues with- tolerate anti-Semitic remarks, but out rancor, hostility, bitterness or some of us continue to use terms malice, DAYENU. which prejudice our children • If we would speak up when about other Jews. We talk about others use derogatory terms for being "not Jewish enough" or "too other Jews, DAYENU. Jewish." • If we would reach out to Jews Most American Jews promote of all backgrounds to work to- diversity and tolerance. We grap- gether toward common goals in ple with living in a segregated so- an atmosphere of respect, ciety, and yet we frequently are DAYENU. ❑ TheDJN@Laol . corn 11 0 Mat Do You Think?" Is Bibi finished as Israel's prime minister? Three years ago We would like to hear about I remember the those stories for a Close Up angst I was feel- we're going to be putting to- ing, getting my gether. It would be an added then-11-year- plus if you could send a photo- old daughter graph or even a letter you or registered and your child wrote from Tama- ready for camp. rack. You may re- Examples: A rabbi friend met member the his wife while the two were feeling, or maybe you're experi- counselors at a New York camp. encing it now. The registration That's the kind of story we'd that happens in January makes welcome. July seem so far away. Then, Personally, I can tell you school is over, and the next thing about a story that had a we know, after that last name major effect on my life as a is placed on that last elastic un- 12-year-old camper. My first derwear band, it's time to go. day of camp, after we came As parents learn, sitting here off the buses, the director at home, the month at camp gathered us around the flag goes very quickly, even as we pole at the center of camp. send our "care packages" and He said the following: "Wel- plead for letters in return. come to Camp Moshava. My During that angst, a friend name is Steve. I am the rosh helped me with a quick piece of hamachaneh (camp head). advice. A veteran "camp moth- These will be the last words of er," she simply said that in some English you hear me speak cases the friends made at camp during announcements unless last longer than even school it's an emergency." friends. Sometimes, she added, Help. This is how I started to those "friends" are the wonder- learn Hebrew. ful memories we get from a It gets better. My counselor summer in the mountains or by was apparently going to be a the lake. day or two late. He was in Israel, Last week, I took my daugh- fighting during the Six-Day ter, now 13, to the airport for a War. trip to New York. She was vis- Again, the stories he told — iting a friend whom she met at a the mere fact that we were small camp last summer outside meeting a strong, Jewish man of Scranton, Pa. The two, both who had actually fought for voracious readers, became close. something he believed in — still When we visited on Parents Day, stick with me. it wasn't the lake or the swim- But the small things are im- ming pool she wanted us to see. portant as well. This man It was, instead, her friend. helped me with my homesick- That friend- ness. He ship has turned played hours into months of F--s- and hours of phone calls and catch with me. letters back and j_ 9 He was a . forth. 9_ friend, a hero. I felt that `.2_ Truth is, it was "separation" more difficult angst again last in my camping week when my years to come daughter kissed A fabled Camp Tamarack green bus. home and me, walked blend in with down the airport ramp and onto the day-to-day. the plane. On the other hand, I Shabbat was sweet as hon- felt so confident that if her camp- ey at my camp. We'd dress in ing experience resulted in just white, welcome the Sabbath one great friend like this, that ex- Queen by the lake. We played perience would be forever. color wars, slept under the stars Now, here's where I need in tents made of blankets, twine your help. and pebbles. This summer marks the 95th We sang around campfires, anniversary of Camp Tamarack. raided the girls' bunks, failed There are thousands of you who plenty of bunk inspections. But did not leave Michigan to go to most of all, we had the time of camp but stayed right here to our lives in a Jewish environ- develop your precious camp ment. memories. Should we want anything less Some of us "grew up" through for our children? ❑ camp experiences. We had fa- ..tgaNi,,m;istms:,Nt.RKK vorite counselors. Maybe you started as a camper and became t)z " a counselor and now your chil- ks . .Ac,4