Cautious Support
Grand Rapids rabbis now join the campaign
to protect religious expression.
JULIE WIENER STAFF WRITER
D
espite their initial opposi-
tion, two Grand Rapids
rabbis have decided to sign
on to a campaign to protect
religious expression in the pub-
lic schools.
Launched by the Washington,
D.C.-based Center for Jewish and
Christian Values, the campaign
— based in five target cities, in-
cluding Grand Rapids — aims to
educate the community about
what forms of religious expres-
sion are permissible in the pub-
lic schools.
Using guidelines that were
drafted in 1995 and endorsed by
a wide spectrum of religious and
political organizations (including
the American Jewish Congress
and the Anti-Defamation
League), the Center for Jewish
and Christian Values says it
hopes to prevent abuses of reli-
gious rights in the public schools.
When first launched in
February, the campaign also in-
cluded a "prevention" plan en-
couraging student prayer and use
of religious texts in order to pre-
vent teen drug and alcohol abuse.
However, in response to objec-
tions from the Jewish communi-
ty, the Center for Jewish and
Christian Values withdrew this
component in April.
The current focus, according
to field director Jeff Taylor, is to
ensure that school boards adopt
and implement the 1995 guide-
lines. The center will also spon-
sor in-service training programs
to familiarize teachers and ad-
ministrators with the guidelines.
A vocal opponent when it in-
cluded the "prevention" compo-
nent, AJCongress' Marc Stern
supported the campaign once the
controversial component was
withdrawn. Mr. Stern wrote the
Center for Jewish and Christian
Values, stating that distribution
of the guidelines under joint Jew-
ish and Christian auspices "should
do much to dispel the lingering
mutual distrust that has arisen
over the years on this topic."
The center is using his letter
to enhance their credibility
among Jewish leaders, including
Rabbi David Krishef of Congre-
gation Ahavas Israel in Grand
Rapids.
With the green light from Mr.
Stern, Rabbi Krishef— a former
opponent of the campaign — says
he's now ready to sign on. So is
Rabbi Albert Lewis of Temple
Emanuel in Grand Rapids. To-
gether with a Chabad house,
these are the only three syna-
gogues in the Grand Rapids com-
munity, where Jews comprise
less than 1 percent of the total
population.
"If Marc Stem thinks that the
revised project is a worthy pro-
ject, then it's worth thinking
about again," said Rabbi Krishef.
While he is still apprehensive
about the Center for Jewish and
Christian Values' motivations,
he says it will be easier to moni-
tor if he is directly involved.
"If a proposal comes up in the
future to reinstate the ["preven-
tion"] curriculum in a way that
would be unacceptable, we would
find out right away rather than
after the fact," he said.
Now that the center has with-
drawn the "prevention" compo-
nent, Mr. Stern said he is not
worried. "All they're doing is
sending the joint statement
which I wrote," he said. "I'm not
opposed to it.
❑
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A Few Good Leaders
BBYO seeks volunteers to lead eight of its
BBG and AZA chapters.
JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER
s Todd
sees it, there
are eight prime positions
available
ble at B'nai B'rith
AYouth
Organization
(BBYO) — and no one is taking
advantage of the opportunity.
"I don't understand why more
people don't get involved with it,"
said the 25-year-old AZA adviser.
Allison Buchman, assistant di-
rector of BBYO, confirmed that
eight of the 31 chapter advisory
roles either have been vacated or
will be in the coming months.
One reason for the openings is
a growth in the number of chap-
ters, she said.
But the nature of the advisory
roles leaves a naturally high
turnover rate. Most of the advis-
ers are post-college-aged men and
women whose careers are in flux;
many of those advisers quit their
posts either because of a move or
because of increased job or school
responsibility.
"Right now," said Ms. Buch-
man, "we are in a transition peri-
od. School is ending, and in the
summer there is a slowdown.
There are more chapters to staff."
Mr. Wolfe, 25, said he can't un-
derstand why more people would
not want to be advisers. He spent
three years as a member of Rose
AZA chapter before going on to
college. After finishing his stud-
ies, he volunteered to lead a
BBYO group and was assigned to
the Chalutzim chapter.
"I wanted to give something
back," he said.
Mr. Wolfe has spent three years
as a volunteer leader. His re-
sponsibilities include organizing
and staffing regular Sunday meet-
ings and being a counselor at
weekend camp outings twice a
year.
He doesn't draw a salary for his
work, but the job has other ben-
efits.
"There is good camaraderie
among the counselors. It is a lot
of fun," he said. "I enjoy doing
it."
❑
To volunteer as an adviser
for BBYO, call Allison Buch-
man at (248) 788-0700.
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