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Checking The Purpose
Of The WZO Congress Vote
Last week, The Jewish News used this space
to urge our community to join the rest of
American Jewry in taking part in the World
Zionist Organization's Centennial Congress
election.
At stake is the disbursement of some $400
million to programs such as immigration and
absorption as well as other important plans and
programs within Israel.
This is all supposed to be a positive
happening. By and large, it is. But
we find what has happened in
some of our circles to be disturb-
ing. While we encourage reli-
gious leaders to speak from the
bimah or in their communities
to get the vote moving along,
there are some who see this as a
chance for interdenominational
one-upmanship.
These people seemingly haven't
learned a great deal from the current di-
visiveness in Israel. They are ostensibly revis-
iting the after-effects of the Knesset's
consideration of a bill delegitimizing non-Or-
thodox conversions.
What results are speeches here in America
with almost an ulterior motive. That motive
is clear: If you are Orthodox, mail in your ap-
plication to offset the Conservative or the Re-
form voter. If you are Conservative, your vote
offsets someone else's ballot. Same with Reform
or Humanistic.
The opportunity to vote in these Zionist
elections was clearly not created for this sort of
poison. The bottom line of this
vote is the efficient allocation
of Diaspora monies within Is-
rael. America represents the
largest delegation outside of Is-
rael. This vote goes a long way
in determining the infrastruc-
ture on many fronts.
It's important to encourage
one another to participate be-
cause we want to help Israel.
That's the point. If you're voting to
make sure there are more Orthodox
voices than Reform or vice versa, then we
don't have to worry about what's going on Is-
rael. We have to check on what's happening
with ourselves. Israel doesn't need any more di-
visiveness. And we shouldn't be adding our
share.
THE PROMISED LAND
THE CONTINUING STORY OF JEWISH LIFE IN THE DIASPORA
by Jordan B. Gortinkel
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The most troubling sign about the Palestinian
Authority may not be the way it talks to and
about Israel, but the way it deals with its own
people.
The Palestinian Authority is acting like a ba-
nana republic, torturing and killing prisoners
and civilians. The fact that many of these ac-
tions are being carried out in the name of boost-
ing the security of the Palestinians, and even
the Israelis, does not make them any less de-
plorable.
Even under its own twisted code of logic, the
Palestinian Authority went too far when re-
cently issuing a death sentence against Arabs
who sell land to Jews. Such state-mandated be-
havior creates a poisoned environment that
quickly lessens everyone's security.
Selling land to the Jews, the Authority says,
is ultimately exporting the Palestinians' most
vital commodity — the quest for statehood. Fur-
ther, they say, these people weaken the Au-
thority's position at the negotiating table.
But no matter how harshly a governing body
views an action, it can never be allowed to exe-
cute a suspect without a fair and unbiased tri-
al. As for this "crime," capital punishment is
beyond comprehension.
Fortunately, some Palestinians agree. Both
the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring
Group and the Palestinian Society for the Pro-
tection of Human Rights and the Environment
are vociferous opponents of this policy. The first
group is working to save the lives of 15 Pales-
tinians awaiting execution.
But taking a strong stance against the
Authority can be hazardous to your
health. Just ask Daoud Kuttab, an interna-
tionally recognized Palestinian journalist. He
was recently jailed simply for broadcasting
Palestinian Assembly meetings, ones in
which there was open criticism of the Arafat
regime.
By speaking out against the Authority's use
of torture and murder, these groups provide a
ray of light in an increasingly dark period. They
must be joined by the political and moral weight
of the Western world. The United States and
the Europeans, so desperately coveting a role
in the Middle East, must demand this law be
reversed. Any Palestinian government in the
making, they should make clear, must be de-
mocratic, shun state-sponsored murder and
bring perpetrators of such real crimes to jus-
tice.
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GLOSSARY: , COUDJC0 = CONGRESS OF UNITED DISENFRANCHISED JEWISH CONFEDERATIONS ORGANIZATION
Letters
Enough Enemies
We have enough enemies in our
world without division amongst
our own. The only way we will be
obliterated as a people is if we can't
respect one another's beliefs.
The religious zealots are forc-
ing their views on those who are
practicing Judaism in a modern
world. They are no different than
the Muslims who are making
their people conform.
Zelda and Milton Rose
Farmington Hills
Making Our
Voices Heard
Thank you to the Jewish News for
including in the May 23 issue an
application form to register to vote
to elect American delegates to the
World Zionist Congress.
Here is a chance to make our
voices heard. Applications must
be postmarked by June 1. Anyone
who has not registered to vote can
obtain an application this Sunday,
June 1, at the Incredible Israel
Fest at the Stuart Sachse Athlet-
ic Field of the Maple-Drake JCC.
Gerald S. Cook
Farmington Hills
Scouting
For The Observant
Recently you responded to a
question in one of your "Tell Me
Why" columns about scouting,
specifically scouting for observant
Jews.
There is one Boy Scout Troop
which addresses the needs of ob-
servant Jewish Scouts in Michi-
gan: Troop 1579 of Southfield.
Boy Scouts of America offers re-
ligious badges for several grade
levels of Scouts.
There are also Jewish Girl
Scout Troops. Hillel Day School is
host to a Brownie troop. Akiva He-
brew Day School started Daisy
Girl Scouts this winter.
Parents interested can call (810)
353-3737 for further information.
Donna Feldman
Southfield