Minority Within
Despite the stance of mainstream black and Jewish leaders, pockets
from both communities are forging an alliance for school vouchers.
PHOTO BY K RI STA HU SA
JULIE WIENER STAFF WRITER
Studio in Harvard Row M all
keNut iq
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verting public funds for use in pri-
vate and parochial schools. These
organizations cite concerns about
separation of church and state as
well as fears that school vouchers
would accelerate the decline of in-
ner-city schools by siphoning off
scarce resources.
But going against mainstream
leaders doesn't faze Rev. Edwards
and Rabbi Freedman, who claim
acceptance of vouchers is a mi-
nority view that is gaining a
strong foothold among both blacks
and Jews.
In fact, the two religious lead-
ers — along with like-minded
blacks and Jews throughout the
country — see the voucher cause
as a social justice issue and a way
to rekindle relations between the
once-close communities.
"I think this is one of the issues
that can bring our communities
together," said Rev. Edwards. 'We
must fight for the well-being of
children. Rabbi Freedman has
that attitude same as I do, so we
connected with one another. We
believe that out of this will come
other opportunities for our com-
munities to work together.
"He's got passion for this. I've
got passion for this. And we think
we'll win."
So far, their relationship in-
MINORITY page 18
If Rabbi and Mrs. Moses ben Maimon lived in
Metro Detroit they would send their children
to religious school at....
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R
abbi E.B. "Bunny" Freed-
man and Rev. Eddie Ed-
wards come from different
worlds.
Rabbi Freedman, an Orthodox
Jew, coordinates Jewish services
at Hospice of Southeastern Michi-
gan in Southfield.
Rev. Edwards, African-Amer-
ican and Baptist, is the founder
and president of Joy of Jesus, a
social service agency in a low-in-
come black community on De-
troit's east side. Designated as a
"point of light" by the Bush Ad-
ministration, Joy of Jesus' mot-
to is "a hand up, not a hand out."
Despite their different back-
grounds, Rabbi Freedman and
Rev. Edwards share a crusade for
school vouchers, which they be-
lieve will improve educational op-
portunities for low-income youth.
Their shared view makes each a
minority within a minority:
mainstream organizations rep-
resenting the Jewish and black
communities have recently reaf-
firmed their opposition to school
vouchers.
The Jewish Community Coun-
cil of Metropolitan Detroit, the
National Association for the Ad-
vancement of
Rabbi E.B. Freedman Colored People
and Rev. Eddie
and Detroit
Edwards: Shared
Urban League
passion for vouchers
all oppose di-
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