Editorials

Always An Ambassador
Who's Touched Millions

Shaarey Zedek's executive director Leonard
Baruch believes David Hermelin has touched
the lives of millions of people. We think Mr.
Baruch is probably right.
There are precious few community leaders
anywhere in this world who have had an
impact on people the way David Hermelin
has. Be it a photo or a news story, Hermelin
has been in this newspaper a great deal. How
could he not be? This is a person who grew up
in our neighborhoods, a person who cared
about other individuals, even as a child.
We know that if his name is mentioned in
Jewish communities all over the world, the

man behind the name is known. We have even
had Jews from other nations who, after they
ask us where we're from, respond, "Ah, do you
know David Hermelin?"
We are proud of David and Doreen
Hermelin, and we wish them a successful jour-
ney and mission in Norway. Our job while
they are away will be to move forward in areas
of leadership. The Hermelins have set an
example that has helped put this community
on the map of great Jewish communities.
When they return three years from now, it will
be up to us to show the Hermelins that things
were made even better while they were away.

Boycott: A Strong Word

Jews have had an aversion to boycotts over the
years. They recall the anti-Semitic laws of the
Nazis, the quota systems imposed by American
colleges and private clubs, and economic dis-
criminatory practices used against Jews during
the 20th century.
So, when four local Jewish organizations ask
the community to withhold support from
Detroit Public Television, WTVS Channel 56,
it gives one pause.
But so does the rationale used by Ch. 56 to
justify "People and the Land," a blatantly anti-
Israel program that was aired Aug. 31. WTVS
vice president and station manager Dan Alpert
admits that "People and the Land" was so one-
sided that discriminating viewers should have
seen right through it. We think Ch. 56 had an
obligation to its audience to see through it as
well.

Mr. Alpert admits that, while Ch. 56 is
obligated to air some independently produced
programs, it is under no obligation to air any
particular show. The station did its viewers and
the cause of Middle East peace a major disser-
vice by knowingly airing a one-sided, factually
distorted propaganda piece. A panel discussion
following the program does not undo the dam-
age.
Did the station learn its lesson? Should it be
punished?
Our major quarrel with a boycott is there is
no cut-off mechanism. The four organizations
don't plan to tell the Jewish community when
Ch. 56 has mended its ways. Nor can they
honestly pass that judgment.
The viewers and contributors will have to
decide. And that is as it should be.

LETTERS

Much Obliged, Saddam

between political spin and hard diplomatic
It's hard to find anything positive to say
choices.
about Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein,
More and more, Israeli Prime Minister
whose calculating recklessness has once again
Binyamin Netanyahu and
ignited a confrontation
Palestinian leader Yassir
between the United
Arafat
look to their own
States and its motley
constituents and to the
coalition of reluctant
-1) United States to figure out
allies.
what will and won't sell,
But if there is a silver
and then formulate posi-
lining, it's this: Saddam's
tions that nobody really
outbursts of dangerous
sees as the hard currency
madness provide a useful
of serious negotiations.
reminder that beneath
It's easy to forget that
the rhetoric and game-
finding a realistic path to
playing of Middle East
Saddam Hussein is playing the brinkman- peace is a life-and-death
diplomacy are some
matter for Israel, not just a
ship game.
unforgiving realities.
question of finessing
Saddam's latest
diplomatic and political pressures.
brinkmanship provides a sobering counter-
point to Arab and Israeli negotiators, who
OBLIGED on page 27
seem to have a hard time distinguishing

-5 .

I

11/21
1997

22

Smoke rises from an oil container at Ashdod. The cause of the
explosion and blaze was not known, but sabotage was not suspect-
ed.

Ohr Somayach
Offers Education

We thought we should
respond to the recent Jewish
News article ("Learning Gap"
Oct. 31) featuring adult edu-
cation, by highlighting some
of the achievements of Ohr
Somayach Detroit.
In just 4 1/2 years, Ohr
Somayach has become the
largest provider of adult
Jewish education in our com-
munity, involving thousands
in educational programs. This
has been accomplished with-
out a base of funding or
established name recognition
in our community.
Beginning with a couple of

curious adults, a lunch and
learn was initiated which
boasts an average monthly
attendance for the past four
years of over 150 men and
women. In addition, smaller
Ohr Somayach lunch and
learn groups take place at over
30 locations during the year.
Regular seminars, scholar-in-
residence programs,
Shabbatons, couples pro-
grams, an educational minyan
as well as weekly evening pro-
grams are part of the menu of
programs and services that
have been offered by Ohr
Somayach Detroit. .
There also is no other
organization in our communi-

EDUCATION on page 26