• EDITORS NOTEBOOK VISION Veaamped from page 27 UNIICS CUES11 2985 Haggerty Road • Walled Lake • (248) 669-4466 • Mr. Young's cousin, Claude Young Jr. (son of Mr. Young's cousin, physi- cian and confidante), made his own ties with the Jewish community at about the same time. . Coleman Young left lasting contributions. According to Irwin Shaw, former executive director of the Jewish Community Center, Claude Young Jr. took three years of Hebrew ulpan classes at the Meyers-Curtis JCC beginning in 1967. During the 1967 riots, he took a taxi from his home in order to attend class. He later was a frequent- lyiequested Hebrew tutor at the JCC. During the Yom Kippur War in the fall of 1973, Shaw received a call from Claude Young Jr. from Grand Valley State College. Young was seek- ing money to fly to Israel so that he could fight in the war. Claude Young's interest in the JCC, Shaw says, led to the purchase of the building by the city in the mid-1970s. It is now the Northwest Activities Center. Claude Young Jr. has gone on to a distinguished career with the U.S. State Department. He is presently based in Kuwait. Shaw saw him at a reception last year and the young diplomat still speaks Hebrew. ❑ For all of your building needs — Marble and Granite counter tops and tile, Ceramic tile and more... featuring – Mirror & Glass Magic – Closets & More – D&C Kitchen & Baths The recently completed 66th General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations in Indianapolis was a spectacular expression of Jewish life in North America. It attracted over 4,000 Jews, primarily from the United States and Canada, including others from Mexico, South America, Argentina and the former Soviet Union. Traditionally the largest annual Jewish gathering, this G.A. held in America's heartland brought Jews from all 185 member federations of the Council. Jewish communal profession- als and volunteers alike participated in the over 200 meetings dealing with all aspects of Jewish communal life. For some it was difficult to under- s tand the reasons underlying why this became the largest G.A. in the Council of Jewish Federations' history. Jews in the world-wide Jewish corn- munities (the new buzz word for Diaspora) have become increasingly focused on the threat to the "unity of the Jewish people." These threats acted as a magnet to a place where serious, • open and occasionally heated dialogue could and did take place. It was not, therefore, surprising that this item was a central focus of G.A. activity. Prime Minister Netanyahu received polite applause to a comfort- Dr. Conrad Giles of Detroit is presi- dent of the Council of Jewish Federations.' • : • CALL US NOW FOR FREE IN HOME CONSULTATION (248) 669-6655 • FAX: (248) 669-4670 r — Editor Phil Jacobs contributed to this article. able solution. He also reiterated his peace and security policy in a talk which broke no new ground. In a speech the following day, Ehud Barak, leader of the opposition Labor Party, urged reconciliation between the religious streams and repeated his stand against the conversion law cur- rently before the Knesset. He pledged a strong effort to move the peace process forward with great speed should Labor once again become the party in power. While formal presentations by Rabbis Eric Yoffie (Reform), Jerome Epstein (Conservative) and Jacob Rubenstein (Orthodox) further high- lighted the issue of pluralism, the con- versations in the halls of the G.A. underscored the importance of this issue on the Jewish agenda. After listening to the debate at the G.A., it is clear to me that anything less than an accommodation by the religious streams in Israel that satisfied Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Jews worldwide will have a devastating effect upon Jews everywhere. While unity was a central focus, the G.A. dealt with the full panoply of • Jewish communal life. Most notable was the presence of nearly 1,000 stu- dents and young leadership track par- ticipants who gave vibrancy, joy and energy to this meeting. Next year, in celebration of the 50th year of Israel's existence, we will reconvene in Jerusalem. Truly it will be a La Shana Haba Jerusalem. ❑ ..wsz$9s.•:iat:zsmm:s *zcicxtui*::mmzsowt • Custom Designed • Hand Crafted • Manufactured in Michigan • Professionally Installed CLO ETS Some G.A. Thoughts CONRAD GILES *Special to The Jewish News :;zotcs*... AND MORE 1 SAME y5% CP IF List Price with this coupon For purchase at Mirror & Glass Magic, . D & C Kitchen & Bath and Closets & More Expires 1 2/1 9/97 2985 Haggerty Rd. • 1/4 mile north of Pontiac Trail • Walled Lake 400 N. MAIN ST. • ROYAL OAK, MI 1 -800-FRESARD • 1-248-547-6100 • www.fresard.com TRANSFER YOUR HOME MOVIES 8mm-16mm TO VHS CEMITUR CiANKMEM r Film Length In Feet 8mm & Super 8 & 16 1-200 Feet 201-400 Feet 401.600 Feet 601-800 Feet 801-1000 Feet $20.00 $26.00 $39.00 $52.00 $65.00 Film Over 1,000 Feet Add 60 A Foot (Video Tape $8.00 Additional) } 30533 N. WOODWARD ROYAL OAK I- (3 Blocks South of 13 Mile) r 1 Fall Special FREE BACKGROUND MUSIC On Any Video Transfer Century Camera 288-5444 With This Coupon. Expires 1/5/98 248-288-5444 Daily & Saturday 10-6 1111 Friday 10-8 12/5 1997 31