COMMUNITY VIEWS Students Promote Spiritual Harmony s part of this year's fifth annual Dove Award dinner hosted by the Ecumenical Institute for Jewish-Chris- tian Studies, three student essay con- test winners were honored. Their theme was the theme of this year's dinner: "From Vision to Reali- ty. ” A The Institute is dedicated to help- ing children and adults learn more about each other's spirituality and to respect each other's beliefs. The contest was part of the Insti- tute's "Ambassadors of Good Will" for students in grades 5-12. This year's contest drew 75 entries. "A contribution from the Ambassadors program was made to the church or synagogue youth group of each win- ner," said Barbara Yuhas, the Insti- tute's program director. "We also invited the winners and their parents to the Dove Dinner as our guests." "Remember the challenge these young people have set before us," said Rabbi Amy Brodsky, the Insti- tute's assistant director, in addressing the dinner audience. The Ambassadors program began five years ago in the West Bloomfield School District to honor Dr. Gary Faber, a West Bloomfield educator. —Robert A. Sklar, Editor The winners and their essays are as follows. Joining Hands For Understanding I strongly believe that the only way the Christian community can get along better with the Jewish com- munity is to learn more about each other's beliefs and SEAN CLYNE practices. Even taking Special to The a couple of classes about each other's Jewish News faith isn't enough to really further our understanding of each other. First of all, we must start with the children. Last year, my class and I went to visit a synagogue. I learned so much about the Jewish faith that I had never known before. I also had an opportunity to participate in a seder. While this was all very interesting, it was hardly enough. One more field trip won't be enough either. We need more chances to learn about each other's faith. It would be good if we also could study Judaism as part of our religion class. Our religion book, This Is Our Faith, has hardly any- thing in it about Jews. We could start by adding a little at a time. I recently had a chance to visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., with-my family. There I realized that there was so much more to be learned about what the Jews have expe- rienced. It certainly made me want to learn more. I intend to start by reading Daniels Story, a 14-year-old's experience during the Holocaust. So far, I have looked at ways of increasing a Christian's understanding of Judaism. We also need to find ways for the Jewish community to have more opportunities to develop a greater appreciation of our beliefs and practices. Perhaps we could try to get our youth groups together. This seems like a good place to start. ❑ Sean Clyne, 12, attends St. Paul Catholic Parish in Grosse Pointe Farms. From Vision To Reality: Looking At Diversities How do people live with one another today? The truth is, we don't. We fight over land, color and religion. We kill each other because we don't agree. How can SARA HENIG peace be achieved Special to The when there are so Jewish News many people who hate each other? I'll tell you: one person at a time. Everybody knows someone who hates others because they are different. Their skin color might be different, or they might just wear different clothes. What if we were all blind and had to find our friends without seeing them? What if we had to talk to people and find out what was inside without knowing what was outside? It's like taking candy out of a chocolate box and just hoping that you like what is inside. You'd have to do that all of the time if you couldn't see who was sit- ting next to you. So, we have to learn one person at a time. We must explain to each other why we have to get along, why we need to understand each other. If we don't, we'll destroy each other. ❑ Sara Henig, 13, is a member of Temple Kol Ami, West Bloomfield. Cooperation Of People Essential To Survival We will not cooper- ate with each other, Christians and Jews, simply because we want to. We will not work together because someone tells us to or because ELIZABETH we each need what (--\ the others have. NELLUMS All the religions Special to The and the peoples of Jewish News the world must get along. It is neither a choice nor an option. We share a planet. We share homes and neighborhoods, schools and offices. What would happen if a belief got in the way? HARMONY on page 43 LETTERS they feel he is fit to govern. America seems to have lost its moral compass. Recently, an indecent run took place in Ann Arbor didt, according to news accounts, boasted 400 runners and 10,000 spectators. What is even more disturbing than the actual event is the deafening silence of parents and spiritual leaders in the face of such wholesale depravity. Ten thousand people is hardly a fringe group. I believe that the perception that most Americans have of Mr. Clinton's personal behavior has contributed to the moral slide of America today. We have reached a point when it is even embarrassing to listen to the evening news with children around. As God's chosen people, we cannot afford to be apathetic toward immorali- ty. Many Americans believe that even if the allegations against the president are 5/8 1998 30 true, the country cannot afford the fall- out of impeachment proceedings. There may well be some merit to this position, but we must, nevertheless, express outrage when powerful figures are found guilty of immoral acts. Moral behavior certainly should be a major consideration in our choice of public and communal leaders. At a time when many Jews are con- cerned about maintaining a division between church and state, we cannot forget our divinely ordained obligation to do all that is possible to foster the observance of the seven Noahide Laws among the nations of the world. These laws include the prohibition against violence, adultery, homosexuality, abortion, etc. (Maimonides Hilchos Melachim, Chapter 8:10). It is through these efforts that we fulfill our mission of being a "light unto nations" of the world, a mission which will culminate in global redemption through the righteous Moshiach. Rabbi Elimelech Sliberberg West Bloomfield Moral Leadership A Prerequisite I read with shock the article that inap- propriately appeared under the heading Community Views, titled "We Must Be Alert When Democracy Is Threat- ened" (The Jewish News, April 24). The author suggests our govern- ment leaders must solely be judged by their political and economic views and policies. Indeed to do otherwise, it is implied, is to open up our democracy to those misguided citizens who believe that our leaders, by voluntarily soliciting and accepting the powerful leadership roles they occupy, accept the responsibility to be role models to those they serve, as well as the remain- c der of the world. Who among us is willing to suggest that the common denominator of acceptable behavioral standards be set at such a level, that our leaders, during their time in office, are not subject to standards of behavior we expect of a 13-year-old child? The fact is we have a president who, while in office, has shown himself to be bankrupt of moral leadership; a qualification, I would sug- gest, essential to occupying the post for which he solicited and was elected. The author's suggestion that the current president's lack of ethics hard- ly equates with the shortcomings of President Nixon is utter nonsense.