ow the

r standpoint there's not nearly as much
to talk about as there might have been
three, four, five years ago. The support
in Congress for foreign aid for Israel is
pretty much across the board," Malkus
said.
In 1988, when the Supreme Court
allowed states to restrict abortion
rights, the organization expanded its
scope of concerns to include reproduc-
tive issues and opened its doors to
men.
Today, JAC will not support a

one step further.
"This is taking what you've learned
and putting it into practice by sup-
porting candidates who go along with
those values," Blanck said.
Sherbin, a Flint native, got
involved in JAC while she lived in
Chicago three years ago. An informal
coffee in a private home, much like
the gathering she hosted, got her
hooked.
"We all support [the Jewish]
Federation financially, but there were

I GAMES

is t

vz,t,

rgest Jewish youth event
come to Detroit?

Over 4,000 participants are involved
in the. JCC Maccabi Games!

20,000 spectators will fill the
Palace of Auburn Hills at
n t night cerem

N alrift

M ff

Joy Malkus of JAC at a recent membership meeting in West Bloomfield.

7-

r

Opposite page: Twenty-two members and prospective members of JAC met at Abbe
Sherbins home for a political update.

politically conservative candidate, even
if he or she supports Israel, Malkus
said.
The PAC has also restructured
itself. It no longer gives money
directly to candidates; instead, JAC
profiles candidates, sends the profiles
to members, who then write checks
to specific candidates. (Along with
the one-time membership fee of
$100, members are required to write
two checks per year, $25 minimum,
to candidates). JAC "bundles" the
money and sends it on. Since its
inception, JAC has raised $3.5 mil-
lion, Malkus said.
Roz Blanck, a JAC member for 12
years, calls the organization a "best
kept secret." She was once attracted to
Emily's List, a pro-choice political
action committee that supports
women candidates, but it was not pro-
Israel, so she moved on to JAC. It has
enabled her to take her advocacy skills

grass roots issues Federation did not
address," she explained.
Last March, Sherbin attended the
annual JAC conference in
Washington, where 60 members
divided into groups and met with
legislators. They also heard speeches
from members of the American Israel
Public Affairs Committee, the
National Abortion Rights Action
League and the former mayor of Tel
Aviv.
"We actually help people win politi-
cal races. If you can get involved and
host some coffees, that's terrific. But
really, we want your money," she said. ❑

For more information about JAC,
call Roz Bla.nck at (248) 626-
2347, or the Chicago area office at
(847) 433-0933.

The JCC

1: 1 0., ,...1 7

;1

0:►

ill take

p

y and/or
661-7722.

To beco
volunteer,

CC

kyrich Comm:tit,' Ceorr
of Metozyrols. Coal.

The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building • 6600 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Jimmy Prentis Morris Building • 15110 West Ten Mile Road • Oak Park, MI 48237