LONNY GOLDSMITH
Michigan Citizenship Initiative,
which would have restored
health care and food stamps to
f there are political issues
legal immigrants.
which have a direct
Allan Gale, the Council's
impact on the Jewish
assistant director of government
community, they would
relations, also believes the
be school vouchers, school
majority of the community
prayer and the rights of legal
stands behind women's repro-
immigrants, say Jewish political
ductive rights.
activists.
"The Council board's posi-
But there isn't necessarily
tion is to not reverse the Roe v.
widespread consensus on all the
Wade decision," he said.
The Jewish. Community Council's Allan Gale.
Michigan Jewish Conference Executive Director
issues. While the Jewish
Gale added that the Council
Cindy Hughey.
Community Council of
hasn't dealt with late-term abor-
Metropolitan Detroit has pub-
tion, or if the state should pay
licly, opposed vouchers that
for abortions for those on pub-
would provide money or tax
lic assistance.
breaks to families who send
Lansing pollster Ed Sarpolus
their children to private
of the firm EPIC/MRA said
schools, there is support for the
Jews still tend to vote
idea among religious Jews who
Democratic "because of their
don't use the public schools.
social values of being behind
But the Michigan Jewish
the downtrodden.
Conference, a non-profit advo-
"Jews have the philosophy of
cacy organization for the Jewish
needing to rake care of their
community, has actively
brother, which isn't the same
opposed vouchers in any form,
view as the business-minded
as has the Jewish Community
Republican Party," he said.
Council.
Former State Representative
"The opposition is that less
legislators who are fundamentalists,
the government to accommodate reli-
Maxine Berman agrees. "If you live in
Money will be available in the state
who have fundamentalists for con-
gious .practices that come into conflict
a Republican area and want to win,
budget for public schools," said MJC
stituents. Their answer is always more
with state law. For example, religious
than you'll run as a Republican," said
Executive Director Cindy Hughey.
religion."
Jews prohibit autopsies, a belief that
b
-
Berman, who also co-chairs the Jewish
Rabbi Marla Feldman, assistant
The MJC is working to "show legis-
would be protected by the act.
Community Council's Government
director for domestic concerns at the
lators that this is something most reli-
Providing legal immigrants with a
Relations Committee. "Democrats
Council, said Council leadership is
gious faiths don't want," Hughey said.
safety net is another key issue for the
who live in Republican areas have
against vouchers in any form, primari-
Yet the Council, along with the
MJC, although a proposal Hughey
crossed over and voted for moderate
ly, because they seem to violate the
Anti-Defamation League, National
worked on with Judah Isaacs, interim
Republicans, but nearly 70 percent are
constitutional separation between
Council of Jewish Women and
director of the Agency for Jewish
voting Democrat."
church and state.
American Jewish Committee, supports
Education, was vetoed by Gov. John
But Gale conceded that the Jewish
"The tuition tax credit reduces the
the Michigan Religious Freedom
Engler. Both the House and Senate
vote isn't in either party's pocket.
tax base which funds public educa-
Restoration Act, which would require
had given a thumbs-up for the
"There are prominent Jews who are
tion," Feldman said. It will "channel
Republican and Republicans are out
public funds to private and parochial
seeking the Jewish vote," he said.
schools. This debate should be
Gale pointed out that the Jewish
opposed for the same reasons" as
community traditionally brings a high
For information on how to make a donation to help Tourette's Syndrome patient
vouchers.
voter turnout, an interest in politics
Shana
Hirsch, contact Shari Klein at (248) 967-3747. Checks can also be made out
The effort to allow prayer in public
and a penchant for contributing to
to Matan B'Seter and sent to Klein at: 24195 Beverly, Oak Park, MI, 48237-
school is something that Hughey
campaigns.
Hirsch was profiled in the July 31 edition.
expects to come up regularly in the
"I think that we think of ourselves
state legislature.
as more key than not," Gale said.
Eric Stark, the rabbinic intern at Temple Israel, earned a master of arts degree in
"Prayer in school is always big and
"We may vote in high numbers but
Hebrew Letters from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los
that's something everyone's concerned
we're a small community in a state of
Angeles. He will be ordained next May on the New York campus of HUC-JIR.
about," she said. "There are a lot of
9 million people." 0
Staff Writer
I
Sorting The Issues
Socially-conscious Jewish voters are concerned
with school prayer, school vouchers and the
rights of legal immigrants.
Clarification
8/14
1998
Detroit Jewish News
9