COMMUNITY VIEWS

•

The Election Dilemma
And Our Community

the candidates? How should we sort
any Michigan Jews are
out the conflicting claims on our
in a quandary.
vote? My litmus test questions that
Wherever I go in
members of the Jewish community
the Jewish community,
can
use in the coming weeks fall
people tell me that they are in con-
into four clusters:
flict over the gubernatorial
As we observe the candi-
race this year. Those who
dates on the campaign trail
have traditionally voted for
and re-evaluate them prior
Democratic candidates for
to the election, what kind
governor have some serious
of governor would each
doubts about this year's
person make? Would he
candidate, Geoffrey Feiger.
have the character traits
Yet they have a hard time
that give us faith in his
contemplating voting for
leadership?
the incumbent, Republican
What are his priorities?
Governor John Engler.
What public policy changes
D AVID
Those who consider them-
can we anticipate during
GAD- HARF
selves independents are
his term as governor? In
Speci at to
voicing similar concerns
what
direction would he
about the choice.
The Jewi sh News
take
the
state?
Some of these prospec-
What is his record of
tive Jewish voters have told me they
accomplishment? What does this tell
may solve their dilemma by skipping
us about his ability to accomplish
the gubernatorial portion of the bal-
his public policy goals?
lot on Nov. 3.
Doe he have a well-grounded
At this point, some five weeks
familiarity
with the Jewish commu-
before the election, I suggest that no
nity
and
with
our special concerns?
one makes a final decision yet about
What
are
his
positions
on the issues
whether he or she will vote for gov-
that are important to the Jewish
ernor or for whom they will vote.
community?
During the coming weeks, the Jew-
When members of the Jewish
ish electorate and others should eval-
community evaluate the candidates'
uate the candidates, monitor their
positions on issues through a Jewish
campaigns and allow them to make
prism,
the issues they are likely to
their case for our votes.
consider
are: education, support for
On what basis should we evaluate
vulnerable populations, religious
David Gad-Harf is executive director
freedom, broadened economic pros-
of the Jewish Community Council of
perity, reduced racial, religious and
Metropolitan Detroit.
ethnic division, and expanded link-

ages with Israel. No one will include
all of these issues on his or her list;
people will have different priorities,
and they will even have different
positions on the issues.
For example, some Jews may feel
the next governor should pay more
attention to
the traditional
public educa-
tion system,
while others
will favor a
candidate who
supports alter-
native
approaches to
education.
Nevertheless,
it is important
the candidates
know that
Jews want
them to
address this
issue and the
others cited
above.
I would be
remiss if I did
not note that
there are sev-
eral other cru-
cial races his
November.
Jewish voters will decide whether
U.S. Representatives Joe Knollen-
berg and Sander Levin deserve re-
election. With the retirement of
Frank Kelley, there is no incumbent

in the attorney general race, which
connects with our concerns about
civil rights, consumer affairs and law
enforcement.
Because of term limits, there will

be an upheaval in the state House of
Representatives, with at least 65 new

legislators
being elected
this fall. Con-
trol of the
House will
determine
whether the
new governor
is able to
enact his
agenda. We
should also
pay attention
to the elec-
tions for uni-
versity
regents, state
board of edu-

cation mem-
bers and
county com-
missioners.
I urge read-
ers to become
educated vot-
ers and to vote
for all the
offices on the
ballot. The November election will
affect our lives in many significant
ways as Michigan citizens and will
have an impact on our Jewish com-
munity.

Take five weeks to
examine the issue.

LITTERS

Commendations
For Artists

My husband and I just returned from a
trip to France where we had the oppor-
tunity to see a wealth of beautiful works
of art.
Going through the mail that had
accumulated, I perused The Jewish. News
article, "Women Of Colors" (Sept. 11),
which featured Jo Rosen, Patty Tapper,
Andrea Tama, Joan Schwartz and Bar-
bara Messer.
Though, for the most part, I put
down my brush and palette as an artist
when I began my practice as a clinical
social worker, I am joyfully envious and

"Juggler's Magic," a watercolor by Jo Rosen.

9/25

199S

341 Detroit Jewish News

so delighted that these wonderful Jewish
women artists Ore pursuing their consid-
erable talents.
We should all be aware that they are
right here in our midst, under our very

noses, producing wonderful, quality
works .of art. I say this with a trained
and appreciative eye: paint on, all of
you! Your work reflects a caliber that
ranks with those I have seen in galleries
in Europe. Lucky us that we should
have you right here in our community.
Thank you, The Jewish News, for
highlighting these treasures.

Janice Tracht
West Bloomfield

Many Thanks
To Special Shul

My bar mitzvah was on Shabbat Shof-
tim, Aug. 29, at Congregation Beth
Achim, and it was the most important
event in my life.
Now I realize how blessed I really am
to have celebrated my bar mitzvah at my