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War, Peace And Impeachment

II

ow can one make sense of recent.
events, a convergence of that seems
more bizarre than anything a Dadaist
playwright could script? Judaism does
have a response — the balancing of perceived
ethical absolutes.
But what were dealing with is unprecedented.
Within a matter of days, the president of the
United States of America visits Palestinian territo-
ry and is greeted by flag-waving children. He all
but guarantees American support for a fiiture
Palestinian state. Palestinian leaders revoke their
highly offensive, long-standing pledge to destroy
Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu expresses satisfaction, but has strained
talks with President Clinton.
Enroute back to the U.S., President Clinton
orders a military strike against Iraq. And Pales-
tinians burn American and Israeli flags in protest.
Some Republicans link Clinton's decision to his
domestic legal woes. After a one-day delay to
show support for the U.S. troops, the House of
Representatives discusses whether to impeach
their commander-in-chief The debate is a bitter-
ly partisan one. This follows years of financially
and emotionally expensive investigation of Clin-
ton's private life and his subsequent lying under
oath. Two articles of impeachment are approved
on Saturday.
Finally on Sunday, the Israeli government sus-
pends its participation in the Wye agreement,
which calls for further troop withdrawals from
the West Bank. The stated reason: Palestinian
incitement in words and violence. A day later,
that Israeli government is dissolved, forcing early
elections.

The only conclusion from all of this: the forces of
divisiveness and a host of dangers have emerged
stronger.

Saddam Hussein is still in power in Iraq. As
this week's special cover package shows (starting
on page 6), the U.S. and Israeli electorates are dis-
tracted. U.S. allies wonder when Washington will
refocus on pressing world problems — Russia's
battered economy, renewed ethnic tribalism in
Bosnia and rebuilding a hurricane-devastated
central America. The list goes on.
In Jerusalem, pending elections end the
immediate hope for progress on the peace front.
Overtures to Syria will not occur, meaning bor-
der violence in Lebanon will continue. Palestin-
ian riots are expected to worsen.
As we repeatedly point out, there is no sensi-
ble alternative to the search for peace. With the
tools of a dictator at his disposal, Yassir Arafat
could squelch the most violent-prone Palestini-
ans. But his sense of urgency to do so, with Israel
distracted, will likely be put on hold.
For his part, President Clinton acted boldly in
regard to Iraq, although the effectiveness of
Operation Desert Fox remains to be seen. Sad-
dam must be stopped. We fear that the more
than 300 sophisticated missiles fired by the U.S.

12/25
1998

24 Detroit Jewish News

IN Foos

All About Chanukah

at Iraqi targets merely delayed him. As long as he
remains in power, western and Israeli interests are
under serious threat, not to mention the Iraqi
people.
Meanwhile, in the U.S. House of Representa-
tives, some Democrats cried that there was a
Republican coup d'etat. The hyperbole is out of
place. This wasn't a bloody revolution. But to say
that compromise is morally unacceptable is to
reject the foundations of democracy. When ethi-
cal decisions clash, as they do in this matter, rea-
sonable people can balance interests.
Judaism teaches us to distinguish between
what is absolute and what is conditional. Our
world, our nation and our community would be
better off to remember that Jewish model.
The absolutists in Israel — on both sides —
have forgotten which is which. There are valid
security concerns, and land for peace is a viable
strategy, if carefully crafted.
The absolutists who believe that Saddam only
understands force have forgotten which is which.
Last week's barrage of missiles set back his ability
to threaten neighbors but did little to encourage
an internal rebellion that could finally oust him.
The absolutists who believe that President
Clinton must be impeached, tried and convicted
at all costs have forgotten which is which. The
president's actions, and poorly miscalculated
apologies, were highly offensive. Yet, responsible
models of compromise, such as joint censure
from the House and Senate, were workable
choices.
In this age of instant information and opin-
ion, we are constantly told to read events in
black-and-white terms. The middle ground no
longer seems to exist. We ought to try toleration.
With creative effort and integrity, we can grant
those with opposite views a legitimate voice.
That's the Jewish way. And it's the way that we
seem to have lost. El

Rabbi Solomon Gruskin (right) of B'nai Zion gets some help
in lighting the Chanukah candles from Edward Godzina and
Margaret Huppert at the Cooperative Council of Jewish
Women's Organizations Chanukah party Dec. 15 at the Jimmy
Prentis Morris Jewish Community Center in Oak Park. Client:
of Kadima, JARC and hospitals, foster homes and nursing
homes lit the Chanukiyah. Adel Kozadayev provided musical
entertainment. Event co-chairs were Elaine Kadashaw and
Dolores Greenspan.

LETTERS

Temple Does
The Right Thing

As a Jewish parent of a gay
son, I am so very proud and
pleased that Temple Beth El
has formed an Inclusiviry Task
Force that is working toward
making their gay members
and families and loved ones
feel welcome and comfort-
able.
This is a very courageous
step. I would like to compli-
ment Temple Beth El for
doing the right thing by
opening their hearts and
souls, and now their doors, to
the Jewish gay and lesbian
community.
Temple Beth El has invited
PFLAG/Detroit (Parents,
Families and Friends of Les-
bians and Gays) in reaching
out to the Jewish community
by holding three consecutive
support group sessions from
2-5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17,
Feb. 21 and March 21. As

always, confidentiality is most
important and anonymity will
be respected at all times. For:-'
information, call the
PFLAG/Detroit hotline,
(248) 656-2875, or the busi-
ness line, (248) 540-7066.
After feeling very unaccept-
ed and rejected in our temple
we decided to become unaffil
iated. Our family was finally
able to feel like we were not
alone in the Jewish communi
ty when we became involved
in MJAC (Michigan Jewish
AIDS Coalition) in 1991.
Then we joined SIMCHA (a
Jewish gay and lesbian organi-
zation). We also discovered
the support group called
PFLAG/Detroit. Stephen
found support through
mations, which is the gay and
lesbian community center in
Ferndale. With the help and
support of these organiza-
tions, our family began to
shed those feelings of being
alone and isolated. I since