EDITOR'S WATCH

Journeying To
The Jewish Homeland

I

He hooked me with his heartfelt
magine the logistics of organiz-
description of how commemorating
ing an adult mission to Israel for
Yom Ha'Zikaron (Israel Memorial
up to 800 Jews — and the myr-
Day) and celebrating Yom Ha'Atz-
iad of expectations.
ma'ut (Israel Independence Day) on
A daunting task, surely!
successive
days are defining moments
But Ben Rosenthal is as chipper as
for
a Jew.
he was 18 months ago at the
It
was then that I under-
first stroke of planning as
stood
why he felt the vast
chairman of Michigan Mira-
majority of the 2,100
cle Mission III.
Michiganians on the first
"It'll be exciting, emotion-
two miracle missions had
al and eventful," he told 200
developed stronger links to
mission-goers Dec. 3 at the
their Jewishness and the
first of four informational
Jewish
community.
briefings.
So
far,
635 of us, includ-
Along with plenty of fun,
ing
my
wife,
Beth, and I,
food and friendship, he
ROBERT A.
have signed up for Miracle
promised to stir our Jewish
SKLAR
Mission III. El Al will fly
souls via talks and discus-
Editor
direct from Detroit to Tel
sions on topics of the day
Aviv April 18. A 10-day bus
ranging from peace to plural-
tour
to
holy,
historic and popular sites
ism.
in
Tel
Aviv,
Tiberias
and Jerusalem will
Characterizing the Jewish Federation
follow.
of Metropolitan Detroit-sponsored trip
"Dress comfortably for the 11 1/2-
as "the experience of a lifetime," he said
hour
flight. And catch some sleep, if
travelers will laugh, sing, pray and cry
you
can,
because we'll do some tour-
and ride a roller coaster of spiritual
ing of Tel Aviv as soon as we land,"
highs and emotional lows.
advised Rosenthal, whose wife, Marta,
He said we'll experience "what the
is among the bus captains and whose
Land of Israel is about, what we as a
co-chairs
are Ron Klein and Kathy
people are about and what we as a
Wilson-Fink.
Jewish community is about."

El Al will appeal to our comfort
with a travel kit that boasts conve-
niences like eyeshades, a pillow and a
toothbrush.
We're limited in how much we can
bring — a challenge for someone like
me, who doesn't know how to travel

lightly. "You can travel to Israel with
just one suitcase and one carry-on —
promise you!" pronounced Rosenthal,
who has visited the Jewish homeland--
15 times.
Each of the buses will have a dis-
tinctive itinerary. The buses won't
travel as a caravan but some mega)
events are planned, including
Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel and
a farewell dinner-dance with a
high-ranking Israeli as guest
speaker.
After two days in and aroundi
Tel Aviv, Day 3 should cure
anyone who's feeling homesick.
That's when we'll visit Michi-
gan's Partnership 2000 region in
the Central Galilee. Folks there
should be eager to converse
about Michigan, their partner
region.
Day 4 will mark a high point
— our arrival in Jerusalem.
There, we'll ascend the slopes of
the capital city and recite the She-
hecheyanu. "There's no more
meaningful thing a Jew can do,"
Rosenthal said, "bur see
Jerusalem."
The next day, we'll tour mod-
Ben Rosenthal— Michigan Miracle Mission

III chairman.

JEWISH HOMELAND on page 27

OPINION

Toward A Lasting Peace
And A Healed Nation

U.S. SEN. CARL LEVIN

Special to The Jewish News

I

n recent days, we have witnessed
a series of unprecedented events
in Washington. We have also
watched as President Clinton
went the extra mile in pursuit of peace
in the Middle East. The president
served the nation well in deciding to
undertake military operations against
Iraq. Sadly, at the same time, he faced
a one-party, highly partisan impeach-
ment action in the House of Repre-
sentatives.
America's support for Israel's exis-
tence and security has been steadfast
for 50 years and President Clinton
and his administration have strongly

Carl Levin is a U.S. senator from
Michigan.

12/25
1998

26 Detroit Jewish News

upheld that tradition. The
River, Maryland,
United States has shared a
and in confronting
unique partnership with Israel
the challenges that
since it became a state in 1948.
have followed.
Israel's greatest challenge over
A central con-
the past 50 years has been to
dition for any
achieve security and a true and
successful peace
lasting peace with the Palestini-
agreement is
ans and its Arab neighbors.
Israel's satisfaction
American diplomacy is key
with how its secu-
to achieving the goal of a last-
rity would be
t'.S. Sen. Carl Levin
ing peace in the Middle East.
affected after
The United States alone has the
implementation.
ability to create an environment where
It is imperative that Israel ultimately
negotiations can succeed. But as the
decides the size and timing of any
Clinton administration fully knows,
further redeployment.
only the parties themselves can make
Terrorism and the use of violence
peace
peace cannot be imposed
against innocent civilians are despica-
upon them. This important U.S. role
ble. We must continue our efforts not
in the peace process was played per-
only to assist Israel, our special ally in
sonally by the president in his repeat-
the Middle East, but also to address
ed efforts during negotiations ar Wye
the alarming issue of global terrorism.

The actions of a violent minority must
not be allowed to reverse the steps that
have been made toward peace in the
Middle East.
The peace process is now at a criti-
cal juncture. I support President Clin-
ton and his administration's efforts to
move the peace process forward, his
commitment to the security of Israel
and his efforts to help improve the
lives and security of the Palestinian
people. I am also hopeful that both
Israel and the Palestinian Authority
will continue their hard work to
implement the agreement reached at
Wye River so that the parties involved
can then proceed to final status nego-
tiations.
With respect to Iraq, President
Clinton had no alternative but to
order military action because Sad-
LASTING PEACE on page 27