Get Off the Road Get In the Club enforced," Rabbi Riskin said: "That has to be understood as a fundamental principle of civil law in Israel. Coercion and religion can never come together. Ms. Shakdiel, however, called for Israel to forgo liberal democracy and its stress on individual rights and free- dom, in favor of a republican democ- racy in which citizens focus on various subgroups. "It opens up the possibility to dis- cuss the dignity of the groups," she said. That's because liberal democracy was appropriate in 1948 when Orthodox Jews were but one of a handful of minorities in Israel. Today, however, "the discourse of democracy has changed," she said. "We are a multi-cultural society without multi- culturalism." "Coercion and religion can never come together. — Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Ravitzky, however, had yet another take. Secular Israelis value three ideals — freedom, peace and law or justice. But they consider Israel's fervently Orthodox haredim enemies of these values. That comes from their per- ceived religious coercion, opposition to the peace process and, more recent- ly, vehement stance against Israel's Supreme Court. Attempts by the Orthodox, he said, to eradicate what they consider evil — such as the Supreme Court's authority — will create more evil. But Orthodox leaders cannot, he said, refer to past Jewish political models because Jews lived without political power for nearly two millen- nia and democracy in its modern form did not exist in ancient times. Israel's founders created a state without any precedent — "political Jews in the heart of the Holy Land before the Messiah, led by transgres- sors of the law. Add to that a modern state and democratic regime." In the end, Dr. Ravitzky said, there is not one classical source. Therefore, he added, "We need to develop a new Midrash." TIRED OF DRIVING Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth across town for this class and that program and her match and his workout? Keep your family fit and active without the hassle. IT'S ALL UNDER ONE ROOF AT The Sports /Club WHERE KIDS LEARN SPORTS Tennis Swimming Gymnastics Taekwondo Dance Sports Camps WERE ADULTS GET FIT Aerobics Cardio Center Weights Tennis & Swimming Spinning & Kickboxing Personal Training Yoga & Water Aerobics Saunas & Steamrooms THE SPORTS CLUB OF WEST BLOOMFIELD 248-626-9880 6343 Farmington Rd. (Just north of Maple) THE SPORTS CLUB OF NOVI 248-735-8850 42500 Area Dr. (Off Novi Rd., just south of 10 mile) 2/19 1999 Detroit Jewish News 21