COMMUNITY
4460 Orchard Lake Poad
West Bloomfield, MI 48323
Phone: 248.683.1010
getzl cSbeef of
MOROCCO
from page 31
'Bloomfield
Assisted living,
in
LITTIRS
Studios and suites with private baths
Three well planned daily meals
Emergency call systems
with catered services Housekeeping
and linen services
Round the clock staffing
Nurses 24 Hours Daily
Leaufiful surroundings Licensed
Personal care assistance
Medical supervision
Spa
with
pool and exercise room
created especially
Scheduled activities
Game room
Library
for older aclulis.
Hair salon
Sundries shop
Transportation
Valet parking for residents ”,,
TOURS AVAILABLE DAILY
call 248.683.1010
hold of my emotions. I did not want
to. My reaction was a pleasant surprise
that said something about my Jewish-
ness that I hadn't realized before.
The others in our group of 19 peo-
ple were looking at me, wondering
what was wrong and if I was okay.
They were concerned but puzzled by
my reaction. They did not get it. They
could not get it. They were not Jewish.
I went over to join Arden, my Jew-
ish friend and travel mate, and asked
with tears in my eyes, "Did you get
emotional in there?" She said with a
chuckle, "Not until now that I see you
are crying!"
We went ro see the mikvah, hoping
to calm down in there before rejoining
the others. As I looked at the bath
water, I kept saying I was so shocked
by my reaction.
Arden said, "No matter how reli-
gious or not you are, you are still Jew-
ish. If Hitler were alive today, he
wouldn't care if you were religious or
not. You would be killed just because
you were Jewish."
After regrouping in the mikvah
room with.Arden, I felt ready to face
the rest of the group now returning to
the bus. The two older Jewish women
were still outside the bus saying good-
bye to the rabbi. I looked at the rabbi
and said to him, "I am Jewish, but not
religious at all. But this really touched
me." My voice cracked with emotion.
He took my hand, said "bless you
with a smile and warmly said, "Come
with me. I have a gift for you."
Arden and I followed him back
into the tiny synagogue again. He
opened the door of the ark, which
contained very old retired Torahs, and
pulled out two tiny scripture books.
One was for me, the other for Arden.
First, I got the one with Jerusalem
on its cover. The rabbi quickly said,
"No, I want you, especially, to have
this one,"and he switched books with
Arden. This one had a picture of an
old rabbi on it. I did not know who
he was, but was told it was the
deceased founder of the Lubavitcher
Movement, Rabbi Menachem
Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
The rabbi said, "Always keep this
with you. Carry it with you at all
times and keep it close to you to pro-
tect it." I was deeply touched. I think
the rabbi felt deeply touched by my
reaction as well.
In April this year, I will be going to
Israel as planned just before leaving
for Morocco. I don't know what to
expect, but I will be sure to bring lots
of Kleenex tissue!
"
TRADITION! TRADITION!
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for an appointment
(248) 557-0109
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4pplegate:.
2/26
1999
Northwestern Highway, Between 12 & 13 Mile Roads
34 Detroit Jewish News
protested the use of a cross, asserting
that the international humanitarian -Th
relief emblem was viewed in Muslim
countries as a Christian symbol. As a
result, the red crescent, a symbol
derived from Islam, was recognized as
a second emblem.
The juxtaposed images of a red
cross and red crescent became decid-
edly religious-based symbols. Under- )
standably, MDA refused to operate
under either of those banners,
choosing instead the ancient symbol
of the Jewish people, the Star of
David.
Since MDA first applied for mem-
bership in the international Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Soci-
eties in 1949, the red Star of David
has been rejected as an official emblem,
of humanitarian relief. To this day, the
Israeli group holds only limited
"observer" status in the Federation,
though MDA meets all the other crite-
ria and conditions for full member-
ship. This blatant discrimination has
left MDA with reduced cooperation
and coordination for its efforts, less
financial support, and the inability to
vote on key issues pertaining to the
activities and policies of the Federa-
tion.
It is time to end this shameful
injustice. When the International Fed-
eration convenes in October, it should
remedy this outrage by granting recog-
nition to MDA's official emblem, the
red Star of David, and affirm that poli-
tics has no place in international
humanitarian affairs.
The American Red Cross already is
on board, having accepted, de facto,
the Star of David as a symbol of
humanitarian relief and encouraged
other national Societies around the
world to act likewise.
The American Jewish Committee
has launched a grass-roots campaign
to urge key leaders involved with the
International Red Cross to lobby on
behalf of MDA. The Detroit Jewish
Community can help by calling
(248) 646 7686 to receive by fax an
action alert and a draft of a letter to
send.
The courageous Israelis who rush to
aid people, whether in Israel or in
another country around the world,
and give all of us pride in the Jewish
state need our help now.
-
Frederick J. Frank, President
The American Jewish Committee-
Detroit Chapter
Bloomfield Township