itorials The Vhstual Voter Editorials and Letters to the Editor are posted and archived on JN Online: Whom do you favor in the Israeli elections? Ehud Barak — One Isreal Yitzhak Mordechai — Center Binyamin Netanyahu — Likud Other ww-vv.detroitjewishnews.corn Vote on JN Online www.detroitjewishnews.com Poll results will appear here next week. T Welcome To The Majors Jewish players were added to the Detroit roster last week. The better known of the two is Gabe Kapler, a hard- hitting, center fielder who had been warming up with the Toledo Mud Hens and itching to get his chance with the Tigers. Kapler gave up his formal obser- Gabe Kapler vance after his bar mitzvah; unlike Hank Greenberg, he'll play on the high holidays. But he says he's proud of his Jew- ish heritage and regrets the lack of role models for aspiring Jewish athletes. Kapler has gotten off to a nice start with Detroit. He had a hit in each of his first five games, including a game-winning homer and five runs batted in. It could be a wonderful season for the Tigers if he continues to handle those tough American League hurlers. We par- ticularly wish Gabe luck in making the move from playing right field to playing center. Rabbi Lee Buckman may have his own challenges with left, right and center as he moves from his pulpit at Congregation Beth WO Israel, Milwaukee's largest Con- servative synagogue, to become headmaster of the new Jewish day high school here. His first challenge is to recruit staff and students for what would be the founding classes of this exciting project, the Jewish Acad- emy of Metropolitan Detroit, many of whose board members come from the ranks of Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit supporters. The community is certain- ly willing ro help make a go of the school; the United Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit will provide $750,000 over three years if the venture attracts at least 25 students per grade. The rabbi has built an admirable record in Milwaukee, and he wins consistent praise for his enthusiasm, clarity and commitment to Jewish education. A gymnast in college and a current triathlete, he ought to have within him the balance and endurance needed to make his school a winner. We're rooting for both newcomers. ❑ Don't Tax Reparations T he logjam of Holocaust reparation payments may be breaking at last, and that makes timely a proposal to prohibit state and federal income taxes on reparation payments to Holocaust survivors. Four senators, including Spencer Abraham of Michigan, have introduced a measure to accomplish that needed protection at the fed- eral level, and the House of Representatives has indicated it will accept the terms of the Senate proposal. Most tax exemptions are wrong in principle — they mask the true costs of the government subsidy — and flawed in effect — the benefits go to the people with the best tax accountants rather than those with the greatest need. But in this case, the measure is on target. Reparations should not be counted or taxed as income. Rather, they are a return of a tiny fraction of the assets that Nazi governments stole or that greedy banks and insurance corn- panies should have long ago given back to their rightful owners. The bill simply makes sure that the Internal Revenue Service treats the payments as what they are. In Lansing, Rep. Marc Schlussel says he is drafting a similar measure to forbid state taxes on reparations. These are sensible protections. But they won't mean anything unless restitution is actu- ally made. The Swiss banks have agreed to pay $1.25 billion, and a first payment, averaging about $500, has gone to 60,000 Holocaust survivors in this country. More should be forthcoming from suits against companies that used slave labor and, most significantly, European insur- ance companies that have dragged their feet for 50 years on rightful claims. The World Jewish Congress estimates that valid insurance claims may total as much as $2.5 billion, twice the Swiss bank sum. That money should be paid immediately. Sur- vivors have, to be sure, managed to live without it so far. But simple justice says they should ger what is rightfully theirs promptly, and tax-free, while they still have the time to enjoy it. ❑ An Unremarkable Day May 4 came and went, without a foolish avowal by the Palestinians about their "state." Yasser Arafat and his advisers were, of course, under tremendous pressure from Washington to behave themselves and not to do anything that would help Binyamin Netanyahu's re-election campaign. But they also felt the internal heat from ordinary Pales- tinians who wanted — and felt they had been promised — that symbolic declaration. It is a welcome sign of some political maturi- ty that the day passed . uneventfully in Gaza City and the West Bank. Let us hope that it really does symbolize a continuing commitment to seek a real and permanent peace with Israel. ■ IN FOCUS Marking Mayday Jon Varkovitsky, 11, of Beverly Hills, and David Permut, 13, of Huntington Woods, participate in a Habonim Dror game in celebration of Mayday on Sunday at the Crown Building in Oak Park. LITTERS AZM Takes Its Leave We are living in a time of great changes. Many ideas and institutions that were extremely important and influenced our daily lives have become dated and lost their importance. The American Zionist Movement, which started as the Detroit Zionist Federa- tion, has reached the point of fulfillment and decline. It has introduced and main- tained many significant events, but due to the decline of general support, its role is being ended. That is why we are dissolving as an organization. Among the innovations we introduced locally included the observance of Yom HaZikaron, Jerusalem Day and Israel Indepen- dente Day. For several years, we worked closely with Jew- ish students at all of the uni- versities and colleges in Michigan. We provided financial help, free of restric- tive guidelines. Until the time of the peace accord, the Arab students caused actual physical dangers that needed to be curtailed by appealing to the different administra- tions. We reestablished a relation- ship with PBS by presenting background on the actual events that built Israel so that the documentaries would not continue to be slanted against Israel. Also, a program was dedicated to Jewish Heritage Week. Our last major event has been the introduction and celebration of Jewish Her- itage Week. This was in accordance with our goal to reinforce pride in our hered- 5/7 1999