Ian efforts, especially her advocacy on behalf of children and women. Previous recipients of the award have included former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel. The Zionist Organization of America sees the award as another slap at Israel. "We've expressed our concern that we don't think a Zionist organiza- tion should be giving an award to someone who has called for a PLO stare with unrestricted sovereignty, and who sat on a board that gave grants to the pre-1993 PLO," said Morton Klein, ZOA's president, referring to Clinton's work with the leftist New World Foundation. "We think Henrietta Szold would not have supported giving an award named in her honor to Ms. Clinton." Interfaith Effort Retreats From D.C. Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, the Chicago rabbi who had hoped to forge a new alliance between Jews and evangelical Christians to affect policy in Washington, is retreating back to the Windy City. Rabbi Eckstein's Center for Jewish and Christian Values, which opened three years ago under the co-sponsorship of two prominent senators, is closing its Washington office. The organization will continue to operate from the Chicago headquarters of its parent group, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, .4% but Rabbi Eckstein Rabbi Yechiel conceded that the Eckstein organization would shift its focus away from hot political issues. "We're pulling back; it's a retrench- ment," he said. "It won't have the same luster of being in Washington, and it will be less directly political. It will be activism in a different form." One factor in the decision, Eckstein said, was the difficulty of managing the group by remote control. He agreed that another reason was his reluctance to do what it takes to have an impact in Washington. Eckstein's group helped push a 1998 law enlisting the federal govern- ment to fight religious persecution overseas, but was less successful in get- ting Jewish and Christian groups to oin on other issues. Exclusive providers of exquisite European, Canadian, and American cabinetry. Our experience can transfer your kitchen into what makes dreams come true! Specify Kitchen Direct for unique kitchens. 26618 Southfield Rd. Lathrup Village (248) 424-7300 Visit Our Showroom, 2 Blocks South of 1-696 EXPERIENCED KITCHEN DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECT ON STAFF 6/18 1999 Detroit Jewish News 27