build ballparks, we should build a muse-
urn of tolerance in this city"
Serna and state Assemblyman
Darrell Steinberg promised to enlist the
help of corporations, labor unions, local
government units and community
groups to pay for the museum.
The museum proposal was wel-
comed by the Simon Wiesenthal
Center's Museum of Tolerance in
Los Angeles, whose director, Liebe
Geft, flew to Sacramento to meet
with officials.
To help meet the immediate needs
of the three synagogues, more than
810,000 has been donated by organiza-
tions representing the Japanese and
Chinese communities, Buddhist and
Christian churches, political leaders and
private citizens, the Sacramento Bee
newspaper reported.
The federal Department of Housing

and Urban Development has offered
low-interest loans to help the syna-
gogues repair the damage, under the
1996 Church Arson Prevention Act.
Andrew Cuomo, HUD's secretary, vis-
ited B'nai Israel with California Gov.
Gray Davis and called the destruction,
an attack against all Americans. ),
Other offers of help have arrived
from all parts of the country. "We've
been overwhelmed by offers of moral
and financial support from as far
away as New York and Florida," said
a spokesman at the Sacramento
Jewish Federation.
The three arson attacks occurred
within a 35-minute span, starting at
3:24 a.m. June 18. Given the distance
between the synagogues, investigators
thought it unlikely, but not impossible,
that the same person could have set all
three fires. I 1

"

,/S.• ■••■
•v t,
•

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giving them a subscription to The Detroit Jewish News.

Detroit Reaches Out To
Sacramento Synagogues

he Anti-Defamation
League/Michigan Region
and the Jewish
Community Council of
Metropolitan Detroit condemned
the June 18 arson attacks on three
synagogues in Sacramento, Calif,
and are asking for action from the
local Jewish community.
"While the burning of syna-
gogues brings to mind painful
memories of Kristallnacht (Nov. 9,
1938 pogroms in Germany and
Austria) and centuries of anti-
Semitic attacks, we are heartened by
the outpouring of support from the
people of Sacramento and by the
seriousness of the local and federal
response of law- enforcement," said
Donald Cohen, Michigan ADL
Director. "Certainly much has
changed for the better, but unfortu-
nately some still see Jews as conve-
nient scapegoats and targets." He
said. "A strong community
response, including strong hate-
crimes laws, can isolate the haters
and provide a necessary deterrent"
ADL is collecting letters of sup-
port to send the Sacramento Jewish
community.
Letters may be sent to: Anti-
Defamation League, Michigan
Regional Office, 4000 Town Center,
No. 420, Southfield, MI 48075.
The letters will be compiled and
presented to the Sacramento Jewish

community by California ADL offi-
cials, who have been working with
the community since the incidents
occurred:
"Acts such as these go beyond
mere vandalism," said David Gad-
Harf, executive director of the
Jewish Community Council of
Metropolitan Detroit. "They are
intended to instill fear in Jews
everywhere and ignite hate within
our communities.
"This is among the worst anti-
Semitic hate crimes perpetrated in
decades, and serves as a reminder
that all people of goodwill must
stand together to combat prejudice
and bigotry," he said.
According to the. Sacramento
Jewish community, written expres-
sions of support to the three con-
gregations, donations to a Unity
Fw-id to assist rebuilding efforts,
and donations of Jewish books to
the Wnai Israel library are needed.
Those wanting to donate books
should first send a list of available
titles and authors, which will be
reviewed to avoid duplication.
Letters of support, donations to the
Unity Fund and book lists can be
sent to: Jewish Federation of the
Sacramento Region, 2351 Wyda
Way, Sacramento, CA 95825. For
more information, phone (916)
486-0906.

— Harry Kirsbazim

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