Insight Gaza In The Center Court LONNY GOLDSMITH Staff Writer L ast November, a local Jewish entrepreneur put a plan into motion to help the children of Palestine. Six months later, the plan inches closer to reality. Franklin Racquet Club owner Seymour Brode, past chairman of Israel Tennis Centers, and Arnold Michlin, of the Arab-American Jewish Friends, unveiled artist's renderings of a proposed tennis center in Gaza for Palestinian children and began orga- nizing fund-raising for the organiza- tion at a luncheon earlier this month. When the Israel Tennis Centers was created in 1976, the intent was "to use tennis as a vehicle for the children of Israel to have a better quality of life," Brode said. "We're trying to do the same thing in Gaza." Said Michlin: "This is a take off on Ping-Pong diplomacy. It's a visionary concept." Brode's wheels started turning when Suliaman Shurafa and Aiman Arafat of the Palestinian Tennis Association contacted him to plan a center of their own. Brode met with them last October and made a pledge to help, leading the fund-raising effott. Tennis was first used as a bridge for peace 20 years ago, when Lebanese children were brought to the tennis center in Kiryat Shemona, near the Israel-Lebanon border, to play tennis with Israeli children. This is what we're doing for peace in the Middle East," Michlin said. "We're not looking for profit --- we're giving of ourselves." Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat has approved using land in the Palestinian territory for the center, and plans have been drawn for the building and opera- tion. "To make it go," Brode said, "we need money." Construction costs are estimated at just under $1.5 million for six lighted tennis courts and two multipurpose courts, two main buildings and seat- ing at center court. The Benard Maas Foundation pledged $1,000, which was matched 6/25 1999 26D_e_tr_oit Jewish News by the Michigan Food and Beverage Association. Michael Traison, a West Bloomfield attorney, volunteered to draw up the paperwork to get the cen- ter tax-exempt status. Michlin said he and Brode are planning to make a pitch to the General Motors Fund, in hopes that this community organization will offer financial assistance. To whom the checks should be made out may prove to be the major sticking point. A seemingly endless 20-minute debate at the luncheon drew naming suggestions from many of the 16 Jewish, Arab and political representa- tives in attendance. Two suggestions receiving the warmest reception were the Palestinian Children's Center and American-Arab Jewish Friends for Peace Through Sport. Brode's opinion was that the group shouldn't use the word "ten- nis" in its fund-raising efforts. That word could make the project sound too lightweight to the foundations being approached, he said, adding that he'd learned that lesson in his association with the Israel Tennis Centers. The only thing finally decided in the debate was to put off the naming decision to another meeting. Meanwhile, the Palestinians involved in the children's tennis center have sent a thank-you note to Brode and the Israel Tennis Centers for paving and refurbishing existing ten- nis courts in Gaza. While the Palestinians were looking for help in building their tennis cen- ter, they clearly don't need much Israeli instruction. A group of Palestinian tennis players recently held their own tennis clinic, defeating a team of Israelis in a friendly tourna- ment. Li Plans advance for a tennis center for Palestinian youth. Remember When • • From the pages of The Jewish News for this week 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago. 1989 The Anti-Defamation League is investigating an incident that left a West Bloomfield home, in the Maplewoods subdivision, covered with swastikas. Sharlene Ungar, installed as pres- ident of Congregation B'nai Moshe, became the first woman to hold the post in the synagogue's 78- year history. 1979 Dr. Henry Kissinger was slated to receive an honorary degree of doc- tor of philosophy from Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The United States has asked the Soviet Union to free Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat missing since 1945 who is credited with saving 25,000 Hungarian Jews—/ from deportation to Auschwitz. 1969 Artist Marc Chagall expressed irrita- tion at the placement of his famous stained-glass windows in the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, saying they can't be fully appreciated due to a lack of proper lighting. Israeli authorities gave 100 Arab two days to leave homes and shops on the street next to the Western Wall. The structures were to be torn down for security reasons. 1959 Mandell L. Berman was elected president of the United Hebrew Schools at its 40th anniversary meeting. The Detroit Service Group was planning a mission to Israel under the chairmanship of Max M. Shaye. 1949 Above: An artist's rendering of the entrance to the proposed Gaza tennis center. Right: Seymour Brode speaks to the gatherino- at the Franklin Racquet Clu The community of Druzes in Israel, about 20,000 men, women and children, has asked the Israeli Ministry of Religion to accord it a'tr\ independent religious status. Rabbi Samuel H. Berkowitz was awarded the degree of master of arts from Catholic UniverSity of America, the first such degree in the history of the institution.