THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF
METRO DETROIT PROUDLY PRESENTS
A FUND RAISING EVENT
o47ede 'd Secede*
The Religious Liberty Protection
Act awaits action in the Senate. The
House passed the measure, which
makes it harder for government bodies •
to inhibit religious practice, even inad-
vertently, despite a rebellion by some
original co-sponsors — including a
number of Jewish members — because
of concerns the measure might trump
other civil rights protections.
Jewish groups remain firmly behind
the bill, but the civil rights issue will
reappear in the Senate, and RLPA's
prospects are uncertain.
Complicating the congressional
agenda will be the looming budget
confrontation between Republicans,
who favor using predicted surpluses
for big tax cuts, and the Democrats,
who say it's more important to shore
up Social Security and protect vital
domestic programs.
The Orthodox Union last week
praised the $792 billion tax cut passed
by the Republican-led Congress as
"family friendly," but most other
Jewish groups are worried about its
impact on social and health programs.
The Rally That Wasn't
Sunday's planned neo-Nazi march in
downtown Washington had all of the
elements Of a major clash, including
thousands of counter protesters,
Jewish militants itching for a fight and
armies of shield-toting police. It
lacked only the neo-Nazis themselves.
Only four supporters of the
American Nationalist Party, formerly
the Knights of Freedom, showed up.
Faced with thousands of jeering spec-
tators, they promptly departed.
That came after dire warnings by
some Jewish organizations of potential
violence — and unprecedented prepa-
rations by local authorities who had
little intelligence about a group
termed a "nonentity run out of a stu-
dent's dorm room" by a local Anti-
Defamation League official.
District of Columbia police chief
Charles Ramsey was not amused, and
instructed the city Corporation
Counsel to look into suing the South
Carolina-based organization for the
million-dollar-plus tab for the heavy
police presence.
Most Jewish groups stayed away, or
joined a multi-ethnic counter-rally
across town at the Lincoln Memorial.
Several local Jewish community
groups felt a minuscule group not
worth the angst was baiting them into
mounting demonstrations on Shabbat.
But at Lafayette Square, the expect-
ed terminus of the march, Shalom
International, a Miami-based group
that had a permit to mount a counter-
demonstration, was out in force.
"We're disappointed," said the
group's leader, Bob Kunst.
"We wanted them to be here. Next
time we'll have 10 thousand to protest
their presence."
The Jewish Defense League was sta-
tioned further up Pennsylvania
Avenue; its leader, Iry Rubin, was
seething because police were keeping
everybody — protesters, reporters,
ordinary pedestrians -- more than a
block from the planned parade route.
SCULPTURE EXHIBIT
AND SALE
Featuring the works of
Award Winning Sculptor
JERRY SOBLE
Thursday, Friday,
Saturday & Sunday
August 26, 27, 28, & 29
12 Noon - 5:00 p.m.
All proceeds Payable to J.C.C.
Honoring Leadership
President Bill Clinton presented the
Presidential Medal of Freedom to 10
recipients this week — including three
prominent Jewish activists.
Edgar Bronfman, president of the
World Jewish Congress and a major
Democratic contributor, was honored
for, among other things, his continu-
ing work to win restitution for
Holocaust survivors and heirs.
Bronfman "has worked to insure basic
rights for Jews around the world and
to fight anti-Semitism, and has spear-
headed the effort to retrieve the assets
of Holocaust victims and their fami-
lies," according to a White House
statement.
•
Honoree Evelyn Dubrow worked
for more than a half-century as lobby-
ist for the International Ladies
Garment Workers Union, becoming a
legend in the modern labor move-
ment. Over the years, she worked
closely with representatives of Jewish
organizations on a host of social wel-
fare issues.
The third Jewish recipient is Max
Kampelman, a lawyer and diplomat
under several administrations. He was
honored as a leader in arms control
negotiations for several administra-
tions and for his focus on internation-
al human rights. Kampelman has been
associated with a number of Jewish
organizations, including the American
Jewish Committee, the Anti-
Defamation League and the Jewish
Institute for National Security Affairs.
"We're pleased there were no con-
frontations," said David Friedman,
regional director for the Anti-
Defamation League, which argued
that counterdemonstrations would just
give the tiny, offbeat group credibility
it didn't deserve.
"We said all along that this group
was a nonentity; this proves it,"
Friedman said. Li
Co ni-vc, I XV
Bronze
Mime
Series
A delightful way to enjoy the
day. All art displayed on the
grounds of the artist's studio,
located on Upper Straits Lake.
•
Bring your children & grand-
children for their viewing of
intriguing art and creative
sculpture made from bronze,
stainless steel, glass, alu-
minum and stained glass.
"OlhAsich
Bronze
Artist's Studio is located at
3819 LaPlaya,
Orchard Lake , MI.
Orchard Lake Road to
Pontiac Trail go West
1/2 Mile to Light at
Old Orchard Trail.
Go Right 2 Miles to LaPlaya
Call 248-683-4364
Detroit Jewish News