LETTERS
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pletely different premise of what Jew-
ish outreach is supposed to be.
In 1950, the Lubavitchei Rebbe
Menachem Schneersohn, of blessed
memory, started the Jewish outreach
revolution. His vision was to bring
Judaism to Jews wherever they were,
by sending out emissaries to the
most far-flung areas of the United
States and the entire world. He
wanted his chasidim and their fami-
lies to be not only teachers, but liv-
ing examples of practicing, educat-
ed, Torah-observant Jews in places
where such a phenomenon did not
exist (yet. . .).
Lubavitch shluchim [emissaries] leave
the comforts of family and friends,
established synagogues and mikvot, day
schools, and kosher butchers and gro-
ceries to go live wherever there are other
Jews, in order to teach and be examples
of Torah. And always it is based on the
same principle: You don't wait for the
people to come to you, you go where
the people are. Jewish education is now
happening in Anchorage, Alaska; in
Bangkok, Thailand; in Shanghai, China,
and in almost 3,000 Chabad centers
throughout the world because of the
vision of the Rebbe.
In the Detroit area, Lubavitch
began a Torah education network in
West Bloomfield, Farmington and
Ann Arbor over 20 years ago, and
then branched out to Bloomfield
Hills, Flint, Grand Rapids and Toledo.
It is a network that, thank God, con-
tinues to grow all the time. Classes are
available in all areas of Judaism, from
the practical to the mystical, halachic,
historical and philosophical. There are
large classes, small classes, private
classes, classes for beginners and for
more advanced students, classes in
synagogues, offices, restaurants, the -
JCC. Lubavitch also has a thriving
network of schools locally —
Ganeinu, Cheder Lubavitch, Bais
Menachem Academy, Bais Chaya,
Mushka Girls High School and the
Yeshiva Gedola Lubavitch.
The majority of Jews are not
about to move back to the Brook-
lyns and the Oak Parks of our com-
munities. The key to Jewish out-
reach lies in educators willing to
move out to those communities
where Jews live today, and to build
synagogues, Torah centers and
schools there. Then — to quote an
old song — "What a wonderful
world it would be.
Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg
West Bloomfield
Setting The
Record Straight
The record should be set straight on a
a recent letter to the editor ("Levin's
Vote And Intolerance," July 23)
regarding my vote against the Reli-
gious Liberty Protection Act. The
writer took me to task for opposing
final passage of the Religious Liberty
Protection Act, asserting that the
entire Jewish community should be
outraged."
In fact, I support the basic thrust of
the Religious Liberty Protection Act.
However, the legislation as written
could do serious damage to existing
civil rights protection and anti-dis-
crimination statutes. For example, the
bill could enable the CEO of a large
corporation to prohibit on religious
grounds the hiring of a divorced per-
son, or a disabled person, or a mother
they believe should be home with her
children and not out in the workforce.
I joined every Jewish member of
the House in supporting a substitute
proposal offered by Congressman
Jerry Nadler of New York. The substi-
tute contained the exact language of
the Religious Liberty Protection Act
but with an additional provision that _
the act is not used to violate to the
rights of others. Unfortunately, the
Nadler Amendment was narrowly
defeated. As a result, I, along with the
vast majority of Jewish members of
the House, voted against the bill's pas-
sage.
I take a back seat to no one in the
House when it comes to protecting
religious liberty. Although I support
many of the provisions of the Reli-
gious Liberty Protection Act, in our
endeavor to protect the religious liber-
ty of all Americans, we should make
every effort not to abrogate the civil
rights of other Americans. I am hope-
ful that the Senate will be guided by
this principle if it considers this issue.
Sander M. Levin
Member of Congress
"
Sorority Life
Proves Uplifting
I am going to be a sophomore at
Michigan State University in the fall. In
response to "Open Up The Greek Sys-
tem" ("Voices In Jewish Education,"
Aug. 6), I am in a sorority with just a
few other Jewish girls, Kappa Kappa
Gamma. I don't regret not joining a
Jewish sorority one bit. I have made
some amazing friendships and been
exposed to many uplifting experiences,
such as community service.
Every semester, each girl in my soror-
ity is required to obtain two points for
community service. What this means is
that we have to volunteer our time at
least twice a semester. Some of the
opportunities include selling magazines
for the Rose McGill funds, helping at
homeless shelters, helping out with
Habitat for Humanity, etc. Every year,
my sorority holds a golf outing to raise
money to fight breast cancer; last year,
we made more than $5,000.
I am one of four Jewish girls in my
house — that does not make me feel
uncomfortable in any way. It is actually
good for me because it has given me an
opportunity to be exposed to many dif-
ferent types of people that I was not
used to. The other girls in my sorority
ask me about the holidays and what
they are all about. They are interested in
what it is like to be a Jewish girl in the
Greek system at Michigan State.
Julie Bean
West Bloomfield
Honor Traditions
Over Baseball
Like many Jews, I feel a sense of
pride when a fellow Jew receives
public acclaim, recognition, notoriety
or success. Most recently, I felt a great
sense of pride when the Tigers called
up Gabe Kapler from the minors — a
reflection of his hard work during
spring training. As a Tigers season
ticket holder, I cheer a little louder
when he comes to the plate or makes
a play in the field. Unfortunately,
since reading the quote attributed to
him ("Quotables," Aug. 6), my respect
for him has diminished greatly.
It is a shame that Mr. Kapler
thinks that choosing a game, even a
World Series game, over a Jewish
holiday, makes it "cool to be Jew-
ish." If anything makes being Jewish
"cool," it is that we choose to honor
our traditions, ourselves and God
through our holidays and obser-
vances.
Furthermore, when any Jewish ath-
lete has, in the past, refused to play in
a game on a holiday, he or she has
garnered the respect of Jews and non-
Jews alike. (How cool is that!)
If Mr. Kapler thinks he is helping to
make Judaism "cool," he is sorely mis-
taken. Perhaps the only comfort I take
in this situation is that Mr. Kapler has a
few more years to rethink his decision so
long as he remains a Detroit Tiger.
Mark H. Weintraub
Birmingham
Is Hillary
Deserving?
By now, Hillary Clinton has received
the Henrietta Szold Award — grant-
ed, according to a Hadassah
spokesperson, because she advocated
"what Henrietta Szold stood for"
("Living With Hillary," July 23.)
Some have questioned whether the
first lady deserves this distinction. I
would have been among them had news
of her nomination appeared in the Jew-
ish News at an earlier date. What has
Hillary Clinton accomplished, after all,
besides speeches from a bully pulpit she
never earned? What positive example
has she provided to the country or the
Jewish community? Was it taking credit
for authoring a book (It Takes a Village)
she didn't write or for making cattle
futures profits that were, instead, allocat-
ed to her
Do we draw inspiration from her
questionable dealings in Whitewater
or for her cavalier treatment of White
House travel office workers, who were,
under her directive, fired?
Henrietta Szold, in contrast, was a
woman of valor and virtuous action.
She accomplished a night school for
Russian Jewish immigrants, where she
served as teacher and principal. She
founded the Women's Zionist organiza-
tion, later to become Hadassah. With
the help of growing Hadassah member-
ship, Szold organized the American
Zionist medical unit, the foundation of
Hadassah Hospital. In the darkest hours
of World War II, she was responsible for
bringing 10,000 children to Israel, res-
cued from the hands of the Nazis. She
did all this without expecting praise,
glory or photo-ops.
When it comes to the Middle
East, I am not surprised that Ms.
Clinton speaks out of both sides of
her mouth. I am surprised, however,
that Hadassah leadership would hon-
estly believe that Hillary Clinton
represents the ideals and beliefs of
Henrietta Szold."
Again I ask, "What good has she
done?" Furthermore, what political
message is Hadassah promoting?
Esther Littmann
Bloomfield Hills
LETTERS ON PAGE
33
8/13
1999
Detroit Jewish News
31_,