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I

A Fulfilling Appeal

s Federation's Annual Campaign still
vital in the wake of today's array of
fund-raising drives and endowments?
The quick answer might seem "no."
That's because there's seemingly more
choice and control in giving smaller amounts
to many causes than one large amount to the
Jewish Federation-sponsored campaign, a 73-
year-old tradition in Detroit.
But a closer look would disprove that
response.
Virtually no grouping of fund-raisers can
match the sweep and depth of the appeal, for-
merly called the Allied Jewish Campaign, in ful-
filling Judaism's age-old mission to help the less
fortunate through our collective good fortune.
So as this year's Campaign opens this week-
end with Super Sunday, take a moment to
reflect on the mitzvah inherent in giving to a
cause that benefits fellow Jews from Oak Park
to Warsaw to Beersheva. Then contribute, after
any questions you may have are answered satis-
factorily.
Since 1926, when Federation was founded,
Detroit Jewry has set aside differences in per-
spective to generously support the campaign.
This year, your good deed will reverberate
in home care for elderly Jews at the Harriet &
Ben Teitel Jewish Apartments, in clothing for

IN FOCUS

poor Jews in Poland and in eyeglasses for job-
less Jews in Israel.
Consider also the troubled teens helped by
counseling, the youngsters of divorced families
who enjoy summer camp and the new Ameri-
cans who learn English as a second language.
Other priorities include immigration and
resettlement, Jewish education, eldercare ser-
vices, disability assistance, families in crisis,
and Jewish experiences on college campuses.
Also, the subsidy of Israel experiences for
young people, and the invigoration of Jewish
communities in impoverished places such as
Belarus, Cuba and Hungary.
Over the years, rumblings have persisted
about Federation's roughly equal division of local
and overseas allocations, rather than a higher ante
for local causes. Less than 7 percent of campaign
revenue goes to administration.
But any theory of discontent among givers
went up in flames last year during the cam-
paign's record-setting pull of $29.6 million —
the fourth biggest amount raised by federa-
tions nationwide even though we're only the
ninth largest Jewish community.
That, more than anything, underscores
Detroit Jewry's devotion not only to its home-
town but also to tikkun olam — a better way
of life for Jews everywhere. Fl

Slipping Federalism

T

he U.S. Supreme Court opened its
new term this week, and one focus
for Jews should be probing if the
justices continue the pattern of
recent years to scale back federal authority in
favor of state and local rights. Unfortunately;
many in the Jewish community have not rec-
ognized this trend.
One notable test case this term involves
whether Congress had the authority to pass
the 1994 Violence Against Women Act, which
allowed rape victims to sue attackers in federal
court for violating their civil rights. A federal
appeals court ruled it not a valid exercise of
power by Congress. Recent Supreme Court
rulings curtailing federal powers well could be
an indicator of how the justices will rule.
Another example: the 1997 ruling that -
struck down the Religious Freedom Restora-
tion Act as unconstitutional because it exceed-
ed Congress' authority,. The measure had
intended to make it more difficult for govern-
ment to encroach upon religious practice.
Historically, and not just in the United
States, Jews have relied on national rather than
local governments for recourse and redress. In
recent years, several national Jewish agencies
have expanded or opened Washington offices.
Now we must ask if this is the wisest use of
our resources. With Washington's power to tax

and spend — and fund important programs in
areas such as resettlement — it remains key.
And, of course, it is where we must lobby on
behalf of Israel aid and support, and a host of
other international issues. But we also must
deal with the trend toward state/local power.
We note that, despite stereotypes and long-
held assumptions, the states are not always the
regressive, parochial parties. The record is
mixed. As Marc Stern of the American Jewish
Congress points out, Georgia and Louisiana
struck down state sodomy laws as an invasion
of privacy, something Congress is unlikely to
have accomplished.
People worried about the devolution of
power to the states do have some recourse.
The next president will have enormous power
in court appointments due to the aging of
members currently serving. Therefore, they
should work diligently on behalf of the nomi-
nee they favor.
Additionally, Jewish professionals and vol-
unteers need to be taking more trips to the
statehouse instead of responding to the allur-
ing charm of the nation's capital. That, of
course, will need to be accompanied by local
federations and Jewish groups making aggres-
sive efforts to educate constituents about state
and local affairs, as well as building relation-
ships with regional lawmakers. (I

Hairy Milestone

A proud Shmuel Rabin of Oak Park stands on a chair as Rabbi
Avi Shapiro snips a lock of hair during the 3-year-old's
upsheerin, or first haircut, at Cafe Shalom in the Danto Family
Health Care Center, West Bloomfield. His father, Rabbi Yer-
achmiel Rabin, says his son, who often accompanies him on
visits, wanted to share this milestone with the residents. Rabbi
Rabin said Shmuel "walked around to each of the 50 people
who came to watch and bent his head down," so each could
cut a small section of his hair. In the company also of his
mother, three sisters and seven brothers, Shmuel thanked the
group for spending part of their morning with him, and then
sang a Yiddish song. 1-1

LETTERS

Reporting
Fell Short

The reporting of the criminal
indictment of the administra-
tor at the Danto Family
Health Care Center ("Court
Bound," Oct. 1) does not
serve the interests of the pub-
lic nor does it accurately
describe the depth of the
alleged misconduct.
The administrator was
charged with failing to report
abuse of an 81-year-old woman
as a result of her having eloped
or wandered away from the
facility on Jan. 1, 1999. The
facility allegedly attempted to
conceal the event and engage in
a cover-up.
The statement in your arti-
cle that the criminal charges
pertain to an individual is
false. The charges pertain to
the administrator of the facili-
ty, who is responsible for the

care of the residents.
Finally, quoting a podiatrist
with a contractual relationship
with the facility, once again,
does a disservice to the public.
The Jewish News owes the
Jewish community the obliga-
tion of fairly and accurately
reporting the events and cir-
cumstances surrounding this
occurrence. The interests of
the community are not served
by pandering to the Jewish
Federation or attempting to
make the incident look less
serious than it truly is.
Jules B. Olsman
Farmington Hills

Day-Trippin'
Revisited

It is always gratifying when
the Rabbi Leo M. Franklin
Archives of Temple Beth El
serve as a resource for the Jew-
LETTERS ON PAGE 37

10/8

1999

Detroit Jewish News

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