Chafets Chafes

Israeli journalist's
keynote address
ruffles feathers at
Colloquium '99.

DIANA LIEBERMAN

Staff Writer

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A k Colloquium '99, sponsored by the

lir International Institute for Secular

Humanistic Judaism, began with

a pointed keynote speech by

Pontiac native Ze'ev Chafets.

Ze'ev Chafets speaks at Colloquium '99.

10/15
1999

hen Rabbi Sherwin
Wine of Birmingham
Temple introduced
Ze'ev Chafets, keynote
speaker at Colloquium '99, he warned
that the controversial journalist would
not pull any punches.
Chafets certainly lived up to his
reputation, taking jabs at Labor
Zionists, new traditionalists and at a
Jewish diaspora that seeks its identity
in contributing to Israel and remem-
bering the Holocaust.
His most controversial barbs, how-
ever, were reserved for fervently
Orthodox Jews, bringing some dis-
comfort to his generally sympathetic
audience of 325.
Colloquium '99, the biennial con-
ference of the International Institute
for Secular Humanistic Judaism, took
place Oct. 7-10 at Birmingham
Temple. The event's theme, "The
Struggle for a New Jewish Identity,"
was addressed by speakers identified
with the Secular Humanist, Reform
and Reconstructionist movements as
well as those who said they were
Renewal and Secular Jews.
Chafets was effective in priming
participants for a weekend of spirited
discussion.
"He was a perfect keynote speaker,"
said Martin Kotch of Beverly Hills, a
lay leader in the Secular Humanist
movement. "He was clever and kept
the audience's interest. He provoked
the audience to think about what's
coming."
Speaking at Birmingham Temple
was something of a homecoming for
Chafers. Born in Pontiac in 1947, he
attended Congregation Beth Jacob,
then on Elizabeth Lake Road, and
was local president of the National
CHAFETS on page 22

