EDITOR'S WATCH

Learning Jewishly

But the fruits
ike it or not, metro
of
that talent
al
Detroit's architects
must be delivered
We
for Jewish learning
Learn
to the community
must create a dar-
as fresh and
ing blueprint that propels
unadulterated as
study opportunities into the
possible. That's
next decade.
the surest way to
For if they don't, we might
attract community
well encounter deep fissures
buy-in and keep
in the bedrock we call Jewish
Jewish education
continuity — of passing our
moving ahead.
heritage on from one genera-
Which is why
tion to the next.
I'm hopeful that
As Dr. Ronald Wolfson, a
FAJE, 10 months
nationally respected Jewish
into its charge,
educator and consultant
bares all in sharing
ROBERT A.
who's affiliated with the Uni-
its research into
SKLAR
versity of Judaism in Los
how we learn Jew-
Editor
Angeles, so sagely put it on a
ishly. That would
September stopover:
be a community
"We're capable of anything
service — sugar-
except how to be Jewish.
coated findings wouldn't.
How do we build a Jewish future
Unvarnished facts can't help
when so many know so little?"
but reinforce thoughtful rec-
That's why I'm so eager for the
ommendations.
December release of the first round of
So as its workgroups draft
recommendations from FAJE (Federa-
recommendations, the 80-
tion's Alliance for Jewish Education),
member alliance should
led by Robert Naftaly and Dr. Lynda
remember that how it com-
Giles.
municates its newfound
There's a lot of resourceful talent
knowledge is as important as
on the Jewish Federation of Metropol-
what that knowledge is.
itan Detroit-backed alliance, including
I've been an ardent observer of how
visionary director Harlene Appelman.
we learn Jewishly since coming to the

As the Torah parade heads to
the new home of Yeshivat
Akiva on Sept. .6, Rabbi
Karmi Gross dances with
Solly Beraderet, 9, and Jacob
Kohn, 10, both of West
Bloomfield.

L

Jewish News nearly two years ago.
Before that, I was a casual observer for
many years, having grown up here.

And there's no question
that our future as a commu-
nity of 96,000 Jews hinges
on the caliber of study
opportunities we serve up at
all age levels.
Our day schools are
pointed in the right direction
— there's no mistake about
that. Rising enrollment has
prompted Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah to build a new
preschool development cen-
ter. Hillel Day School is busy
mapping improvements
based on an ambitious five-
year plan. Yeshivat Akiva has
a new home and a fresh start
in a former synagogue. After
proving itself for 13 years,
Yeshivas Darchei Torah now receives
Federation funding.
Collectively, our day school enroll-

LETTERS

Foreign Aid
Up To Congress

President Clinton did the right thing
in vetoing the foreign aid bill ("Aid
Bill Trashed," Oct. 22). It is now up
to the Congress to go back to the
drawing board and approve the neces-
sary funds for the United States to ful-
fill its international responsibilities.
This current approach by Congress
to international affairs will ultimately
weaken our nation's ability to influ-
ence world events, to the detriment of
U.S. national interests.
By slashing the foreign aid budget
and, in particular, not including the
$1.9 billion pledged to Israel, Jordan
and the Palestinian Authority to help
them implement the U.S.-brokered
Wye River peace accord, Congress is
adopting a shortsighted views of the
U.S. role in world affairs.
In the Middle East alone, the

10/29
1999

ALAI_

ed States has vital interests that
demand a continuing engagement in
the efforts to bring about a compre-
hensive and durable peace between
Israel and her Arab neighbors.
From the U.S.-sponsored peace
conference in Madrid during the Bush
Administration to the intense involve-
ment in the Middle East peacemaking
under President Clinton, the United
States has played a key role in the
Arab-Israeli peace process.
Only a year ago, Israeli-Palestin-
ian negotiations were in danger of
collapse. They were salvaged and
have been sustained by the Wye
accord. The funds President Clinton
pledged to help cement Wye are a
critical investment in the peace
process and for U.S. interests in the
Middle East.
These funds are needed now as
Israel and the Palestinians prepare to
enter critical talks to secure a perma-

nent agreement and as the U.S.
seeks to jump-start Israeli-Syrian
negotiations as well as encourage
other Arab countries to embrace
peace and normalize their own ties
with Israel.

Frederick J. Frank
Detroit chapter president,
American Jewish Committee

Cyber Spot
Garners Interest

Thanks for the great review of the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit's new Web site in your Cyber
Spot column ("This Is Federation,"
Oct. 15).
We are pleased with results so far,
including one job applicant, hits
from the United Kingdom, Japan
and Israel, and hundreds of visits
from local surfers. Your feature

undoubtedly helps us as we create
awareness for this new (for us) com-
munications tool.

Howard Dembs
marketing and communications director,
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit

AIDS Benefit
A Success

Thought you might like to know that
the Sept. 13 AIDS benefit, hosted by
Temple Beth El and performed by the
cast of Titanic: The Musical, was a solid
success. Four AIDS-related organizations
were recipients of the proceeds: Broad-
way Cares - Equity Fights AIDS, AIDS
Partnership Michigan, AIDS Consor-
tium of Southeastern Michigan and
Mariners Inn.
. We extend our appreciation to the
Jewish News for your generosity in

