JNEditorials

Editorials and Letters to the Editor are posted and archived on JN Online:
www.detroitjewishnews.com

SAJE Advice

, Last winter's student mix was striking in
its diversity — secular, observant, converts,
unaffiliated, under-affiliated, intermarried.
Many talked passionately about touching the
hand of God and becoming more spiritual.
Others just enjoyed the discussion and
camaraderie.
For some students, SAJE was an end unto
itself. And that was okay. SAJE isn't about
learning through force, fear or guilt.
Still, the hope is to inspire the vast majority
of participants to a lifetime of Jewish studies.
A tenet of Judaism is that learning never stops.
In that light, the Jewish News joins with the
other sponsors — the JCC, the Jewish Federa-
tion of Metropolitan Detroit and its Agency
for Jewish Education — in thanking Cis
Maisel Kellman for generously funding SAJE.
Let there be no mistake: Jewish education is
the bedrock of Jewish survival and unity.
Notably, adults who learn through SAJE don't
just enrich themselves Jewishly. Children tend to
mimic adults, who serve as role models whether
they like it or not. So if we ask children to learn
about their heritage but spurn doing so ourselves,
what kind of message is that? They need to see us
experience the joy of learning, too.
Ultimately, SAJE allows us to gather as a
community to study. The energy and excite-
ment spurred by so many people learning
together is something we don't experience
often enough here in Detroit. ❑

Truth On Trial

A

dramatic contest began unfolding in
a London courtroom last week
between Emory University Holo-
caust scholar Deborah Lipstadt and
David Irving, an infamous Holocaust denier.
Among other claims, Irving has said Auschwitz
is "baloney — it's a legend." He's said the cre-
matoria there were built as post-war tourist
attractions.
Some will downplay the significance of the
proceedings, which are expected to last for
months, saying it is only Lipstadt's credibility
that is on trial. But much more is at stake: truth,
history and honor to the memory of those who
perished at the hands of the Nazi death machin-
ery, as well as those who suffered and survived.
Indeed, the world is watching closely for the out-
come — particularly the Holocaust-denier
world. The challenge is daunting: in British
courtrooms, the burden is on the accused, not
the accuser, to prove the truth of such charges.
Lipstadt will defend herself in the coming
months against Irving's charges that she
defamed him in her 1993 book, Denying the
Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and
Memory. Irving claims Lipstadt hurt his repu-

tation and damaged his career with her allega-
tion that he is an "Adolf Hitler partisan" who
"misrepresents data in order to reach untenable
conclusions" and reportedly has linked him to
the terrorist groups Hamas and Hizbollah.
Irving further claims that Lipstadt has been
aided and abetted by an international Jewish
conspiracy bent on discrediting him. He is
referring to organizations such as the Anti-
Defamation League, which has documented
his work and helped make sure the world
knows what he stands for.
For our part, we celebrate the vigilance of the
Jewish world in the face of Irving's calumny. We
recall with great pain when Jews felt fearful and
powerless to mobilize in the face of the growing
evidence of the systematic extermination of
European Jewry. In particular, we salute Deborah
Lipstadt for her scholarship, her courage and her
determination not to allow Holocaust deniers
such as Irving to go unchallenged and to mask
themselves as legitimate historians. We hope she
is strengthened by the knowledge that the vast
majority of Americans and the world Jewish
community is with her in spirit in what promises
to be a long and potentially grueling trial. ❑

Lively
Encounter

Staff photos by Krisca Husa

Related story: page 15

Children learned about
the ecosystem and the
environment while
viewing live animals at
the Target Stores-sup-
ported Tu b'Shevat cel-
ebration Jan. 16 at the
Jewish Community
Center in Oak Park.
About 170 people
attended the Science
Discovery program,
"Tropical Rainforest: A
Circle of Life." The
Jewish National Fund
distributed seedlings.
Above, the Zerbibs of
Oak Park — Leah, 5,
mother Marla and
Stephanie, 4 — enjoy a
lighter moment during
the animal show. Right,
one of show's featured
guests, a large frog.

LETTERS

Photo Captions
Are In Error

I enjoyed reading the histori-
cal issue ("A Century of Jew-
ish Detroit," Dec. 31) but
wish to point out two errors.
On page 10 in the upper
left corner, a United Hebrew
Schools class is pictured
below. This was my class at

the Philadelphia-Byron
Branch and the teacher was
Mr. Max Gordon. It was not
the Tuxedo-Holmur School. I
was surprised that I still
remembered the names of the
students pictured.
On page 22, there is a pic-
ture of Shimon Peres and
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin. It states
that Peres was president of

Jewish Federation Apartments Collection

I

t thrust adult Jewish education into the
limelight in the dead of winter. And it suc-
ceeded beyond anyone's wildest expecta-
tions, affirming the thirst. for Jewish learn-
ing in this community. But now, the pressure's
really on SAJE — Seminars for Adult Jewish
Enrichment. .
Last winter, the evening program of two three-
week terms on both campuses of the Jewish
Community Center drew 512 participants and
1,312 course registrations. The JCC, the Detroit
Jewish community's central address, provided the
perfect backdrop.
This winter, expectations
are even higher for the com-
munity's most ambitious
adult education initiative
ever. Organizers not only will
be expected to top last year's enrollment and
course quality, but also lower the median age,
meaning by attracting more 20somethings.
There's also the issue of prospective partici-
pants who have family commitments in the
evening or don't drive at night. For example,
lunch-and-learns and a young adult course on
building a Jewish home are planned. Hopes are
high on all fronts.
Simply put, SAJE offers a relaxed way for
Jews of all streams to stir their Jewish soul and
deepen their Jewish identity through more
than 50 midwinter classes taught by local rab-
bis, cantors, communal leaders and other edu-
cators from different backgrounds and beliefs.

IN FOCUS

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