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The

P.EAT PURIM
PARCEL PROJECT

the proposal that will be on
Michigan's ballot in November.
"It's a nuanced approach," Gad-
Harf said.
"On the one hand," said Council
President Kathleen Straus, "we're
very opposed to school vouchers that
would give directly to private and
parochial schools. On the other
hand, we believe programs of a non-
sectarian nature, where they have
already been approved by the courts,
should be accessible to day schools."
The successful effort to scuttle the
amendment at this year's JCPA con-
ference was led by such organizations
as the National Council of Jewish
Women. "We can't start subsidizing
religious education," said Sammie
Moshenberg, the group's director of
Washington operations.
Moshenberg, who during the
debate referred to the clause as "a
loophole through which you can
drive a Mack truck," believes govern-
ment neutrality toward religion and
the wall that separates church and
state are ideals too important to alter
even slightly.
"We can't put a little chink in the
wall just because it will benefit
Jewish children," she said.
Richard Foltin, legislative director
and counsel for the national office of
the American Jewish Committee,
also opposed the amendment. "We
believe the JCPA has returned to the
correct position on this issue," he
said. "My organization is very sup-
portive of Jewish education and day
schools, but we feel support should
come from the community, not from
government."
In addition, the amendment's
wording was too imprecise, Foltin
argued, since it approved funding of
the sort that had been allowed by
"extant court rulings.
"Extant as of what date?" he
asked. "As of that date, in 1998, or
does it mean that, as the court
changes, we're going to change? The
second [interpretation] would be
very troubling."
Although the amendment has
been defeated for now, Foltin said
the JCPA has not heard the last of
the issue.
"The vote was close two years ago,
and two years from now it could be
closely decided again," he said. "The
decision on this issue turns as much
on who happens to be in the room as
on anything else." Li

Saturday, March 18 and Sunday, March 19

Four ways you can get involved . .

1. MAKE PARCELS AT HOME

Decorate several plates or baskets. Include fresh or
certified ©kosher packaged dried fruit/nuts, individually
wrapped candy, cookies, or crackers.

2. BRING YOUR PARCELS

March 13-17
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
to the Agency for Jewish Education Building
21550 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield
(248) 354-1050

Saturday, March 18
7:45 - 10 p.m.
to the Max M. Fisher
Federation Building
6735 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills

3. JOIN US FOR A HAVDALAH
SERVICE AND MAKE PARCELS
WITH US

Saturday, March 18
7:45 - 10 p.m.
Bring your whole family or come alone to make parcels
with your community at the
Max M. Fisher Federation Building
6735 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills

4. TAKE YOUR PARCELS

"

Sunday, March 19
10 a.m. —1 p.m.
From: Max M. Fisher
Federation Building

To:
Shalom Detroit newcomers, New Americans, residents
of various senior facilities, families of Jewish hospice
patients, Coville Apartments for the elderly of Jewish
Family Service, MJAC recipients, Kosher Meals on Wheels
recipients, DMC-Sinai Hospital patients,
Yad Ezra and many others

Maps and directions will be provided.

For more information, call the JEFF office at (248) 354-1050.

— The Jewish Telegraphic Agency
contributed to this report.

Sponsored by Jewish Experiences for Families, a division of the Agency for Jewish Education,

DET..
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in cooperation with metropolitan Detroit congregations, religious schools
and Jewish organizations

3/10

4

2000

, 19

