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WOR KS UNCOMMON

This Week

a unique boutique

May we suggest an

uncommon gift for

beaded candles

Getting The Word Out

an antique silver soap dish
bath powder housed in crystal

Petitions condemning arrest
of Iranian 13 reach area synagogues.

mothers day.

a contemporary tray

a beautiful candlestick
and on... and on...and on

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IOR DESIGN

s, MI
grtyard Plaza)

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The Edith and Sam Israel Trust &
Congregation Chabad-Lubavitch of Eastern Michigan
present

A WOMEN'S SHABBATON

featuring

PROFESSOR SUSAN A. HANDELMAN

scholar and author
of

Fragments of Redemption and Slayers of Moses

co-translator of the Rebbe's

On the Essence of Chassidus

Shabbos Rosh Chodesh lyar
May 5th-6th

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL
(517) 792-9592 or
E-MAIL: FRUMETH @aol.com

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4/28

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Lois Haron
248-851-6989

TT4

2000

Featuring

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Woods
Stones
Glass
Lucite

HARRY KIRSBAUM
Staff Writer

urging them to speak out on this issue.
Together, Steinhart and Dr. Kam
now have collected 500 signatures on
petitions circulated at almost every
synagogue in the Detroit area. They
still seek more signatures. The peti-
tions will be delivered soon to U.S.
senators and representatives.
In the petition, America is requested
"to not open any dialogue with the
Iranian government until those 13

hile 13 Iranian Jews
accused of spying for Israel
and the United States go
on trial Monday, May 1, a
local businessman has been circulating
petitions on their behalf They ask U.S.
senators and representatives to sponsor a
resolution condemning the Jews' arrest
and probable conviction.
Richard Steinhart of West
Bloomfield said he didn't under-
Petition Wording
stand why the United States
would want to lift some commer- "We, the undersigned strongly urge you to speak
out in the well of the House of Representatives (or
cial trade embargoes on Iran at a
Senate) and to sponsor a congressional resolution
time when 13 Jews from Shiraz,
condemning the arrest and soon to be show trial of
Iran, could be sentenced to death. 13 Jewish leaders, teachers and rabbis in the city of
On March 17, U.S. Secretary
Shiraz, Iran.
of State Madeleine Albright
"Soon, the Passover holiday will begin, a cele-
announced that the United
bration of the redemption of the Jewish people
from the bondage of E,gyptian slavery The Jews of
States was lifting sanctions on
Shiraz live in deplorably impoverished conditions.
the import of Iranian luxury
goods, such as carpets, pistachios They are not allowed to work in any meaningful
way, they are forbidden from learning a trade and
and caviar, in a move seen as a
are even denied matzo for the traditional seder din-
reward to Iran's reformists for
ner. Any'letters or packages sent are confiscated or
their parliamentary triumph.
stolen. Phone calls from family members are con-
Steinhart tried to protest.
sidered secret coded messages.
After his calls to U.S. Sen.
"However, the indignity and terror of the false
Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.),
arrest and prosecution of these people, especially
and U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg
in the wake of the recent lifting of commercial
trade embargoes by the United States government
(R-Bloomfield Hills) were not
on rugs, caviar and pistachio nuts must be
returned, Steinhart chalked it
addressed.
up to this being a re-election
"Those arrested are afraid to retain counsel
year. Then he decided to act: "I
since Iranians consider this an admission of
figured they won't answer me,
guilt. Should they decide to hire a lawyer, he is
but they might answer thou-
merely part of a bureaucratic legal system
sands of signatures."
designed to make the court proceedings official.
Joining Steinhart was his
"Your prompt action on this very crucial
friend from early-morning
matter is most compelling." ❑
workouts at the Jewish
Community Center Health
Club in West Bloomfield. Dr.
innocent Jewish people who were arrest-
Eliyahou Kam, a Southfield physician,
ed for spying for the United States and
feels a close kinship with the accused.
Israel will be released," said Dr. Kam.
"They are from my city," said Dr.
The Jewish Community Council of
Kam, who emigrated from Shiraz 32
Metropolitan Detroit reported that
years ago. "I was born there, I went
Michigan Governor John Engler has
into military service there, became an
sent a letter to Iranian President
M.D. there, and I left before the
Mohammad Khatami. The governor's
[Ayatollah] Khomeini revolution, so I
letter urges the Iranian government to
know all the details.
take all possible steps to guarantee "a
just and fair trial." ❑
"The Jews of Iran, especially of
Shiraz, are far from spying or anything
like that," he said.
To sign or receive a petition, (-All
Dr. Kam wrote his own letters to
Richard Steinhart, (248) 363-1691.
Albright and also the consulates of
Germany, England, France and Russia,
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