Does cancer run in families? This Week Washington Watch WASHINGTON WATCH from page 25 You should attend our free presentation if you have: • Two or more blood relatives with cancer, such as parents, siblings, children, or grandparents (include yourself) .- • Family members with cancer diagnosed before age 50 (include yourself) • Family members who developed second or third cancers not related to their original cancer site • Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry with a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer • Family member(s) who have been tested for a cancer gene such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 Thursday, May 25 — 7:30 PM JCC 6600 West Maple Road West Bloomfield A Karmanos Cancer Institute genetics specialist will explain genetics research and how you and your family can benefit. Bring your questions and your family tree! Refreshments will be provided BARBARA ANN KARMA_NOS CANCER INSTITUTE For more information or questions call: 1-800-KARMANOS (527-6266) ext. 2039 Cosponsored by the Sinai Guild A A11110 1P111110111ASEIRS NEW & USED CAR BROKER www.detroitjewishnews.com With the Clinton administration winding down and the Al Gore presi- dential campaign cranking up, a number of Jewish activists are on the move. Deborah Mohile, who has served as the official White House liaison to the Jewish community since 1997, was expected to announce her depar- ture this week. Mohile, the person Jewish leaders call with gripes and requests for access, will move into the Gore orbit — or, more precisely, the Tipper Gore orbit. Mohile will coordinate Ms. Gore's activities at this summer's nominating convention. With less than a year remaining before the President packs his bags, insiders say it's unlikely Mohile. will be replaced. Laurie Moskowitz, a longtime Democratic organizer who is current- ly heading the delegate operation at Gore headquarters in Nashville, is moving back to the Democratic National Committee, where she will direct the party's coordinated effort for the entire Democratic ticket in November. Moskowitz is married to Jewish media guru Steve Rabinowitz, who has signed on to do the Gore cam- paign s high-tech media — video, the World Wide Web and satellite linkups. Finally, Ann Lewis, a longtime Democrat and Jewish activist who has been heading up the White House communications office, is leaving to work with the Hillary Clinton for Senate campaign in New York. Rape Decision Sales • Leasing • Buying (248) 851-CARS (248) 851-2277 30 Musical Chairs ' DAVID ROSENMAN'S 5/19 2000 appearance to build friendships and to accentuate the fact that he's not like his father. He has to get himself on the map." Both candidates, he said, will play it safe at AIPAC. ..... Jewish groups reacted with concern to Monday's Supreme Court decision striking down a law giving victims of rape and domestic violence the right to sue their attackers in federal court. The 5-4 decision represents one more effort by the court to curb Congressional powers; Jewish activists say the trend threatens to erode the fed- eral government's ability to step in and protect minorities when local authori- ties are unwilling or unable to do so. And some Jewish activists worry that the decision could give a boost to the appeal of Lemrick Nelson, the young African-American who was convicted in a federal trial for the 1991 killing of Chasidic scholar Yankel Rosenbaum after he was acquitted of local charges. This week's decision came in the case of a former Virginia college stu- dent who brought suit against two football players she said raped her. Christy Brzonkala acted under provisions of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, which allows victims to sue their attackers. But a state court ruled against her, and a narrow majority on the high court agreed that the law was an improper application of congressional power. Jewish women's groups were out- raged. "We believe states aren't doing enough to protect rape victims and victims of domestic violence," said Sammie Moshenberg, Washington director for the National Council of Jewish Women. "This is a very dis- turbing development." Moshenberg pointed out that the court overturned only one part of the 1994 law, not the entire statute. Other groups, while expressing concern about the impact on women, also expressed anxiety about a deci- sion that represented one more judi- cial slap at the prerogatives of Congress. Michael Lieberman, Washington counsel for the Anti-Defamation League, said that "it is an unwelcome decision, a further disturbing step in the trend against Congress's ability to legislate to address inadequacies of state law. There are potential impacts on all kinds of anti-discrimination laws. Jewish officials expect opponents of a hate crimes bill now before Congress to use this week's decision as ammunition in their fight. Marc Stern, legal director for the American Jewish Congress, said the decision could be a wild card in the appeal of Lemrick Nelson, who was convicted under federal civil rights statutes of the 1991 murder of the Jewish scholar during the Crown Heights riots. Nelson s conviction came after he was acquitted of local charges. "His lawyers have already argued that Congress has no power in these matters," he said. "We'll have to see if the circuit court in New York is influenced by this." II '