MAC CAB1
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

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Parent Information Night

The Inline
Rocker Center

and the flat strip south of the Dead
Sea to the Gulf of Eilat, called the
Arava. That southern strip also was
part of pre-1967 Israel.
Edward and Shirley Rosenberg Recreation Center
Until 1967, the central hill regions
Jewish Community Center • D. Dan and Betty Kahn Building
Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
and the lower Jordan Valley were
6600 W. Maple, West Bloomfield
part of the Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan. In 1948, Jordanian forces
captured the land in the conflict
known in Israel as the War of Inde-
pendence. About a year later, Jor-
dan changed its status from the Emi-
rate of Transjordan to the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan. Because this
mass of land lay on the western
bank of the Jordan River, King
Abdullah I called the annexed land
the "West Bank." Jews, however,
referred to it by its ancient Jewish
names, Shomron or Samaria, and
Yehuda or Judea. Today, those who
are in favor of conciliation to the
Arabs favor the term West Bank,
while Jews of a nationalistic bent
employ Judea and Samaria.
Give your kids the opportunity
Samaria comes from the name of
to compete in a year—round program
the city that was the capital of
of skill development, competitions
Israel's northern kingdom in the 9th
and Jewish experiences.
and 8th centuries B.C.E. Today, it's
an archeological site near the Arab
village of Sebastiya.
The major city of Samaria is
Nablus, known in Hebrew as
•
Shechem. The city has a history that
•
extends to the early Jewish past. It
Steve Friedman, Chairman,
sits between Mount Gerizim and
Inline Hockey Center
Mount Ebal, which figure prominent-
Head Coach, JCC Maccabi
: ly in the Torah. It is traditionally
In—Line Hockey Program
regarded as the burial place of the
patriarch, Joseph, who asked that
Bring in-line skates and sticks
his bones be taken with the Jews
for open skating
when they left the slavery of Egypt
for the land of Israel.
Refreshments
To the south of Samaria is Judea,
No charge for information meeting
the center of which is Jerusalem.
For information, call Marshall Shencopp, InLine Hockey Center gen-
Judea has several other important
eral manager, (248) 661-7692.
places, like Bethlehem, Hebron and
•
Jericho. While the Jordanians ruled
the West Bank, they established

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2000 • 7 p.m.

SIGN UP YOUR KIDS FOR THIS
GOLD-MEDN-WINNING
IN-LINE HOCKEY PROGRAM!

OPEN TO BOYS AND GIRLS AGE 10-16

GUEST SPEAKER

AA

)12 2
000

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Cc

Metropolitan Detroit
Maccabi Club

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Palestinian refugee camps here. The
largest is Agabat Jabr, where more
than 20,000 men, women and
children live.
Since 1967, Jews have built
numerous communities (or "settle-
ments") in Judea and Samaria.
Among the best-known ones is
Ariel, with 20,000 residents.

Politics

Why is the region such a matter of
contention?
First of all, its cities hold great reli-
gious, national and tourist signifi-
cance.
Second, it is of great strategic
importance, occupying almost half
of the border between Jordan and
Israel, and it's a short distance from
the Syrian border. Moreover, the
region almost surrounds Israel's cap-
ital, Jerusalem.
Third, it forms the major water-
shed for the country, with drainage
both east (to the Jordan Valley) and
west (to the Mediterranean).
Fourth, it is home to the major
population of Palestinians. Accord-
ing to Palestinians, the entire West
Bank (including eastern Jerusalem,
where the Kotel [Western Wall] is
located) is theirs both morally and
legally. Jews note that Judea and
Samaria are part of the greater
land of Israel, pointing out that the
Arabs never accepted the United
Nations Plan. Jews say that in any
case, Israel conquered the territory
in a war started by the Arabs, so
it's legally theirs now.
Whatever its eventual name, the
area has been a tremendous
source of contention. The Israel
Defense Forces report that,
between 1993-'99, there were
more than 284 stabbings, 1,784
Molotov cocktails thrown and 43
civilians and 20 IDF soldiers killed
in Judea and Samaria. ❑

