LETTERS

PUBLIC EDUCATION

fivm page 45

need some change but that must come
from within the schools.
Taking away public funding will
only weaken the basic foundation of
our society.
School vouchers ("Voucher Count-
down," Oct. 13, page 18) are not only
a church-and-state issue, but also put
a serious drain on public funds need-
ed to improve and maintain our pub-
lic schools. Sending a child to private
school is a private decision and needs
to be paid for with private funds.

Dana Burnstein
president, Michigan Region
Women's American ORT
Farmington Hills

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Ongoing Support
Aids Assistance

Thank you so much for the beautiful
article on our School Inclusion Pro-
ject, which integrates students with
disabilities with their same-age peers
at Jewish day schools ("Count Us In,"
Oct. 20, page 117 ).
Blimie Youngworth's story is a
model for the tremendous benefits of
successful inclusion, not only for the
student, but also for his or her peers,
teachers and the entire school com-
munity. The relationships Blimie
formed this past year will create the
basis for her natural circle of support
within the community as she moves
into adulthood.
I would like to clarify one aspect
of the article. During the
1999/2000 school year highlighted
in the article, the School Inclusion
Project was funded on a demonstra-
tion basis from the proceeds of
SpringElation, JARC's May fund-
raiser specifically benefiting the
Merle and Shirley Harris Children
and Family Division. We are hon-
ored and pleased that for the
2000/01 school year, the Jewish
Fund will provide a grant to double
the size of the program from 7 to 15
students.
Since its inception, the Jewish
Fund has shown its commitment to
meeting the unmet needs of children
and adults with disabilities by fund-
ing many innovative programs at
JARC and elsewhere in the communi-
ty. This support, coupled with a grant
from the Jewish Federation of Metro-
politan Detroit for the Keshet Family
Support Program, the generosity of
the Harrises, and the ongoing support
of a kind and caring community, has
ensured JARC's ability to assist these

families in many ways.
This partnership creates remark-
able synergy by maximizing the
resources we each bring to the table.
Though JARC is not a member
agency of Federation or a recipient of
an allocation from the Allied Jewish
Campaign, this alliance demonstrates
the power of cooperation, creativity
and common vision in our shared
quest to serve the community.

Joyce Keller
executive director,
Jewish Association for Residential Care
Southfield

Realistic View
Is Vital

In a number of articles in recent issues
of the Jewish News, those that have
had serious doubts about the peace
process were referred to as enjoying a
"grim satisfaction" now that the talks
have floundered. This satisfaction is
unfounded. Those that have had such
doubts are dispirited, angry and dis-
turbed at the recent, and still occur-
ring, events in Israel ("Enduring Sacri-
lege," Oct. 20, page 10).
What has been exposed is that the
enormity of hate surrounding Israel
has not been breached. The young
boys in the West Bank displayed their
refusal to come to terms with Israeli
statehood, as do the demonstrators in
Arab lands from the Persian Gulf to
Morocco. In countries where there was
supposed "moderation," diplomacy
was shown to be a pretense and sham.
There is an unescapable asymmetry.
Israel, yearning for a way out of the
siege that has defined its history and
its only reality since statehood, is
faced with a world around it that has
altogether different needs and realities.
None of us knows what the solu-
tion is to the current system. Pretend-
ing Arab "moderation," however, will
only lead to more chaos. We do know
that Israel has faced many crises in the
last 50 years, but has always come
away stronger and more secure than
before. Time may offer new, unfore-
seen possibilities that can change the
present equation. In the meantime, we
must be realistic.

Joseph F. Savin
president,
Zionist Organization of America/
Michigan Region
Southfield

For more letters, pleas•visit our Web
site: www.detroitjewishnews.com

