COMMUNITY VIEWS

Jewish Spirit Rekindled

Mr

parcels are then distributed to the other
hen my family lights the
synagogues
and to non-Jewish sites. In
Chanukah candles next
a
country
with
no visible anti-Semi-
week, I'll have a new
tism,
this
sharing
of bounty with those
and deeper appreciation
of
another
faith
shows
that tikkun olam
of their meaning.
—
repairing
the world — is
The reason is Cuba.
important
even
to Jews in
For four days, I was one of
desperate
straits.
26 Detroiters who visited
My thoughts as
with the small Jewish com-
Chanukah
approaches,
munities of Havana and San-
however,
concern
another
tiago — 1,800 individuals in
aspect
of
life
in
Cuba:
a
a total population of 11 mil-
rekindling
of
the
Jewish
lion. This Jewish Federation
spirit. Cuba's handful of
humanitarian mission,
synagogues have been reno-
chaired by Margot and Jerry
vated
as centers of spiritual
Halperin, was hosted by the
MAR K A.
and
communal
activity, sup-
American Jewish Joint Distri-
DAVI
DOFF
plied
with
prayer
books and
bution Committee, known
holiday
items
and
staffed by
Speci
at
to
affectionately as the JDC or
a
circuit-riding
JDC
worker
sh
News
the
Jewi
the "Joint" to millions of
who
serves
as
rabbi,
cantor
Jews around the world whose
and social worker.
lives it has touched over the past 86
I'm
proud
to think that our own
years.
community
has
such a vital role in
Intellectually, I was prepared for
this
renewal
of
Jewish
spirit, that in
what I found. In my role with Federa-
this
tiny
enclave,
we
have
enabled the
tion, I've come to appreciate the
continuation
of
our
history
and our
importance of allocations from Feder-
faith.
What a
ation's Annual Cam-
profound
mes-
paign to support res-
sage
this
is
on
cue and relief over-
Chanukah.
seas.
One image
Emotionally, it was
will
remain with
another story. I was
me
forever.
As
unprepared for the
our
heart-warm-
extent of poverty or
ing, too-short
geographic isolation
visit
at the San-
endured by this tiny
tiago
synagogue
outpost of Jewish life. Austin Kanter of W est Bloomfield and
came
to a close
Nor was I prepared
Linda Zlotoff of Bl oomfield Hills greet
with
promises
Jewish children in Santiago.
for the impact their
to stay in touch,
courage and friend-
we
boarded our
ship would have on me and my fellow
bus
for
the
airport.
Looking
back at
travelers. Armed with our bundles of
the
faces
framed
in
the
doorway,
we
simple gifts, we were overwhelmed by
saw
the
parents
and
children
of
the
their gratitude.
Jewish community waving goodbye.
But it won't really be goodbye in any
Time Warp
language,
of that I'm sure. Hasta la vista
The country looks as though it was
.
.
.
l'hitraot
. . . Until we meet again. El
stuck in the 1950s. The average wage

is $15 a month. Cuban citizens get
monthly ration coupons for food and
necessities, but often find the shelves
at neighborhood stores empty.
But thanks to the Joint, the Jews of
Cuba have access to a little more food
and a little more clothing than their
countrymen. For example, at Havana's
Patronato Synagogue, one of three con-
gregations in that city, volunteers pre-
pare packages of food and dispense
medicines supplied by the JDC. The

Mark Davidoff is chief operating o
cer of the Jewish Federation of Metro-
politan Detroit.

Making The Trip

Cuba miss' sion participants were: Margot
and Jerome Halperin, chairs; Joel
Brown, Gayle and Richard Burstein,
Margie Dunn and Mark Davidoff,
Judith and Irwin Elson, Barbara and
Frederick Goldberg.
Also. Austin Kanter, Helen and
Martin Katz, Zina and Michael
Kramer, Donna and Michael Maddin,
David Page, Myrna and Spencer Par-
trich, Ross Partrich, Rosalie and Bruce
Rosen, and Linda and Paul Zlotoff.

`Love Eretz Yisroel'

I

just returned from a four-day,
fact-finding mission to Israel,
conducted by the American
Friends of Bar-Ilan University.
How enlightening to see the real situ-
ation, rather than what
Palestinian Authority leader
Yasser Arafat stages for CNN
(Cable News Network).

Dec. 4

We viewed video footage at Pal-
machim Air Force Base. These videos
were from unmanned reconnaissance
planes sophisticated enough to identi-
fy individuals throwing firebombs and
accurate enough to identify
specific windows from
which snipers are shooting.
These measures are used to
respond only to individuals
(to avoid over reacting).

One thing is crystal clear:
Dec. 5
the point of view, expressed
To be sure, the violence is a
repeatedly by members of
planned, instigated effort on
the Israeli army and police
the part of Arafat to draw a
force, that lives are impor-
LARRY COHEN response from Israel and
tant, including Palestinian
Special to
record that response well out
lives.
the
Jewish
News
of
context — to promote a
We toured Jaffa, a mixed
Palestinian
public relations
Israeli Arab and Jewish com-
campaign
against
Israel and
munity within Tel Aviv. On Oct. 1,
the
Jews.
these streets were filled with Israeli
Israel placed on the table 99 percent
Arab rioters in addition to Palestini-
of
what
Arafat wanted; in return, he
ans. In this area, fires were set, Jewish
walked
out
on peace and incited riots,
businesses looted, car windows
intimidating
even those Palestinians
smashed. We visited the local commu-
desiring
peace,
to allow those individu-
nity police station. One woman from
als
spewing
hatred
to rule the mob.
Florida, traveling with our group,
asked, "What did the police do?" The
Dec. 6
policewoman answered, "We tried to
We went to the southern Jerusalem
reason with them." The woman from
suburb of Gilo. We stopped at a chil-
Florida asked if the Israeli police had
dren's kindergarten center. Twenty-
guns: "Yes, we had guns, but you
foot-high concrete blocks have been
don't shoot people throwing stones."
placed
across the road from the
These riots weren't across the Israeli
kindergarten
center; sandbags are at
border; they are in neighborhoods
the
windows
of
the schools. They're
shared by Jews and Israeli Arabs.
needed
to
deflect
bullets, fired by
Homes, businesses and restaurants are
some
Palestinians
across a small valley
owned by Israeli Arabs and supported
from
this
village;
as
children throw
by Jews. In any area where rioting -
rocks,
organizers
shoot
bullets. How
occurs, the neighborhoods that suffer
does
Israel
respond
to
the
shooting?
the most are where the Israeli Arabs
By
putting
up
bullet
shields
and
live and work — now neighborhoods,
showing
incredible
restraint.
restaurants and shops are empty.
At the Knesset, we heard from
This morning, Brig. Gen. Michael
Knesset members Natan Sharans
Herzog spoke to our group. Make no
(leader of the Yisrael B'aliyah political
mistake: Jews are concerned. Unlike
party),
Efraim Sneh (deputy minister
previous wars, with an easily identifi-
of
defense)
and David Horowitz (edi-
able target, these incidents are occur-
tor
of
the
Jerusalem
Report). Knesset
ring within Israeli borders. In Israel,
members
are
concerned
with the grav-
in 90 percent of the neighborhoods,
ity
of
the
situation,
but
do
not grasp
life goes on. Streets, restaurants,
the
importance
of
winning
the "media
hotels, shops and beaches are open,
war."
They
are
not
doing
what
is
but business is hurting from those of
needed
to
provide
good,
truthful
and
us canceling plans to visit. The mes-
complete
information
to
the
media.
sage from Gen. Herzog was clear:
This conflict must be won in the
identify those individuals committing
eyes
of America and the world. I've
violent acts, shooting at Jews, throw-
seen
doubt
in fellow Jews, and even
ing Molotov cocktails. Then respond
had
my
own
until I took the time to
with a measured, isolated response
Newsweek,
USA Today and
look
past
sufficient to remove the threat.
CNN. Government leaders and Knes-
set members need to hear from us.
Larry Cohen is a West Bloomfield resi-
They need to understand just how

dent and a friend of Bar-Ilan Universi-
ty.

ERETZ YISROEL on page 40

