Celebrate New Year's Eve At ... Pike Street Restaurant Great Britain To Recall Shoah London/JTA—British officials issued guidelines on how to mark the coun-- try's first national Holocaust Memorial Day on Jan. 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The Board of Deputies, British Jewry's central body, welcomed the guidelines, but emphasized that Holocaust Memorial Day is not a Jewish-led event and does not replace Yom Hashoah as the primary Jewish commemoration of Holocaust vic- tims. Haider Visit Prompts Clashes Rome/JTA — Violent clashes erupted Saturday in Rome as Austrian far- right politician Jorg Haider took part in a ceremony to light the Vatican Christmas tree. Earlier, during a Vatican ceremony in which Haider presented the tree to Pope John Paul II, Haider and his del- egation received copies of a papal speech condemning racism and xeno- phobia. KKK Marches In Skokie Chicago/JTA — Police in Illinois arrested 10 counterdemonstrators who attempted to break up a Ku Klux Klan rally in the Chicago suburb of Skokie. The rally in Skokie, home to many Holocaust survivors, took place 22 years after a neo-Nazi rally was held there. Mandela Opens Jewish Museum Johannesburg/JTA — Former South African President Nelson Mandela attended the inauguration of a new South African Jewish museum in Cape Town. Speaking at the Dec. 13 dedication ceremony, Mandela said the museum would play a vital role in ensuring that the Jewish contribution to South Africa's liberation struggle would not be forgotten. The museum traces the history and contributions of the nation's Jews. AGENDA from page 29 legislative moves that in normal times might have failed. Shas spokesman Itzik Sudri is partic- ularly proud that his party has secured preliminary legislative approval for a bill endorsing a state-sponsored pen- sion plan for every citizen. This may be a welcome move for Israel's poorer populations, but it would cost the treasury — which fiercely objects — about $5 billion a year. "It is definitely easier for us to push these moves through," says Sudri, cit- ing a series of hushed-up victories in the Knesset in recent weeks. He noted that the outbreak of vio- lence in late September led Barak to shelve his plans for a "secular revolu- tion" that had angered Israel's Orthodox parties. Shas members, who hold 17 seats in the 120-member Knesset, said they would back Barak only if he abandoned his proposals to weaken the hold of the Orthodox establishment over such matters as Sabbath observance. "It was buried because of the security crisis — and because we promised the government a safety net," Sudri says. Rabbi Uri Regev, director of the Reform movement's Israel Religious Action Center, agrees on this point. "The whole area of religion and state is still very much on people's minds," he says. "Every week, you see references to various issues — funding, the aban- donment of the civil agenda, the draft of yeshiva students," as well as the "Who Is A Jew?" issue that has colored Israel-Diaspora relations in recent years. But he said they can't now compete with the "reality of great security pres- sure and political instability." There are signs that the ongoing violence has not destroyed the public's appetite for religious and social issues. For example, a landmark bill to ensure religious freedom passed a preliminary Knesset vote recently. Naomi Chazan, a member of the liberal Meretz party who initiated that bill, noted that polls show the Shinui Party, which has an overtly secular platform, likely would get a big boost if new Knesset elections were held even though it has no clear positions on the peace process. It is not surprising, Chazan explains, that domestic issues get less attention during difficult times. "It's totally predictable," she says. "But issues of religion and state, and social justice and equality, are major issues, and they are not going to disappear." ❑ Sea tints 5:00 10:30 - Dinner Order from special menu Live Untertainment For more information and reservations... Call 248-334-78" L i mMiml ■ TODAH RABAH!! To G-d, the staff of USC University Hospital and especially to Steven Traison (right lobe) and Dr. Jeffrey Devries (left lobe) who gave part of themselves to help save the life of their sister, wife and our daughter, Sheri. One who saves a single Jewish life is as if he saved an entire world. -5N-1),73 nriN vin) 0"177171 51 1, 5y n5y7.3 .N573 051y to"? 15 ,NZ Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin 37a ,' A yasher koach to our special daughter-in-law, Janice, who has stepped in and taken care of the children. You are truly an Eishes Chayil. To our many friends who through their phone calls, prayers and tributes, have supported us during these difficult days. Our eternal love and thanks, Barbara and Larry liaison Steam Away Wrinkles and Store Away Clothes • Simple to use • Easy to refill • Uses tap water "ESTEAM" HAND-HELD CLOTHES STEAMER • 48" wide • 48", 54" or 63" tallm ECONOMICAL I\ WAY FOR EXTRA STORAGE Detroit Store Fixture Co. SERVING YOU SINCE 1898 7545 W. Eight Mile Rd. Detroit, Michigan 48221 • Phone: (313) 341-7480 12/22 2000 31