4 itorials Editorials and Letters to the Editor are posted and archived on JN Online: www.detroitjewishnews.com Giving Of Yourself L ifesaving accounts resonate through- out Jewish history. Whether coura- geous, fortuitous or miraculous, all are notable. That's because pikuach nefesh — saving a life — is perhaps the great- est mitzvah of all. A heroic act in the heat of trouble is praiseworthy. It takes a special kind of person to invite sudden danger. But to give a part of you, literally, in hopes of saving a life is a notch up — it's extraordi- nary. That's the world of donating body parts. When illness, deformity or an accident affects a vital organ, your health is threatened. But good fortune may result in a very special gift from a relative, friend or stranger: a healthy organ. Within Judaism, there's controversy about donating body parts after death. Yet there's a hint of growing interest in, and support for, the practice among Jews of all levels of observance. Jews, as a group, are hardly pacesetters in the practice. But given the proven record of transplants that have not only saved lives, but also elevated the quality of life for recipients, we ask that you consider such a donation. Whether yOu donate while you are alive or after you die, your precious gift could mean a new start for another human being in desper- ate need. Study Up If you have questions about the halachic aspect of harvesting body parts from either the living or the dead, consult your rabbi or another Jewish law expert first. That's certain- ly appropriate; in fact, it should be part of the process, given the complexities in defining death, for instance. Insightful information is available through such advocacy sources as Hadassah (the women's Zionist organization), the Gift of Life Agency and the Halachic Organ Donor Association. Ultimately, resolve to donate when the opportunity arises. There's a compelling need and a great reward. A December pack- age of cover stories in the Jewish News about organ transplantation poignantly underscored that. Our series told about Beth Kahn and Dana Burnstein, who received kidneys, and 9-year- old Julia Strecher, who got a new heart — for the second time. There was even inspiration in the story of Sheri Devries, who died of a pre-existing infection after a successful — and pioneering — double-lung transplant. All of the stories were heartfelt and hope- ful. And they erased a lot of myths and mis- conceptions. Just as Torah weaves a tapestry of God's will in our hearts, so does it provide the threads of reason for sharing a part of our being with someone gravely ill. Such sharing — when performed to the extent possible within the moral, ethical and technical parameters of our faith — is imbed- ded in the fibers of chesed, the very Jewish ideal of lovingkindness. Dry Bones r HE ALREADY QUIT HIS JOB AS PRIME MINISTER... AND HE STILL ACTS AS F NE HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTRY! THE MAN JUST DOESN'T KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD QUIT"! ❑ Welcome Back! 111 ichigan's Unity Mission to Israel returns home today in triumph. Not only has the solidarity mission raised the resolve of the participants to help our Israeli brethren, it has boosted the spirits of Israelis who have been fighting an insurrection on the home and diplomatic fronts for 3 1/2 months. The 200 Michiganders, and the thousands of young Birthright Israel participants who have visited Israel in recent weeks, have given Israel's moribund tourism industry a much-needed shot of adrenaline. But now the job gets harder. Recent visitors to Israel have found old myths shattered. Gone are the pioneers on tractors with their floppy white hats. The kibbutz movement con- tinues to fade as suburbs and high-technology busi- nesses flourish. And Israelis' overwhelming use of Related coverage: page 26 the cell phone must make American telecommuni- cations companies drool. But while many Israeli images have changed, some remain the same: turbulence on the borders, hostile neighbors and an unhomogenized Palestinian population whose right wing threatens — and deliv- ers — terror if it doesn't get its way. How do these problems become the purview of unity "missionaires?" They don't. They are the concern of all Jews. And while we encourage Jews and non-Jews to make a pilgrimage to Israel — to show solidarity and to boost the economy — such trips cannot be our ultimate goal. American Jews must strive to be partners with Israelis, to make our relationship per- sonal. . • The Road Ahead The real task of the Michigan Unity Mission to Israel, and the sponsoring Jewish Federation of Met- ropolitan Detroit, is to convert this week's energy and enthusiasm. The groundwork has been laid sev- eral times over the years — for example, Project Renewal with Ramle, Israel, and Partnership 2000 with Israel's Central Galilee. What Detroit and Israel needs is a sister-city con- cept that doesn't end in a few years after fund-rais- ing opportunities have been completed and plaques have been erected. What Detroit and Israel needs are more e-mail pen pal projects, technical exchanges, tourist opportunities and one-on-one friendships that cement our ties to the land of Israel and its peo- ple. "We Are One" is an empty slogan until every Detroit Jew has a personal stake in Israel, a relation- ship that is not only cherished but revitalized fre- quently. El ITN 1/19 2001 39