EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

LETTERS

Letters are posted
and archived on JN Online:

www.detroitjewishnews.corn

Coming Together

IV e're all Jews. And we must learn to respect one another, whatever
our commitment to Torah study
That's important to say on this eve of Pesach, the springtime holi-
day that commemorates the Israelites' flight from Egyptian bondage.
Conflict resonates between the ultra-Orthodox and the more liberal streams
of Judaism in Israel. In contrast, Detroit Jewry is almost a model for inter-
stream harmony. Yet we don't do enough to develop that model. We should be
proud that so many of us accept one another, despite some pro-
foundly divergent beliefs and lifestyles.
At times, our cross-stream interaction can be contentious.
Still, there's a passion among many of us to respect each other's
spiritual rhythms. Together, the three major streams represent
the supporting pillars of our faith.
This became crystal clear last erev Shabbat as I was shmoozing
with two rabbis sporting black hats and full beards at Borenstein's
Book & Music Store in Oak Park's Royal Plaza. I saw less-tradi-
ROBERT A. tional Jews from the northwest suburbs traversing the same shop-
SKLAR
ping center to buy kosher items for Shabbat. This intermingling of
the streams moved me.
Editor
As a lifelong Detroiter, I've watched with interest and curiosity
how Jews of all streams have interacted amid the steady northwest-
erly migration since the 1950s.
Some traditional Jews don't consider the liberal streams Jewishly rooted; oth-
ers look past Halachic differences to embrace those who also cherish the
Covenant that Abraham and Sarah set forth.
Some liberal Jews dismiss the devoutly observant as lost in a time warp; others
defend the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Chasidism in 18th-century
Europe, while remaining firmly grounded in the ideals espoused by
Reform Rabbi Leon Fram or Conservative Rabbi Morris Adler,
both leaders in 20th-century Detroit.

Meaningful Outreach

As I travel Jewish Detroit's richly woven tapestry of neighbor-
hoods, I see more than acceptance by members of one stream
toward those in another, at all age and income levels.
Oak Park is the heart of our Orthodox community, but
Conservative and Reform Jews also bid higher than the asking
price to buy a home there.
The lines really blur in Jewish education. Jews of all back-
grounds come to study at Rabbi Avraham Jacobovitz's Machon L'Torah/Jewish
Learning Network of Michigan in Oak Park, Rabbi Elimelich Silberberg's Sara
Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center in West Bloomfield and Rabbi Avraham
Cohen's Partners in Torah at Yeshiva Beth Yehudah in Southfield — all educa-
tional programs led by Orthodox rabbis.
Our lunch-and-learn classes typically draw Jews of all stripes, regardless of the
teacher or host agency. Our rabbinic chaplains go forth throughout the streams
to inspire or help — not "convert."
Federation's Annual Campaign attracts donors from all streams to help fund pro-
grams and services across the streams.
In 10 days, 35 Orthodox, Conservative and Reform teenagers from Detroit will
embark on a unity experience to Poland and Israel, the March of the Living.
Such communal accord is great. But we need to do more to spur less-formal
opportunities to come together.
I realize we're caught in a briar patch when I hear conversations dwelling on
the Reform way, the Conservative way or the Orthodox way. There's also the
Reconstructionist way, the Sephardic way, the Traditional way, the Secular
Humanistic way and a bunch of other new ways.
But does the number of ways really matter? We're all Jews, aren't we?
As we recall how our forbears set aside their differences to hastily come
together in the desert 3,200 years ago en route to the Promised Land, let us tear
down our walls of ignorance and arrogance. And let us nurture an environment
in which we can openly learn about, and from, each other.

Teamwork Goes
Beyond Sports

The Yeshivat Akiva varsity boys bas-
ketball team, as well as the school
leadership and myself, wish to express
our appreciation for the continued
coverage of our school events.
However, the coverage is not
complete unless it publicizes, along
with the sport per se, our further
activities related to the team ("Akiva
1-3 In Tourney," March 30, page
100). Our team travels at all times
in two worlds; our accomplishments
in one are not independent of the
other.
At the recent Columbus Torah
Academy Basketball Tournament,
Akiva's Michael Skoczylas, Avi Bene-
son, Meyer Winkler and Ronnie
Eizenberg led services and read from
the Torah. Sixth-grader Jacob Kohn
volunteered for, and gave, a keynote
dvar Torah at a Shabbat lunch based
on lectures from Akiva Rabbi Eliezer
Cohen.
The Akiva teams, and these stu-
dents in particular, need to be noted
so that the community begins to
understand more fully what we are
about. Akiva prepares students for
two worlds, the secular and the reli-
gious. These kids lead in both. Avi
Beneson was arguably the best play-
er at the tournament; he was nick-
named "The Black Hole" because
when the ball came to him, it was
only going in the basket. He also
led services.
More than a few times, host par-
ents and school officials in Colum-
bus complimented our boys as a
group for being role models for oth-
ers at the tournament. Our boys left
with an open invitation to return —
and an ever-growing reputation that
our community excels and leads.
The boys deserve the highest con-
gratulations. We are proud of you
all.

Dr. Kenneth I. Kohn
varsity basketball coach,
Yeshivat Akiva
Southfield

An Honoree
Of Distinction

I attended the recognition affair at the
Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield where 10 women were

AN AMAZING
EVENT TO HELP
CHILDREN WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS!

51 1' 1 ,1 32 t wriro ti

*N M

* SUNDAY*

MAY 6TH 2001
NOON TO 4:00

Great Lakes Crossing
Auburn Hills

4 HOURS PLAY

ON 200 OF THE
HOTTEST
INTERACTIVE
GAMES!

Eats and Treats by
Matt Prentice's

Milk and Honey

(Dietary Laws observed)

SpringElation Hotline
248-538-6610, ext 418

The Merle and Shirley
Harris Children and
Family Division

Ken yehi ratson.

May this be God's will.

LETTERS on page 6

4/6
2001

5

