Staff Notebook
Rethinking Palestinian Role
I
n separate letters April 6 signed by members of
the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate,
President George W Bush was urged to reassess U.S.
relations with the Palestinians because of recent vio-
lence in the Middle East.
The letters were similar in content, stating that in
light of a deliberate Palestinian campaign of vio-
lence, a reassessment was necessary. The House letter
suggested the president consider:
• Whether Palestinian groups involved in violence
should be designated for-
eign terrorist organizations
• Whether the PLO
office in Washington
should be allowed to
remain open
• Whether U.S. aid to
the Palestinians is meeting
its goal and should contin-
ue
• Whether Yasser Arafat
Joe Knollenberg
should be allowed to meet
with high-level U.S. offi-
cials and
• Whether the U.S. should now reaffirm its oppo-
sition to a unilaterally declared Palestinian state.
The Senate letter was signed by 87 of the 100 sen-
ators, including Michigan's Carl Levin and Debbie
Stabenow. The House version was signed by 189 of
435 House members, including four of 16 from the
state.
From Michigan, House members signing the letter
were Vernon Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids), Sander Levin
(D-Sterling Heights), Michael Rogers (R-Lansing)
and Bart Stupak (D-Traverse City).
Those not signing the letter were James Barcia (D-
Bay City), David Bonior (D-Mt. Clemens), Dave
Camp (R-Midland), John Conyers (D-Detroit),
John Dingell (D-Dearborn), Peter Hoekstra (R-
Holland), Dale Kildee (D-Flint), Carolyn Kilpatrick
(D-Detroit), Joe Knollenberg (R-Farmington Hills),
Lynn Rivers (D-Ypsilanti), Nick Smith (R-Jackson)
and Fred Upton (R-Kalamazoo).
In explaining Rep. Knollenberg's reluctance to sign
the letter, his chief of staff Paul Welday said the con-
gressman decides issues of foreign aid as a member
of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the
House Appropriations Committee and would prefer
not to take a public position prior to hearings and
tesitmony.
"I think his thinking was it was important to work
through that process, to go through the hearings
that the subcommittee will hold, before taking a
position that included all those things, like cutting
off aid and things of that nature," Welday said when
contacted at the congressman's Farmington Hills
office.
"I think he felt that the letter maybe took a tone
that was a little too harsh under the circumstances.
"It's important to note that no one has been a
stronger proponent of Israel and the peace process
than Joe Knollenberg," Welday added, "but at the
same time, in order to get to where we hope the sit-
uation will ultimately lead, a dialogue is very, very
important. And while he may not disagree with all
4/13
2001
10
of those things, he may not agree either.
"That's why I think it's important to note that he's
looking at drafting a letter that more accurately
reflects his tone in this discussion." ❑
— David Sachs
SAJE Enrollment Increases
E
xceeding last year's successful turnout, the
Seminars for Adult Jewish Enrichment (SAJE)
program brought a taste of Jewish learning to 620
individuals, up from last year's enrollment of 545.
Forty-three four-week sessions brought students to
a grand total of 1,136 classes. The 3-year-old pro-
gram offers introductory courses on a wide variety of
Jewish subjects, with the hope that participants will
discover areas of interest and continue with further
studies.
SAJE's Feb. 13 kick-off event, the second annual
Shiffman Family Lecture featuring Rabbi Lawrence
Kushner, author and rabbi-in-residence at Hebrew
Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New
York, brought 600 individuals to the West
Bloomfield JCC.
Most of the classes, running from Feb. 27 through
March 29, were held at the Oak Park and West
Bloomfield Jewish Community Center buildings.
This year additional sites were added to include the
Birmingham Yoga Center, lunch-and-learn sessions at
the Town Center in Southfield and an on-line course.
Michael Weiss directs a SAJE class on the fundamentals
of Jewish learning at the West Bloomfield JCC.
Classes were taught by area rabbis, cantors, educa-
tors and community leaders representing the range
of Jewish observance.
"This was a platform for new clergy in the com-
munity," says Doris Blechman of Bloomfield Hills,
who chaired this year's program with Arthur M.
Horwitz, publisher of the Jewish News.
Sponsors of SAJE and its programs included Libby
Mall, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit's Community Outreach and
Education Department, Jewish Community Center
of Metropolitan Detroit, Agency for Jewish
Education, Federation's Alliance for Jewish
Education and the Jewish News. It is supported by a
gift from Cis Maisel Kellman.
"We're already working on next year," Blechman
says. "The budget is in, and we hope to make it bigger
and better and take advantage of our momentum." II
— Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Making A Havurah Work
f you belong to a book group, havurah, prayer
group, Rosh Chodesh group, adult education
study group or other Jewish discussion group, take
note: a national guide to Jewish discussion groups is
being developed.
Organizers would like to send you a short set of
questions and get your ideas on what makes such
groups successful. "Our goal is to put together a use-
ful guide for strengthening Jewish community," said
Leonard Felder.
"When we compile all the suggestions from
groups like yours, we'll offer it free of charge to help
Jews nationwide to exchange ideas and resources."
Send your name, mailing address and e-mail
address to: Leonard Felder, 2566 Overland Ave.,
Suite 780, Los•Angeles, CA 90064 or e-mail
lcfelder@yahoo.com
I
— Robert A. Sklar
ORT Donations Mount Up
S
upport for the new Michigan ORT Resource
Center has multiplied since the project was first
announced last spring.
So far, the project's $1 million campaign has
received more than $550,000 in pledges, said Patti
Aaron, one of the
effort's two cam-
paign chairs.
The campaign is
one of the first
joint endeavors
between Women's
American ORT,
American ORT
and the Jewish
Federation of
Metropolitan
Detroit. Campaign
co-chair is Jim
August, with
Sharon Hart as
fundraising coordi-
nator.
Patti Aaron and Jim August,
The resource cen-
co-chairs, Michigan ORT Resource
ter will be located in Center campaign.
the new Harry and
Jeanette Weinberg
Judaic Enrichment Area within the current executive
office area of the West Bloomfield Jewish Community
Center. Its 20 computer stations will be open to teach-
ers, students and parents, encouraging Internet con-
nections among those with a shared interest in Jewish
history and culture.
A May 9 ORT.Visionaries Dinner at Adat Shalom
Synagogue will add to the fundraising efforts.
Honorees are Andrea and Lawrence Wolfe, and the
program will feature Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. U
— Diana Lieberman