EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK
LETTERS
Letters are posted
and archived on JN Online:
www.detroitjewishnews.com
N
The Winds Of Change
obody loses in the shuffling of responsibility among the top profes-
sionals at the communal umbrella agency for Detroit Jewry.
Time will tell, but the changes should benefit both the Jewish Feder-
ation of Metropolitan Detroit and the Detroit Jewish community.
In the key move, Robert Aronson continues as the Federation's chief execu-
tive officer, but with a lighter workload. This allows him to work part-time in
philanthropy — long a passion of his.
One of our most popular communal leaders and a national
star in developing major donors, Aronson becomes senior advis-
er for charitable causes to industrialist William Davidson, a
philanthropic giant whose Guardian Industries is based in
Auburn Hills.
Mark Davidoff, a colleague of Aronson, continues as Federa-
tion's chief operating officer, but takes on more day-to-day
responsibility as executive director. Notably, Aronson will stay
involved in critical decisions and strategic planning.
Aronson has been wooed for high-level posts within North
ROBERT A.
American Jewry seemingly since the day he moved here from
SKLAR
Milwaukee almost 12 years ago. In 1999, he was seriously con-
Editor
sidered for CEO of the new United Jewish Communities, over-
seer of North America's federations. .
The trend is toward local federation executives staying on, but also advising fami-
ly-run foundations. Davidson doesn't have such a foundation, but given his impres-
sive endowment record, it's possible one might emerge under Aronson's stewardship.
At ease in the stratosphere of seven-figure donations, Aronson won't need much
time to adjust to Davidson's international portfolio. Lots of people were responsible
for the successful S50-million Millennium Campaign for Detroit's Jewish Future,
but Aronson was the supporting pillar, landing most of the big gifts.
Davidoff has toiled in Aronson's shadow, but is ready to break out and grab
the Detroit Federation's leadership reins. I've grown to appreciate his skill at giv-
ing substance to rows of numbers and making associates accountable.
The Way We Learn
Different as they are, the roles of these three men cross in one of the most
important fields we encounter as Jews: Jewish education.
Davidson's generosity extends to such diverse places as the William Davidson
Graduate School of Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the
Conservative movement's teaching school in New York City, and the Technion-
Israel Institute of Technology, a world-class engineering and technology in Haifa.
The Millennium Campaign, a Federation-United Jewish Foundation venture
nurtured by Aronson, raised $25 million for Jewish life experiences, including
learning Jewishly. One such initiative is the Hermelin-Davidson Center for
Congregation Excellence; beneficiaries include synagogue-based schools.
The campaign raised another $25 million to make capital improvements and
endow programming, including informal Jewish learning, at the Jewish Com-
munity Center — an initiative Davidoff oversees on the Federation's behalf.
By letting Bob Aronson spread his wings and work more closely with Bill
Davidson, one of its elite donors, the Federation showed the acumen so necessary
nowadays to keep highly sought after executives.
Though not a native Detroiter, Aronson likes it here. As he put it: "The
opportunity to work for a leading philanthropist, while maintaining my posi-
tion here in the community, is neat — and very fulfilling."
Amid the second-floor changes at the Max M. Fisher Federation Building in
Bloomfield Township, the Board of Governors has plenty to ponder. But I hope
they still lay the groundwork for: 1) a major demographic study of Jewish Detroit
to update the last one in 1989, 2) a detailed evaluation of how the city of South-
field, our all-important bridge between the Jewish community campuses in Oak
Park and West Bloomfield, is faring in Jewish population, culture and resources,
and 3) a dispassionate review of overseas spending associated with the annual cam-
paign to pinpoint how much goes to causes of particular interest in the diaspora.
Ultimately, no matter who is at the helm, the Federation will continue to
take care of business on behalf of Detroit Jewry. 171
Related story: page 20
Armenian Saga
Stirs Emotions
As an Armenian, I was greatly moved
by Janice Starkman Goldfein's guest
column ("Jewish Holocaust, Armen-
ian Genocide," April 20, page 28).
Thank you for printing it.
As a practical human being, how-
ever, I do not expect, not do I wish
for, an apology or reparation. All the
Armenian community desires is for
the denials to end and the Turks to
say, "We did it!"
WARNING:
Volunteering
at JARC
can be
habit forming
Stephan Karougian
West Bloomfield
Death Penalty
Counterproductive
On May 16, Timothy McVeigh is
scheduled to be executed (related story:
page 23).
McVeigh was convicted for bomb-
ing the Edward F. Murrah federal
office building in Oklahoma City in
1995 and killing 168 people.
Since, unlike many death penalty
cases, none of the factors that often
lead people to oppose the death
penalty — questions about innocence,
racial bias, competent legal represen-
tation, economic injustice — are pre-
sent in this case, then why have the
leaders of dozens of national religious
organizations (including the heads of
the Reform and Conservative move-
ments) signed a letter opposing
McVeigh's execution?
Because whatever benefits one
might believe might accompany the
death, its societal costs are far too
high.
Few, if any, of the perceived bene-
fits of executions actually exist. In the
real world, of all the possible deter-
rents to crime, police officers and
criminologists consistently list the
death penalty last in terms of effec-
tiveness.
In the real world, the state of Illi-
nois found'more people on death row
had been falsely convicted than had
been executed. In the real world, in
83 percent of capital cases, the victims
were white, although nationally only
50 percent of murder victims are
white.
In the real world, 33 mentally
retarded individuals have been execut-
ed. In the real world, 70 innocent
LETTERS
on page 6
What's so addictive
about volunteering
at JARC?
• It's FUN. Whether you're
planting flowers at a JARC
home, or hanging out with
a JARC friend, you'll have a
great time!
• It's FLEXIBLE. Only have
an hour per month? No
problem. We have a unique
opportunity for you!
• It's about FRIENDSHIP. As
a JARC volunteer, you'll be
an important part of an
active, caring community.
GET HOOKED
ON SOMETHING
GOOD. BECOME A
JARC VOLUNTEER
TODAY. CALL
(248) 538-6610. EXT. 349
Because doing something
good for someone will do a
world of good for you.
30301 Northwestern Hwy.
Suite 100
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
jarc@jarc.org
www.jarc.org
. Helping people with
disabilities to live full,
meaningful lives.
5/11
2001
5