Introducing...
who donates a minimum of $1 mil-
lion a year to Jewish causes, says that
politicians no longer accept the con-
ference's consensus as the bottom line
for Jewish opinion. "I think political
figures are more tuned into what's
actually happening, and they're aware
that the conference does not speak
with a voice that represents the Jewish
people," he says.
But Kenneth Bialkin, former chair-
man of the conference, and chairman
of the American-Israel Friendship
League, says the recent escalation of
violence in Israel emphasizes the need
for the conference's leadership. He sees
Zuckerman as a point man who can
articulate Israel's plight in the media.
Says Bialkin, "Right now Israel is in
a very delicate position, diplomatically
and politically. An advocate for the
positions that the Jewish people sup-
port who is heard and listened to can
do an awful lot to raise the level of
public opinion support for the state of
Israel."
Conference Accomplishments
Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice
chairman of the conference, which is
based here, dismisses talk of dissention
in the group as "distortion." The fact
that eight people sought the chairman-
' ship this year, he says, is "a tribute to
the conference. People recognize that
it's an important thing to do and are
ready to make the kind of sacrifice
that is entailed — that they give two
years of their lives."
After a screening process, three can-
didates eventually emerged:
Zuckerman, former Anti-Defamation
League Chairman Howard Berkowitz
and Leonard Cole, chairman of the
Jewish Council for Public Affairs. In
April, the seven-member nominating
committee chose Zuckerman.
The conference was born in 1956,
eight years after Israel became a state
and desperately needed a powerful
spokesman in Washington. Over the
years it has played a role in mobilizing
American support for Israel while usiiig
a "quiet diplomacy" to shuttle messages
between American and Israel leaders.
It counts among its major activities
countering the Arab boycott of Israel,
lobbying to rescind the UN resolution
equating Zionism with racism, advo-
cating the right for Soviet Jews to emi-
grate to Israel, leading the effort to
obtain $10 billion in loan guarantees
from the U.S. to Israel and pushing
Congress to transfer the U.S. Embassy
in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Hoenlein and five other staff mem-
bers arrange monthly events at its New
York office and organize fact-finding
trips, such as a recent tour of Germany
and Israel. The $1 million annual
budget comes from member dues and
donations by what Hoelein termed "a
limited group of individuals."
Fi)I5STLR®
Lauder's Speech
If elected, Zuckerman will face an
increasingly polarized group, ranging
from the dovish Americans for Peace
Now and to the extreme right Zionist
Organization of America. Along with
the ideological and theological split,
organizational presidents are now
insisting on tighter control over the
chairman's public statements, a
demand triggered by the action of the
current chairman, Ronald Lauder, in
speaking at a solidarity rally in
Jerusalem last winter.
Despite a positive vote by the con-
ference endorsing his representation of
American Jewry at the rally, Lauder
was roundly criticized by Reform and
Conservative leaders for his participa-
tion, and the conference adopted a
new rule dictating that the chairman's
comment reflect the consensus of the
conference.
Bialkin, the former chairman of the
conference, sees the new rule as part of
the group's evolution, but not neces-
sarily a positive development. Because
of the diverse representations of the
organizations, he suggests that the
conference's sole item agenda should
be to focus on the relationship
between the United States and Israel.
This lack of real debate and consen-
sus, has led some academics, like
Jerold Auerbach, professor of history
at Wellesley College, to conclude that
America's Jews don't necessarily need a
top spokesman.
"They want to speak for them-
selves," he postulates. "I see this as an
outgrowth of the '60s and would call
it 'pro-choice' Judaism — Judaism as
whatever an individual Jew or 10 Jews
decide to do. And in that context you
can't have leadership."
Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, former
president of the American Jewish
Congress who served as acting chair of
the conference in the '70s, was even
more blunt.
The conference, he says, has "been
irrelevant for a hell of a long time"
because it doesn't have a membership
that can deliver votes or bodies for rallies.
"These guys deliver nothing," he
says. "They deliver picture opportuni-
ties for themselves and dinner invita-
tions."
❑
BANK
BANKING CENTERS
10562 Belleville Road • Belleville • 734-699-6639
(Inside Wal-Mart)
3915 Telegraph Road • Bloomfield Hills • 248-988-8613
42200 Ford Road • Canton • 734-981-4942
1131 W. Warren • Detroit • 313-832-7971
28177 Orchard Lake Road • Farmington Hills • 248-324-0013
37655 Six Mile Road • Livonia • 734-953-6890
29101 John R Road • Madison Heights • 248-543-1817
(Inside Kmart)
31049 Dequindre Road • Madison Heights • 248-588-6777
1001 N. Main Street • Rochester • 248-652-9792
13427 15 Mile Road • Sterling Heights • 810-268-3230
7555 Telegraph Road • Taylor • 313-299-0186
(Inside Wal-Mart)
5151 Corporate Drive • Troy • 248-312-5400
2001 W. Maple Road • Troy • 248-435-0059
(Inside Wal-Mart)
2897 W. Maple Road • Troy • 248-288-6559
ww.flagstar.com
C w."---
MEMBER
FDIC
IQ
The Hours above apply to most of our Banking Centers. At some locations, the times may vary.
Flagstar Bank Is Proud To Announce
The Flagstar 200 ARCA at the Michigan Speedway
kikaszestor
-2 co
FLAGSTAR 200 ARCA
Saturday, June 9, 2001
Michigan Speedway
Ticket Office: 800/354-1010 ,
Administration Office: 800/592-6666
Flagstar Bank Is The Official Bank of ,-4,,
,f,',1,
11Kj
DESIGNS IN DECORATOR LAMINATES, in.
It Doesn't Have To Cost A Fortune... Only Look Like
Featuring:
0■ Wall Units ► Offices
► Bedrooms ► and More!
LOTS HARON 248 851 6989
-
-
Specialties:
►Woods ► Stones
1 ■ Glass
► and More!
Allied Member .ASID
5/18
2001
23