On The Outside Looking In
Michigan Friends of the IDF dinner attendees
showed concern that Israel was being lefi behind.
HARRY KIRS BAUM
Staff Writer
T
he purpose of the Michigan Friends
of the IDF annual solidarity dinner
takes on even more significance after
the bombing of Afghanistan by
America and Great Britain began Sunday, Oct. 7.
Joshua Berkovitz, president of the Michigan
Friends of the IDF (Israel Defense Force), said
two days later he was very worried now that
the war on terrorism has begun.
"When you see the coalition, countries joining
that harbor terrorists, that throughout history
have harbored terrorists, you can only ask your-
self, 'What kind of a coalition is this?"' he said.
"When the U.N. announced that Syria is
becoming a Security Council member for two
years, you're asking, 'What kind of U.N. is
that?'"
Many of the 900 staunch Israel supporters
gathered at Congregation Shaarey Zedek on
Oct. 4 say they can't understand how the
United States could form a coalition with Arab
states, including a few that support terrorism
and exclude Israel.
"It's another example of the sacrificial lamb," said
Arie Leibovitz of Bloomfield Hills. "Jewish blood
has to flow for the sake of the rest of the world."
Inviting Iran and Syria into the coalition is
like "inviting a spy within our forces," he said.
Syria sponsors regional terrorism and Iran
sponsors more international terrorism.
Fred Ferber of Orchard Lake said these are
very special times."
"There is nothing wrong with Israelis sitting
out for the moment," he said, in reference to
the United States coalition.
Moving Program
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The fifth annual dinner program included
songs by the IDF Ensemble and speeches by
honoree Robert Aronson, CEO of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit; Maj. Gen.
Moshe Sukenik of the IDF; and Chani
Abramov, a 20-year-old female soldier who was
shot in the face and leg during a border patrol
incident last year and left for dead.
"I am not angry. I'm not bitter. In order to
bring peace I understand you have to pay," said
Abramov, who suffered a severed tongue, bro-
ken teeth and many major surgeries. "Although
I was hit, I am standing before you alive. The
ww-w.detroitjewishnews.corn
OUTSIDE on page 17
From top:
IDF soldier Chani Abramov speaks and West Bloomfield's
Shari Kaufman, of the Michigan Friends of the IDF, translates.
Jewish Federation of etropolitan Detroit
CEO Robert Aronson was the evening's honored guest.
The IDF Ensemble from left: Meytal Shinhov,
Shira Yovel, Noa Faran.
Maj. Gen. Moshe Sukenik of the IDE
10/12
2001
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