War On Terrorism

Campaign Kickoff

$32 million is Federation's fund-raising goal, with special emphasis on Israel.

HARRY KIRSBAUM
StaffWriter

I

srael is in dire need.
This is the message the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit will be getting out
when scores of volunteers work the tele-
phones during its annual Super Sunday event on
Oct. 28.
As the Detroit Jewish community's central fund-
raising appeal, the 2002 Annual Campaign will
seek money for programs and services that assist
Jews living in metro Detroit, Israel and 58 coun-
tries around the world. Volunteers will be making
fund-raising calls from the Max. M. Fisher
Federation Building in Bloomfield Township and
the Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield.
This year's campaign goal is $32 million,
$500,000 more than last year. Federation also
anticipates raising an additional $5 million
through the Israel Solidarity Challenge Fund, pre-
viously named the Berman-Handleman Challenge
Fund, which will match all increases and new
pledges dollar-for-dollar. These funds will be
directed to Israel.
The violence in Israel over the past year and the
Sept. 11 tragedy in the United States will have an
effect on the campaign in two different directions,
said Larry Jackier, Federation president.
"It depends where on the economic scale one
falls," he said. "The people at the top of the scale
are responding very positively in terms of a special
challenge fund for Israel.
"At the other end of the spectrum, spin-off from
the events of Sept. 11, which has accelerated eco-
nomic and other difficulties, is causing our agencies
to have a much greater call on their services," he said.
"We have people who are economically dislocated,
who are out of work, who need to be retrained. We

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2001

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Israelis returned fire.
During the operation, Israeli soldiers
arrested two terrorists allegedly
involved in last week's slaying of
Ze'evi, an army official said.
Israel said the operation in the vil-
lage, located near Ramallah, was
aimed at rooting out terrorists, but the
Palestinian Authority said that it con-
siders Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
"and his chief of staff responsible for
this planned massacre."

Douglas Bloom

Nancy Grand

have elderly who have to choose between food and
medicine — terrible, terrible choices."
Jackier said a little less than 50 percent of the money
raised through this year's campaign will go to Israel.
According to Nancy Grand of Bloomfield Hills,
who co-chairs Super Sunday with Douglas Bloom
of Birmingham, the government of Israel has had

to redirect $1.2 billion toward defense and securi-
ty and away from social services. This makes the
fund-raising need greater.
The terrorist attacks in the United States last
month and the continued attacks of violence in
Israel "have certainly made people more aware of
the precarious position that Israel is in, as well as
personally feeling the fear, anger and resolve as
reactions to the events here," she said.
"In the previous two campaigns, we set and
achieved a goal of 2,000 new gifts. Because one
goal of our campaign is always to involve more
members of the community, we would hope for at
least that number again."
Bloom said he feels honored to be co-chairing
the Annual Campaign during this time in Israel's
history.
"I feel privileged to be working for this cause,
especially in a time when what we do as a corn-
munity can positively affect Jewish lives here and
abroad," he said. "The opportunity to make a dif-
ference is the driving force behind the
Campaign." ❑

Showing Solidarity

Federation to join UJC mission in December.

The Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, in con-
junction with the Jewish
Community Council and with
sponsorship from the Jewish
News, is planning to participate
in the United Jewish
Communities' (UJC) National
Solidarity Mission to Israel.
Federation's IsraelNow

Sharon reiterated that Israeli troops
have no intention of remaining indefi-
nitely in Palestinian-controlled areas of
the West Bank, but he added that
Israeli forces would leave "when we are
done with our mission." Sharon also
said Wednesday that the "deep friend-
ship with the United States remains
strong" despite occasional disagree-
ments.
Three Palestinian gunmen were
killed in an exchange of gunfire with
Israeli forces early Wednesday morn-
ing in the West Bank city of Tulkarm.

Solidarity Mission Dec. 2-7 will
be similar to the mission in
September, offering an opportuni-
ty to stand with Israel's people
and to demonstrate solidarity.
"Our objective is to cake as
many people to Israel as often as
possible, said Mark Davidoff,
Federation executive director
and chief operating officer. "As

The three were killed when they
attempted to attack an army unit in
the area.
An Israeli police officer was wound-
ed in eastern Jerusalem when he was
stabbed Wednesday by a Palestinian
woman. The officer was taken in seri-
ous condition to a nearby hospital.
Clashes broke out between Israeli
security forces and Palestinian mourn-
ers at the funeral Wednesday of a
youth killed by Israeli troops in Abu
Dis. A day earlier, Israeli soldiers oper-
ating in the village east of Jerusalem

mission opportunities arise, we're
going to try to take advantage of
them.
The cost of the mission is $999,
which includes airfare from
Detroit to Israel via New York.
For information and applica-
tions, contact Federation's Israel
and Overseas Department at
(248) 642-4260.

"

shot the youth after he threw a fire-
bomb. The youth was hit in the head
by two rubber bullets.
The Knesset held a special memorial
session Wednesday to mark one week
since Ze'evi's assassination. Prior to the
session, Ze'evi's family paid a visit to his
gravesite in the Mount Herzl military
cemetery. Seven MKs have sponsored a
bill to make the day of Ze'evi's assassi-
nation an annual memorial day. ❑

For the latest Mideast news, log on to
www.detroitjewishnews.com

