EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

Vigilance Over Fear

of orchestrating the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center
Jr udy Berne was at home in West Bloomfield about a
in New York City
week after the terrorist attacks on America when she
Addressing an Oct. 31 meeting arranged by the New Black
heard sirens that seemed to last a long time.
Panther
Party, Imam Mohammed Asi of the Islamic Center of
Sensing something could be wrong, she decided to
Washington said Israel authorized the attack after the United
drive past the nearby elementary school her 6-year-old grand-
States refused to intervene and suppress the latest Palestinian
daughter, Allyson Ginsberg, attends, "just to make sure the
intifida (uprising).
sirens had nothing to do with her."
"If we're not going to be secure, neither are you" was Israel's
"No way would I have done that before Sept. 11," the veter-
thinking in the wake of the U.S. response, according to Asi, as
an journalist and doting grandmother told me last week.
quoted by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
That fateful day in September changed our
Chilling stuff, indeed, about our ancient homeland and the
lives forever, and in more ways than we may
way
its leaders supposedly think. I was outraged by the imam's
want to admit. Part of the reason why is
irreverence toward the ideals that we, as Jews, hold dear.
because its effects may linger for generations.
Like the Bernes, Elaine and Steve Sturman of Bloomfield
As Berne put it, "I ostensibly am trying to
Township looked forward to an October trip overseas before
lead my life in as normal a way as possible,
four hijacked airliners burned Sept. 11 into our history books.
but underlying is a sadness for my children
So they spent Oct. 21-29 touring Canada after their traveling
and grandchildren. I doubt that they will ever
companions vetoed the original destination: Spain.
live as freely as we have lived up to now"
The Sturmans were bound to take their vacation, even if it
Like many Detroit Jews, Berne is more
ROBERT A.
meant
going away closer to home. "We've tried to carry on as
aware of her surroundings and instincts. But
SKLAR
best
we
can in these very tough times, where we don't know
that
hasn't
deterred
Editor
her. She and her hus-
what else will happen," said
Elaine, my sister-in-law
band, Ed, carried
through on long-held plans to visit
She then quoted motivational
Turkey and Greece Oct. 6-23. They
speaker Mort Crim, who
traveled with friends:
keynoted Hadassah's Oct. 16
"I had few trepidations about flying,"
opening fall luncheon at Adat
Judy said, "but I wondered whether we
Shalom Synagogue in
would be targets for terrorists once we
Farmington Hills. "Normal
were there. As it turned out, we felt
may be a different normal than
safer there than here."
we had before," he said — and
A columnist for the Birmingham-
he's right.
based Eccentric Newspapers, where we
once were colleagues, Berne wrote Nov.
Staying Focused
1 about her biggest fear in Turkey —
Judy Berne and her
"that we were potential targets for radi-
We still open our mail, but
c lai;sd
o c n lag hter,
cals in this predominantly Muslim
often with gloves or by tossing
country"
Gin sberg
out envelopes with strange
"So our idea was to do our best to
return addresses. We still go
blend in," she wrote. "My husband
about our daily business, but
seldom without turning on the
even traded his beloved University of Michigan baseball cap
radio for a news update. We still visit malls, but no longer are
for one that was more international.
oblivious to those who seem to have intentions other than
"The Turks, who are born salespeople, were not fooled in
shopping.
the least by our 'disguises.' They sought us out — not to ter-
We still go to synagogue, whether on Shabbat, for a minyan
rorize, but to do business: 'What part of the States are you
or for an event, but always with an eye out for people who
from?' 'Let me help you spend your money.' Even, shalom
don't seem to fit in.
from more than a few who somehow sensed we were Jewish."
We know the master stoker of terror, Osama bin Laden,
Nine days after the Bernes came home, Turkey became the
isn't done. We know his intent is to paralyze us, and our
first Muslim nation to agree to commit troops to the Bush
country, with fear. But we've got to resist that without letting
administration's anti-terrorist campaign aimed at Islamic
down our guard.
extremists, among others.
We can learn from Israel, which has lived with terror since
the moment of its creation as an independent state in 1948.
Setting The Stage
We can't fear enjoying the gifts of life, but neither can we
downplay the scourge of terrorism.
The experience of Judy and Ed Berne provides a lead-in to
Says Elaine Sturman, president of Hadassah's Greater
today's cover story, where we explore the impact of Sept. 11 on
Detroit Chapter: "Now that it has hit our shores, we have
Detroit Jewry. It begins on page 14. It's a story that's important
to tell.
to adjust. It's the only way. That means taking pleasure
trips, going out and buying things, and living life, as best
The story grew in meaning for me when I read about the
we can, as good persons, every day. I strongly believe that if
Washington-based Islamic cleric who shockingly accused Israel
we don't do this, we will have let the terrorists win."

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11/9
2001

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