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Sitting Down And Standing Up

he umbrella organization for North
American Jewish federations ; United
Jewish Communities, is toning down one
element of its "Israel Now And Forever"
program, .a massive solidarity rally in New York City,
to avoid any appearance of conflicting loyalties. The
UJC, based in that city, says it will concentrate
instead on keeping American Jews well informed
about Israel, organizing leadership and unity mis-
sions, and raising money for the Jewish state.
That's the wrong way to go. It makes American
Jews appear to be fearful of identifying with Israel.
It passes on an opportunity to demon-
strate American protection for free speech
and assembly. And it wastes the chance to
affirm the continuing strength, vitality
and security of America's premiere city.
It is, of course, politic in the wake of the Sept. 11
catastrophe to be low-key and to not draw overt atten-
tion to the conflict in the Middle East while President
George W. Bush is appealing for national and interna-
tional consensus on a "war on terrorism" that alarms
Muslim nations. But when being politic and being
principled collide, principle must rule.
In turning to distributing information, running
missions and raising money, UJC is reverting to the
practices of post-1948 Zionism.
It's grand that $85 million has been raised so far for
projects like bulletproofing ambulances and windows
in targeted, front-line Israeli communities like the
Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem — although it will be
less grand if the monies encourage more settlement
expansion in the West Bank and Gaza. The missions
to Israel are positive and, as members of the Jewish
press, we can hardly oppose more information, even if
we think we are already doing a pretty good job of let-
ting American readers know what is happening.
But we are living in the 21st century. And we are
not only post-Holocaust, but also post Sept. 11.

T

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This is not the time for hunker-down, don't-
let-'em-know-you're-Jewish thinking.
Karen Shapira, chair of the UJC unit oversee-
ing "Israel Now And Forever," told the Jewish
Telegraphic Agency, "We're not afraid of public
expression; our concern is knowing the right
time to make that expression." If not now, when?
We wouldn't discourage a Muslim American
or Arab American rally now. If they want to
stand up and say what they are for and why,
they should. Free speech is one of the great tri-
umphs of American democracy, one that most
Of the Arab world should see in action.

EDITO RIAL

Related story: page 20

A Rally Worth Having

The rationale for a solidarity rally remains valid.
We ought to press the government for support for
Israel, we need to emphasize our belief that terror-
ism is terrorism, whether in America or Israel, and
we should show Israelis that we are with them.
Rabbi Avi Weiss, national president of
AMCHA-The Coalition for Jewish Concerns,
is on the right track in arranging an interde-
nominational prayer vigil that will be both pro-
Israel and anti-terrorism. He is hoping for
thousands of participants to emphasize that
Jerusalem and Washington share the same foe.
Both the U.S. and Israel are committed to the
defense of personal liberty and democracy, both
believe in assuring equal opportunity for all their
citizens, and both seek to live in peace with their
neighbors and the rest of the world. They believe in
progress toward repairing the world. They believe in
an enlightened rationality that takes the word of
God not as a straightjacket, but as a guide to ethical
conduct for oneself and toward others.
America's fundamental values rest on a foundation
laid at Mount Sinai. We do not, in the end, talk
about our shared Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition.
Israelis probably understand better than anyone

else does the deep pain of Sept. 11. Their memories
of disaster, which stretch back as far as Kristallnacht,
also turn to Sept. 28, 1999, when the Palestinian
extremists launched their new wave of terror, the
latest intifada (uprising). The nearly 200 Israeli lives
lost to terror in the last 13-plus months is a higher
percentage of national population than America's
loss of 5,000 lives at the World Trade Center, the
Pentagon and on the four hijacked planes.
Choosing silence now would be okay if America's
best long-range interests were somehow different
from Israel's. They aren't.
The UJC will serve us best by being willing to take
some risks, even in risky times. Its leaders should
remember that if we are not for us, who will be? ❑

The Rubber-Chicken Circuit

Blanchard: "Nice to see you. Looks like
all is winding down and so is the
we have a concert tonight."
calendar of communal events,
Hitsky: "It's really more of a campaign
fund-raising dinners and meetings.
night, isn't it?"
After all, when the snow starts to
Blanchard: "Yes. I guess every night's a
fly, so does half the communal leadership —
campaign night," said the former gover-
to warmer climes.
nor and ambassador to Canada, who is
But no Detroit Jewish leader can escape
N
trying to win back the state's top job next
without first paying his/her dues. And the
year.
last few weeks have been interesting on the
ALAN HITSKY
• Being greeted by Rabbi Ron Wolfson
community circuit. Some of my highlights:
Associate
Editor
of the University of Judaism in Los
• Washing hands in the men's room of
Angeles at the Synagogue 2000 conference
Southfield's Millennium Theatre Center
Nov. 4-5. I should feel honored to be greeted by the
with former Michigan Governor James Blanchard.
man trying to lead the resurgence of 13 Detroit area
His seat at that night's Zionist Organization of
synagogues with an impressive three-year curricu-
America/Michigan Region's Balfour Concert was a
lum of study and action ideas.
little closer to the front row than mine, but we
The only problem: Ron greets everyone that way.
renewed our acquaintance by the soap dish.
He's your new best friend. And though I'm teasing
Hitsky: "How are you, Governor?"

F

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him, all 200 attendees at the event felt that way
about him. It's amazing what a sincere, warm greet-
ing can do.
And that's the lesson he's trying to teach us.
Ron brought along one of his best friends from
California, next-door neighbor Rabbi Ed Feinstein
of Congregation Valley Beth Shalom in Encino.
Rabbi Feinstein is the finest storyteller I've ever
heard and, in case you missed him, he'll be'the kick-
off speaker for SAJE (Seminars for Adult Jewish
Enrichment), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at the
Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield. You
have to call for free tickets — (248) 432 - 5577 —
-
but the price and the message are right.
Synagogue 2000 (S2K) has completed its first year
here. Some team members at the various congrega-
tions have dropped out in frustration, not seeing
HITSKY on page 36

11/16
. 2001

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