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Mile) • Royal Oak • 248.545.3600 Hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday 10-8 Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 10-5 music reviews OcIN Entertainment. Catch the best But as part of his Shabbat morning sermon, which is considered the center- piece of the biennial, Rabbi Yoffie called Islamic radicalism "the Nazism of our day." "Are the Palestinians suffering?" he asked. "Yes, of course. And it pains us deeply. But before we can respond to their suffering, we must prevent suffer- ing and bereavement in our own homes. Rabbi Yoffie reiterated his move- ment's support for peace, negotiations and a two-state solution with Jews and Palestinians "sharing the Land of Israel." He did not mention Israeli settle- ments in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. But he also called on Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat to recog- nize that "you can have terrorism or a state, but you cannot have both. And if you choose a state, the only way to get there is to stop the violence and begin to negotiate." In an interview, Rabbi David Ellenson, president of the Reform movement's Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion, said, "The number of Reform Jews who no longer believe Arafat is a trustworthy peace partner has grown." However, he noted, that is "different from saying Reform Jews support settlements." "Most Reform Jews think the settle- ments are impediments to peace but don't see them as the cause" of the ongoing violence against Israel, he said. The views of participants at the bien- nial seemed to reflect those of Rabbis Ellenson and Yoffie, although many described their views as constantly changing, with the situation too over- whelming and confusing for them to advocate any particular position. Reform Jews are "very disturbed by what's going on and don't see a way out," said Arthur Obermayer, of Temple Shalom of Newton in suburban Boston. "I don't think most people in the Reform movement support Sharon's approach, but it's the only game in town," Obermayer said, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Many participants said they still hope for an eventual two-state solution, one in which Israel evacuates most of its set- tlements in the West Bank and Gaza. "I certainly don't want to give up on negotiations and the idea of a peace process, but Israel has to do what it has to do," said Madeline Dreifus of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, N.J. "When they ask for seven days of no terrorism, I don't think that's asking too much," Dreifus said, referring to Sharon's timetable before any negotia- tions can happen. While the bad news from Israel was discussed frequently at plenaries and in the halls, the overall mood at the con- ference was high. People were elated that in the after- math of the Sept. 11 attacks, which has made many Americans reluctant to travel, the biennial attracted 5,800 peo- ple, its largest crowd ever. Israel hardly crowded out other con- cerns. When asked what issues they wanted to explore at the biennial, par- ticipants spoke of prayer, education and synagogue management more than they mentioned Israel. An Israel solidarity rally Dec. 5 that was jointly sponsored by the UAHC and local Jewish groups drew a relatively small number of bien- nial participants, although it took place at Copley Square, just a few blocks from the convention center where the biennial was held. In contrast, evening services that occurred simultaneously in the hotel — the first time the Reform biennial had hosted weekday evening prayers — drew several hundred people, far more than organizers had anticipated. It was an interesting moment for a movement traditionally known more for its rallies and social action than its focus on spirituality and prayer. Some have speculated that its intense fight for religious pluralism in Israel in the 1990s undermined rank-and-file support for Israel, conveying the impression to Reform Jews that they were unwelcome in Israel. Nonetheless, most people interviewed at the biennial voiced strong support for Israel, particularly at this time of crisis. But several, like Mitchell Feinberg of Temple Beth Ahaba in Muskogee, Okla., said they were hurt that Reform conversions are not officially recognized in the Jewish state. Feinberg, whose mother had a Reform conversion before he was born, said he has been "pretty pro-Israel all my life" and was pleased to hear a strong endorsement of Israel" at the biennial. But he worries that the country he defends does not recognize him as Jewish. "It's very insulting. You spend your life as a Jew in the South defending your religion only to have the State of Israel turn around and say you're not Jewish enough."