LETTERS No Further for the "Ultimate Party" JWV Museum Worth A Visit Executive Director David Sorkin's let- ter regarding finding room at the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit for the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America Department of Michigan memorabilia ("The JCC . Responds About The JWV," Dec. 28, page 5) brought back fond memories of my husband's and my visit a few years back to the JWV museum in Washington, D.C. The museum isn't regarded as a must-see in our nation's capital and is located in an out-of-the-way place, but it is worth the extra effort. It is found in the Washington, D.C., AAA Guide and this is how we found it. The JWV museum has regular exhi- bitions depicting the contribution of the Jewish soldiers to America's various wars, as well as special exhibits that change. At the time of our visit, the special exhibit was of Jewish women in American wars, which was especially interesting to me. I wrote a piece on this interesting and very enlightening museum visit to Hadoar, a Hebrew bi- monthly, with a strong recommenda- tion to the readers not to miss this mostly unknown museum. This unique museum is open every day except on Shabbat and Jewish holi- days. Since our visit, we support this important Jewish organization mostly by using its very beautiful cards and labels, which I use with great pride. Rachel Kapen Call for directions, hours & open skating hours West Bloomfield (248) 661-4200 57 00 Drake Rd. just South of Walnut Lake Rd. Wedding and Party Specialists Flowers For All Occasions S 1/18 2002 6 G OF NATURE TATE T FLOWERS (248) 559-5424 (888) 202-4466 Fax: (248) 559-5426 29115 Greenfield, Southfield, MI 48076 V B'nai Mitzvah Guide Welcomed Mazel Toy, Emanu-El Thank you for you excellent editorial ("Tried And True," Jan. 11, page 19) and article ("Focused Celebrations," Jan. 11, page 12) on the Michigan Board of Rabbis' strong suggestion on celebra- tions in connection with b'nai mitzvah. As you and Rabbis Daniel Nevins, Paul Yedwab and E.B. "Bunny" Freedman express, over the years the party has become the focus, often at enormous expense, and the service and preparation for the service have thus become peripheral. What has bothered me most is the impression that we, as Jews, leave with those of other faiths. The important life-cycle event often becomes a reason to show off one's affluence. Congratulations to Temple Emanu-El on 50 years of existence ("Tending The Roots," Jan. 11, page 41). We are very glad to learn that Walter Stark was a founding member of this highly respected temple. Only a few people are able to look back to the roots of such remarkable events. We are very good friends of Margaret and Walter Stark, and are proud to know almost the whole Stark family. We are also great friends of your country, the U.S.A. We are trying to be good ambassadors of America here in Europe. We also are defending eagerly your interests among our citi- zens wherever we can do it. We wish Temple Emanu-El great success in all its events throughout the commemoration year 2002. The future for this fruitful activity is secured and firm and with a good spir- it, as we can learn from this very inter- esting cover story. Dr. Enzo Leonardini and Paul Friedli I am not sure how much these guide- lines will help, but when 35 rabbis sign on, it can only be positive. Why not spend less on the celebration and give some money to food banks, to a synagogue and to other charities. Wouldn't that ultimately set an example for our children to be good models that Jews and non-Jews would respect. What a wonderful example set by Zara Mogilevsky and her parents, as reported in that same issue, where they forego any celebration to donate their money to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Harvey S. Bronstein Southfield Rabbis' Guide Right On Target The Michigan Board of Rabbis is to be commended for expressing its views relative to bar/bat mitzvah cel- ebrations ("Focused Celebrations," Jan. 11, page 12). In many instances, the party is the announcement that the bar or bat mitzvah is discontinuing their Jewish education. This writer was ritual committee chairman at Temple Israel for many years. Over the years, the committee received many absurd requests from parents: no pledge that they will con- tinue after the bar/bat mitzvah; only a specific rabbi give the sermon; only their guests be invited to the Kiddush after services. Our answer was and, I hope, still is that the bar/bat mitzvah is only part of the service, not the reason for it. Bravo to our rabbis. Leonard H. Trunsky West Bloomfield Solothurn, Switzerland Temple Emanu-El Stirs Memories It's hard to believe that 50 years have passed since my father, Bert Kaatz, tired of taking my brother and me to Temple Beth-El, then in Detroit, on Sunday mornings and decided the fastest way out of this commute was to start Temple Emanu-El, then the Suburban Temple, in south Oakland County ("Tending The Roots," Jan. 11, page 41). At the time, I was in my pre-confir- mation year and had absolutely no interest in (a) giving up my city friends for a suburban temple and (b) being a "guinea pig" in a confirmation class of seven. What was remarkable is that the tem- ple took root in a community known best for Father Charles Coughlin in those post-war days and that, despite a lot of anti-Semitic skepticism, it thrived. Founding the temple with Walter Schmier and others was certainly one of my dad's crowning achievements, and he would be so proud today to see it cele- brate 50 years. Joan Kaatz Beaubaire Northbrook, Ill.