Ismel Insiat
El Al security official about how the
airline is forced to profile its passen- •
gers for security reasons. Others say
the Jewish community ought to sup-
port the administration as much as
possible because of the effect of the
war on terrorism on Israel.
Jack Rosen, president of the
American Jewish Congress, said Jews
should rally at Bush's side and not
say, We like what you say on Israel
and terrorism, but can't support your
anti-terrorism agenda. While we do
have some concerns with military
tribunals and unmitigated detention
of suspects, we could deal with those
and make the necessary adjustments
without forgetting that our country
is in crisis mode and that we need
the support for Israel right now," he
said.
But Bohm of the St. Louis JCRC
said that protecting civil liberties is
paramount. He worries about a will-
ingness to accept restrictions because
the enemy is Arab or Muslim. "When
you weaken the protections of civil
liberties of any group, there is a dan-
ger," Bohm said. "Eventually, it could
come back to haunt the Jewish Com-
munity."
The cold-blooded murders of Miri
and Yael Ohana in their home, in a
Jordan Valley settlement, raised extra
sensitivity for many Israelis, who
recall the Arab attacks against Jewish
homes in Hebron in 1929, and the
19th century pogroms against Jewish
towns and villages of Eastern Europe.
The landing of a Kassam-2 rocket
in Israel, fired from Gaza, was seen as
a new threat, and also recalled bitter
memories --- those of the Iraqi Scud
attacks during the 1991 Gillf War.
Following these attacks, it is expected
that the Israeli government will take
even firmer and more determined
actions against Palestinian terrorism.
Allan Gale, Jewish Community
Council of Metropolitan Detroit
On the local level, federations could
face a long-term ripple effect on their
future leadership. Short-term, howev-
er, the effects of Israel's crisis situation
are confusing.
Financial support for Israel seems
firm, despite the absence of specific
initiatives and the fact that no end
appears to be in sight to the intifada,
participants said.
Similarities between the domestic sit-
uations in Israel and the United States
should be emphasized, some said.
Money is being diverted from social
services to defense in both countries,
said Cara Levinson of Philadelphia,
and just as American Jewish communal
needs are high, Israelis are hurting and
need help. "That's the message we
have to get out," she said.
The U.S.-Israel relationship is still
strong, participants agreed, it just
needs some adjustment.
The charged title of one session —
"Do We Still Need Israel and Does
Israel Need Us?" — got the reaction
organizers were likely looking for, as
panelists called the question "ridicu-
lous." But the session was a chance to
highlight the effects of "disengage-
ment" and how the divide is growing
between American Jews' financial and
emotional support for Israel.
Carol Smokier, president of UJC's
National Women's Constituency, said
American Jews feel the intifada is mak-
ing Israel dependent on the United
States once again. "We must find a way
to raise funds but not be patronizing,"
she said. We need to meet each other to
know each other." American Jews can-
not just have a relationship with the
mythic land of Israel," she added.
Darrel Friedman, president of the
Baltimore Jewish federation, warned
against "the turning inward of the
American Jewish community," and
urged people to keep Israel at the cen-
ter of their agendas.
Participants at a session on
Partnership 2000, which links Israeli
and diaspora communities, also
expressed the need for better communi-
cation between the two peoples.
However, when Americans talked of
helping it was to reach out to Israeli
businesses, and when Israelis said they
wanted help they talked about how they
value personal contact, not just money.
It is time to develop relationships
between young leaders that will last
beyond crises, according to Avraham
Infeld, the counsel for Jewish affairs at
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish
Campus Life. "What we Jews are is a
family," he said. "You cannot be part
of a relationship unless you are part of
this family."
THE ISSUE
Terrorist attacks against Israelis con-
tinue, heating up to a level of almost
daily occurrence. But two attacks ear-
her this month in the Jordan Valley
and inside Israel near the Gaza Strip
received special attention from the
Israeli authorities and public.
BEHIND THE ISSUE
Jewish Women's
Foundation
2002 Grant Cycle
Do you have a plan to make the world a better place?
The Jewish Women's Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit
is now seeking initial proposals for projects to benefit
Jewish women and girls in the Detroit area.
Maximum grants are $10,000.
Initial proposals are due no later than
noon on Friday, March 1, 2002.
Applicants must be tax-exempt organizations
with IRS 501(c) (3) tax designations
or have such an organization
as a fiscal agent for the project.
For more information, please call Helen Katz,
(248) 203-1483.
J E
H
WOMEN'S
FOUNDATION
Of METROPOLITAN DETROIT
WORKING TO G ETH ER _
&M.
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