LETTERS

Letters are posted
and archived on JN Online:
vvww.detroitjewishnews.corn

Program Geared To
Christians, Not Jews

3/22

2002

6

Thank you for your fine article on
the Christian Holocaust
Remembrance Service (This Week,
"A Time to Heal," March 15, page
33). I participated in the program in
the social hall of the National Shrine
of the Little Flower in Royal Oak as
a Jew who had survived because of
Christian rescuers.
I must, however, take issue with
your insistance on Jewish participa-
tion in the program (Opinion,
"Shrine Of Healing, Not Hate,"
March 15, page 33). This was a
Christian service, written by
Christians for Christians. Jews were
not the target audience for this
event, nor was Jewish rabbinic par-
ticipation a goal.
The goals were:
• to provide "Christians the ability
to confront issues ranging from
complicity to outright sinful behav-
ior towards Jews and Judaism,"
according to David Blewett, the
Ecumenical Institute for Jewish-
Christian Studies executive director.
• to face Father Charles Coughlin's
role during the Holocaust by specifi-
cally using his church as the setting
for this event to emphasize what
positive actions during the
Holocaust did accomplish by spot-
lighting the work of Christian res-
cuers in Holland.
The date was chosen to take place
during Lent. The date, Sunday,
March 10, was chosen because the
calendar was clear — not because of
its closeness to Yom HaShoah (in
April). I was also told that last year a
cantor had been on the program to
say Kaddish, but the Christian clergy
felt that this was inappropriate since
it was a Christian service, so used a
vocalist this year There were eight
readers, all pastors in the diocese,
who took part in the program.
The issue of the venue, Shrine of
the Little Flower, was really the issue
that motivated me to participate. I
speak a.; little as possible about the
Holocaust because when I do recall
the events of being hidden, the
memories are so clear, I am back to
being a hunted, fearful 6-year-old.
And it takes days to get back out of
the past into the present. I accepted
the opportunity to speak because I
had heard of Father Coughlin's anti-
Semitic radio programs, but having
spent the years hiding in Holland, I
had never actually heard him speak.
When I told some friends that I

for Israel and the rest of the Western
world. In fact, if that does happen, it
would be catastrophic for the West.
We must recognize that the object
of the Palestinians is not a Palestinian
Your article about the Rev. Harry
state, it is the total annihilation of the
Cook was most penetrating and
Jewish state and the Jewish people.
meaningful (Insight, "A More Jewish
Then, all of that area automatically
Jesus," March 15, page 32).
becomes Palestine.
We Jews need to know more
The primary goal of those major
about the dominant religion in the
Arab states, however, is the destruc-
United States. Rev. Cook's teachings
tion or conversion of the Western
to Christians give them a better
world.
understanding of their religion and
The Saudis need our help for their
its origins, including an explanation
tottering, corrupt regime. Despite the
of the writing and meaning of the
-
money the West gives for their oil,
Gospels.
and the American alliance they need
This kind of learning is part of
to keep them safe, the ultra-rigid
what we do at the Ecumenical
fanatical Saudis hate us as they have
Institute for Jewish-Christian
always hated us.
Studies. If we study and learn the
Even if Israel surrenders for peace
truth about each other's religion
and the Arab countries recognize
from each other, we will more likely
Israel, they, of course, have no control
have an opportunity to respect each
over terrorist attacks on Israel or the
other, and not become susceptible to
rest of the Western world. After all, it
fear and its counterpart, hate.
The Christian Holocaust Memorial is not the .countries that are spreading
the new terror, but fanatical individu-
Service at the National Shrine of the
Little Flower in Royal Oak on March als that those countries are powerless
to stop.
10 shows how far we can come —
Let's see. Israel surrenders, then the
full circle — from the vitriol coming
Palestinians create their new state,
from the Shrine in the 1930s to the
raise their army and now legitimately
showing of contrition from those
purchase heavy armaments and amass
same Christians in the present — 70
them near the shortest east-west corri-
years later. What a dramatic show of
dor, potentially cutting Israel in half.
change and progress.
The terrorists increase their activi-
We can make a difference. Who
ties with their bases now in the newly
would dare even hope or dream for
created Arab state and the Arab
such a turnaround? Not just at the
embassies in Tel Aviv shrug their col-
Shrine, but also at many churches in
lective shoulders and say they have no
the area. The Vatican and the
control over those freedom fighters. If
Archdiocese of Detroit have been
Israel would accept the law of return
wonderful to work with.
so that Israel would become an
Just remember that nothing hap-
Islamic country, the whole problem
pens by itself.
Arnold Michlin would go away.
Suggestion to the Arabs: Stop the
Waterford
violence and recognize Israel's right to
exist. Israel, in turn, will recognize the
new Palestinian state, establish normal
relations, help create a successful agri-
culture and industrial base, establish a
I have trouble believing the innocence peaceful and economically prosperous
economy, and promise not to destroy
of the whole world in considering the
Saudi proposal of the final solution of the "black box" in Mecca. Let peace
cover the world with a blanket of tol-
the Mideast (This Week, "Syria OK's
erance and understanding.
Saudi Plan," March 8, page 30).
Lee Bleifeld
Saudi Arabia is probably as much,
Berkley
or more, responsible for the latest
intifitda and its terrorism as is
Palestinian Authority leader Yasser
We prefer letters that relate to articles in the Jewish
Arafat. Saudi Arabia is probably most
News. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters.
responsible for much of the terrorism
Brevity is encouraged.
around the world and against the
Letters must contain the name, address and title
of the writer, and a daytime telephone number.
United States in particular.
Original copies must be hand signed. Mail to the
Now, Saudi Arabia comes up with a
Jewish News at 3030. 1 Northwestern Highway,
solution: "Israel, if you surrender, we
Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; fax to
(248) 539-3075; or e-mail to:
Southfield will recognize you" — an approach
rsklar@thejewislinews.com
reasonable for the Arabs, but stupid

would be speaking there, one
woman vividly recalled hearing the
awful anti-Jewish speeches on
Sunday morning radio, and I could
hear in her voice the fear that she
felt at the memory.
I heard him for the first time
when one of the TV programs cover-
ing this event showed Father
Coughlin, and I heard the high-
pitched ranting, raving voice for the
first time.
How can we ever count the effect
these broadcasts had? There were
Christians influenced to hate their
Jewish neighbors a' nd co-workers; to
deny them jobs; to stop shopping in
their stores. And what about the
effect on Jews who lost jobs, income
and opportunities?
This Holocaust program took
place at the Shrine because
Christians are addressing their own
culpability in the Holocaust, their
own "complicity and outright sinful
behavior toward Jews and Judaism."
Lastly, the program emphasized
the positive actions of Christian res-
cuers and this was, hopefully, its
most successful aspect.
Let me tell you a story. I received a
phone call the Wednesday before the
program. Could I meet with NBC
correspondent Emory King on
Friday morning? He was unable to
attend the Sunday event and wanted
to cover the story. We met and the
interview lasted almost 1 1 /2 hours.
When I arrived at the social hall of
the church on Sunday to speak, I
was surprised to see Emory King in
the audience. He waved me over and
introduced his wife: "I told her she
had to hear these stories." They were
both visibly moved after the presen-
tations. These are the people we
want to reach with Holocaust pro-
grams.
What more can Jewish input add
to this picture? Certainly, the victims
need not seek forgiveness for being
victims. Our participation would
only say, "We understand your pain
for causing our pain."
It is wonderful that caring non-
Jews feel the need to commemorate
the unspeakable horror of the
Holocaust and seek to educate in
order to ensure these deeds do not
recur. But as Jews, we must look at
the Holocaust through different
eyes. We mourn our losses, look to
prevent future Holocausts and we
celebrate our lives, day by glorious
day.
Esther Posner

Let's Build On
Ecumenism

Saudi Plan Is
Pure Surrender

