IDF from page 15
Audience members waved Israeli flags as the band
and soloists Limor Ilan and Uri Ferman belted out
such favorites as Hevenu Shalom Aleichem (Bring Us
Peace) and a pop-rock version of Adon Olam (Lord
of the Universe).
In her welcoming speech, Shari Ferber Kaufman,
vice president of the Friends, said she is tired of
hearing people say suicide bombing could never
happen here in the United States. "I want to shake
them and say, 'That is what our people said in
Germany, in Poland and all over Europe, over 60
years ago!'
"It can and it will, unless we stand up together in
solidarity and show the world that we must fight
terrorism wherever it may exist," Kaufman said.
Gary Shiffman, chairman of the evening's activi-
ties, reminded the crowd that Palestinians "danced
in the streets while they celebrated the events of 9-
11
"Today," he went on, "a hundred pictures of
Palestinian terrorists are proudly displayed outside,
on every prominent wall and house in Ramallah.
Every one of those pictures proudly lists each inno-
cent man, woman and child they killed.
"This is their 'victory,"' Shiffman said, "and that is
the way they educate their people — cheering mur-
der and death."
He cited statistics indicating that since the current
Palestinian intifada (uprising), Israel has lost $2 bil-
, lion in annual tourist income. The current defensive
military action costs the Jewish state more than
$180 million each month and, to make matters
worse, several European countries have recently
begun boycotting Israeli produce -.
"The longer this conflict goes on, the greater is
the need for assistance," Shiffman said.
.
Opinion From The Front
Maj. Gen. Sukenik, who served as chief of Israel's
ground forces before taking over his post in
Washington, told the audience that Iraq's Saddam
Hussein wants to keep the strife in Israel alive.
"It keeps the attention of the American coalition
away from him," Sukenik said.
His opinion of Palestinian Authority leader Yasser
Arafat was equally succinct. "We knew Arafat was a
liar," he said. "We knew Arafat was a terrorist. But
we didn't know how big a liar, how big a terrorist."
As far as some Palestinians' allegations of a "mas-
sacre" in the Israelis' attack , on the Jenin refugee
camp, Sukenik said only one woman and one child
were killed. 'All the rest were dressed in Islamic
Jihad uniforms.
"We could solve the problem in Jenin if we adopt-
ed the American system [of blanket bombing]. It
would take two hours for our air force to clear out
that terrorist nest," he said, to cheers from the audi-
ence. "We lost 25 soldiers in Jenin. Of course, it
looks like a combat area. And I hope it will stay in
the Palestinian memory."
Dr. Scott Sircus of Franklin brought his son
Adam, 11, to the solidarity evening. "I think the
Israeli soldiers' bravery in fighting terrorism is an
example the whole world should be proud of," Dr.
4/26
2002
16
Related editorial: page 27
Sircus said.
Political activist Emery Klein of West Bloomfield
warned that a peaceful settlement to the conflict in
the Middle East will take a long time.
"It all depends on how strong a position the
United States takes. If we stop the double standard
and throw our entire support behind Israel, other
countries would follow," he said. "We need the
United States. We have no friends anywhere else." ❑
The Michigan Friends of the Israel Defense
Forces can be reached by mail at P.O. Box
999, Walled Lake, MI 48390 0999; or by
phone at (248) 203-2060.
-
Prayerful
Communal gatheringfir special prayers draws 800 to Kollel in support of Israel
SUSAN TAWIL
Special to the Jewish News
ur Father, Our King,
may this be a time of
compassion and a
receptive moment for
our prayers!" So cried the 800 or
so men, women and children
packed into Oak Park's Kollel
Institute of Greater Detroit for
special prayers on behalf of the
Jewish people.
Those assembled Sunday, April
21, were but one part of a much
larger effort. Via telephone hook-
up, tens of thousands of Jews at
prayer in more than 35 cities across
North America joined voices with
an estimated crowd of 50,000 con-
verging on the streets of the Wall
Street district of lower Manhattan.
Spearheaded by Agudath Israel
of America, the tefillah (prayer)
gathering was a joint project with
other organizations, including the
Rabbinical Council of America,
the Orthodox Union and the
National Council of Young Israel.
Originally planned for the previ-
ous Sunday, the program was
postponed a week to avoid con-
flict with the Washington, D.C.,
rally in support of Israel.
Although the situation in Israel
was the focus of the tefillah gath-
ering, prayers also were offered in
response to the rise of anti-
Semitic incidents in France and
other areas of the world, and on
behalf of the sick as well as those
wounded by terrorist attacks.
Following Minchah, the tradi-
tional daily afternoon prayers, a
selection of Psalms was recited in
unison, line by line, loudly and
with great emotion. Tradition
teaches that reciting the Psalms of
King David is a particularly effec-
tive way of arousing Divine mercy.
Those read at the gathering (Psalms
13, 20, 79, 83, 102, 121, 130, and
142) were chosen because they are
especially relevant to the current
situation of Israel, under enemy
attack, and as pleas for heavenly
assistance in difficult times.
The Psalms were followed by
the moving prayers of Avinu
Malkeinu (Our Father, Our King)
and Slichot (forgiveness), similiar
to Neilah, the final closing prayer
service of Yom Kippur.
Rabbi Asher Eisenberger of
Congregation Agudath Israel Magen
Avraham in Southfield, who organ-
ized the gathering locally, said he
was heartened by the large turnout.
."People heeded the call to help
their fellow Jews," he said. "It's
an incredible experience to join
in davening (praying) with so
many people."'
Said Orah Jundef, a participant
from Southfield: "It's very powerful
when Jewish people come together
in tefillah. We have to realize when
we're in danger, it's not the politics,
it's not the diplomacy — we have
to turn to HaShem (God). This is
the real answer. ❑
Left:
Elisha Israel,
10,joins the
gathering early.
Behind him is
Avraham
Goldberg. Both
are from Oak
Park.
Below:
Eliyahu •
Shumulinskiy,
11, and Meyer
Hochstadt, 8,
both of Oak
Park, find room
in the Kollel
hallway to join
in the prayers.