LETTERS STEPHEN DWECK FALL 2002 TRUNK SHOW MAY 3 AND 4 FROM 10 TO 6 ON THE MAIN FLOOR. JOIN US FOR AN EXCITING PARTY MAY 3 FROM 5 TO 8 PM, WHEN 10% OF FASHION JEWELRY SALES WILL BENEFIT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION. REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED. Letters are posted and archived on JN Online: www.detroitjewishnews.com ALL THAT GLITTERS. It's Only A Matter Of Life Everyone demands that you pick a side in the Middle East saga ("The Changing Arab World," March 29, page 34). Our culture demands that you choose between good or evil, black or white, Jew or Muslim. Anyone who dares to question the insanity of these options is usually labeled a person without conviction, a shallow human being; some even call you a coward. In spite of our culture's peer pressure and the loyalties of religious convictions, many of us still till the soil in the mar- gins. Some of us refused to assail Jews or Muslims. Many of us reject suicide bombers, freedom fighters, soldiers, mer- cenaries, terrorists and patriots. For us, the only side that matters is life. Greg Thrasher West Bloomfield Israel's Strengths Merit Equal Billing K` S SAKS SAKS SAKS SAKS Si ~ TH FIFTH FIFTH A F UNTUY FI OVERWEIGHT? Doctor Nagler's Crash Diet • one pill a day. Lose 5-10 pounds your first week. New Carbl-5 Stop eating sweets, starches,and alcohol Dr. Nagler's Crash Diet Book $19.95 GROA N Bill Nagler, M.D. 16311 Middlebelt • Livonia www.dietresults.com DESIGNS IN DECORATOR LAMINATES, LTD. Featuring: ►Wall Units . )■ Offices ►Bedrooms 0-Home Theaters 4/26 2002 6 Specialties: ►Woods ►Stones ► Glass ► Formica LOIS HARON 248-85 I -6989 Allied Member • ASID 734-422-8040 Mon. -Fri. 10-6, Sat. 9-1 It Doesn't Have To Cost A Fortune... Only Look Like It! In your interviews following U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to the Mideast ("Success Or Failure?", April 19, page 12) there was little to take issue with the pro-Zionist content. In the interview with David Gad- Harf, executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit, however, there was a note of pessimism that might not altogether be justified. Obviously, David is a solid supporter of Israel, but it is helpful, in times like this to point out Israel's strengths as well as its weaknesses. Israel has almost total support of Congress, American Jews and President George W. Bush. Even after a flip-flop, Bush continues to give Israel a free hand during the course of Israel's incursion into Palestinian areas. As for the United Nations, the European nations and the Palestinians, the loss of their good will does not amount to much because Israel never had it. Israel's strength militarily is over- whelming. Though the Palestinian Arabs hate Jews (probably more so after the incursion), this does not mean it cannot lead to a cease-fire. Not all Palestinians are martyrs, as was shown by the alacrity to surrender of many of the terrorist gunmen. Continued pressure and even more crushing incursions, following suicide bombings and terrorist attacks on Israel, cannot help but dampen both the ability and enthusiasm of the Arabs to wage wars. Most of all, Israel's course is just. The people are attached to Eretz Yisrael (land of Israel) historically, religiously and cul- turally. Their will, determination and intelligence is as great as the Jihad (holy war) fighters who are waiting to enter heaven. True, in the long run, peace must be made through political solutions. For the near future, as Powell has said, there must be a cessation of hostilities. Joseph E Savin Birmingham Interstream D.C. Harmony Lauded Together with 500 other Detroiters, my son Zachary and I were privileged to be in Washington, D.C., on April 15 to "Stand Up for Israel" ("Making An Impact," April 19, page 20) I want. to extend a hardy yasher koach to those visionary individuals who made it possible for us to travel to Washington on such short notice. Under the leader- ship of Rabbi Daniel Nevins of Adat Shalom Synagogue and. Rabbi Lee Buckman of the Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit, an extraordinarily hardworking "travel team" was assem- bled in just hours to make arrangements for this trip. Working together with the staff of the Jewish Academy, the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit — David Gad-Harf, Rabbi Marla Feldman, board member Allen Olender — and Rabbi Paul Yedwab of Temple Israel, they accomplished what others doubted could be done on such short notice. Those of us who work within the Jewish community devote most of our time and energy to our own constituent groups; here was one of the finest exam- ples of cooperation between leaders of all segments of the community — Orthodox, Conservative and Reform — coming together to facilitate this one- day "mission" in the face of the terrible times and tragedies, which our belea- guered brothers and sisters in Israel endure so bravely. On behalf of my family and the numerous members of our congregation who made the trip, I thank all of our travel team captains extraordinaire" for taking on this enormous initiative so ably. May the commitment of our lead- ers reverberate in Washington, in the Middle East and throughout the world. May we all continue to work together on behalf of peace for our Jewish brethren in Israel and everywhere on Earth. Alan Yost Adat Shalom Synagogue Farmington Hills "