LETTERS tBrreelvairt3e, tios eanttcicolteisraignedd Jewish News. We reserve the right to edt porrefre rjelcetttleertstedrr We Letters must contain the name, address and title of the writer, and a daytime telephone number. Original copies must be hand signed. Mail to the Jewish News at 30301 Northwestern Highway, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; fax to (248) 539-3075; or e-mail to: rsldar@thejewishnews.com Please Keep JCC Courts In the recent article "Racket At The JCC" (May 31, page 14), Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit board members said the rea- son they were "renovating" the rac- quetball courts is because not enough youth use them. day, numerous However, every, Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit students and physical educa- tion classes use the racquetball and squash courts. The racquetball and squash courts epitomize the goal of the JCC. They bring our community together. Where else can elderly ath- letes, middle-aged professionals, stu- dents and rabbis compete and inter- act socially? I hope Mr. David Sorkin, execu- tive director, reconsiders the elimina- tion of racquetball and squash at the JCC. Jonathan . S. Guyer Huntington Woods Your Israeli Family Awaits We recently returned from a two- month stay in Israel visiting with family and friends. In spite of the continuous coverage of the suicide bombings and the hor- rific stories (and they are horrific) of deaths and casualties that are broad- cast in the U.S. media, we never once felt as if we were living in a war zone," nor do the Israelis ("Heartbreaking," June 7, page 31). We used a little discretion as to where and when we traveled about: Most of our time was spent in Jerusalem, where we rode buses, went to the symphony and theater, shopped, ate at a different restaurant each time we ate out and visited with friends. It's true that most Israelis try to avoid going into downtown Jerusalem at night and some will not travel on certain high-risk roads, but it really is amazing how determined they are that life go on as normally as possible — and it does. Yom Yerushalayim and Yom HaAtzmaut saw families picnicking in the parks, which were filled to capacity. People went to the Kotel (Western Wall); the Yom Yerushalayim Parade of Flags was held as usual. " 6/14 2002 6 The only thing missing was "you." It is painful and sad to see restau- rants and hotels empty for lack of tourists. However, the one benefit to the Israeli public is the great deals they're able to get for weekend get- aways. Small shopkeepers, who rely on the tourist trade, are suffering; many have had to close. We have returned home with one goal: to tell everyone we know to go. Don't turn your back on your "fami- ly." There is no reason whatsoever not to visit Israel at this time. If you hesitate to go on your own, go with a group. Contact one of the many solidarity missions. Yes ; there is a risk, but no greater than the risks that one faces daily [anywhere]. You will be greeted with hearty hand- shakes and grateful smiles by your waiting Israeli "family." Fayga and Dave Dombey Southjield Israel's Security Is Overriding . In your editorial "The Bigger Picture" (May 31, page 31), you conclude that those who consider shifting their support to the Republican Party and Christian con- servatives, groups which have been enormously supportive of Israel, should not lose sight of how this support may impact those issues that are typically important to the Jewish community — opposing prayer in public schools, gun control, Social Security, etc. I recognize that these are impor- tant issues, but I have no doubt that we will be discussing these same issues five, 10 years from now. Given Israel's tenuous situation, I am not so sure that the same may be said about the long-term survival of the one and only Jewish state. In times of crisis, the Jewish corn- munity has generally come together with a unified voice, particularly as it affects Israel. If our friends in the Republican Party and among the Christian conservative movement choose to champion Israel's survival — the single most important issue facing our community — surely that is, and should be, something we should welcome and reciprocate with our support. It seems to me that we will have ample opportunity to address those other important, but peripheral domestic issues — issues that seem trivial by comparison — once Israel's very existence does not hang in the balance! Marc Weinbaum West Bloomfield Closing Courts A Bad Call First, let me say I had conversations with your staff writer, Sharon Luckerman. Please accept my com- pliments; she is a professional reporter who is fair and willing to listen to both sides of the controver- sy regarding the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit's outrageous decision to eliminate all racquetball and squash courts at the JCC in West Bloomfield. • If this decision is implemented, the membership loss could easily be more than 100. Can the JCC afford this immense loss? Occasionally, I travel the Seven Mile-Outer Drive area in Detroit and see the Sinai Hospital building complex sitting forlorn and empty. I implore the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit not to let this happen to our beloved JCC. Rudolph Keller Sar-El Volunteer: No Reservations In response to last week's article "Grunt Work for a Cause" (June 7, page 28), I am concerned that some readers may come away with the impression that all Sar-El program participants had reservations about Israel, its policies and the army prior to the trip. . I would like to *clarify that there are those of us. who already fully supported Istael's political and mili- tary efforts, and in fact participated in the program for that very reason. I -would like to thank Hillel of Metro Detroit's Miriam Starkman and community leader Jane Sherman for spearheading the effort and the Sherman Family Israel Experience Fund, the Blumenstein Family Young Adult Mission Fund and the Irwin and Bertha Green College Life Fund for underwriting what was a very valuable experience for both the participants and for the Israelis with whom we came in regular contact. Sarah Y. Goldfein . Southfield Bloomfield Hills Synagogue Story Stirs Memories I just finished reading the article on architecturally significant synagogues by Alan Abrams ("Prayerful Portraits," May 31, page 68). The article was so very interesting to read, especially the part about Temple Jacob in Hancock, Mich., because I have been there many times. The great-granddaughter of Jacob Gartner [who the temple is named for] was my college roommate. The friendship has continued for more than 40 years. I was surprised that the photographer, Laszlo Regos, was unable to find out who the architect was. In the Michigan Jewish History booklet dated November 1998, vol. 38, it states that the architect was most probably Henry L. Ottenheimer. This booklet was put out by the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan. Ethel Rosenblatt West Bloomfield Corrections In "Words Of Wisdom" (June 7, page 101), the Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit Dream Maker Award was presented May 23 to Eleanor and Saul Bluestone of Farmington Hills. Also, Herman Brodsky, winner of the Rabbi Jacob Segel Award, has two surviving sisters: Beth Weintrob and Lee Rothstein. In "Spiritual Leaders" (June 7, page 17), the ordaining institu- tion for the Humanistic Judaism movement is the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism. The school should have been under the heading of Humanistic Judaism, not Renewal. Rabbi Michele Faudem has been with Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit for seven years. Her children's names are Tal and Ari Ershler.