LETTERS
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Israel Visit
Encouraging
I just returned from Israel. My daugh-
ter Tamar is a teacher in the
International School near Tel Aviv.
Her husband, Gil Hermon, from New
York, is heading the Challenge Fund,
an Israeli mutual fund.
What impressed me most is the
calm and confidence that Israelis have.
It's not different from the perseverance
of the citizens in London during
World War II; Israelis are going about
their business and living their lives.
There are no visible extra police or
army on the streets.
There are excellent restaurants and
shows. The beaches are clean and
beautiful. The hotel was excellent and,
like usual, there was public Israeli
dancing on Saturday morning. Yes,
tourism is down; Israel should be sup-
ported by the Jewish community.
Tamar joined her sister in Tel Aviv,
Merav, who is heading a Web site
team and has a 7-month-old baby,
Orr. Her husband, Yaiir, is working
with StiVentures, an investment com-
pany.
Life in Israel for my two daughters
is very fulfilling. They have a lot of
friends and a cultural life. My wife
and I were very encouraged as we flew
back to Detroit.
Dr. Isaac Barr
Southfield
Who's Really
Twisting Islam?
The Jewish News editorial "In The
Name Of God" (July 12, page 35)
said: "Islam, a religion of peace and
equality, has been twisted by nations
in the Middle East into a hateful
expression of intolerance that uses
Allah' as a tool for oppression and
warfare."
Proverbs 18:17 says: "He that pleads
his cause first seems just; But his
neighbor comes and searches him
out."
Neighbor, the Muslim holy book,
the Koran, says: "Warfare is ordained
for you." (2:216); "Fight against such
as those that have been given the
Scripture (Jews) ... and follow not the
Religion of Truth (Islam), until they
pay the Jizya (a punishing tax
designed to keep them too weak to be
a threat) in acknowledgment of supe-
riority and they are in a state of sub-
jection." (9:29); and "0 ye who
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believe! Fight those of the disbelievers
who are near to you, and let them
find harshness in you, and know that
Allah is with those who keep their
duty unto Him." (9:123).
Is this your idea of peace and equal-
ity? Some Muslims and their apolo-
gists try to distract us from
Mohammad's diatribes in the Koran
by quoting out of context many seem-
ingly positive statements he makes
about Jewish and Christian scriptures
and prophets.
What is missed is the context of
Mohammad's claim of supersession to
Moses and Jesus, which brands all
Jews and Christians who fail to accept
his new creed as infidel enemies of
Allah [and] worthy of death or slavery.
It is the Modernists' "twisting"
Mohammad's expressions of hate and
intolerance into something civilized
by arguing that one must interpret the
Koran in the context of the era in
which it was written.
Unfortunately, the dominant belief
in the Islamic world is summed up in
their popular expression La ij-ti-had
fee el-nus el-wah-rid, which means,
"Don't interpret the given verses."
Dennis L. Green
Detroit
Israel Energizes
Volunteer Worker
On June 10, about 60 of us from
Europe, the United States and Canada
gathered at Israel's Ben-Gurion
Airport to begin one of the most won-
derful experiences of our lives ("Hope
Vs. Reality," June 28, page 18).
Our purpose was to serve Israel as
volunteers in the Israel Defense Forces
in any capacity required within our
individual qualifications. A few volun-
teers were dropped off at a hospital
supply base; a few nurses went to a
hospital. The rest of us, about 50
ranging in age from 23 to 75, includ-
ing 10 non-Jews, continued on to
Camp Julis a few miles east of
Ashkelon.
Our camp was a truck, tank and
engine maintenance base where the
volunteers were able to use their
expertise in any way they could. We
replaced heavy-duty truck wheels,
bearings and brake cylinders; cleaned
the kitchen and dining room and set
up for the next meal; refurbished
heavy-duty engines and set them up
for test and rebuilt engine starters;
raised the Israeli flag in the morning;
repaired tank parts; made wonderful
desserts in the bakery, and slept on
cots in hot, steamy co-ed barracks,
five to a room. We had more cold
showers than hot; toilet paper was a
rarity; we wore uniforms that were too
large, and we shared work and meals
with wonderful male and female
Israeli soldiers.
Off the camp at other locations, we
refurbished gas masks and prepared
ration boxes for soldiers in the territo-
ries.
We took buses everywhere, visiting,
shopping and praying in vibrant Jaffa,
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. We experi-
enced all of the above with very spe-
cial and wonderful volunteers from all
over Europe, Canada and the United
States.
Our soldier hosts and Israeli citizens
were gracious, helpful and very appre-
ciative of our efforts and visit.
I recommend visiting and volun-
teering in Israel; you will find the
experience unforgettably wonderful.
Go to Israel. There are many ways
to volunteer, tour and visit. Please
don't let the news media keep you
home. Make sure our brothers and sis-
ters know they are not alone and iso-
lated.
Ed Kohl
West Bloomfield
Candidate Violates
U.S. Constitution
A Congressman must respect all the
people he represents because they are
all American citizens. The U.S.
Constitution guarantees our rights
regarding race and religion.
State Rep. William Callahan's cal-
lous remarks about U.S. Rep. Sander
Levin ("Out Of Line," July 12, page
22) are abhorrent and a violation of
every citizen's constitutional rights.
Mr. Callahan's statements reflect a
personal choice, which suggests that
you must be Catholic in order for him
to represent you in the 12th State
House District. Furthermore, he
implies that if you are Protestant,
Orthodox, Muslim, Hindu, or any
other religion, he will not represent
you. This also includes individuals
that are not part of any organized reli-
gion.
There must be no religious discrimi-
nation on the campaign trail. Mr.
Callahan is in violation of the U.S.
Constitution, and he would not be a
law-abiding Congressman. He should
pull out of this campaign immediate-
ly. He should apologize to
Congressman Levin and also to the
voters of the 12th district of
Michigan.
For the last 20 years, Congressman
Levin has fairly represented all reli-
gious and ethnic groups. Levin -
deserves your vote. He has proven that
he has earned it. Congressman Levin
does not discriminate and supports all
American citizens.
Jerry Moskwa
Sterling Heights
Lawmaker Hurts
Macomb Image
It is unfortunate that people such as
State Rep. William Callahan, running
against U.S. Rep. Sander Levin in the
12th Congressional District, tend to
give Macomb County such a poor
image ("Out Of Line," July 12, page
22).
We are certain that most residents
in Macomb do not reflect Mr.
Callahan's anti-Semitism. At a time
when increasing numbers of people
understand how important religious,
racial and ethnic diversity are in the
workplace, schools and other institu-
tions, it is sad that we still have race-
baiting politicians seeking political
offices.
Our nation was founded and
intended to be one nation under God,
not a nation with preferences for any
particular religious expression.
The Rev. Daniel H. Krichbaum
executive director
Helen B. Love
president
Alan A. May, Edward J. (Chip)
Miller, Edward Turfe
vice chairs
National Conference for Community
and Justice Michigan Region
Detroit
Seniors Merit
A Better Fate
Recently, some disturbing events have
occurred in our Jewish community.
Let me share my thoughts:
• Elan Village is closing ("Elan
Village Closing July 31," June 28,
page 11). We are not in the nursing
home business, but perhaps we should
reconsider the feasibility of having a
Jewish home for the aged.