LETTERS Ne d V prefer fre [ie letters e rs tIl a tBli-eelvaitty News. We'reserve the right to tletters. e to encouraged. Letters 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 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 7/19 2002 6 N 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.