% LETTERS We prefer letters that relate to articles in the Jewish News. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Brevity is encouraged. Letters must contain the name, address and tide 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: rsidar@thejewishnews.com Dingell Unworthy Of Honor By Jews anti-Israel record. The shameful effect of that endorse- ment is that it confers our communi- ty's seal of approval on a man and ide- ologies that are an anathema to Israel. It debases our heartache for the unfathomable anguish and horror in our tortured homeland. The Jewish Federation of Metropoiltan Detroit's impressive annual report proclaims: "One family. One community. Standing together." If this is truly Federation's conviction, it is incumbent upon those who gov- ern its affairs that our official spokes- people affirm that unity of mission among Jews supporting Israel. While one can argue that individu- als have the right to act as private citi- zens, that distinction is moot when they are publicly recognized and sought out as influence brokers of the community. It is dangerously misguid- ed to naively believe that one can actively advance the questionable agenda of Seeds of Peace while at the same time passionately represent the collective will and aspirations of our people. Belle Brenners Farmington Hills At this dire moment in Israel's history — perhaps the most perilous since her birth — when the support of American Jewry is more critical than ever, it appears that leaders in the Detroit Jewish community have careened dangerously off course. How can prominent Jews lend their good names, their stature and indeed the imprimatur of the community they represent to tribute U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, a politi- cian whose legislative record is inimi- cal to the very security and well-being of Israel? ("Friend Or Foe?" Nov. 8, page 29) Congressman Dingell, whose relent- less anti-Israel votes have earned him gold status with the Arab lobby, will be the recipient of the Congressional Leadership Award at the upcoming Seeds 'of Peace dinner. As many will recall, Dingell was one of only 21 congressmen this spring who voted against Resolution 392 expressing solidarity with Israel in its valiant struggle against terrorism. Dingell also refused to join 235 of his House colleagues [in a letter] in urging President Georgre W. Bush to add Al- Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Tanzim and Force 17 to the U.S. list of recognized terrorist organizations. Your account of the brouhaha, as you This is the same Seeds of Peace hon- put it, over the choice of U.S. Rep. oree who was only one of four con- John Dingell, D-Dearborn, as one of gressmen refusing to demand that the . the honorees at the Seeds of Peace gala U.N. turn over a videotape showing is distressing ("Friend Or Foe?" Nov. Hezbollah terrorists kidnapping Israeli 8, page 29). soldiers on the Lebanese border. I am a longtime friend of Rep. Dingell also voted against legislation Dingell (since before he was first elect- mandating the transfer of the U.S. ed to Congress in 1954) and before embassy to Jerusalem. that through my late father, familiar But this should come as no surprise with the reputation of his late father, given his Dearborn Arab constituency. Rep. John Dingell, who served for What outrages me is that Jewish many years in Congress. community officials hosting this affair For me, both father and son have have forsaken their constituency — been staunch supporters of matters of the Jews of greater Detroit and our concern to our Jewish community and suffering brethren in Israel. It is a could always be counted on when the betrayal of trust and responsibility going got rough. The fact that the cur- when individuals charged to speak for rent congressman has a somewhat dif- the Jewish community sell out to an ferent perspective on how peace can organization that honors a congress- best be achieved in the Middle East man who is at cross-purposes with than does [community activist] Jerome Israel. S. Kaufman is no reason for the Now more than ever, with the world intemperance of his attack. It is simply assailing Israel and Jewry at large, we uncalled for. need community spokesmen who are As to Jewish Community Council of proud and vocal champions for our Metropolitan Detroit Executive people. It is an indefensible conflict of Director David Gad-Harf's comments, interest to act as spokesman for the they are plainly out of line. The choice Jewish community and to capitalize on of Mr. Dingell as one of the honorees that cache to laud Dingell and his at the Seeds of Peace affair is consis- Attacks On Dingell Were Uncalled For 11/15 2002 6 tent not only with the objectives of the organization, but also with the need to hold a very large umbrella over the multitude of interests that must participate in the effort to find a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict. For myself, I applaud Seeds of Peace for its efforts generally and commend them in the work they are doing and the breadth of their inclusiveness. Avern Cohn Detroit Lauding Dingell Troubling Tribute As a Jew who believes that Israel's sur- vival is tantamount to the safety of Jews everywhere, I am confounded by the mixed messages conveyed by our organizations and officials. We're warned by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Anti- Defamation League, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, clergy and others that Israel is con- fronting the gravest threat to her exis- tence — and that we must fight for Israel and battle resurgent global anti- Semitism no matter how ubiquitous our adversaries. But now, in a troubling about-face, many of our community's power bro- kers are hosting a dinner honoring U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn ("Friend Or Foe?" Nov. 8, page 29). It is regrettable and downright dangerous to ingratiate ourselves by conferring distinction upon a congressman whose career is marked by a preponderance of votes unfavorable to Israel. It sends the wrong message that we applaud Dingell's disappointing record vis-a-vis Israel. In turn, Dingell can exploit this nascent Jewish endorse- ment to his political advantage and bolster his pro-Arab initiatives. At this telling moment in Israel's history, we must not create schisms that weaken our resolve. We should look beneath the polished veneer of Seeds of Peace to ensure that its underlying mission and philosophies are consistent with our affirmation of a vitally secure Israel. When Seeds tributes Dingell, arranges podiums for Palestinian Authority leader Arafat spokesman Yasser Rabbo and criticizes the U.S. boycott of the infamous United Nations conference at Durbin (which vilified Israel as a racist, apartheid nation — has it condemned the Arab world's resurrection of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion?), one may suspect its agenda is somewhat skewed. If Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit Executive Director David Gad-Harf questioned the appropriateness of Dingell as an honoree, why didn't he and other Jews veto the choice or refuse to sign on as hosts? Unless the metro-Detroit Jewish establishment wants to perpetuate and aggrandize the myth that Dingell is a friend to Israel, the JCCouncil must set the record straight that it does not regard Dingell as a congressman wor- thy of our esteem. By whitewashing Dingell's reluc- - tance to boldly condemn and sanction Arafat, the Palestinian Authority and its terrorist affiliates, we are complicit in a conspiracy that endangers Israel and Jews everywhere. I pray my children will grow old in an era when Israel's security is guaran- teed and Jews need not apologize to the world for who we are and what we believe. Dingell has cast his votes. Now it's time for us to cast ours. Hineni, Israel! L. Stulberg Bloomfield Hills Chevy Promotion Is Not Proselytizing Regarding the article "Chevy Promo" in the Nov. 8 edition (page 25), the American Jewish Committee- Metropolitan Detroit chapter's objec- tion to GM's marketing of Chevrolet to evangelical Christians is silly, and a waste of their energies. The claim that GM, by advertising at Christian concerts, is somehow "selling a product to promote an idea and a faith" is not reasonable. GM is simply putting its product in front of its target customer. The South is famous for its love of country music, barbecue, Jesus and pickup trucks. It is over-sensitive to take GM's advertising to another faith as a discount of our own. GM is not proselytizing Christianity — attendance at these Christian events is voluntary — GM is prosely- tizing Chevrolet. Perhaps, if we are discussing automotive issues, we could discuss upper-class Jews' taste for German vehicles, when there are still people in our community who are tat- tooed, inwardly and outwardly, with the scars of working at gunpoint in German factories. The AJCommittee seems to be say- ing that it is not appropriate to mix LETTERS on page 10