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went to school. We hope to attract
63).
However, I believe, respectfully, that
alumnae of all ages and undergraduate
many Jews are not sufficiently applying
chapters from around the country
Judaism's beautiful teachings regarding
(and Canada) who live in the Detroit
the proper treatment of animals.
area.
I understand why Jews, especially
Judaism teaches that God's mercies are
Secondly, we plan on having meet-
Holocaust survivors, are incensed by
ings on a regular basis for the group,
over all His creatures (Psalms 145:9) and
PETA's "Holocaust on Your Plate"
that the righteous individual considers
to help plan events, support under-
campaign ("PETA's Holocaust
(Proverbs
the
life
of
his
or
her
animal
graduate
chapters and just to recon-
Blunder," March 14, page 34).
12:10). Many Torah laws mandate prop-
nect with sorority sisters who share
The word "Holocaust" really is
er treatment of animals, and one of the
common memories. For those inter-
appropriate to what happens to put
Ten Commandments indicates that ani-
ested, you may call me at (248) 968-
food on our plates, especially in the
mals as well as people are to be able to
4354.
era of huge agribusiness and factory
Last and most importantly, with
rest on the Sabbath day.
farming. "Holocaust" is actually a bib-
Moses
and
King
David
were
chosen
regard
to 'the song Bless DT, which
lical term used to describe the total
for
leadership
because
of
their
compas-
was
quoted
in the beginning of the
immolation of sacrificed animals —
article: It was written by Karen Burg,
they were known as whole-burnt offer- sionate treatment of sheep when they
were shepherds; Rebecca was deemed
an alumnae of Michigan State
ings.
suitable to be the wife of Isaac and there- University who passed away in 1987,
The Greek word for such sacrifices
by to help continue Judaism because she
two months after we graduated. The
is holdkaustos and was used in the
song won a national award and is still
ran
to
water
10
thirsty
camels.
translation of the Hebrew scrolls as far
In
view
of
these
and
many
more
pow-
sung every week at Michigan State by
back as 250 B.C.E. That translation
erful
Jewish
teachings,
can
we
ignore
the
the current undergraduate sisters,
(called the Septuagint) was completed
force-feeding of huge amounts of grain
proving once again that the bonds of
for the Jews who lived in Alexandria,
to ducks and geese to produce foie gras,
sisterhood never, ever fade away.
Egypt, and could no longer read or
Ida L. Warshay
the removal of calves from their mothers
speak Hebrew.
Oak Park
shortly
after
birth
to
raise
them
for
veal,
So referring to the death of millions
the
killing
of
250
million
male
chicks
of animals as a holocaust was used
immediately after birth at egg-laying
more than 2,000 years before people
hatcheries annually in the United States,
applied it to the torture and slaughter
the placing of hens in cages so small that
of human beings. It is not animal
they can't raise even one wing, and the
rights people who have linked the
many other horrors of modern factory
death of animals and the death of peo-
farming?
It has been announced that Islamic
ple. It is those who were appalled at
When we also consider the significant
Jihad intends to export Palestinian sui-
the human carnage of Nazi Germany,
contributions of modern intensive live-
cide bombers from Palestine
who likened it to a holocaust — to the
stock agriculture to air, water and land
Authority-administered territory to
death of millions of animals.
pollution, rapid species extinction, water
Iraq, to terrorize U.S. forces there and
A number of Jews have switched
shortages, global climate change, the
to intimidate the U.S. public here at
to a vegetarian diet as a way to keep
destruction of tropical rain forests and
home.
kashrut — no discussion of which
other valuable habitats, widespread
Also announced is that Abu Mazen
animal products to eat, just don't
hunger
and other environmental and
[Mahmoud Abbas] has been appoint-
consume any.
societal problems — it should be clear
ed prime minister of the P.A., an act
Think about what you are eating
that Jews should be in the forefront of
that has been pointed to as represent-
and whether you are still comfortable
shifts to plant-based diets, not as a favor
ing qualifying progress by the P.A.
with it, considering all of the vegetari-
or concession to PETA, but because
along the so-called "roadmap" to
an options and resources that are read-
Judaism demands it, and the sustainabil-
peace between the Israelis and the
ily available, especially in our local
ity of our precious, but imperiled, planet
Palestinians.
area.
Maida Waldner Genser requires it.
It occurs to me, however, that if the
Richard H. Schwartz new PM allows these murderous vol-
Jewish Vegetarians
New York unteers unimpeded egress from his
of North America
Royal Oak
territories and fails to denounce the
operation as a provocation to the
United States and an insult to peace,
then he, as prime minister of the
Palestine Authority, is committing a
direct act of war against the United
States, and is exposing himself as the
Thank you very much for the arti-
unreconstituted terrorist that he is and
cle
regarding
the
metro
Detroit
As author of the book Judaism and
that his government represents.
Alumnae
Group
of
Sigma
Delta
Tau
Vegetarianism, and a longtime vegetarian
As such, he certainly cannot be the
Sorority
("Together
Again,"
March
and animal rights activist, I agree with
sincere
chaperone of peace that he is
page
89).
28,
the criticism of PETA's insensitive,
characterized as being by those trum-
May I add a few points not men-
provocative "Holocaust on your Plate"
peting the roadmap as a viable guide
tioned in the article: First, the metro
exhibit, and that "To Determine
to peace in the Middle East.
Detroit group is open to ALL alum-
`Animal Rights,' [Jews should] Turn to
Robert Levine
nae
of
SDT,
regardless
of
where
they
Torah, Not To PETA" (March 21, page
West Bloomfield

Term First Referred
To Animal Sacrifices

Palestinian PM
Must Stop Terror

Plant-Based Diet
Becoming A Must

4/ 4

2003

6

Sisterhood Bonds
Are Strong

Writer Recalls
1943 Concert

What a surprise to read in the
March 14 issue of a concert in
which I performed 60 years ago, at
age 13 ("Remember When," page
29), at the Jewish Community
Center, Woodward at Holbrook.
Also performing in that concert
was Joseph Silverstein, then known
to us as "Joey;" he is now a world-
famous violinist and orchestra con-
ductor.
Kurt Sarni- became a renowned
opera coach and conductor. He
passed away about 12 years ago.
I have lost touch with Leah
Crohn, a talented singer, whose
brother was Harris Crohn, also, a
musician, and whose father,
Lawrence Crohn, was a leader in
the Detroit Jewish community.
I have performed extensively and
am still teaching piano.
The JCC Music Department
headed by Julius Chajes was truly a
musical force in the Detroit com-
munity.
Among the world-famous artists
who performed there were Moriz
Rosenthal, Hepsibah Menuhin,
Raya Garbousiva, Emanuel
Feuerman and Leonard Bernstein.
The W.P.A. Orchestra, under the
direction of Valter Poole, also per-
formed there regularly. Mrs.
Abraham (Rose) Cooper was chair-
person of the music department.
Betty Kowalsky Stasson
West Bloomfield

Mollie Fellows
Left Vital Mark

We read with sadness the announce-
ment of the passing of Mollie Fellows
(Obituaries, March 14, page 126).
Many of us alumni of
Congregation B'nai David noted the
comment that she was a "bookkeep-
er." Mollie Fellows was much more
than a bookkeeper.
She was, at least, the equivalent of
an executive director for decades
before that term was known in
Jewish congregational life. For many
of us, she was one of those people
who were the essence of
Congregation B'nai David and her
passing truly marks the end of an
era.
Michael H. Traison
Detroit