Insight
Remember
When • •
From the pages of the Jewish News
from this week 10, 20, 30, 40, 50
and 60 years ago.
Heart To Heart
Three Israeli visitors convey their hopes, fears to West Bloomfield students.
DON COHEN
Special to the Jewish News
0
strive for. That is the message in my
heart," she told the students.
briefly explaining about the Six-Day
War in two sentences. "My dad left
for war and never came back. He was
killed on the Golan Heights. My
mom was pregnant and my sister was
5 years old.
"I have the natural right to have a
feeling of revenge, hate and anger.
And for many years, I did," he said.
But a visit to the United States
helped him to look at things different-
ly. "I realized that growing up on
hatred is negative energy and is not
good for anybody. I decided I should
give my voice for the sake of
peace."
rdinary people in extraordi-
Always Vigilant
nary circumstances is how
Nimrod Aviad, a third-year law stu-
native Detroit journalist
dent at Tel Aviv University, also told
Ze'ev Chafets describes his
about perseverance. Explaining that he
fellow Israelis.
couldn't afford a car, he boards a bus
Clearly illustrating this apt descrip-
each day, looking for a safe seat should
tion were the three young adults in
a bomber detonate.
town last week as part of an Israel @
At the university, "there is 20 min-
Heart delegation hosted by the Jewish
utes of security checks, depending on
Community Council of Metropolitan
the traffic," he said, but nonetheless
Detroit.
A private endeavor, Israel @
Heart brings Israelis to the
U.S. and Canada to tell
American students about their
Detroiters React
lives and their nation. Not
Most of the questions from the
affiliated with the Israeli gov-
local students were about poli-
ernment or any political party
tics and came from Jewish stu-
or Jewish organization or insti-
dents
familiar with Israel and
tution, the diversity of opin-
the current situation. The
ions expressed is seen as one of
Israelis were impressed by how
the strengths of the program.
much they knew.
Last Friday morning, on the
Though Aviad described him-
last day of their two-week
self as "the most right-wing" of
North American speaking
the group, he signaled agree-
tour, the visiting Israelis talked
ment
when Shukrun confirmed
with 50 students crammed in
that he sees a Palestinian state
the Learning Center at West
Maya Raday, Nimrod Aviad and Amnon Shukrun talk
as inevitable.
Bloomfield High School.
with West Bloomfield High School students as part of
"The question is when and
Maya Raday led off for the
the Israel @ Heart program.
how many lives will be lost
group. A 27-year-old
before it happens," Shukrun
Jerusalemite with a pierced
said. "I'd rather have land as a price
he is wary when he goes to the stu-
eyebrow and designer jeans, she told
for peace, than blood as a price."
dent cafeteria, remembering the
how, as a young child, her family and
Eshai Bloch, a West Bloomfield jun-
bombing at Hebrew University.
friends would camp out on a beautiful
ior, took exception to the idea of a
"I have to ask how long it will be
beach in the Sinai.
until they make it to my campus. This Palestinian state. "They have no
Following the 1979 Camp David
claims to the land," he insisted. "The
basically goes on throughout the rest
Peace Accords between Israel and
borders of Israel will be too thin."
of the day, if I go to a cafe, restaurant,
Egypt, the beach reverted to Egyptian
Raday said some of the issues Bloch
pub, movie or club. We are wary but
control but they still went, crossing
raised
were "debatable" but "I don't
we
keep
our
daily
routine.
the border to get there. Maya's father
want
to
look at the past. I want to
"When
you
look
at
the
news
and
explained to her that peace was worth
look to the future."
see Israel as a kind of war zone," he
giving up land.
When a student asked if it is safe to
told the students, "think of the three
When she was 10 years old, her
visit Israel, the Israelis said a tourist
people sitting here with you, dressed
family had to end their vacation early,
like you, who live normal lives. It is an likely wouldn't notice any problems.
leaving for Israel just days before an
"It is always a good time to come to
important thing to remember."
Egyptian soldier started shooting,
Israel as a tourist," said Raday. "It is
Amnon Shukrun, 35 and person-
killing seven of their friends.
always fun. You have the beach, you
able, connected with the students
Nonetheless, her family still returns to
have the clubs, and we're there!" she
right
off.
the beach in the Sinai. "I still believe
said to laughter. ❑
"I was born in 1967," he said,
that peace is what everyone must
4/18
2003
30
1993
Sinai Hospital of Detroit opens a
44,000-square-foot Suburban
Family Medical Center at the
Parkwoods Plaza in Oak Park.
Israel's 45th birthday will be cele-
brated in song with the Detroit
Council of Cantors presenting the
Jewish Children's Choral Festival at
Temple Beth El in Bloomfield
Township.
The Jewish Defense League is denied
permission to participate in the May
1 Israel Independence Day celebration
at the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit.
ill1111111111111111111111111111111111
Detroiter Louis Berry will be hon-
ored for years of service to Israel,
Zionism and the United Jewish
Appeal with the Sword of Haganah,
presented by Israel Foreign Minister
Abba Eban at Congregation Shaarey
Zedek in Southfield.
Rabbi Henry L. Swartz conducts a
Passover seder for 29 Jewish con-
victs at Jackson prison.
Rabbi Moses Lehrman, spiritual
leader of Congregation B'nai Moshe
in Oak Park, is elected to a life term
by the synagogue membership.
Dr. Harry H. Lerner, former director
of the Social Problems Project for the
National Jewish Welfare Board, is
appointed supervisor of adult educa-
tion for the Detroit-based Jewish
Community Center.
The Department of Michigan
Ladies Auxiliary of the Jewish War
Veterans of the United States of
America turns over to the American
Red Cross more than $8,000 col-
lected in the House-to-House cam-
paign.
— Compiled by Holly Teasdle,
archivist, the Rabbi Leo M Franklin
Archives of Temple Beth El