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Writer Defines
`Real Israel'

The general news media are constantly
presenting a false image of Israel. As
Israel celebrates 55 years of statehood, let
me present a picture of the real Israel.
Although only 10 percent of Israelis
have come from democratic lands, Israel
began as a democracy, and has remained
a democracy to this day. Israel, from its
inception, has been an ingathering home
for Jews of all races and cultures. People
from 100 countries, Jew and non-Jew,
are fellow citizens in the state of Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces have over-
come a series of extraordinary threats to
the state of Israel. Israel is a scientific and
technological powerhouse. Medical dis-
coveries and valuable inventions benefit
people throughout the world. Israel is a
center for the arts with its symphony
orchestras, opera company, multi-lan-
guage theaters and unique museums.
Israel protects, and its tour guides
explain, the holy places of an three
monotheistic religions with great respect.
Israel is a good neighbor to the world,
offering its help and expertise wherever
disaster strikes.
Here is what the millions who have
visited Israel from 1948 to this day have
experienced. When your plane lands at
Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, your
eyes fill with tears of joy. As your feet
touch the hallowed ground, your soul
reaches out to our biblical ancestors and
brave Israelis. "I am here; I am with you,
Israel."
After your visit, you return home, your
soul happily full with the beauty and
wonder of the State of Israel.
Shoshana Wolok

Oak Park

Palestinians
Must Change

On the fifth day of Iyar (May 7 this year),
the only Jewish state in the world, Israel,
celebrates 55 years of existence. However,
this otherwise very happy occasion is
accompanied by a failing economy, the
worst in a long time, and an almost-daily
battle against Palestinian terror.
I was privileged to be there that Friday
afternoon when in the old museum of Tel
Aviv, not far from our home in the south-
ern end of the city, David Ben-Gurion
read in his famous and unique way the
Scroll of Independence: the Declaration
of the Independence of the State of Israel.
The joy that ensued through the Jewish
communities in the land was very short-
lived. The infant and tiny state was

5/ 9
2003

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already engulfed in a war with its Arab
neighbors, who by no means were ready
to accept its existence.
The war exacted a high price in pre-
cious human lives, but was valiantly
fought and miraculously won.
So here we are after 55 years. There is
one important commodity the State of
Israel sorely lacks: peace. Let us hope and
pray that with the pending resumption
of negotiations between the Israeli gov-
ernment and the newly constituted
Palestinian Authority, both Jew and Arab
will benefit in this embattled land.
However, this can happen only when
the Palestinians decide they love their
children more than they hate Israel and
start fighting
htinc, the terror in their midst in
earnest, not only because murdering and
maiming human beings is wrong, but
also because such barbarity pushes their
own aspirations for an independent state
even farther away.
Rachel Kapen

West Bloomfield

ing numbers of Israelis is the incredi-
ble social, military and economic costs
associated with protecting and
expanding settlements, while so many
towns, cities and villages in Israel are
struggling with a third year of deep
and sustained recession. Israel's state of
the economy is directly linked to the
current war with the Palestinians and
to the general state of the world econ-
omy. Mr. Kaufman's advice to Israel to
"pay its own bills" is incredibly sim-
plistic advice toward an incredibly
complex issue.
Lastly, let's remember that to be safe
and secure, Israel needs to have a
strong society, economy and democra-
cy — representative of the wishes of
its own citizens, not diaspora lobby-
ing. Israelis are aware of the risks and
dangers of the region. They will
decide for themselves when and if to
give land for peace or when and if to
strike.
Hannan Lis

Farmington Hills

Israelis Must
Decide Fate

Help Support
Kidz Klez Band

On May 2, Jerome S. Kaufman pre-
sented a Community Views on his ver-
sion of the Zionist dream ("The Hated
Solution," page 26). Speaking on
behalf of "even the most dedicated left-
ist," he proceeds to treat us to a lesson
in military strategy and economics.
Mr. Kaufman even takes issue with the
Histadrut, Israel's largest labor union.
According to Mr. Kaufman, Finance
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's effort
to bring Israel into the 21st century is
being undermined by the Histadrut.
The idea that a strike called for by
Israel's largest union and supported by
many Likud voters is somehow subver-
sive is as undemocratic as it is misguid-
ed.
From the diaspora, Mr. Kaufman is
championing the "realism of capital-
ism" against unemployed Israelis and
the unions representing them. The
legitimate right of a labor union to
defend its members is protected by
Israeli law and is supported by all
Israelis.
In addition, there is nothing "social-
istic" about Israel; for the past 10
years, Israel has had a market-driven
economy. Truth be told, a majority of
Israelis are at the center of the political
spectrum, supporting land-for-peace
and creation of an independent
Palestinian state next to a safe and
secure Israel.
What is becoming alarming to grow-

Thank you so much for your article
about the Kidz Klez Band of
Michigan's May 18 benefit perform-
ance ("Kidz Klez Band Concert To
Benefit Carnegie Hall Trip," May 2,
page 32).
As a parent of a band member,
supporter and contributor, I can
testify to the beauty and quality of
the band's klezmer music. To watch
and listen to how these kids con-
nect to their Jewishness through
Jewish music truly fills the heart
with pride and joy.
Cantor Stephen Dubov, whose
work with the band is his labor of
love, is truly doing a great job.
When the band rehearses weekly at
Jewish senior residences like
Fleischman and Trowbridge, it is
quite a sight to see old Jewish folks
joining in with Yiddish singing and
thankful applause. These kids are
not only doing a mitzvah for our
seniors, but also are bringing so
much simchah to our community in
all kinds of celebrations.
I call on our community to
attend the band's benefit concert on
May 18 at Congregation Beth Am
and show its support for the band's
New York Carnegie Hall trip. These
kids represent us all and they are a
pleasure to watch and listen to.
Asa Shani

Rochester Hills

More Insight On
Dan Doctoroff

I went to high school with New York
City Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff
("New York Gold," April 18, page 56).
We graduated together from
Birmingham Seaholm in 1976 and have
stayed in touch on and off over the
years.
I was also part of his Sunday school
carpool to Temple Beth El in Detroit.
Dan and I, along with numerous others
were confirmed together in the class of
1973. Dan may not have been bar mitz-
vah, but he was definitely confirmed
and I have the pictures (they're still on
the wall at the current Temple Beth El)
and the memories to prove it.
In addition, Dan's parents were regu-
lars at the home of my parents for
breaking the fast after Yom Kippur. The
Doctoroffs were wonderful people and
their memories live on through the four
wonderful sons they raised.
Andrea Fischer Newman

Ann Arbor

Friends And Family
Society Boosts JAS

Every four months, Jewish Apartments
& Services' Friends and Family Society
provides Hechtman, Prentis, Teitel and
Meer apartment residents with a won-
derful pizza dinner, which includes
kosher pizza, salad with dressing, bever-
age and dessert. In fact, Meer just had
one on March 16, which was a whop-
ping success.
Esther Winer, community outreach
coordinator, is in charge of all these
Friends and Family activities. For exam-
ple: The Lion King at the I-Max Theatre
at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, a bus
tour of all the old Jewish areas in
Detroit, a train ride at Walled Lake with
Choo Choo Charlie to see the fall leaf
colors and a trip to the Detroit Institute
of Arts exhibits, just to mention a few.
The Friends and Family Society was
created to provide all JAS residents with
events such as pizza dinners, field trips,
cultural, educational and fun activities.
All I can say is we had many exciting
and enjoyable trips and experiences.
Esther Winer has worked diligently and
she is to be commended for her dedica-
tion to all Jewish Apartments &
Services residents.
Eva Sadoff

Norma Jean and Edward Meer
Jewish Apartments
West Bloomfield