LETTERS We prefer letters that relate to articles in the Jewish News. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Brevity is encouraged. Letter writers generally are limited to one letter per 4-6 week period, space permitting. 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 29200 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax to (248) 304-8885; or e-mail to: rsklarethejewishnews.com Where To Look For Saddam's Weapons Where, oh where, have the weapons of mass destruction gone? Either our government is stupid or it thinks we American people are. Here is my answer to the mystery: Saddam Hussein, knowing that President Bush was determined to see a regime change, was well aware that he could not defeat America in battle. He devised a scheme to use the United Nations to save his neck. He sent the weapons to a brother Arabian country and then invited the inspectors back to prove he had no weapons. He also knew that Russia, France and Germany had financial rea- sons to try to prevent a war in Iraq. Hussein thought that the U.N. and world opinion would prevent America from going to war. He underestimated President Bush's resolve. So where are the weapons? History can give us a clue. In the first Gulf War, Hussein sent his planes to Iran to keep them from being destroyed. My guess is that the weapons are being hidden in Syria. Syria seems a logical choice since they border Iraq and they have a com- mon bond. Both countries desire the destruction of Israel: Iraq because Israel destroyed their nuclear ambitions and Syria because Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 war. If we could get a search warrant, we would probably find the missing weapons in Syria. Yeah, right — good luck! Robert Leaf Farmington Hills Kiosk No Way To Show Photos Upon visiting the permanent exhibit of our Jewish war heroes at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield, I was deeply saddened and disappointed by the way the pictures were filed in a kiosk, rather than each picture being displayed individually as they were in the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America- Department of Michigan Memorial Home in Southfield ("We Were There," June 6, page 12). For years, when one visited that spe- cial memorial room, you were able to see at a glance and to study each indi- vidual picture and to reflect on the meaning of their extreme sacrifice for future generations. Many of these young men were hus- 6/27 2003 6 their resources), food deliveries, kinder- gartens and service briefings. We socialized with terrific Hillel stu- dents, who are excited about their newly discovered, post-Soviet Jewish heritage. These teens and early 20-year-olds deliver food, educate others about Jewish traditions and are playing a key role as social workers to meet the enor- mous needs in the post-Soviet Jewish Novi community. We toured Auschwitz-Birkenau and gained a greater perspective on the atrocities of World War II, where Poland's Jews and non-Jews were terror- ized and murdered by the Nazis, only to We want to welcome back Jerry be taken over post-war by the Soviets. Glassman from his vacation. With great Poland is a surprisingly beautiful place, anticipation, seniors are happy to see yet the Jewish community is a fragment him. He is a great inspiration to us. His of its former greatness. programs are great. I leave you with one main thought: He brings Sam Bennett and his musi- Federation is saving lives in these places. cians. Jerry is a delightful host. He sings We met numbers of service recipients and dances with the seniors. He is a who wouldn't be alive today were it not showman and a great pleasure to watch, for their JDC lifeline of food, medicine, and always comes with gifts and pro- and source of caring. We have given vides desserts and drinks for all. thousands of young Jews pride and The affairs are usually held at the knowledge in their heritage. I am confi- Jewish Community Center in Oak Park dent they will continue to lead their or at the JCC in West Bloomfield. communities in the spirit of tzedakah, He is a great benefactor. God bless gemilut chasadin2 and tikkun olam him and his family. (righteousness, acts of kindness and Sonia Pittman improving the world). Oak Park bands and fathers and there was no mention of that in their biographies. Since I was a widow with a 2-year-old daughter, I felt cheated having to search for my husband's picture on the kiosk. My husband was Sgt. Jerome H. Greenberg. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and died in Germany in 1945. Anne Radner Seniors Laud Jerry Glassman Journey Uplifts Young Leaders I spent a week this month in Ukraine and Poland with 17 future leaders of Detroit's Jewish community as part of the Grosfeld II Leadership Program. This trip to Kiev, Warsaw and Krakow was the culmination of an educational series that will place these handpicked folks in leadership activities throughout the Federation, our agencies and our synagogues. The trip was supported by a generous gift from Jim and Nancy Grosfeld to the Jewish Federation's Millennium Campaign for Detroit's Jewish Future. Trip participants were Jonathan Aaron, Jeff Camiener, Dana Cohen, Craig Erlich, Darren Findling, Rob Galperin, Lee Hurwitz, David Jaffe, Jason Katz, Scott Kaufman, Jon Klein, Brian Kolender, Steve Krasnick, Jeffrey Levine, Carin Rockind, Steven Susser and Chad Zamler. We participated in American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) chesed avot (day centers for the elderly), warm homes (gathering places for strug- gling pensioners to socialize and pool David Contorer director, donor development Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit Bloomfield Tozvnship Parents Hold Ultimate Key As a public school teacher, your article on commanding respect at b'nai mitz- vah services struck a nerve ("Command- ing Respect," June 13, page 44). Recently, I have been present at two b'nai mitzvah at two different shuls. Both events left me appalled at the behavior of the young people in atten- dance. At one bat mitzvah, the teens in the audience chewed gum and talked inces- santly throughout the service. One young man cracked his gum intention- ally during the Kedusha and other quiet times. The bat mitzvah parents laughed at this, thinking it was funny as they were also chewing gum. The other bat mitzvah had so many teenagers I actually felt sorry for the ushers desperately trying to quiet them. I watched as these children smart-talked the adults in charge and refused to cooperate. As I read your article, I could only feel how the approaches listed by the various commentators were outdated. To arbitrarily assess blame on the par- ents of these children is only one answer. It is everyone's responsibility to educate young people wherever the challenge may arise. Hillel Day School, Yeshivat Akiva and the various after- school programs must instruct teens how to act, when it is appropriate to leave the service and when to stay. Consequences must be enforced for bad behavior. Perhaps the answer is to hold the parents of the b'nai mitzvah responsible for the behavior of the guests they invite. If their child has friends who cannot act responsibly, they should be left at home. Also, limit the number of teens in attendance and cut the chances of disruption in half. Barbara L. Maxwell Novi Business Profile Hits The Mark Thank you for recognizing the hard work that Meadowbrook Associates have put in ("Into The Black," June 13, page 25). The feedback we have received has been gratifying. As you know, the Jewish News has high credibility in the community. We are all proud to have this article to show to our friends and families. Mert Segal board chairman, Meadowbrook Insurance Group Southfield Hillel Honoree Gives Due Credit Thank you for the wonderful article by Diana Lieberman ("A Woman Of .Valor" June 20, page 32). Two matters need to be clarified. I was not the founding chair of the Hillel Day School tuition allowance committee. This committee has been in existence for over 25 years and was chaired by many able parents including my husband, Henri. Further, - the bar-bat mitzvah clothing exchange was the brainchild of the very creative mind of Marcy Feldman. We were happy to provide a neutral, non- Hillel parent family home for it. Anaruth Bernard Southfield