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Same-Sex Marriage Is Wrong
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In view of the recent controversy regard-
ing same-sex marriages, the Council of
Orthodox Rabbis of Greater Detroit
wishes to make the following statement:
The Torah clearly and unambiguously
prohibits same-sex relationships. This
prohibition applies not only to Jews, but
is part of the Seven Noachide
Commandments, which apply to all of
mankind.
The very first commandment given to
humankind was "be fruitful and multi-
ply" — under the sacred aegis of mar-
riage, between one man and one
woman. The institution of marriage is
now under attack. As Jews, under the
principle of tikkun olam (repair of the
world), we must use all legitimate meth-
ods to ensure that society implements
the universal moral standards of the
Torah. We, therefore, support any legal
efforts to block those who wish to legit-
imize same-sex marriage and to urge all
out fellow Jews to do the same.
Council of Orthodox Rabbis
of Greater Detroit, Southfield
\'‘,1k2S.W.MW•1.,
Standing With Hiller's
Come
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265 Old Woodward • Birmingham
248-642-2555
Hours; Monday-Saturday 9:30-6:00 •
(Thursdays open until 7:00)
Closed Sunday
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Placing an ad in our
classified section has
never been easier.
I can't tell you how proud I am of Jim
Hiller, CEO and president of Hiller's
Markets ("Standing With Israel," March
5, page 13). He was verbally attacked by
a coterie of dissidents who vigorously
assailed him because he dared to pro-
mote a series of products imported from
Israel.
They threatened to boycott his stores,
many of which are located in Jewish
areas, like West Bloomfield and Ann
Arbor. However, Jim Hiller did not back
down. Hiller's Markets will continue to
stand shoulder to shoulder with the
country of Israel, its citizens and their
right to determine their own policies
and their destiny.
Hiller is to be commended for his
bold action and the courage and enthu-
siasm that he showed. In an interview
with the Jewish News he said, "I will
extend the program of donating to
Israel, indefinitely, and I intend to
increase the number of products from
Israel in every.way possible."
I feel it is a mitzvah to patronize
Hiller's Markets. He is a credit to his
parents and to the community in which
he was raised. God bless them all.
Rabbi Jack Goldman
West Bloomfield
A Courageous, Noble Act
In a time when we are searching for
heroes and seriously lacking role models
Call today!
2004
6
248/351/5100-
for our children, I have found one: Jim
Hiller ("Standing With Israel," March 5,
page 13). He has risked or sacrificed his
livelihood for something he believes in;
he has shown courage and nobility of
purpose.
We are approaching Pesach. And
when it comes to shopping for Pesach,
include Hiller's Markets on your list. We
know we must support Israel; now we
must also support Israel's friend, Jim
Hiller. Make sure he knows we are
behind him. Leave a note in the sugges-
tion box saying why you came (this idea
was taken from Marilyn Kohn) and
show Jim the Jews of Detroit and Ann
Arbor are behind him and behind the
State of Israel.
Michael Skoczylas
- West Bloomfield
Helping Young Adults
The Community Perspective by CEO
Robert Aronson of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit ("A
Smart Investment" Feb. 20, page 30)
suggests that Federation should pick up
the money ball when the Israeli govern-
ment's five-year commitment of support
for Birthright Israel ends.
Consistent with the spirit of the
Birthright trips, his statement that "...
one area in which the Jewish communi-
ty has fallen short: young adults" hits
home. This resonates as the mission at
every organization that serves Jewish
young adults. It has to. It is our "Bridge
Over Troubled Waters" between high
school and chuppah.
Hillels and other young adult agencies
provide continuity of the Jewish experi-
ence even as the photos from Birthright
are processed. Funding for Michigan
Hillels and other agencies serving Jewish
young adults has been reduced and may
be reduced further next year even as
operating costs increase.
As a community, we should protect
our investment by reinforcing the
impact of the Birthright Israel trip as
participants come home by engaging
them through vibrant, fully funded
Hillels and other local programs.
As a past president of Hillel of Metro
Detroit, board member of the Michigan
B'nai Kith Hillel Fund and board
member of the Michigan Hillel
Consortium, I know something about
making choices. I know about finding
Hillels and I know about there never
being enough money to go around.
There never is. You'll see Hillel staffs on
campus maximizing the number of Jews
doing Jewish with other Jewish young
adults — all year.
While we're preaching tzedakah
(righteous acts) and tikkun clam (repair
of the world), we need to be practicing
saychel (common-sense wisdom) in the
administration and distribution of limit-
ed funds to ensure that our local agen-
cies can provide continuity for the
Birthright alumni.
Paul E. Rochlen
West Bloomfield
Sending Wrong Message
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
hopes that an Israeli withdrawal would
lead to a more peaceful Palestinian
Gaza. This seems quite questionable in
that Israeli and American military
experts are warning that a unilateral
withdrawal would, in fact, only lead to
an increase in Palestinian terrorism.
It will send a message that terrorism
works and would motivate further tur-
moil. An Israeli exit will transform Gaza
into an armed camp in which weapons
will flow freely through the Egyptian-
Gaza border as well as by sea and air.
The Palestinian Authority currently
only administers Gaza. An Israeli with-
drawal would allow for the establish-
ment of a sovereign state. This state
would certainly be a terrorist state, only
now on the actual borders of Israel. To
date, there have been no indications that
the P.A. has any interest in shutting
down the terrorists.
Under present conditions, it is not
clear how the Sharon plan would bring
peace. Appeasement of terrorism by an
Israeli withdrawal will be viewed as a
victory for terrorism and only bring
additional violence and a demand for
additional Israeli concessions.
Joseph Savin, president,
Zionist Orgnaization of America-
Michigan Region, Bloomfield Hills
Purim Mitzvah Appreciated
With all the turmoil in the world, I
would like to write about the folks who
do good for seniors. I am a resident at
the Prentis Apartments on 10 Mile
Road in Oak Park. A young lady with
her son brought me a Purim bag of
goodies. It was good to know that old
folks are not forgotten. Many seniors
don't have connections with relatives
and friends, so when different temples
and staff put their time into doing a
mitzvah, it is appreciated.
We thank you sponsors and helpers
for being so gracious. God bless you and
all the donors who provided the goodies
and informative letters telling about
Purim.
Sonia Pittman
Oak Park