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No To Amendment

Thank you for allowing Other Views
writer Richard Frank to enlighten our
community regarding the proposed
amendment to Michigan Constitution
that will be on the ballot Nov. 2 ("Don't
Enshrine Inequality," Aug. 13, page 24).
This amendment isn't necessary to
define marriage between a man and a
woman ... we already have three state
laws that do that. If passed, it would be
the first time our state Constitution is
used to deny rights to any group of peo-
ple rather that to expand or affirm
them.
I oppose the amendment because it
would permanently eliminate any
chance of civil union ever being per-
formed or recognized in Michigan. It
would invalidate local ordinances that
have passed granting domestic partner-
ships. It would eliminate already existing
domestic partnership benefits that are
provided to unmarried partners (both
opposite and same-sex) of employers.
The children of domestic partners
would be in jeopardy of losing the bene-
fits that now cover them, weakening the
family unit.
Throughout history, as Jews we have
experienced discrimination and exclu-
sion. Let's use the lessons of the past to
ensure that our state Constitution does-
n't willfully discriminate against
Michigan families. Vote "No" on the
amendment in November!

Linda Lee
West Bloomfield

Bulgaria Aided Jews

%TN

8/20

2004

6

I visited the new Holocaust Memorial
Center in Farmington Hills for the first
time. While I was much impressed, I
was surprised that I found no mention
of the Bulgarian refusal to turn their
Jewish population over to the Nazis.
The Danes were properly praised, mak-
ing the Bulgarian omission more glar-
ing.
Perhaps the information was hard to
get because of the Iron Curtain, but by
now the facts are clear. I refer you to the
book Beyond Hitler's Grasp by Michael
Bar Zohar. He explains that this was not
just a decision by the king. Rather it was
a popular movement with marches in
the street that influenced the king (who
agreed with the pro-Jewish sentiment)
to remain adamant against German
demands. It seems all segments of the
population, from communists to
German sympathizers, wanted to save
their Bulgarian Jewish citizens.
Bulgaria has not been thought of as a
liberal or liberty loving nation. If asked,

the western countries might have called
Bulgaria "backward." But they proved
that they know right from wrong. The
Jews of Bulgaria had been the victims of
anti-Semitism in the past, but not one
of Bulgaria's 50,000 Jews was exported
to the Holocaust.
Unfortunately, not many people are
aware of these facts. We are always
informed of our enemies. We should
also know our friends and benefactors.

Gerald D. Michael
West Bloomfield

At What Cost?

How much HMC is enough HMC?
Was not the Holocaust Memorial
Center extant for years on the Eugene
and Marcia Applebaum Jewish
Community Campus in West
Bloomfield sufficient to perform the
task? How many millions does it take to
teach the lessons of the Holocaust?
Ironically, in the Aug. 6 Jewish News,
the Jewish Federation published its most
recent annual budgets ("Holding The
Line," page 15). Does not the fact that
the Detroit Jewish community spends a
sum total annually on Jewish education
(ostensibly, incorporating the length and
breadth of the Jewish experience to its
future generations) that is a fraction of
what was spent on establishing the new
HMC in Farmington Hills raise a seri-
ous and compelling question of priori-
ties?
Does not the fact that the Federation's
annual budget, reflecting the sum total
of the Detroit Jewish community's giv-
ing of all charitable dollars, roughly
equates to the cost of establishing the
HMC raise an equally serious and com-
pelling question?
These are questions that can, should
and must be asked sans the response of
injecting emotion and invective per se.

David Arm
West Bloomfield

Stulbergs Praised

Yasher koach to the Stulbergs for making
Holocaust education a priority in the
Farmington school district and for step-
ping up to underwrite high school field
trips to the Holocaust Memorial Center
in Farmington Hills.
With the district's acceptance at its
last board meeting of the Stulberg's con-
tribution, long-overdue Holocaust edu-
cation field trips will finally become a
reality.
My children never toured the HMC
as students in Farmington Public
Schools. It's inconceivable that a district
as wealthy as Farmington used a mere

$3,200 transportation cost as an excuse
not to send students just a few miles
away to the HMC, when smaller and
poorer districts from all over Michigan
(and out of state) have marshaled the
resources to go. I'm confident the dis-
trict will find in its coffers the modest
funding to continue this powerful learn-
ing experience, which rivals that of other
field trips.
I was heartened to read ("Important
Lessons," June 18, page 21) the [school
district] curriculum director feels stu-
dents should visit the HMC at least
twice. I'm anxious to see if the district is
sincere in its commitment to develop
new courses dealing with the Holocaust.
All students can benefit tremendously
from a greater awareness of Nazi terror
and from a heightened sensitivity to the
evils of prejudice and hatred. A visit to
the HMC is one of the best antidotes to
making sure that genocide is "never
again." Indeed, $3,200 is a small price
to pay for teaching tolerance.

Ronnie King
West Bloomfield

Ties That Bind

I just want to take a few minutes after
the wonderfully and totally exhilarating
weekend just spent with our campers
from Israel to give a huge yasher koach to
all of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit.
The only thing superseding the
tremendous time and experience they
seemed to have was the incredible expe-
rience it was for the host families. After
two full weekends — which included
Tiger games, shopping at malls, Ferrari
car photo-ops, Shabbat services and din-
ners, arcades, BBQ's, swimming, laugh-
ing, sharing and getting to know such
wonderful Israeli kids — it was difficult
saying l'hitraot.
Our tears at the bus said it all. Grown
men crying having to say goodbye to
kids, in most cases, they have just begun
to know. The Israeli campers had a great
and wonderful summer at Tamarack
Camps, but they, too, touched our
hearts in so many ways and in ways they
will never know.
We formed bonds with them and
their families and further strengthened
our ties with Israel. The Israelis, and in
some cases other hosts families, have
become part of us all.
I hope we are able to do this again
next summer, and those that have not
had this wonderful experience will con-
sider it in the future. They will be
rewarded 1,000-fold.

Mickey Levin
Farmington Hills

Sabon At Ruby's Balm

Thank you so much for the story on
Israeli cosmetics ("The Israeli Shmear
Campaign," July 16, page 60). I would
like to make one correction to the
informative article.
I am very proud to offer Sabon prod-
ucts at my store Ruby's Balm on the
Boardwalk in West Bloomfield. I pur-
sued this company eagerly because it
was important for me to offer this line
of quality Israeli products. In fact, out-
side the two Sabon company stores in
New York City, we are the only location
in the country offering these products.
I have no doubt that Sabon will take
this country by storm!

Sheryl Freedland
Huntington Woods

Kudos To Jonah

I would like to compliment you on the
story by Staff Writer Shelli Liebman
Doifinan "Hello Ima, Hello Abba"
(Aug. 13, page 11).
She tells the story of what is possible
to accomplish even in a short summer
session. But I am not surprised. I had
the good fortune to- eet Tamarack
Camps' Executive Director Jonah Geller
at Camp Tel Yehudah in Barryville,
N.Y., when he invited me to speak on
Tisha b'Av five years ago.
When I heard he was coming to
Detroit, I told my friends we are very
fortunate in the Detroit Jewish commu-
nity to have a young man of his ability
and leadership take charge at Tamarack
along with a number of good young
educators and young rabbanim. Jonah
Geller has already made his mark, and
the best is yet to come!

Alex Kuhn
Southfield

Guard The Experiment

If you believe that multi-lateralism
should be the sine qua non for our for-
eign policy, then you may as well write
off this little experiment of ours called
Israel.
If the sanction of countries like
France, Germany and Russia is required
to lend moral legitimacy to internation-
al undertakings, then it follows that
Israel is a pariah, with no right to exist.
If you believe in these propositions, that
relying on the favor of misguided allies
and dictatorships alike is the basis for
international legitimacy, then grab a

LETTERS

on page 8

