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Spread Judaism's Message

I read with horror your cover story on
Aug. 27 ("Aiming For Detroit," page
16), where you describe the interna-
tional effort of Jews for Jesus that is
targeting Detroit and Ann Arbor.
I applaud the statement of the ad
hoc response committee, "We must
continue to embrace the unaffiliated
members of our community and edu-
cate our children about our rich her-
itage and Jewish way of life."
To that end, I want to draw atten-
tion to Machon L'Torah, the Jewish
Resource Center (JRC) of Ann Arbor
and to Jewish Awareness AMerica
(JAAM).
For 24 years, Machon L'Torah,
under Rabbi Avraham Jacobovitz, has
focused on reaching out to unaffiliat-
ed college students and providing
them with classes and programs teach-
ing undiluted, authentic Judaism with
the intent that they use the informa-
tion to make informed choices.
In 1995, through the generosity of
Dr. Milton and Lois Shiffman,
Machon established the JRC on the
University of Michigan campus.
During the last nine years, the JRC
has provided students with a Jewish
"home away from home," providing
them with a place to learn, socialize
and strengthen their Jewish knowledge
and identities. In addition to ongoing
classes, programs at the JRC include
Shabbat dinners, deli dinners, coffee
with a rabbi, Partners in Judaism and
the Thursday night "Jewish ruckus
hour."
Two years ago, the JRC started the
Maimonides Jewish Leaders
Fellowship, a 10-week course about
basic Judaism where students explore
areas critical to a solid knowledge of
Jewish life and tradition. Students par-
ticipate in basic classes about holidays
and lifecycle events and continue with
classes on Jewish attitudes towards
contemporary issues such as the Arab-
Israeli conflict, abortion, assisted sui-
cide and human sexuality. Students
also visit the Jewish communities of
Detroit and Toronto, where they visit
the Yad Ezra food pantry, Menorah
House and local day schools.
Hundreds of students have benefit-
ed from these programs, which are
being duplicated at nearly 30 universi-
ties across North America under the
auspices of JAAM, Machon's national
organization.
It is only through organizations
such as this that we have a chance to
withstand the onslaught of well-fund-
ed and mobilized organizations such

9/ 3

2004

6

as Jews for Jesus. However, these
organizations cannot survive without
our financial support. I implore any-
one who is concerned about the sur-
vival of the Jewish people to help
"Spread JAAM and Preserve Judaism."
Stuart Sandweiss

Southfield

Olive Branch, Not Arrow

Last week's cover page about the
upcoming Jews for Jesus campaign
seemed to embody the tenor found
within the featured articles ("Aiming
For Detroit," Aug. 27, page 16). It
included a picture of an arrow landing
on an outline of Michigan, with the
title 'Aiming For Detroit" under-
neath.
A "messianic rabbi" (Loren Jacobs)
was interviewed by one of your writ-
ers. Although he was allowed to share
his perspective, there appeared to be a
defensive posture throughout. I would
liken the aforementioned story to that
of a white supremacist organization
interviewing a member of the NAACP
for one of its publications. They
might permit the member to espouse
their opinion, while ridiculing them at
the same time.
In one of your articles, readers were
given suggestions as to how they
might defend themselves from mis-
sionaries, if unable to avoid dialogue
altogether. You recommended specific
strategies for nonbelievers to employ if
confronted by believers.
The "Answers to Questions" that
you offered your readers was both
manipulative and divisive. If a nonbe-
liever has rejected Yeshua as the
Messiah, then there should be no need
to solidify their conviction. However,
if one has not made a decision about
his faith, then why not allow him to
reach his own conclusions by studying
the scriptures for himself?
I myself was bar mitzvah and con-
firmed at a Reform synagogue. I also
believe that Yeshua is the Messiah. Am
I less Jewish than a nonbelieving Jew
who keeps none of the traditional cus-
toms? Have I given up my birthright
as a Jew because I believe in Yeshua
the Messiah? I think not.
The problem, as I see it, is with
your perspective of the "messianic"
Jewish community. I would argue that
those of us who desire fellowship with
our nonbelieving brethren come not
with a bow and arrow, but rather with
an olive branch. The sooner that real-
ization is made, the easier it will be for
honest dialogue to occur.
Glen Bassirpour

Ypsilant

Coach Offers Thanks

My involvement with the JCC
Maccabi Games tennis group has been
an overall positive experience since the
early 1990s, when I began coaching in
Baltimore.
I have worked with different coach-
es and this year, due to unforeseen cir-
cumstances, had sole responsibility for
12 outstanding participants.
Thank you tennis athletes and all
those parents that joined us in
Columbus. I hope you had a really
good time, made some new friends
and that you'll be back again.
Also thanks to Maccabi supporters
Karen Gordon, Dave Stone, Andy
Rosenberg and the rest of you who
were in Columbus ("Maccabi
Results," Aug. 27, page 58).
Jan Bloom

West Bloomfield

Games Worth Having

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of
traveling to Columbus, Ohio, to watch
my grandson, Matthew Ruza, partici-
pate in the JCC Maccabi Games. I
knew of other people from Michigan
who were traveling to see their chil-
dren and grandchildren participate in
the Maccabi games.
When I arrived there, though, I was
overwhelmed to see many, many fami-
lies from all over the United States and
some from other counties.
Emotional feelings swept over me at
the opening ceremony. I still get a chill
and tears in my eyes as I recall the
experience. I felt extreme pride and joy
while I witnessed the children's enor-
mous team spirit during the games.
My grandson's coach, Harry Glanz,
along with all the other coaches creat-
ed an atmosphere that fostered cama-
raderie and not competition. I found
myself rooting for all of the youth, not
just my grandson and his friends.
With her upbeat personality, the
Michigan organizer, Karen Gordon,
took time to attend to every small
detail and was still able to make all of
the children feel special.
I also want to commend those fami-
lies who hosted the visiting children. It
was especially generous of them to
open their homes to our youth. Many
of the children spoke of the warmth
and kindness that their host families
demonstrated. The entire experience
enriched their lives and allowed the
development of friendships among
Jewish youth across the country.
I strongly recommend other grand-
parents, parents and children take the

opportunity to experience the Maccabi
games. I assure them that the journey
will be everlasting. For me, I will never
forget the sense of belonging and
cohesiveness that was shared by all.
Harriet Ruza

Farmington Hills

Bush Strong On Terror

It is clear that no president, short of
Democrat Harry Truman, has support-
ed our brothers and sisters in Israel as
much as George W. Bush. Through his
leadership after 9-11, we got to fight
terrorism on the terrorists' own turf It
will cost us money and lives, but it
would have cost us much more if ter-
ror came to our soil.
Mr. Bush is an honest straight
shooter who does admit mistakes. The
economy after 9-11 is improving.
Democratic opponent John Kerry is
articulating beautifully, but his record
in the Senate has to be reviewed, as is
his Vietnam record. There is no smoke
without fire.
His vice presidential candidate, John
Edwards, is a good-looking man with a
nice family, but he is a malpractice
attorney; it is clear why trial attorneys
support him. Bush is for tort reform
and against product liability, which
costs this country billions out of our
pockets for the pockets of Edwards'
friends, the lawyers. Moreover,
Edwards has little experience in gov-
ernment, security and foreign affairs.
Kerry is complaining about negative
ads. Yet he is not concerned about
Fahrenheit 9 11 or the multiple books
and mud throwing on the president.
Lastly, his agenda is, at this stage,
not that much different than that of
Bush. So why do we need to replace
somebody who is on the job for four
years for someone who would need at
least a year to understand what is
going on.
Certainly, the terrorists would be
excited to find out their arch enemy is
gone and they have a softy who will
sell everything for "peace in our
times."
Isaac Barr, M.D.

-

Southfield

Good Versus Bad

The Jewish News reported that Israel
backed away from its plan to allow
armed Palestinian Authority police
because of right-wing Israeli outcry
about arming potential terrorists
("Armed Plan Halted," Aug. 13, page
31) .
The New York Times of Aug. 14 cer-
tainly vindicated this outcry when it

