LETTERS

LETTERS

from page 6

I Know My Destiny

I'm Jewish on both sides. I was
raised in a "conservative" Jewish
home, attended a Hebrew academy,
studied Torah in Hebrew, went to an
Orthodox camp and became a bar
mitzvah. I was a member of AZA,
went to Israel with the American
Zionist Youth Federation and did a
semester on Kibbutz Ulpan. The
Jewish community has not failed
me.
There is no deception in engaging
you in conversation while wearing a
Jews for Jesus T-Shirt. The fact that
I'll do it during yom tov [the High
Holidays] is appropriate. You see,
Yeshua is the "Passover Lamb" that
takes away sin that Yom Kippur can-
not. The truth of Yeshua, the
Messiah, and the peace only he can
bring into your heart is what
changes people.
Jesus is God. His name means sal-
vation. His title Christ means messi-
ah. He came not to start a religion,
but to be rejected so that we might
have a way to heaven. Have you
studied the Tanach [Hebrew Bible]
and asked God to reveal to you the
truth? When He does, will you be
willing to accept it? I prayed that
prayer and have been persecuted
ever since.
If my testimony challenges one
soul to seek the truth, it's worth it. I
love my people and pray they won't
be in Gehenna (Hell). That's why
I'll serve on the team.
If the Nazis come looking for
Jews, they won't say I'm Christian.
I'm a Jew for Jesus. My destiny is
life without end. What is yours?
Barry Barbernell
Fenton

Holiday sermons.
It's simply this: "Jews for Jesus?
Isn't that sort of like saying vegetari-
ans for meat?"
With much thanks for covering an
important topic.
Sandy Sup owit
Commerce Township

subversion from Arab sympathizers
and external warfare from
Palestinian Arabs — begins to sur-
render land again and again.
Who takes care of Jewish interests
on the Temple Mount? No one
other than Arabs, courtesy of the
Israeli government, all to appease
the Arabs.
Indeed, the arrow in the center of
the Jewish heart (the cover drawing) .
not only demonstrates success by
Jews for Jesus in stripping away
Jewish identity, but also Arab suc-
cess in conquering through Jewish
capitulation — for the giving away
any part of Judea-Samaria destroys
Jewish geographical identity.
Michael Drissman
executive director,
Committee for the Jewish Idea
Troy

Kvelling Over The Games

After reading this week's Editor's
Notebook ("The Meaning of
Maccabi," Sept. 3, page 5) and the
letters regarding the recent JCC
Maccabi Youth Games, I cannot
help but beam like a proud parent.
Maccabi has been my "baby" for
close to 20 years. This year, like
Is Jesus The Messiah?
every other, the kids came back hav-
ing an extremely positive week. I
The JN made Jews for Jesus and
love to see kids meet and interact,
Congregation Shema Yisrael's Loren
some for the first time, with other
Jacobs the issue. The issue, however,
Jewish teens from Great Britain,
is whether or not Jesus is the
Canada, Australia, Venezuela and
Messiah. It seems that our Jewish
especially Israel.
community leaders have all but for-
The Maccabi movement provides
bidden that we even discuss the
a
Jewish
experience through athletic
matter.
competition, not just athletic corn-
Speaking to Jewish leaders, Jesus
petition for Jewish teens.
said: • "If any man is willing to do
Friendships are made that will last a
His will, he shall know of the teach-
lifetime.
ing, whether it is of God or whether
Maccabi participation is not just
I speak for myself." (John 7-17)
for
the athletes. Families come
In a day when yoga is routinely
Training Teachers
together to cheer for all the partici-
taught at Jewish venues and
pants, not just their own. Spectators
Buddhism is Jewishly in vogue, the
The article "Courting Teachers"
like Harriet Ruza ("Games Worth
very least one ought to do is investi-
(Aug. 27, page 29) highlights a
Having," Sept. 3, page 6), "felt a
gate Jesus' claim to be the Messiah.
problem — the dearth of Jewish
sense of belonging and cohesiveness
Alexandra Harris teachers for our afternoon religious
that was shared by all." Communi-
Birmingham and day schools — which will
ties open their doors and hearts for
intensify in the coming years.
these teens. Host families take in
Detroiter Bill Davidson recog-
kids for a week and form bonds that
nized this crisis almost 10 years ago
Repel Arab Extremists
go on long after the games have
and responded through the creation
The cover drawing for the Jews for
ended. Coaches give so much of
of the Davidson Graduate School of
Jesus article ("Aiming For Detroit,"
their time for the games.
Jewish Education at the Jewish
Aug. 27, page 16) could have been
The entire Detroit delegation is
Theological Seminary of America in
interpreted as Arab extremists hav-
made up of volunteers. They offer
New York. This past May, JTS
ing Israel in their sights, impatiently
their expertise, time and encourage-
awarded 29 masters and one doctor-
waiting for appropriate moments to,
ment to their team. They do it
ate in education to a new generation
once more, tear Israel away from the
because they love it.
of dynamic men and women now
land that God gave the Jews.
Many coaches have their own
entering into both formal and infor-
So hypnotized by magical phrases,
children
on the team. But others,
mal Jewish education.
the Israeli government and large
like Herb Bernstein, Ken Bertin and
Detroit has already started to ben-
numbers of Jews stand mesmerized.
Harold Friedman, stick around for
efit with JTS graduates Jennie Allan,
They fail to see that the disgraceful
years
after their kids have competed.
Shaarey Zedek religious school
episodes of giving the Sinai desert to director; Danny Kochavi, Beth
And, in all three cases, their chil-
Vegans For Meat?
Egyptian Arabs, southern Lebanon
dren now coach.
Shalom religious school director;
to Syrian Arabs and dunams of
Maccabi is for everyone.
If I could remember the name of the
Rabbi Jason Miller, Hillel
Judea-Samarian land to Palestinian
The Detroit community was for-
comedian who said this, I would
Foundation, University of
tunate under Jay Robinson's leader-
give him credit here. Nevertheless, it Arabs has done nothing except make
Michigan; Rabbi Lee Buckman,
it
possible
for
Arabs
to
regain
parts
ship and vision to have led the way
is the single most pointed and clever
Jewish Academy headmaster; and
of
their
"lost
land."
Indeed,
there
and hosted the Games in 1984,
remark I've ever heard on the subject
Steven Freedman, headmaster, Faya
never
has
been
peace
even
when
1990 and 1998. It is time to once
of "messianic" Judaism ("Aiming For
Gene and Debra Ornstein, Hillel
Israel surrendered its most treasured
again allow the entire Detroit com-
Detroit," Aug. 27, page 16).
Day School of Metropolitan
possessions. There can only be con-
munity the opportunity take part in
It's the perfect sharp pin with
Detroit.
flict and destruction since Arab
the spirit of Jewish "belonging and
which to burst the frighteningly
JTS ardently believes the presence
extremists
believe
Israel,
itself,
occu-
cohesiveness" that Maccabi offers.
arrogant bubble of a group whose
of well-trained passionate teachers
pies
Arab
land.
Let the experience of Maccabi be
chutzpah is way out of control. It's
will make or break the future of
For
1,600-plus
years,
Arabs
from
shared
by everyone and we can all
so spot-on that I wish it would be
Judaism in America.
Egypt and Syria, Saudi Arabia and
Ken Goss and Bobbie Miller beam with pride.
taught as a knee-jerk retort to the
Jordan, Iraq and Iran believe that
Karen Gordon
approach of a "messianic" solicitor
chairs, Detroit JTS Cabinet
only
victory
would
erase
the
curse
of
Detroit
Maccabi
Club
delegation head
Bloomfield Hills
(nice word for preacher) in every
losing
to
the
Jew.
Only
Israel,
under
Farmington
Hills
Sunday school class and maybe even
pressure
from
the
United
States
and
serve as the topic for a few High
Europe — coupled with internal
LETTERS on page 10

9/10
2004

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