S h alom Str e et

and confrontational, but the early politi-
cal leaders kept the unity of the nation
foremost in their mind.
All this changed after 1967. Once
Israel conquered and occupied the West
Bank and Gaza, the national consensus
began to erode. Over time, the rhetoric
and behavior of the people became more
and more extreme. Amongst a small
group of well-organized extremist set-
tlers, holding on to the occupied areas
became the supreme value, more impor-
tant than human life. And just as
occurred in the United States, a genera-
tion of inept and blundering Israeli lead-
ers failed to stop the escalating rhetoric
and violence. Their failure culminated in
the assassination of Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin.
In today's Israel, the radical Jewish set-
tlers live in a universe of their own, do as
they please and ignore the state's laws
when it suits their purpose. Their leaders
threaten civil war at every attempt to

halt settlement activity and at every
effort at a territorial compromise with
the Palestinians. Like the United States
in 1861, Israel has reached a moment of
truth, for it cannot exist as a viable state
containing two opposing realities and
two contradictory goals. The verbal
threats and intimidation are not simply
rhetoric, but indicative of the nation's
slide into a civil conflict.
Civil wars are part of the nation-build-
ing process and occur when two oppos-
ing groups, whether political, ideologi-
cal, or geographical, with differing aims,
aspirations, and agendas, exist within the
same country. Every modern nation has
experienced a civil war. England, France,
Italy, Russia, China, Mexico, Spain,
Nigeria and the United States, to name
just a few, have undergone civil wars.
Modern Israel has not yet had its civil
war. But conditions today are ripe for
one to occur. ❑

FALL INTO...

October and
November 2004

Our Public Hours will be from
12:00PM- S:00PM Monday- Thursday
and Sundays from 1:00- S:00PM
Group hours by reservation

Through 0
Fiber Art
Weaving Quilting • Spinning

We will have a giant loom for kids to work on. Plus smaller loo
to create a take-home project with. There will be patterns and inst
helping the kids learn how to quilt and make quilts and pillows.

From Sheep to Shawl

tyrannical Arab regimes, all of which
commit gross human rights violations;
it ignores the corruption within the
Palestinian Authority and its incite-
ment of terrorism; and, it says nothing
about the numerous other countries,
including India and Morocco, that
have erected barriers across disputed
territories.
Just as the Presbyterian Church's
divestment vote raises fundamental
questions about its attitudes toward
Jews, so, too, does its decision to con-
tinue funding the "messianic congre-
gation" in Philadelphia. Messianic
congregations use deceptive proselytiz-
ing practices-they appropriate Jewish
garb and symbols in order to attract
Jews when, in fact, they are really
propagating and practicing
Christianity.
Presbyterians' understandable desire
to "share the good news" of their faith
raises no hackles, standing alone, but
targeting Jews for conversion in a sur-
reptitious fashion threatens Jewish
continuity at a time when our num-
bers are diminishing in the United
States and also sends an unmistakable
and painful message that Judaism has
no validity in the eyes of God.
If we are to resuscitate our dialogue
partnership with the Presbyterian
Church, we must lobby hard and
lobby effectively. We must impress
upon the Presbytery the need for it
find ways of expressing its concern for
the plight of the Palestinians without
de-legitimizing Israel. We must express
in no uncertain terms that the church's

laudable effort to "support the search
to promote understanding" between
Christians and Jews is undermined by
its funding a deceitful campaign to
convert Jews. We must stress that both
resolutions, because they single out
Jews, are prescriptions for anger and
mistrust, not dialogue and peace.
These are among the points made in
recent talks between members of the
Metropolitan Detroit Chapter of the
American Jewish Committee and
Rabbi David Nelson of Congregation
Beth Shalom in Oak Park, on the one
hand, and local leaders from the
Presbyterian Church, on the other
hand.
But, now, we must all venture forth
into this unfortunate, but vital fray,
one in which we will endeavor to
forcefully, but respectfully, attack the
shibboleths of the Presbytery, thereby
defending both our interests and the
legitimacy of Israel. ❑

Jewish community members may
attend the AJC board meeting at
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the
Max M. Fisher Federation
Building, Bloomfield Township.
The Rev. Richard Singleton,
Metropolitan Christian Council:
Detroit-Windsor, will address the
Presbyterian vote and other issues
relating to Christian-Jewish rela-
tions. For reservations, call the
AJC office, (248) 646-7686.

come spin, weave and meet the wooly source:
On October 24 from 1:00-4:00 Bowers Farms will be, in Shalom Street
with a sheep and fresh wool for the kids to feel and learn what
wool is used for and how to make it into usable fabric.

Kid-Chef

When your kids are ready to graduate from Easy-Bake ‘oVens or "helping"
with dinner by experily4cking the bowl, turn therm on to actual cooking!!
Children will learn fun and creative recipes that will wow the whole f
Every Wednesday, from October 13 - November 17

4:30pm S:30pm

Limited to 12 participants, A

65 members $95 non**bers

November is Boo aciory Month!

We will be creating all different kinds of books (cook books, story books,
picture books, pop-up books, etc.). Shalom Street will be starting
a Klutz Book Factory where kids will be able to create, write,
and "publish" their own stories in a real spiral bound book.

or registration and more information,
Tease call I -877-SHALOM-3.
SIGN UP TODAY! SPACE IS LIMITED!

Shalom St r eet

THE ADDRESS FOR JEWISH DISCOVERY

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Judaic Enrichment Center
Jewish Community Center
D. Dan and Betty Kahn Building
Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
6600 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield, Michigan 48322-3002
1-877-SHALOM-3 www.shalomstreet.org

EMNIM
THE CENTER

Jewish Community Confer
of Mottopolltan !Nitwit

Ford Motor Company Fund

10/15

2004

898130

\ 57