ey ion 2004

MCI MAXINE MCKIM
WEST ROOMFIRD CLERK

Because you deserve the best!

Holy Matrimony!

Jews join battle over ballot proposal to limit
definition of marriage.

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN

permanently relationships that they
didn't intend to include."
Wolf, who is a Conservative Jew,
has been actively working on both
he wording of Proposal 2
may be short and simple,
the Kerry-Edwards campaign and on
but the reaction it has gener-
defeating the proposal. "For exam-
ated in the Jewish community is nei- ple, it doesn't just ban recognition of
ther.
gay unions. It bans recognition of
The proposal will amend the
any legal rights between men and
Michigan Constitution "to specify
women who are not legally married
what can be recognized as a marriage as well."
or similar union for any purpose." It
His concerns include the reversal
would amend the state
of benefits, such as
Constitution "to provide
health . care or retirement
that the union of one
benefits that have
man and one woman in
already been granted by
marriage shall be the
some public employers,
only agreement recog-
such as universities and
nized as a marriage or
municipalities.
similar union for any
"Proposal 2 would`
purpose."
prohibit such benefits,"
While a large group of
he said. "It may even be
Conservative, Reform
interpreted to prohibit
and Secular Humanist
such benefits provided
Detroit-area rabbis
by private employers
Rabbi Silberberg
drafted a letter in oppo-
who do business with
sition of the proposal,
the state. Such discrimi-
some of their congre-
natory practices will
gants disagree.
result in greater difficul-
In the same light, all
ty for those institutions
Orthodox Detroiters do
in attracting top talent
not suppOrt the propos-
— making Michigan less
al, even though rabbis of
competitive."
the Southfield-based
Maintaining that "this
Council of Orthodox
proposal is so poorly
Rabbis of Greater
drafted," he said, "if it
Detroit drafted its own
were passed, the courts
letter supporting the
will be tied up for years
proposal.
defining what it means."
P.J. Cherrin
"The Council of
Orthodox Rabbis follows
God's Plan
the teachings of
Maimonides, who said
P.J. Cherrin of West
the Jewish people should
Bloomfield says, with
do what they can to
the amendment "a pro-
observe the seven
jection of prejudices
Noahide laws," said
onto both the Torah and
Rabbi Elimelech
Constitution is at
stake."
Silberberg, who signed
the letter. "And those
Cherrin, who is
include the basic sancti-
Orthodox, will vote for
ty of marriage."
President George W.
Allen Wolf of West
Bush, but will vote no
Rabbi Tolw in
Bloomfield said, "I
on Proposal 2.
believe the people who
"Homosexuality is
drafted Proposal 2 didn't
still a taboo topic in the
frum [observant] community," he
realize that the words they chose for
the proposal would result in banning
MATRIMONY on page 37

Staff Writer

T

Current Library Trustee and former member
Oakland County Community Mental Health Board

Work experience: Former teacher; Current Social
Worker for adults with psychiatric disabilities and
substance abuse at Southwest Counseling;
Kadima, Henry Ford Health System
Committed to work a full work week;
will see that your votes are counted
Married to Trustee and Planning Commissioner
Stuart Brickner who is responsible for site plan
approval of Henry Ford Hospital in W. Bloomfield
Maxine is a member of the Temple Israel Sisterhood

ENDORSED BY:

Mervin and Sheila Aronoff

Lisa Kaplan

Farmington Hills Mayor Vickie
Barnett & Mark Steckloff

Larry Kohlenberg

Iry and Lenore Baron

Councilman Barry
and Cheryl Brickn-er

10/29
2004

34

Joan and Fred Labelle

Dr. Avery Murav,
School Board Member

Jerry and Brenda Chudler

Gerald Naftaly
Mayor Oak Park

Gene Farber

Robert Naftaly

W.B. Supervisor
David Flaisher

Howard Rosenberg

Michael and Sarah Schwartz

Bruce Frankel

Sandra and Stewart . Shipper

Jack and Joan Friedman

Robert and Karen Spector

Susan and Steve Friedman

Bonnie Stone

Marcia Gershenson

Jerry and Rita Sukenic

Gerald and Debra Goldberg

County Commissioner
Helaine Zack

Senator Gilda Jacobs

Paid for by Maxine Brickner for West Bloomfield Clerk, 7065 heerwood Trail, West Bloomfield, MI 18323

903410