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Bless Arafat's Soul?

Harp Brass Menorah

When asked to comment on news
that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat
may have died, President Bush, on
Nov. 4, responded to a reporter's
question by saying; "My first reac-
tion is God bless his soul."
Is this the type of statement that a
president, who purports to be tough
on terror, would make upon hearing
reports of the death of one of the
world's most notorious terrorists, a
man who was responsible for the
deaths of thousands of innocent
Israelis?
Arafat is one of Israel's worst ene-
mies.
Stuart Sklar

Farmington Hills

Capable Rabbinic Team

Tree Brass Menorah

Magen David
Pewter Menorah

Magen David Menorah
by Oppenheim

TRADMONAL4
CONTE OA PORARY*
ART1STI
E CLECTIC A

11/12

2004

6

The Jewish.com store

Call 1-866-JUDAICA

I wanted to commend the Jewish
News on the Cover Story "A New
Era: Shaarey Zedek builds on storied
history and bold initiatives to recon-
nect with congregants" (Nov. 5, page
64).
To some, this could be the equiva-
lent of Dan Devine, the football
coach with the almost impossible
task of following the legendary
Vince Lombardi in Green Bay.
Rabbi's Joseph Krakoff, Jonathan
Berkun, Eric Yanoff and Lauren
Berkun, too, face the task in follow-
ing the footsteps of another legend,
Rabbi Irwin Groner.
This very talented team of young
and enthusiastic rabbis possess
something Dan Devine lacked —
the wisdom and counsel of the leg-
end he followed.
Your article articulated the chal-
lenge that faces Shaarey Zedek.
Having worked with each of the
rabbis in my role as a funeral direc-
tor at the Ira Kaufman Chapel, I
could not be more confident with
the team assembled, their respect
and understanding of the challenges
they face, and the work ethic needed
to accomplish their goals. Shaarey
Zedek's future is in very capable
ands.
David Techner

Southfield

JN Is Polarizing

In response to your Editor's
Notebook "The Jewish Vote" (Oct.
29, page 5), you missed the point:
What was the role of the JN in this

election? Certainly the newspaper is
happy with the unprecedented num-
ber of political ads published. This
is not the problem; free speech is
free speech. Yet your taking a parti-
san attitude by endorsing one candi-
date or another is fraught with prob-
lems.
A newspaper should provide facts,
teachings, news, etc., to give inform-
ative, unbiased news, then allow
readers to decide. You had the
option to be neutral. This would
have fit the desire of most readers
who want a "fair and balanced" atti-
tude from the only Jewish paper in
our community.
Also, you should not support a
candidate just because he belongs to
one party or another. By doing so,
President Bush may rightly feel that
the Jewish community is not trust-
worthy because no matter what he
does for them, they will be ungrate-
ful and hostile.
We surely have to do what, in our
opinion, is best for America. I voted
for Al Gore the last time around
because I thought he would be best
for America.
This time, I voted for President
Bush because I feel his global poli-
cies are good for America.
The JN, in the face of terrible
polarization within American socie-
ty, should serve as a responsible
calming and uniting organ — and
not be partisan and divisive. Other
newspapers, such as the New York
Times, should do the same.
Yes, Jews were promised a lot on
the way to the gas chambers. Jews in
America have to be better informed
and vigilant; this should start with
the IN
Working together in a nonpartisan
atmosphere will give the Jewish
community the strength that we
deserve.
Isaac Barr, M.D.

Southfield

Demands On Israel

Now comes the test for the Jews
who voted for "4 More," when
negotiations between the Israelis and
Palestinians either are readied or
begun. Based on the president's
prior statements, overlooked or
pushed aside, you can expect great
pressure for more than "end the
daily humiliation of the Palestinian
people," remove settlements and
don't build walls and fences. Be pre-

pared for demands by the White
House that Israel give this and give
that, including part of Jerusalem,
return of "Palestinians to their
homeland," release of prisoners and
concessions in the "West Bank."
From the Arabs? How about a
promise to try to stop attacks on
Israelis. That should be enough.
The foregoing is based on the
demonstrated White House guiding
rule that an objective must be
achieved at any cost, by deception
and sacrifices by others, where
required. In the case of Israel and
the "road to peace," it may not
require the sacrifice of 10,000 GI
lives and limbs and minds, but Israel
will be told to pay whatever is
required for the U.S. plan's success.
Or what? Or the U.S. will join the
European Union and U.N., both of
whom desire Israel's disappearance,
to make her comply with the White
House agenda.
Albert and Vivian Best

Farmington Hills

Respect For Torah

Today, Hillel Day School's entire
student body and faculty experi-
enced an extraordinary event.
One of our Torahs was no longer
"kosher" — its letters and words had
faded beyond repair. Rather than
quietly send it away to be buried,
however, Hillel recognized another
learning opportunity to impart the
idea of Kavod ha Torah (respect for
the Torah). We buried it in a spe-
cially fhosen site on school grounds.
Throughout the day, each class
went outside and stood before the
grave, seeing our Torah wrapped in a
tallit, ready for its eternal rest. The
students learned from Saul Rube,
Hillel's dean of Judaic Studies, the
reasons for burying the Torah and
were part of a beautiful, respectful,
and poignant ritual. The last class
taking part in this experience was
our eighth grade, who participated
in the actual burial.
This was another wonderful day of
learning and pride in Jewish tradi-
tions at Hillel Day School.
Faye Krut

second grade teacher,
Hillel Day School
of Metropolitan Detroit,
Farmington Hills

