LETTERS We prefer letters that relate to articles in the Jewish News. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Brevity is encouraged. Letter writers generally are limited to one letter per 4-6 week period, space permitting. Letters must contain the name, address and tide of the writer, and a daytime telephone number. Original copies must be hand signed. Mail to the Jewish News at 29200 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; Fax to (248) 304-8885; or e-mail to: rsklar@thejewistuaews.com We prefer letters to be e-mailed. More original letters are posted at wwwdetroitjewishnews.com Proud Of Jackier Welcome to Campaign 2004, where mass mailings were common and auto- mated robocalls as common as dinner- time solicitors. So why the uproar about Larry Jackier's personal appeal in sup- port of President Bush ("Unwelcomed Contact," NOV. 5, page 17)? Larry Jackier did nothing wrong. Strong leaders don't stand mute when Israel's future is at stake. They speak out. Jackier was among a host of community influentials backing Bush, largely based on the president's strong record on Israel. An ardent Zionist and altruistic Jewish leader, Jackier is certainly quali- fied to speak to this issue. Jackier waited for his term as Federation president to lapse before publicly supporting Bush. Area rabbis with active pulpits threw their weight to oppose controversial Proposal 2. Jackier qualified his "Support Bush" appeal as personal," adding the disclaimer that it was sponsored by a political action corn- mittee. Why would the JNdignify accu- sations that Jackier involved Federation when everyone knows that voter lists are circulated by both political parties? Why would the JNamplify charges that attack the integrity of a man whose reputation has been earned by word and deed in service to our community? Sour grapes make for sour reporting! Long after this, no one will remember what Jackier said or did in this instance. But we will remember how he made us feel: proud of a leader willing to put his name and convictions on the line to safeguard klal Yi srael (the people of Israel)! Alex Skoczylas West Bloomfield " Jackier Message Offensive I was one of the recipients of Larry Jackier's prerecorded telephone call made on Oct. 31 ("Unwelcomed Contact," Nov. 5, page 17). I was offended by two things. First, Jackier jnonline identified himself as the immediate past president of the Jewish Federation. Second, after identifying himself Jackier stated that a reason for voting for President Bush was that nine out of 10 Arab Americans were voting for John Kerry. In an e-mail to ladder, I asked him what his response would have been if the Klu Klux Klan, the White Citizens Council or the Michigan Militia advo- cated voting for Bush because 3 out of 4 Jews were voting for Kerry. Jackier responded by saying he was sorry if I WaS discomfited by his message. That response is simply not satisfactory. As a separate matter, I accept the fact that the Federation vas in no way responsible for releasing a list used for the phone call. I feel that in view of the problems created by the calls, Jackier has an obligation to find out how the list was compiled for all to know. Richard Lenter Bloomfield Hills Jackier Call Welcomed As a pillar of our community dedicated ro the welfare of the Jewish people, Larry Jackier has every right to advocate for politics and policies that promote Israel's security. His "contact" ("Unwelcomed Contact," Nov. 5, page 17) was most welcome; it was the unconscionable vilification of him that was not. In an automated call for President Bush, Jackier made it painstakingly clear that his was a "personal appeal" paid for by a political PAC. Never did he imply the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit was involved. Jackier simply stated that he was a past president of Federation. In op-eds by Mandell Berman and Max Fisher, the JNdeemed it appropriate to note their credentials as Federation past presidents. l'he paper was replete with campaign endorse- ments by former Federation officers and communal leaders. Unlike Kerry supporters who improp- jewsh.com ) Not A Field Of Dreams ) Party 350! The Detroit Symphony Orchestra marks U.S. Jewry's 30th anniversary. For additional photographs from the gala, see -www.detroitjewishnews.corn Palestinian elections are sched- uled. Does that mean we will see a change? Micah Halpern doesn't think so. Not in our lifetimes. Read about it on vvvvw. detro itj ewishnews. co in 11/19 2004 6 For online advertising, call erly distributed political literature inside Federation buildings, Jackier did not abuse Federation facilities. Nor did he abuse donor lists. Responding to disgruntled Kerry sup- porters, Federation broadcast an e-mail reiterating its apolitical standing. Moreover, Jackier, whose love of Federation and community supersedes even his own pride, publicly apologized to those who misconstrued his message. Nonetheless, the /Nand others turned Jackier's robocall (one of dozens by both parties) into an inquisition. Calls and campaign mailings in a presidential elec- tion are hardly newsworthy. The JN made a controversy of a non-issue by spotlighting the accusations of a few in an unfairly slanted article. Rather than impugn a devoted Jewish leader, why didn't the JNprofile Jackier's reasons for making his personal appeal? This paper seemingly had no interest in Jackier's message (none of which was printed); it only wanted to kill the mes- senger. There are thousands in this communi- ty proud of the messenger and his mes- sage. It should come as no surprise that Jackier, whose heart and soul are with Israel, would make an appeal for the president he feels has been Israel's best friend in the White House. Linda B. Stulberg Farmington Hills JN Thinking Skewed You attacked the premise of a letter writer who accused you of siding "with the Arabs against your brothers and sis- ters in Israel" in the JNsupport of John Kerry for president (Editor's Notebook, "The Jewish Vote," Oct. 29, page 5). While I would not go as far as that letter writer, I have some sympathy for that argument. While numbers demonstrate that a minority of Jews voted for President Bush, most polling demonstrated that among Jews who state that Israel is one of their top voting interests, President dotCOM SURVEY Do you believe the Palestinians and Israelis can achieve a true peace, now that Yasser Arafat has died? To answer, click on www.jewish.com Last week's question: How long will it take before U.S. troops will be able to leave Iraq? 8% said 1 year. • 25% said 2 years. 17% said 3 years. • 49% said 5 years. 248-354-6060 Bush did much better than that. There are many of us in the commu- nity who, while not joining in that let- ter writer's attack, believe that your edi- torial board, along with many Jews in America, are so eager to push the inter- ests of the Democratic and or Labor parties that they will ignore or rational- ize trouble spots that relate to Israel. The letter writer is absolutely correct in stating that the newspaper's editorial board has an "inability to separate promises from deeds." Your editorials regularly quote facts and statements from Kerry's Web site. We have the deeds of the courageous President Bush against the words of an also-ran senator from Massachusetts who never cared about Israel or us as Jews until he need- ed to hone his national aspirations. You do, indeed, confuse the statements and promises of John Kerry with the history and deeds of George Bush. You write, "To intimate that the JN endorsement somehow is contributing to conditions that could breed another Holocaust is bunk." If we are not, as a community, smart enough to realize that we have an unusual force for good in the White House in a time of great peril to European Jewry, then maybe your letter writer is not so far off Also, the commentary in the article attacking the phone call of community icon Larry Jackier was outrageous ("Unwelcomed Contact," Nov. 5, page 17). There is no evidence whatsoever that that good and decent man ever touched any kind of Federation mailing list. Yet you allow people to "put it out there" that that might have happened. His denials were treated as non-starters. While there is free speech, and you do want to report what the public says, how about applying to the Left the same editorial standard that you do to those of who are hawkish on Israel and supportive of the Iraq War (even when there are problems) and President Bush? Eric J. Rosenberg Farmington Hills jnadvertisers online www.detroitjewishnews.com/advertisers FUNERAL CHAPEL Ira Kaufman Chapel... www.irakaufman.com FINE JEWELRY ... www.tappers.com Tapper's Jewelry CALLING CARDS Union Telecard www.uniontelecard.com HEALTH CARE ... www.crittendon.com Crittendon Hospital DISPOSABLE CANDLE HOLDERS ... www.relaxholderse.com Relax Company