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 title 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@thejewishnews.com We prefer letters to be e-mailed. More original letters are posted at JNOnline.com Let Israelis Decide For that important business meeting. 11111111a111 It became customary for American Jews to tell Israelis how to conduct their business. While this advice is important, sometimes it crosses the line. Those of us who do not live in Israel do not count the dead and the maimed. Those who do not take the economic consequences and sit in their beautiful homes in Oakland County do not have the right to sug- gest Israel's future. If you permanently live in a coun- try, then, of course, you have the freedom of speech. American reli- gious fanatics studying in the West Bank and Gaza "justify" political killings of Israeli leaders to advance a political agenda. This is a moral defeat for the Jewish people. It is time for these outsider fanatics to leave the future of Israel to the Israelis. Isaac Barr, M.D. Southfield Building Jewish Identity When we read the commentary "The Value Of A Day School Education" by Rabbi Lee Buckman and Steve Freedman (Feb. 10, page 34), we immediately thought that we'd like to share with the commu- nity the perspective of a day school student to emphasize the important points made by Rabbi Buckman and Mr. Freedman. Our son, Yossi, a current eighth- grade Hillel student who will be attending the Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit next year, wrote an impromptu essay thanking us for sending him to Hillel as part of a "Promising Young Writers' Program." We learned about the essay when Yossi gave the school permission to publish it in the January edition of the Hillel Day School monthly Heads Up newslet- ter. Yossi's five-paragraph essay includ- ed the following, "I don't know the exact date when my parents made the decision to send me to Hillel. What I do know though is that it has made a huge impact on my life. Hillel has been like a home to me, this is where I have gone to school for the past eight years, and many days, I spend more time at school than I do at home. Hillel is also where I have met each and every one of my friends who I have come to know so well. Most importantly, though, Hillel is where I have gained a sense of Jewish identity." Out of the mouths of babes ... Susan and Mark Lichterman Huntington Woods or just hanging out... has you covered! and get an additional 20% off your first regular purchase on top of your great U.S. exchange rate. It's FAST and it's FREE! Check out www.freeds.com for complete details. 1526 Ottawa St. 2/24 2005 6 Windsor, Canada 1-877-5-FREEDS Lunch Topic: Maimonides Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz and Rabbi Rachel Shere will present a lunch- and-learn series on "Maimonides and the Book of Knowledge" at Adat Shalom Synagogue on Thursdays, March 3, 10 and 17. In the series, attendees will learn how to live a balanced, value-filled life, with suggestions from Maimonides's The Book of Knowledge. Classes will run noon- 1:30 p.m. Charge is $10 per session, which includes lunch. RSVP the Thursday before each session: (248) 851-5100, ext. 246. Young Israel Sets Dinner Three generations of honorees Will be recognized at the annual dinner of Young Israel of Southfield on Sunday, March 6 at the synagogue. Linda Lefkowitz, Alan Ishakis and Jonathan Brateman are chairpersons of the dinner, which will include the formal dedication of the synagogue's illuminated stained glass windows. Dr. Bruce Newman and Dr. Daniel Gotlib are creating an ad book for the evening. Rabbi Yechiel Morris will be one of the speakers. Ken and Devorah Rich will be honored for their work on behalf of the shul, Alex and Dorothy Rich will be given a lifetime recognition award and Rachel Greenbaum will receive the first Teenager award. To RSVP, call (248) 358-0154. Reacting Raises $5,600 DESIGNS IN DECORATOR WOOD & LAMINATES, LTD. It Doesn't Have To Cost A Fortune...Only Look Like It! Freeds" . Points Card Digest • Wall Units • Bedrooms • Dining Rooms • Home Theatre • Kitchens & Baths • Offices • Woods • Formica • Stones • Glass • Lucite Lois Haron, Allied Member ASID • 248-851-69891 Southfield-based Yeshivat Akiva is taking part in this year's American Red Magen David for Israel Project Lifeline, aimed at raising money to buy a new ambulance for Israel. Directed by school librarian Phyllis Rochen, youngsters in kindergarten through sixth grade held a "readathon" during January. They raised funds through reading sponsorships of family, friends and neighbors. The project's theme was "Every minute you read is a mitz- vah!" The librarian said she is proud of the students who raised more than $5,600.