LESTER JOHNSON

Letters

How Council Works

In response to the letter in the June 30

issue "A Troubling Appearance" (Page

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7), as Jewish Community Council
president, I'd like to set the record
straight.
The council board of directors sets
the general policy that guides the
organization; and the professionals
implement the board's policy, in con-
sultation with the president. On the
issue at hand, as on every issue, our
executive director acted to advance the
agenda of the Jewish community and
did so in full consultation with me.
No other Jewish organization has
the same depth of debate on the issues
of the day, with a rich diversity of
opinion, as the Jewish Community
Council. I invite anyone to come to a
board meeting this fall to observe the
Jewish community's most representa-
tive organization in action. Every
point of view is freely expressed, and
public policy decisions are made
thoughtfully and only if a vote reflects
a significant majority of the board
members.
Board members understand that
while their views may not always pre-
vail, they will be heard and respected.

Wendy Wagenheim
president, Jewish Community Council
of Metropolitan Detroit
Bloomfield Township

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I was disappointed to read the letter
"A Troubling Appearance" regarding
the appearance of the executive direc-
tor of the Jewish Community Council
of Metropolitan Detroit, David Gad-
Harf, at a rally to condemn abuse of
the Koran (June 30, page 7).
The mission of the Jewish
Community Council is to advance
and promote Jewish values by estab-
lishing relationships and building
coalitions with ethnic, racial and reli-
gious groups, various organizations
and the media.
Processes used by the Council to
conduct this important community
relations work have been long estab-
lished. Major policy issues are dis-
cussed at the board level and estab-
lished by consensus. Between board
meetings, the officers and staff of the
Council carry out the functions on a
day-to-day basis.
Because it should be quite obvious
that it is a Jewish value to be con-
cerned with the protection of sacred

texts for any religious group, the rally
in Dearborn was a most appropriate
event for the important work of
building bridges to other communi-
ties.
The letter writer insists that other
matters of concern to the Jewish com-
munity should have been addressed
before Mr. Gad-Harf could attend
this rally. Community relations work
is not conducted in this manner. In
looking for bridge building, it is usual
for the groups involved to find a com-
mon concern and work on the rela-
tionship building from there.
I'm proud that a Jewish representa-
tive from the Council, who is so artic-
ulate and well known for standing tall
to protect Jewish interests, was present
in Dearborn to make a statement
about honoring sacred texts. Mr. Gad-
Harf had indeed been diligent in
making certain that the rally was not
planned for purposes of bashing Israel
or the American government.

Jeannie Weiner
past president
Jewish Community Council of
Metropolitan Detroit
West Bloomfield

A Positive Example

As longstanding affiliates of the
Jewish Community Council, the
members of National Council of
Jewish Women Greater Detroit
Section support the actions of David
Gad-Harf, executive director of the
Jewish Community Council. Mr.
Gad-Harf appropriately represented
the Jewish Community Council when
he spoke at a rally in Dearborn on
June 10 condemning instances of
alleged desecration of the Koran by
U.S. military personnel.
Mr. Gad-Harf's words support what
most Jewish Americans believe, and
that is that Americans should single
out no religion for persecution. His
words demonstrate the strength of the
Jewish community's willingness to
speak out against prejudice of any
kind. His actions set the example for
other religious communities to follow.
National Council of Jewish Women
strongly disagrees with the letter "A
Troubling Appearance" (June 30, page
6) that Mr. Gad-Hart publicly repre-
sented his own agenda at a major
media event. It is not his own agenda;
rather it is his job to represent the
Jewish community at media events.
NCJW believes that David Gad-
Harf has shown great responsibility by
speaking out against the desecration