Letters What Bubkes! Columnist George Cantor's commen- tary "War And Mouthwash" (Aug. 25, page 57) can be summed up in one wonderfully expressive Yiddish word: bubkes [something worthless]. The article leaves a bad taste in a thinking person's mouth. It is ridicu- lous for him to compare the involve- ment of our beloved country in World War I (he left out World War II) and the current involvement in Iraq, which is based on lies spewed by President Bush and his puppeteers. A more apt comparison would be Iraq and Vietnam. I repeat: Mr. . Cantor's article is bubkes. David Brody Southfield Hillel And Labor Day As a Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit parent for the past 13 years, it was distressing to see the article regarding the administra- tion and board's abrupt dismissal of the teachers' union ("Hillel Impasse," Aug. 25, page 27). Jews have been integral pioneers in the labor movement beginning in 1897 with the Jewish Labor Bund in Eastern Europe. The Bund established democratic trade unions and progres- sive schools. It carried out successful labor strikes against anti-Semitic poli- cies in their communities. In the United States during the early 20th century, Jews played key roles in the labor movements to improve con- ditions in sweatshops and establish collective bargaining as a standard. It is ironic to see a Jewish labor organ- ization dissolved in a Jewish institution. Hillel administrations and boards have come and gone yet the quality of the education has remained constant, thanks to the excellence of the teachers. The argument that decent salaries are a magnanimous gesture of the school is misleading because, in reality, the salaries are at that level only because of the collective bargaining of the past. It is clear that the administration grasped a legal loophole to ignore the union, upending a long partnership based on Jewish values. Jewish organizations should adhere to the highest level of fairness. It is sad- dening that our children had to witness this opportunism, which goes against the principles taught at the school. As we all celebrate Labor Day this coming Monday, I urge the adminis- tration and board of Hillel Day School to refresh themselves on the meaning of this holiday. Naomi Levine Farmington Hills Pullout No Holocaust I was struck by Michel ben Yaakov's willingness, as the son of Holocaust survivors, to equate the Gaza disengage- ment with the Holocaust because "there were just too many visual parallels" ("A Protestor's View," Aug. 25, page 65). Unlike Mr. ben Yaakov, I am not a child of Holocaust survivors. Yet I, too, agree with his usual reluctance to equate any experience with the Holocaust "because it cheapens the Holocaust." So I found myself wondering why, unlike Mr. ben Yaakov, I found the equation of Gaza and the Holocaust both inexplicable and inappropriate. I found the answer in Mr. ben Yaakov's tale of his experience after he was forcibly, though peaceably, removed from Neve Dekalim. He was placed on the bus, offered water (which he refused because he felt he should be fasting), and then, after picking up more protestors, he was let off the bus later that evening "as if it was a public bus on a normal route." Mr. ben Yaakov's experience stands in stark contrast to the days of the Holocaust. Then, when the doors of the cattle cars opened after days of traveling with neither food nor water, the over- whelming majority of the older men, older women, young women with chil- dren and, of course, the children them- selves, found not normalcy but death. Whatever we think of the rationale for the Gaza disengagement, it seems clear to me that the disengagement was no Holocaust. Steven G. Silverman Detroit Illegals Do Harm Three cheers to letter writer Dr. Herbert Sherbin ("Illegals Affect Joblessness," Aug. 18, page 7) for shining the spotlight on America's illegal immigration policy, which has affected Michigan's economy and Jewish unemployment figures. Because of our "easy access" immigra- tion policy, the 2000 census reported that nearly 1 million immigrants enter our country each year. It is estimated that between 12 and 20 million illegals enter and reside within our borders and thou- sands more arrive each week. We have millions of willing workers who will work at various jobs such as in restau- rants, carpentry, janitorial, store clerks, meat packers, etc., if paid a fair wage. Additional damage to our wages and working conditions comes from for- eign nationals who are given visas and imported specifically to compete with Americans for jobs. When their visas expire, our government does little to ensure that these workers go back home; most remain here. The majority of our representatives are doing little to realistically address these issues. The proposed Kennedy- McCain Bill S1033 would enact a new temporary-foreign-workers plan that would amount to amnesty and future citizenship for illegals. This would place a heavy burden on U.S. taxpay- ers, who are already paying the high cost of hospital-care, schools and pris- ons. This bill sets up a method for "willing foreign workers" to bypass our immigration system. We must not for- get our parents and grandparents who waited for years to fulfill the legal and health requirements for entering our country and who practically kissed the ground upon their arrival. As patriots and Jews it is our duty to contact our representatives and give them the facts! Time is short. We must act now! When Latin, Jewish Music Met The re-release of Bagels and Bongos, Jewish tunes adapted to sultry Latin rhythms, may tap into the American Jewish interest in Latin music — and stimulate explorations of Jewish identity. Read about it on Jewish.com. 9/1 2005 8 dotCOM SURVEY Do you have a close friend or relative who was affected by Hurricane Katrina? To vote, click on JNOnline.com . This letter is in response to the "Momentum" article written by Washington Correspondent James Besser (Aug. 11, page 21). It reported about state Rep. Andy Meisner, D- Ferndale, joining U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, R- Tenn., the U.S. Senate majority leader, in seeking expanded stem cell research. Through stem cell research, scien- tists have a greater potential to develop cures for countless debilitating diseases and medical conditions. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 would expand, in a safe and eth- ical manner, the number of germ lines available to federally funded stem cell research. Such expansion could — in the long term — save the lives of those who are currently ill and protect the health of generations to come. Michigan has statutory limits on embryonic stem cell research as well as therapeutic cloning that is far more restrictive than current federal policy. Michigan prevents state owned and funded facilities from performing any research on a human embryo, severely limiting this promising field of study. Rep. Meisner has introduced legisla- tion to support embryonic stem cell research in Michigan. Meisner's bill is modeled after federal legislation being sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R- Utah, that will allow state funds and institutions to be used for stem cell research, and allow for the creation of stem cells through therapeutic cloning yet strengthen criminal penalties on human reproductive cloning. National Council of Jewish Women applauds Rep. Meisner's work to sup- port stem cell research in Michigan. The Greater Detroit Section of NCJW has worked to inform our members of this bill and to collect signatures to support it. , Fern Ettinger and Florence Herrmann State Public Affairs co-chairs NCJW/Greater Detroit Section Southfield Edith Simmons Southfield 2,,,,VM.IR.,==.50=MM.I.MMAIIMMZSMMM.M.SICELMWAVIZAtIVRVIMAVAVVIUVRMAIMUS Jewish.com Back Stem Cell Research IVAMMitt36,10,,IVOIMM.MM0tii.IMI SS OMVSNIXV How To Send Letters: We prefer letters relating to JNarticles. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Brevity is encouraged. Letter writers are limited in frequency of publication. . Letters must be received by 9 a.m. Monday for consideration that week. Letters must be original and contain the name, address and title of the writer and a day phone number. Non-electronic copies must be hand signed. Send letters to the JN: 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax (248) 304-8885; e-mail, letters@thejewishnews.com . We prefer e-mail.