Letters

Letters continued from page 6

Let Public Speak

Response Too Slow

I wholeheartedly agree with
Robert Sklar's Editor's Notebook
"Hear the People" (Sept. 15, page
5). Community members need to
be heard, not just those privileged
few who happen to be on the
Jewish Community Council board.
Community members should
not be restricted and voices should
not be stilled. Since the Jewish
Community Council of Metropoli-
tan Detroit is funded by Federa-
tion dollars, community members
have a right to attend meetings
and public comment should be
allowed as part of the agenda.
The JCCouncil should be open-
minded enough to get over any
general concerns as a result of
guest attendance.

In response to the letter "Embrace
Of Farrakhan" by Wendy Wagen-
heim, president of the Jewish
Community Council (Sept. 15,
page 6), I am extremely disap-
pointed the Jewish Community
Council, the "public affairs voice of
the Jewish community,' did not
make an immediate public state-
ment condemning the mayor of
Detroit for his support in the city's
honoring of the Rev. Louis Far-
rakhan (Editor's Notebook,"Snub-
bing Detroit Jewry,' Sept., 1, page 5).
Not responding swiftly validates
the mayor's and city's support of
Rev. Farrakhan. Where is our lead-
ership? I understand that "building
bridges" is important, but isn't it
time to stand up for ourselves?

Mary Jo Rosen

A Mayerson

West Bloomfield

Orchard Lake

Need Not Apologize

I read with great interest
Robert Sklar's Editor's
Notebook on Walid Shoebat
("Silence Not Golden',' Sept. 22,
page 5). There is a big difference
between taking a stand for what
you are and who you are, and
offending someone when it comes
to religion and heritage.
I remember I used to cringe
when people asked if I was a
Christian because it comes with
so many negative connotations
due to the many false teachers
and hustlers that claim to be a
part of Christianity.
But then one day I asked
myself, "Why am I apologizing for
believing what I do and taking a
stand for it?" From that day for-
ward, I vowed never to apologize
for my heritage or my religion.
And Jews should do the same
thing. Take a stand — don't
worry about offending anyone.

WALK
C,URF DIARrTP:

Fighting Diabetes

Elizabeth, 15, Rebecca, 9, and
Randi Traison, 7

8

We would like to thank the IN
for publishing the story about the
Traision family's quest to find a
cure for diabetes (Doer Profile,
Sept. 8, page 15). With the publici-
ty we obtained and hard work by
our whole extended family, Team
Traison has collected more than
$8,000 in donations for Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation.

We would like to say todah
rabah to everyone who con-
tributed to our campaign: family,
friends, teachers and classmates of
our daughters at Hillel Day School
and the Jewish Academy in Metro
Detroit. This will continue to be an
ongoing battle in our family until a
cure is found.

Janice, Steve, Liz, Rebecca
and Randi Traison

West Bloomfield

Like Shoebat said, "Have some
pride in being a Jew"

Franklin Dohanyos

Royal Oak

Right To Speak Out

Diaspora Jews do not have the
right to "say what Israel does is
right or wrong."
Americans do have a right
because in the post 9-11 world
the global community is con-
nected like never before. The
"New World Order" is one where
terrorists attack one country
based on another country's
actions.
Thus the Gaza withdrawal has
been a catalyst for a resurgence
of terrorism in Iraq and around
the world, including the London
bombings and the Jordanian
attack on U.S. Navy ships.
The Israeli claim that Israel
left Gaza with "their heads held
high" ("After 38 Years:' Sept. 15,
page 31) is a sign Israelies have
lost the will to combat terrorism.
Israelies like to blame interna-
tional pressure but, in reality,
instead of fighting terror, Israel is
deluding itself by labeling
appeasement policies a "sign of
strength:'
Israel's weak and inconsistent
response to terror is an example
of how terrorists successfully
destabilize Western nations by
wearing them down until they
lose all sense of how to defend
themselves.
As long as Jewish publications
like the Jewish News endorse
Israel's suicidal policies ("Israel's
Chips On The Table," Sept. 15,
page 73) terrorists will seek to
emulate the Palestinians success
by using their primary strategic
weapon, namely suicide bomb-
ings.
If we really wish to honor
Simon Wiesenthal's memory,
we should remember that
Nazis became a global power
due to Western appeasement.
When Israel ceases the
appeasement policies of the
Clinton administration,
Israelies and American Jews
will be much safer.

Marc Baker

Birmingham

A Parents' Love

Shabbat shalom, Neshama's
voice sings out, as she stands in
her crib in the early morning
light in Israel. She is in a new
stone structure, a rectangular
building squatting on the sands
of the Judean hills. Her 2-year-
old heart is filled with happy
anticipation. I wonder, curious-
ly, why?
"Cha-lah," she adamantly
explains. Her day begins as she
climbs up a chair in the tiny
kitchen to help Ima (Mother)
combine ingredients into the
bread machine to create a
whole-wheat challah to be
served this evening. I watch the
many preparations during the
day and see Neshama's excite-
ment as she calls out, "Abba's
[Father's] coming."
For her, Shabbat is feeling
more than knowing. She will
feel the privilege of tasting
wine spiked with grape juice.
She will feel the sense of
accomplishment as she stuffs
her mouth with challah and
Abba compliments her on its
good taste. She will feel secure
as Abba's large hands enfold her
curls as he blesses her.
Tomorrow, she will sit on
Abba's lap among the praying
men and she will kiss the Torah
and Abba will kiss her. Later
Ima and Abba will put on a
puppet show. The parshah for
this day is about justice and
HaShem will save Minnie
Mouse who has been unjustly
convicted.
The most special part of the
day is after Havdalah when Aba
sweeps her up, her legs curled
around his waist, her head flung
back with hair flying; and they
whirl and dance and laugh. I
understand the wonder of
Shabbat for Neshama — for as
she goes to bed, she is wrapped
in the best feeling of all, the all-
encompassing feeling of uncon-
ditional parental love.

Geraldine Spilman

Orchard Lake

Editor's Note: Mrs. Spilman is Neshama's
grandmother. The child's parents are
Sarah and Doron Spilman, who also
have an 8-month-old son. The family
lives in Maale Adumim outside
Jerusalem.

September 29 2005