L etters
I'm Running , Too
I would like to commend the
Detroit Jewish News for publishing
the fine cover story "Like No Other
Vote in the World" (Jan. 5, page 27)
regarding the approaching 35th
World Zionist Congress in
Jerusalem. The congress is an
opportunity for every adult Jew
around the world to walk in the
footsteps of Theodor Herzl by hav-
ing a voice in the Zionist agenda
for the next four years through his
or her vote for a slate of delegates
to the congress.
The United States will be send-
ing 145 of the total of 500 dele-
gates to the congress with full vot-
ing rights. Eight years ago, more
than 100,000 American Jews par-
ticipated in the election. As your
article points out, that number was
down to under 90,000 four years
ago. And this year, registration
appears to be running behind four
years ago although online registra-
tion doesn't end until Feb. 15 and
the election continues until Feb.
28. Although the 12 slates on the
ballot, along with the American
Zionist Movement, have attempted
to publicize the election, your arti-
cle will do far more in bringing
this election to the attention of
local eligible voters. Hopefully,
your article will stimulate an
increase in registrants. It takes $7
and roughly seven minutes to reg-
ister for the election online at
www.azm.org.
It was refreshing to note the
number of local Jews who are run-
ning on a slate in the election. I
enjoyed the write up on each indi-
vidual. Unfortunately, you missed
one — me. I want to take this
opportunity to correct the omis-
sion, inadvertent I am sure, and let
your readers know that ARZA, the
Association of Reform Zionists of
America, which won over 42 per-
cent of the American vote four
Jewish.com
years ago, does indeed have a
Detroiter on its slate. As president
of the Northeast Lakes Council of
the Union For Reform Judaism
and as national secretary of ARZA,
I am proud to be that delegate.
Allan H. Tushman
West Bloomfield
Healthy Debate
Bravo to Jason Pesick, editor-in-
chief of the Michigan Daily, for
presenting us with the facts in last
week's letters regarding the healthy
and positive situation of the Jewish
students at the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor ("The
Right Tilt;' Jan. 5, page 6).
In this and other political mat-
ters, we have been harangued for
too long by the writings of the
"super-Zionists" who have mount-
ed what appears to be a coordinat-
ed campaign to dominate your let-
ters column.
Their neo-conservative, Bush-
fawning, pro-Iraq-war stances are
repetitious and completely out-of-
step with the views of a majority
of our population, who have come
to realize the quagmire into which
our government's disinformation
and policies have led us.
Eric Billes
West Bloomfield
He served in the U.S. Navy in
World War II. He settled in
Michigan as a young man and
eventually married my mother-in-
law and later reveled in the births
of four bright and beautiful chil-
dren. I married their only son,
who, like his father, is a loving and
caring man, a hard worker and a
wonderful provider.
Perhaps now more than ever, I
see the likenesses of father and
son in the presence of each.
Regardless of shared or differing
ideologies, until faced with the loss
of something we truly love, we
seem nearly helpless to remember
that each of us does what he or she
feels is best for those we care most
about. Leaders make decisions
that they feel encouraged are in
the best interest of their own con-
stituency: countrymen, neighbors,
families. That is, in great part,
what makes them leaders and not
followers.
Very early in 2006, may we unite
in prayer for a man who has done
everything that can be expected of
a human being in service to his
people. From Jews, and all freedom
loving people, Mr. Sharon deserves
no less than the hopeful, healing
prayers of all who have ever looked
to any leader for guidance and
pathway.
American children to be one in
2,500. Today, the CDC [U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Preven-
tion] places the rate at one in 166,
or one in 80 boys. Additionally, 1-
in-6 children is now diagnosed
with a related neurological disor-
der."
Your list of resources will be
invaluable for families struggling
with this challenging condition. I
would like to make you aware of
one additional resource: JVS offers
the Transition to Employment pro-
gram to help Oakland County stu-
dents with autism make the
change from school to work.
JVS has been serving people
with autism for more than 20
years. In the last four years, a
focused partnership was formed
between JVS, Michigan Depart-
ment of Labor and Economic
Growth-Rehabilitation Services
and Oakland County Schools
whereby JVS provides community-
based assessment and support to
prepare students with autism to
transition from school to work.
Not only does this unique pro-
gram empower the student to
leave school with work experi-
ences and a realistic transition
plan, but also educates employers
about the benefits of hiring an
individual with autism.
Karen Melaas
Leah Rosenbaum
Oxford
executive vice president
dotCOM SURVEY
Southfield
Autism Aid
Let me compliment you on "The
Power Of Love your poignant and
informative story about Zev
Loeffler and his family's struggles
with his autism (Dec. 15, page 16).
It is important that people become
aware of this growing disability.
A July 1, 2005, Boston Globe arti-
cle indicated: "A decade ago, the
American Academy of Pediatrics
estimated the autism rate among
Last Week's Results
The North American
International Auto Show opens
this week in Detroit. Will you
buy/lease a new car this year?
Should Israel prevent
Palestinians in Jerusalem from
voting in the Jan. 25 Palestinian
elections?
Read about it on Jewish.com .
To vote, click on
JNOnline.com/Opinion
41% said yes
59% said no
January 12 • 2006
Southfield
Stay Informed
I read your Editor's Letter "The
Threat Is Real" (Dec. 29, page 5)
and the sentence: "Ironically, revi-
sionist thinking floods France and
Germany ..."
I also read in a French paper
that an extreme right revisionist
got six months in prison and had
to pay about $10,000 thanks to a
law.
We'll never have that law here in
the United States. We have to be
informed and inform. I appreciate
your articles!
Eva Lande
Bloomfield Township
JVS
Miami's New Face
Foreign-born Jews are flooding
Miami-Dade County, even as
the county's overall Jewish pop-
ulation continues to shrink.
6
Ann and Leonard Baruch
chief operating officer
Power Of Prayer
There is a tremendous polariza-
tion of attitudes about so very
many issues in our world that it
seems most of us frequently forget
our own humanity.
The recent and very serious
stroke suffered by Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon has followed
by mere days a similar stroke in
my father-in-law, an 87-year-old
farmer turned tool and die worker.
Dad was raised in North Dakota, a
Christian.
We remember with appreciation
her dear husband, Dr. John
Mames, as he began to develop
this important organization.
Untold thousands of Israelis
have directly benefited from the
assistance offered by the ambu-
lances provided by Magen David
Adorn. Our own young grand-
daughter, Dana Feldman, has
served as an intern in providing
emergency ambulance service in
Israel.
Our admiration and our thanks
to Eva Mames. May she be given
the strength to continue her work
on behalf of the Jewish people.
Cheers For Eva
Who else but Eva Mames deserves
recognition for outstanding
humanitarian endeavors (Doer
Profile, Jan. 5, page 14).
Single handedly, she has main-
tained the entire Magen David for
Israel organization in the Detroit
area.
• In "Mission Moments" (Dec.
29, page 35) the photo caption
gave the wrong age for Robert
Goldstein of West Bloomfield,
who is 8.
• In the Platinum cover story
(Jan. 5) on Jewish auto dealers,
Jay Feldman was inadvertently
omitted. Feldman owns Jay
Chevrolet in Highland Township
and Liberty Chevrolet in Lyon
Township.
How to Send Letters
We prefer letters relating to JN articles. We reserve the right to edit or
reject letters. Letters of 225 words or less are considered first. Longer
ones will be subject to trimming. Letter writers are limited in frequency
of publication. 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@the jewishnews.com . We prefer e-mail.