Letters Sullied By Whom? In his Editor's Notebook, Robert Sklar claims that Pat Robertson "sullied us" with his remark that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was the result of his dividing Israel in defiance of the Jewish prophet Joel's warning ("The . Danger Of Preaching," Jan. 12, page 5). I think Mr. Sklar sul- lied us as much or more by devaluing the Tanach [Hebrew Bible], which was correct in predicting a restoration of Israel. Robertson embarrassed not us but himself by his lack of humility in being so emphatic about his interpretation of the event; and Mr. Sklar is no better in his conviction that Robertson is wrong — even a broken clock is right twice a day. I feel sullied by Mr. Robertson not when he correct- ly quotes a Jewish prophet, but when he misrepresents the Jewish prophets with mis- quotes, quotations out of con- texts and doctored translations to misrepresent Jesus as the Jewish messiah. Dennis L. Green Farmington Hills Avoiding Crisis During several summers in the late 1980s, as a teacher of geog- raphy and history at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit, I attended seminars on various aspects of the Middle East at the University of Michigan under the sponsorship of the Department of Middle East and African Studies. These confer- ences, dealing with such diverse Jewish.com Trouble In Russia? Four months after opening, the new JCC in Russia stands empty. Read about it on Jewish.com . 6 January 19 2006 subjects as water use, history, music and many others, were given for teachers of the social studies, to then transmit what they learned to their students. Many of the participants came from parts of the state where both Judaism and Islam were probably little known. Each year, the presenters were more strongly Islamist. I became the watcher, the defender of Israel. Although many presenters were reasonable, some were very biased. Once, the head of the department used a map that had on it Jordan and Palestine, instead of Israel. I had to make vigorous protest until she choked out that the map should have Israel on it! I stopped going to these conferences when I felt threatened by the tone of the presentations. Later, in the early 1990s, I attended summer seminars for geography teachers given by the Macomb County Intermediate School District. One lecturer, again, teaching social studies teachers from all over the state, was so biased in her presenta- tion on water use that I had to protest. I asked her where she got her information, and she said that she had studied in Saudi Arabia. When I asked her to consider that what the had learned was biased, she responded, "If Israel would pay for me to study in Israel, I would." When will we learn to act early, rather than wait until the problem is so bad that we must react to a crisis? . Cherna Kowalsky Southfield Jews In Poland I tip my kippah to my amigo Robert Sklar whose recent • Notebook item jogged my teenage memories ("A Sermon In Church," Jan. 12, page 13). The article refers to Detroit attorney Michael Traison delivering five sermons dur- ing a mass at a Catholic church in Pinczow, Poland. I met Mr. Traison at some social gatherings in our bailiwick, and I heard about his endeav- ors on behalf of Jewish causes from my brother Bernard, an Auschwitz survivor who spends six months every year in Krakow lecturing on the Holocaust in public schools in Polish and English. From Bernard, I learned that Mr. Traison is also instrumental in bringing back the third and perhaps the fourth generation of Jewish youths from mixed marriages to embrace Judaism, youths who only recently found out that one of their forebears hid his or her Jewish faith in fear of anti-Semitism. Currently, it seems to be fash- ionable in Poland to be Jewish. With a great deal of sorrow, I recall my maternal grandmoth- er, Cywia Schiffer-Zwirn, who was murdered by the Nazis. She lived in the same apartment house as my family. In order to supplement her income, she rented rooms to men from small towns like Pinczow. I recall one "starving musician" who apparently stemmed from Pinczow and was singing a then-popular song about his shtetl [village], not unlike shtetl Belz. Sam Offen West Bloomfield dotCOM SURVEY Last Week's Results Do you think that Iran's nuclear weapons program can be stopped by peaceful means? The North American International Auto Show opens this week in Detroit. Will you buy or lease a new car this year? To vote, click on JNonline.us/Opinion 23 percent said yes 77 percent said no Federation, which put the whole thing on for us. Evan Arbit, 10 West Bloomfield H Editor's note: Evan Arbit appeared on the JN cover last week. Special Report An Amazing Trip I had the most spectacular time in Israel. We went to a lot of ancient places. They looked dif- ferent from what I had really expected. I thought that the Western Wall was going to look like just one wall. It was actually sur- rounded by many walls that were bigger than the actual Western Wall. I felt kind of sad, but it was cool to see it. The most meaningful thing to me on the trip was when we were on Masada. We were really walking where our ancestors walked long before us. I think it • was so cool to see what people have found. It's- very interesting to actually see the houses and pottery pieces left behind. I loved Masada. I made a lot of friends that shared joy with me when we were on the trip. We spent a lot of time together. We had a ton of fun and it felt like we had known each other for so long. I had a great time there in Israel. I hope we go on the next family mission. Also, thank you so much to Right On, Eva! It was wonderful to read Associate Editor Alan Hitsky's interview with Eva Mames of American Red Magen David for Israel (Doer Profile, Jan. 5, page 14). I've known Eva since ARMDI was established, when I was 9 years old. Eva is the role model for all young people who wish to become involved in communal work. Eva is selfless, tireless and inspiring to all around her. She is the fuel that runs the engine of the organi- zation, and that has been con- stant for 39 years. She is a dear friend and col- league to everyone associated with ARMDI, and it has been my privilege to work with her over all of these years. Yasher koach! [Go forth in strength!]. Rob Starkman Southfield Correction • An incorrect caption ran with photograph No. 5 in "Family Fun" (Jan. 12, page 18). The photo is of Gregg and Ashley Oleshansky of Franklin and their son, Evann, 18 months. How to Send Letters We prefer letters relating to JN articles. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. 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