Letters
Proposal Makes Sense
Keeping The Faith
The letter "Facts on Gender
Politics" contends that the
Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
is "an extreme proposal" (May 4,
page 6). The only thing extreme
is support for policies that
unjustly discriminate on the
basis of race. More than 500,000
registered Michigan voters signed
a petition that led to the ballot
proposal.
The letter declared that publicly
funded programs such as "breast,
prostate and cervical cancer
screenings" would be eliminated
or jeopardized if the MCRI passes.
In 1996, voters in California
passed Proposition 209, a law that
mirrors the MCRI.
In fact, residents in California
have easy access to a multitude
of programs offering free breast
exams, mammograms, Pap tests,
pelvic exams, prostate exams
and PSA testing. The California
Department of Health Services
lists numerous programs that
stand ready to assist those in
need.
(dhs.ca.govicancerdetection/
breastcancer/breastcancer.htm).
The letter also stated that
"domestic violence treatment
and prevention programs" would
be eliminated or imperiled if
the MCRI passes. In fact, the
Statewide California Coalition for
Battered Women lists numerous
organizations established to sup-
port victims of domestic abuse
(www.sccbw.org ).
Honest debate about this issue
is beneficial. Policies that promote
preferential treatment based on
race contradict the bedrock of
the Civil Rights Movement. Racial
discrimination is morally wrong
whether the victims are black or
white.
Dr. Martin Luther King was
absolutely correct when he stated,
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to
justice everywhere'
Your article "Grave Robbers"
(May 11, page 26) highlights
how unfortunate it is when
people in charge of a cemetery
breach their fiduciary duties
and money dedicated to trust
funds vanishes or is invested
improperly. It is as if they were
stealing from the deceased and
their families, who believed their
gravesites would be cared for in
perpetuity.
We at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek hold these trusts
sacred. When Clover Hill Park
was opened in 1918, a separate
board of trustees, apart from
the synagogue, was established
to insure that the cemetery was
a totally independent unit and
funds collected by the cemetery
remained with the cemetery.
The board of trustees of
Clover Hill Park Cemetery is
comprised of dedicated com-
munity leaders, with Lawrence
Jackier serving as chairman. The
board oversees all expenditures
and meets at regular intervals
throughout the year to review
and evaluate the fiscal perfor-
mance of the cemetery with a
quarterly investment review of
the trust funds.
As a traditional Jewish
cemetery, we recognize the
responsibility as the keeper of
family memories. Clover Hill
Park Cemetery has made a
commitment to the community
to provide a beautiful, fiscally
strong facility that will last into
perpetuity.
Raymond Dubin
Farmington Hills
Ralph Zuckman
executive director
Clover Hill Park Cemetery
Birmingham
More Supporters
Contributing Editor Elizabeth
Applebaum wrote a beauti-
ful article on an event held at
Yeshiva Akiva on May 7 between
the upper school students at
Akiva and children from Kids
Kicking Cancer ("Getting Their
Kicks," May 11, page 46). To see
all the kids together, laughing
and having a great time, was
truly inspiring.
I think it's important to men-
tion that another Akiva parent,
Michal Korman of Southfield,
was an important part of the
team that organized this event.
Also, parent and teacher Karyn
Faber led the jewelry-making
activity for the kids, along with
teacher Jessica Gloveck. And
lastly, Joe Cornell was instru-
mental in the success of this
event. They donated the time
of a wonderful emcee, Rachel
Lachover, and a disk jockey, Josh,
that really got all of the kids
"moving and grooving" together.
It was an awesome day!
Rallying For Darfur
On April 29, our family traveled
with the Jewish Community
Council of Metropolitan Detroit
caravan to Washington, D.C., to
participate in the Rally to Stop
Genocide/Save Darfur dem-
onstration ("Upholding 'Never
Again:" May 4, page 20).
The trip was particularly
meaningful to us because we
were celebrating our daughter
Ariel's 13th birthday, and we
marked her bat mitzvah on the
bus. Through her b'nai mitzvah
class at Congregation Kehillat
Israel in East Lansing, Ariel had
learned about the situation in
Darfur and has spent the year
organizing and educating her
middle-school peers about the
situation.
We felt that participating in
the D.C. rally would be a perfect
way to mark her entrance into
Jewish adulthood by honoring
her own, very grown-up inter-
est. We learned about the Jewish
Community Council trip and
asked if it was possible for us to
—Goldfein
'W61.
ldeS
paAeld lie
Japeay-alcinop e aweb }s-1l} aL14 ut s3uem mioA maN ay}
1131Aou.iy a!JJ0VJ pue uoploo pis tuluuea AJJeH luewpiaj AJJeH :Jamsuy
May 18 • 2006
East Lansing
What A Walk!
Southfield
New research shows that four Jewish baseball players once were in the
lineup for a Major League game at the same time. Who and when?
6
Donna Rich Kaplowitz
Jill Greenbaum
IlLEMET 'cha Don't Know
(Copyright 2006. Jewish Renalssance Media
participate.
Publicly and privately, people
acknowledged Ariel's contribu-
tions toward the Darfur cause
and commended her on her
commitment.
We all felt as though the
experience could not have been
better in every way. The organi-
zation was phenomenal. There
was not ever a need that went
unmet; as seasoned travelers, we
all returned to Michigan feeling
deeply impressed with the orga-
nization of this trip.
Thanks to everyone involved
in making the Walk for Israel a
significant statement of public
support for Israel. The Detroit
Jewish News was very gracious
and kind in the articles covering
the event ("Israel At 58," May 11,
page 22).
Without Andre Douville, exec-
utive director of Temple Shir
Shalom, providing the location
for the West Bloomfield walk
and the hosting of the lunch,
there would not have been a
walk. Without Art Fishman and
his band of brothers and main-
tenance staff, things would not
have flowed so smoothly.
To the sponsors (especially
the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee that signed
on to an event that was done
on the fly) I am very grateful.
To the volunteers that helped
set up and distribute lunch and
handle parking, I am thank-
ful. I appreciate Jewish Family
Service providing a shuttle
van, Yossi Adler from Zeman's
Bakery in Oak Park providing
cookies, Cantorial Soloist Penny
Steyer of Shir Shalom singing
the anthems and blowing the
shofar and Uri Segal for the
Israeli dancing.
Also, thanks to Linda Stulberg
(Stand With Us-Michigan)
and Don Cohen (B'nai B'rith
Great Lakes Region-Enlighten
America) for guidance and sug-
gestions. I also want to thank
Channels 4 and 7 for covering
the event, the West Bloomfield
Police for aiding in traffic cross-
ing and to West Bloomfield
Supervisor David Flaisher for
enlisting their support.
There are many others to
thank but space limits their
recognition in this venue. I must
thank my lovely wife, Cathy, for
putting up with my crazy ideas
and keeping me grounded. My
final thanks to the Almighty
for blessing us with beautiful
weather for the walk and with
an abundance of ruach for
Israel.
Mark Segel
Southfield
An Inclusive Walk
As an Israeli native who par-
ticipates annually in the Martin
Luther King Day United We
Walk in West Bloomfield, it was
a given that I would participate
in the Walk for Israel on May 7
along a section of Walnut Lake
Road that has became known
as Synagogue Row, with Temple
Shir Shalom, Keter Torah,
Shaarey Zedek B'nai Israel
Center, Temple Kol Ami and
Temple Israel ("Israel At 58:'
May 11,s page 22).
The route of the Israel walk
was from Shir Shalom to Kol Ami
and back. Often following the
United We Walk, I wrote in local
newspapers, including the Jewish
News, about the inclusive nature
of the walk, which is inherent in
its name.
May the annual Salute to Israel
Synagogue Row walk become
as inclusive an event wheie the
disparate inhabitants of West
Bloomfield and its environs walk
together in harmony.
Rachel Kapen
West Bloomfield
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 cop-
ies 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.