Letters
Buy Domestic Cars
Amazing that not once in an arti-
cle on the decline of the Jewish
community in Detroit and the
loss of our young people to other
cities is there a mention of one
of the basic causes: Detroit, and
the Jewish community in Detroit,
are in decline because GM, Ford
and Chrysler are in trouble ("A
Message Worth Heeding;' May 11,
page 5).
Ironically, the problem can be
seen in the parking lots of our
synagogues, filled with Lexuses,
Toyotas, Hondas and BMWs.
People are, absolutely naive to
believe that because they do
not work for the auto industry
that they are not affected by the
financial crisis in the domestic
auto industry.
By buying domestic, the job
you ultimately save may be your
child's or your grandchild's, let
alone yours.
Martin Darvick
Birmingham
Yasher Koach
Alan Yost is being honored by
Adat Shalom Synagogue for his
outstanding achievements as
executive director for 25 years'
("Exec To Be Feted:' May 11,
page 15).
I have known and worked with
Alan Yost and can attest to his
many accomplishments both on
behalf of his synagogue as well
as the entire Jewish community.
We are indeed fortunate to
have the opportunity to honor
him at this time.
Leonard P. Baruch
executive director emeritus
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Oakland County
Stop The Slaughter
What can be done in just 32
hours? What can be accom-
plished? Why face days of post-
rally exhaustion when you are
Washington, D.C., community
uncertain of the impact you will
members and students from the
make?
Detroit area gathered for a mean-
These were the questions
ingful Havdalah service before
I asked myself as I made the
getting on all-night buses.
decision to sign up for the Rally
This ritual, which marked the
to Stop Genocide/ Save Darfur
beginning of a 24-hour collec-
that took place April 30 in
tive action, was but one example
Washington, D.C. ("Upholding
of the thoughtfully planned and
`Never Again:" May 4, page 20).
impeccably organized trip to
Adat Shalom Rabbi Daniel
Washington.
Nevin's appeal for participants
Coordinated by P.J. Cherrin of
•the Jewish Community Council
at Shabbat services spoke to
me immediately, and I knew
of Metropolitan Detroit and other
I needed to go. I was not well
members of the Detroit2Darfur
informed about the dire situation Coalition, every imaginable need
in the Sudan, so far away. But the was provided for — from food on
phrase "Never Again" echoed in
the bus to showers the next morn-
my mind, and I felt the respon-
ing to information packets about
sibility to learn more about this
Darfur. More notably, P.J. displayed
horrific situation and be a part of tireless energy and unflappable
patience as he navigated through
the protest.
And at the time, commemorat- nonstop logistics and countless
ing the 61st anniversary of the
requests. On a personal note,
end of the Holocaust, the urgency though this was the first Jewish
for a Jewish response against this Community Council event that I
present-day Holocaust seemed
participated in, P.J. made me feel
particularly relevant.
welcome and comfortable.
As a Jew and a community
While the exact statistics of
the number of people killed,
member, I am proud to have
maimed, tortured, left homeless
been a part of such a meaningful
and raped may vary from one
event. And with such outstand-
news source to the next, the fact
ing staff and focus on such vital
remains that thousands or mil-
causes, I will be proud to con--
lions of innocent lives are being
tinue my involvement with the
altered or extinguished every day Jewish Community Council in
in the Sudan.
the future.
What we must continue to do,
Michelle Sternthal
as concerned individuals and as
Ann Arbor
Jews, is speak out and show, in
large numbers, concern and sup- Remember Our Vets
port for those people whose lives It is shameful that so few people
are being shattered and to get
turn out to honor our veterans
the world to focus on and help
and war dead on Memorial Day
stop the terrible events unfolding at Machpelah and Chesed Shel
in the Sudan. (See the Web site
Emes [Hebrew Memorial] cem-
www.savedarfur.org/home.) .
eteries.
Trudy Weiss
Is it due to indifference? Is the
West Bloomfield
lack of people a refusal to recog-
nize and remember the days of
A Job Well Done!
World War II, the Korean conflict,
On April 29, as a prelude to the
Vietnam and even Iraq?
next day's Save Darfur rally in
In these cemeteries are buried
RENO cha Don't Know
After 101 years, the Cape (Town) Council of the South African Jewish Board
of Deputies has reached a milestone. What happened?
-Goldfein
• unoD aul peat' o4 ueuloivi lsill eql awnaq Apapai allsep uaaAuom
?,Copyright 2006, Jewish Renaissance Media
6
May 25 2006
:iaMsuy
our friends and neighbors from
Oakland, 12th Street, Six Mile
and Oak Park who made the
supreme sacrifice.
How dare we ignore them on
this day of remembrance?
The presidents of every syna-
gogue and of organizations like
Hadassah, ORT and the ZOA
should delegate a couple of mem-
bers to attend the short ceremo-
nies in Ferndale [Machpelah]
and Clinton Township [Hebrew
Memorial] on Sunday, May 28. Is
it too much to ask Detroit Jews to
show appreciation for what these
men and women did?
Lawrence Silverman
Farmington Hills
Thanks, Detroit
I would like to take this oppor-
tunity to thank the entire Detroit
Jewish community for attending
the JCC Lenore Marwil Jewish
Film Festival ("International
Mosaic:' april 27, page 45). It was
wonderful seeing everyone.
A Library Boost
On behalf of the Meyers Library
at the Jewish Community Center
of Metropolitan Detroit, and the
Meyers-Broder family, I want to
thank the JN for the marvelous
article about the Broder authors
("Intrinsically Detroit:' April 20,
page 52).
It was so detailed, informa-
tive and interesting that I am
sure we had additional attendees
because of the story. The article
was a delightful surprise to us;
we appreciate the time and effort
you put into it. This was the first
substantial article about the
Meyers Library in the IN.
We are anxious for the public
to know about our wonderful
facility. Your piece could only fur-
ther that goal.
Joan M. Jampel
JCC Meyers Library, volunteer coordinator
West Bloomfield
Joel D. Marwil
Farmington
Food Allergies
I just read your cover story
"Always on Guard" (May 18, page
28). Our 4-year-old daughter has
multiple, severe food allergies
as well. We are so thankful that
this article was printed. It is so
important to raise awareness
about this issue. It affects every
minute of every day for families
like ours. It helps to know we are
not alone.
We are also currently work-
ing with our school district to
implement policies to protect our
daughter. It is the scariest time in
our life, but we want her to have
the same opportunities in school
as every child. Our school has
been very supportive.
Amy Radomski
Spotlighting
Nature's Beauty
The Michigan Coalition on the
Environment and Jewish Lif
will give nature appreciation'
and back yard beautification
tips at the MI-COEJL Spring
Retreat 2006: Tikkun Olam
Outdoors, 7-9 p.m. Monday,
May 8, at the University of
Michigan's Radrick Recreation
Area in Ann Arbor.
Speakers and exhibitors
will highlight gardening for
wildlife and energy conserva-
tion in homes, businesses and
places of worship.
Admission is free, but reg-
istration is required. Call MI-
COEJL, (248) 642-5393, ext.
7, or mi-coejl@jfmd.org .
Capac
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