Middle East

ON THE COVER

in the region know that we are one
family',' he said. "The residents feel
isolated and embattled in their
everyday life. But they are strong
Israelis, and they are drawing
strength from our love and our
connection and our support."
Wendy Wagenheim, Jewish
Community Council president,
noted the importance of outside
support in Israel's cause.
"We cannot afford to stand
alone,' she said. "It is crucial that
the Jewish community builds and
maintains strong relationships with
other racial ethnic and religious
groups in order to bring a greater
understanding of Jews in the com-
munity at large."
She introduced the Rev. Glenn
Plummer, senior Pastor of
Ambassadors For Christ Church in
Detroit and chief executive officer
of new Plymouth-based organiza-
tion, the Fellowship of Israel and
Black America.
"Jews of America stood with Dr.
King and African Ameficans dur-
ing the civil rights movement',' said
Rev. Plummeriews were put in jail
with us, Jews were hurt and even
killed with us.
"Jews stood with us during our
time of deepest trouble',' he contin-
ued."I came to tell you that there
are millions of African Americans
in this country who ... remember.
There are thousands of black pas-
tors like me, who feel the same pas-
sion and the same way that I feel.
African Americans in this country
are your friends and we are your
friends forever."

Standing Strong
Rabbi Martin Peled-Flax, Israel's
counselor for domestic political
affairs in Washington, D.C., spoke
of the ongoing battle in Israel.
The fight that Israel has with
Hezbollah is not a fight over the
border in the north of Israel. The
fight that we have with Hezbollah
is just one [fight] in the battle of
global jihadism.
"This is going to be a long
struggle,' he said. "We in Israel
have no choice in the matter. Our
backs are up against the wall. And
when our backs are up against the
wall we are going to fight. Fight we
will, until victory!'
Mike Cox, Michigan attorney
general who participated in a
JCCouncil-sponsored trip to Israel
six months ago, said he came to
support Israel as an American,
and all Americans tonight should
stand with Israel.
"I, as an Amercan, must recog-
nize certain truths certain facts:'
he said: "I must recognize that act
of crossing Israeli-Lebanese bor-
der during a time of peace is an
act of war:'
Joshua Berkovitz, vice-presi-
dent of the Michigan Chapter of
Friends of the IDF, said no other
country in the world would allow
missile attacks.
"Show me one country that
would say that's OK' he said. "No
country will, but the Jewish State
has to have at least 10,000 missiles
aimed at our state. We know where
the roots are, where the snake is
coming out from, and that snake

Upcoming CoMmunity Israel Events

• Lt. General Moshe Ya'alon, former IDF chief
of staff, will speak on "The Middle East: The
Challenges Ahead for Israel and the West" at 7
p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the Jewish Community
Center of Metropolitan Detroit in West
Bloomfield. His talk is sponsored by the Zionist
Organization of Arrierica, Aish Detrot and the
JCC.

• An Israel solidarity walk will be held at 1 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 6, beginning at the southeast
corner of Walnut Lake and Orchard Lake roads.
Park at Temple Shir Shalom, Congregaton
Shaarey Zedek B'nai Israel Center (after
1:30 p.m.), Abbott Middle School and Green
Elementary School. Walkers will go down
Orchard Lake Road to the Hiller's Supermarket
parking lot, then return to the starting point,
The walk is designed to show a visible display
of support for Israel and also to demand the

14

July 27 • 2006

will be eliminated, be it Syria, be it
Iran, be it whatever. There will be
no more threat on the Jewish State!'

Teens Weigh In
In their brown uniforms and
green kerchiefs, 40 young Israeli
Scouts and their counselors stood
out at the rally. They sat down
front, but looked out at the sea of
supporters in awe.
"It's a lot more people than I
thought. It makes me feel very
good to know we have someone
behind us," said Daniel Schiff, 13,
of Kiryat Ono.
"This is very exciting:' said Roei
Golan, 13, of Ramat Efal. "To see
so many people support Israel
in this difficult situation is very
good."
A group of Teen Mission par-
ticipants summed up the last two
weeks.
Evan Pomish, 17, of West
Bloomfield thought it was wrong
to shorten their trip by two weeks.
"Terrorism is meant to put ter-
ror into people,' he said. "If they
put terror into people they've
done their job. Us leaving Israel
shows that they did their job."
The trip did leave a lasting
impression.
"It moved me as a Jew, made
me have a great appreciation of
the country, because you can
learn about everything in school,
but you can't really have a full
understanding for. how much the
country means to us as a people
until you go there and experience
it',' said

release of kidnapped Israeli soldiers Gilad
Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. For
more information, contact Mark Segel at (248)
208-2773.

Ongoing Fundraising Efforts

• To provide financial support for the people of
Israel at this time of war, donate to Federation's
Israel Emergency Campaign at http://www.jfmd.
org/emergency.asp.

• The Friends of the IDF is conducting an emer-
gency campaign in support of 1DF soldiers on
the northern border and in the Gaza Strip. The
goal is $2 million in the next three weeks to
provide personal care packages with toiletries,
air-conditioned recreation tents and open
canteens providing snacks. Synagogues will be
assisting with the campaign. Make donations
directly at www.israelsoldiers.org or by calling
(248) 203-2060.

Brad Millman, 17, of West
Bloomfield.
"One of the things that moved
me the most was there were five
Israelis on the bus and, when the
bombs hit, I talked to them. They
said it scares us but it's something
they go through in their everyday
life. It's a different experience for
us. It was never firsthand."
David Weintraub, 18, of West
Bloomfield said they can't wait to
go back.

"We all plan to go back to Israel
to finish our two weeks. On tele-
vision you don't understand the
hardship that the Israeli people
go through. Being there really
opens up your eyes, and you really
understand the kinds of things
they go through and you really
want to help." 17

Go to Jnonline.us for more photos.

ADC Criticizes Cox

more so, express support
to the continued war, rather
than advocate for peace.
"Your remarks are com-
Michigan Attorney General
pletely inappropriate dur-
Mike Cox has been criticized
ing a time that hundreds of
by the regional director of
innocent civilians have been
the Arab American Anti-
killed and continued to be
Discrimination Committee
killed and still thousands of
(ADC) for his comments at
Americans remain trapped in
the "Stand With Israel Now"
the region and been caught
rally that drew 4,000 to
in the crossfire. Such remarks
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
show utter disregard for
on July 19.
these lives."
Cox had participated on a
Cox has responded to
Jewish Community Council-
the ADC and stands by his
sponsored trip to Israel six
remarks, said Rusty Hills,
months ago. At the rally,
director of communica-
he said he came to support
tions for the Department
Israel as an American and
of Attorney General. In his
said "all Americans tonight
response to the ADC, Cox
should stand with Israel."
refutes the charge of show-
In a letter to Cox dated
ing disregard for lives lost
July 20, imad Hamad, ADC
or in turmoil by citing a line
regional director in Dearborn,
in his speech that refers to
wrote: "As your constituents,
"a conflict that
we feel corn-'
has resulted in
pelted to express
the death of too
our grave con-
many people,
cern over the
both in Israel and
one-sided state-
Lebanon."
ment you made
Paraphrasing
at a pro-Israeli
Cox's response,
rally, proclaim-
Hills said the
ing, 'I am an
attorney general
American, and
wrote that Israel
all Americans
Michigan A ttorney
is the one under
tonight should
General Mik e Cox
attack,, its borders
stand with the
stands with Israel.
violated, its sol-
State of Israel."
diers captured and
"While the
kidnapped and it
ADC values the right to free
has a right to defend itself,
speech and assembly, espe-
its soldiers and citizens. Cox
cially in light of the crisis in
also says he wants peace in
Lebanon, it is disturbed that
the region, but that you have
a public servant such as you,
to have respect for a nation's
at the state level, would pub-
right to exist and protect it
licly choose sides on such a
own citizens. LI
distressing matter and, even

Keri tauten Cohen

Story Development Editor

