Front Lines

The New Year

Through it all, we're a people.

T

here's something soothing about
Rosh Hashanah arriving on
Shabbat: I can't think of a bet-
ter time to take stock of the past year
and look toward the coming year. As the
Jewish year of 5767 settles in at sundown
on Friday, let us again affirm our oneness
as a people and that we stand with Israel,
our ancestral homeland.
At the same time, let us — as Jewish
Detroit — reinforce our commitment to
pressing issues of the day, ranging from
securing the Jewish identity of our youth
to addressing the needs of our elderly
to assuring the inclusiveness of Jewish

communal life. Federation's Annual
Campaign and the funding needs of
all our support organizations also are
top priorities. Campus life, synagogue
strengthening, Jews on the edges of the
community and just plain pride in being
Jewish make the priority list as well.
Standing with Israel doesn't necessar-
ily mean agreeing with each and every
military or government decision or
action. It does mean backing the Jewish
state's right to exist with defined and
secure borders and safety for its citizens
— and not shying away from declaring
this, as individuals or as a community. It

does mean seeking the support of Arab
and Muslim moderates to help build a
better Middle East, one that replaces
terrorist-launched rockets and suicide
bombers with ideas for peaceful co-exis-
tence and mutually progressive multicul-
turalism.
Let there be no mistake: Israel has
been forced to assert its military might
in defense. Let us pray for and actively
support Israel's quest for lasting peace in
the region.
We can't stand pat or sit idly. The side-
lines can be a lonely place. Let us learn
from our confrontations and embrace

our heritage en route to setting a well-
mapped course of action supporting the
needs and causes that we believe in.
May 5767 be a good and sweet year.
Eshanah tovah tikateivir v'techatayinu.
May you and yours be inscribed and
sealed in the Book of Life this High
Holiday season.
Shabbat Shalom as well!

4/44- , 104.0,

Robert A. Sklar, editor

September 21 • 2006

13