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Holiday Dilemma

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Southfield City Council settles
its menorah controversy.

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20

November 30 02006

Rabbi Morris

Sid Lantz

On Tuesday, however, the menorah
was back on display after the city
council voted Monday night to allow
religious symbols if they are owned
by private groups. This decision
allowed St. Michael Catholic Church in
Southfield to display its nativity scene,
as it had requested before the flap
about the menorah arose.
"The condition was that the meno-
rah be sold to a private group; then the

police said typically synagogues and churches would be notified.
Betsy Kellman, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League in
Bloomfield Township, went several steps further. She contacted top offi-
cials at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, local police, the
FBI and ADL leaders in New York. A conference call with ADL security
leaders gave her security advice and direction.
Along with the ADL leaders in New York, Kellman composed a letter
that was e-mailed or faxed to all Jewish agencies and synagogues in
Michigan. The letter also was reviewed and signed by Robert Schostak,
chair of Federation's Security Committee.
A pamphlet on security measures for Jewish institutions is available
through the ADL. "This booklet [distributed at a September ADL secu-
rity seminar] is a guide and can help institutions become aware of the
comprehensive steps that need to be taken," Kellman said
Kellman suggested:
• Keep doors and windows locked.
• Use security cameras and make sure they are recording properly.
• Set alarms.
• Review computer systems for signs of theft.
• Ensure computers' security devices and programs are running.
• Be aware of who enters the building.
• Be alert for anything out of the ordinary, including someone loiter-
ing or photographing or asking unusual or personalluestions about the
organization.
• Request local law enforcement patrol the area and discuss security
with staff.
• Monitor doors when an event is taking place.
• Accompany strangers at all times.
• Make sure buildings have limited access.

Committee Work

Establish a
Memorial Fund

S

outhfield has flip-flopped its
decision about a large meno-
rah that has been exhibited
for three years in its outdoor holiday
display on the front lawn of city hall.
Early last week, Southfield adminis-
trators decided the menorah was out
after discovering that tax dollars paid
for the $750 Chanukah symbol.
"My reading of the law is that the
First Amendment prohibits exces-
sive entanglement between religion
and government:' said Jack Beras,
Southfield's chief attorney. "In this
case, we simply made a mistake. When
government uses tax dollars to pur-
chase and display a religious symbol
as the owner, then it is a potential vio-
lation of the First Amendment."

Crime Prevention from page 18

Detroit's only kosher food pantry helps ensure
that no one in our community goes hungry

Warehouse
Volunteer

Keri Guten Cohen

Story Development Editor

For a copy of the ADL's binder, ''Protecting Your Jewish Institution:
Security Strategies for Today's Dangerous World," access the Web site
for an online version at www.adl.org or call (248) 646-2440.

