Opinion
OTHER VIEWS
Impact Israel's Soldiers
R
ushing to the airport, I felt
the familiar exhilaration that
overcomes me each time I go
to Israel, but I knew this would be a very
different trip. This time, I gained valuable
new friendships with those who share a
common goal of solidarity and support
for the Israeli soldiers who greeted us with
unending gratitude and appreciation.
This time, I visited different army bases
that usually never allowed tourists. This
time, I traveled with the Michigan Friends
of the Israeli Defense Forces. I never could
have imagined what an amazing life event
would be tucked away in my heart forever.
At our first Shabbat dinner, we were
informed by the Association for the Well-
Being of Israeli Soldiers, Brigadier General
(Res.) Arie Fishbein and Scholarship
Program Executive Director Orna Pesach
about the program called IMPACT. They
attempted to explain the graduation pro-
gram they planned for us to attend, prom-
ising that it would be a night to remember.
A few of the graduates joined us for
dinner and we heard firsthand of their
appreciation and their aspirations, but the
energy of the evening really emerged as
soon as the bus dropped us off at Tel Aviv
University. We felt the spirit and excitement
of the hundreds of soldiers who attended.
This program enables the donor to make
a direct IMPACT on a soldier's life. Offered
only to underprivileged combat soldiers, it
is a chance to fulfill their dreams with an
education they could not themselves other-
wise afford. Male and female soldiers must
meet strict criteria in order to be eligible to
receive a scholarship. They must complete
their military service in a combat unit, be
highly regarded by the IDF and, based on
merit and need, show that they are deserv-
ing of this gift.
Donors contribute $4,000 a year for
four years, all of which covers the soldiers'
tuitions. In return for their education,
each recipient has to complete 130 hours
of community service for each year of his/
her scholarship. A single mother whose
son was diagnosed with leukemia felt the
personal benefits of an IMPACT recipient.
For his community service, one of the
students spent time with her 8-year-old
son every Shabbat, giving this child his
time, teaching and playing as well as giv-
ing emotional support to both of them. We
listened to her personal, emotional story
of gratitude as she shared the gift this
recipient had given them.
For less than it costs us in the States to
send a child to a private school for one
year, a soldier can receive a four-year col-
lege education that
will change his life.
Donors receive a
letter and a picture
from the recipient,
updated each semes-
ter. This year, one
man from the United
States sponsored 20
students, took them
all out to dinner and
then attended their
graduation! We saw
firsthand how far
reaching this project is. Donors contrib-
ute not only to an individual, but also to
the community and the future of Israel.
This program enabled soldiers to become
teachers, social workers, engineers, com-
puter experts, etc.
In the program's first three years, 1,447
scholarships have been awarded, enabling
these soldiers to start a journey that will
ultimately fulfill their dreams. My per-
sonal mission is to raise awareness and
hopefully have 2,000 recipients for the
2007-2008 academic year.
One-hundred percent of the donations
goes directly to fund this program and is
completely tax deductible. There are no
fees involved, not even administrative fees.
Another great need is for portable
recreation units to help the soldiers de-
stress. If you cannot become an IMPACT
donor, but you want to directly help Israeli
soldiers, then make a donation to the
Friends of the IDF. Our wonderful execu-
tive director, Tamir Oppenheim, will see to
it that your donation goes where it is most
needed to help strengthen the IDF, the
backbone of the entire country. Make an
IMPACT or donate to the soldiers who are
really fighting for us all!
What an opportunity I have to be part
of this process, in this gift that keeps on
giving. My personal mission is to inform
as many as possible of the enormous
good that can be done, of the meaning-
ful results of the gift of education to the
soldiers, those individuals who will be
the recipients of the soldiers' community
service and to the State of Israel. Tikkun
olam: Repair the world! What a great
place to start!
Contact Tamir Oppenheim, execu-
tive director, Micihgan Friends of the
IDF, 27600 Farmington Road, Suite 204,
Farmington Hills, MI 48334. (248) 926-
4110. michigan@israelsoldiers.org.
Linda Cohen is a Franklin resident.
Intermarriage Battle Not Over
I
n his Special Commentary
"Intermarriage Battle Over" (Jan. 5,
page 29), Paul Golin writes that it
is not effective to send "mixed messages
that tell intermarried families we want
them, but they're still second-class citi-
zens.
The premise that such families are
looked upon as second-class citizens is
totally incorrect. Neither partner is sec-
ond-class: one is Jewish and one is not,
and the same is true of their children
— children of Jewish mothers are Jewish
and children of non-Jewish mothers are
not.
The higher numbers of intermarried
couples today, and that this no longer
carries any stigma, is part of society's
slide into secularism. When I was grow-
ing up, it was unthinkable for unmarried
or gay couples to live together openly
because there was implicit recognition
of the biblical prohibition against such
behavior. That it is now acceptable in
many sectors of society does not mean
24
January 18 • 2007
that it is correct, and it does not mean
that Torah-observant Jews should stop
rejecting such behavior.
Similarly, years ago even secular par-
ents did everything in their power to pre-
vent a child's intermarriage. And if it did
occur, they were certainly very ashamed.
The fact that intermarriage has become
more prevalent is no reason to sit back
and be quiet over something which is a
flagrant violation of our holy Torah.
Whether or not we accept intermar-
riage really boils down to whether we
believe in the Torah as elaborated by our
sages in the Talmud and in the Code of
Jewish Law.
Generally, intermarriage occurs when
there is ignorance or a lack of under-
standing of fundamental principles of
Judaism. Acceptance of intermarriage
suggests not accepting Torah as the guid-
ing principle of Jewish behavior. It is
important to recognize that to the grow-
ing number of Jews who embrace Torah
observance, intermarriage will never be
acceptable.
It all boils down
to Jewish education.
Thank God, more
and more of our
Jewish youth and
their parents are opt-
ing for day-school
educations. The great
majority
of these day
Rabbi
schools
teach
their
Elimelech
students
that
the
Silberberg
Torah laws governing
Community
marriage (and inter-
View
marriage) are God-
given and not subject
to human whim. The day schools are the
major battlefields against intermarriage.
Mr. Golin talks about San Francisco
and Boston as a paradigm of communi-
ties that successfully welcome inter-
married families. Exactly what kind of
success are we talking about here? My
colleagues in the upper West Coast areas
of California bemoan the fact that the
intermarriage rate there is close to 80
percent, and they are doing their best to
bring Jewish values to an area they term
a "spiritual graveyard."
If a spouse halachically converts to
Judaism, he/she becomes a full-fledged
Jew, and the issue of intermarriage no
longer exists. I have been a member of
the conversion Bais Din (court) of the
Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Greater
Detroit for more than 20 years. While we
don't condone intermarriages, we cer-
tainly make every attempt to halachically
convert a non-Jewish spouse when the
family is open to embracing a Torah life.
I invite anyone who is in an intermar-
ried relationship to call the council. We
will make every attempt to help you.
It involves a major commitment and
change in lifestyle which is not easy, but
it is certainly very rewarding. I I
Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg is spiritual leader
of the Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center
in West Bloomfield.