World New Name, New Start Restaurateur cuts ties with La Shish and welcomes back diners. Don Cohen Special to the Jewish News Pho to by Do n Co hen with Sheik Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah, widely recognized as the spiritual leader of the Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist amir "Sam" Saleh, owner of the organization Hezbollah (Party of God). Mezza Mediterranean Grill on The indictment charged the "skimming Orchard Lake Road, says his and concealment" of more than $16 mil- Jewish clientele are returning to his res- lion and there was speculation that some taurant now that it is no longer part of the of the money had gone to Hezbollah. La Shish restaurant chain. Photos of Chahine with The La Shish sign came Fadlallah at a Hezbollah down March 11 at the res- outpost in southern taurant at 4189 Orchard Lake Lebanon and receipts for Road, just south of Pontiac a previous contribution Trail, in Orchard Lake. to Fadlallah's charity also He hopes the focus will be were mentioned. on tabouleh rather than on Saleh bought the Sheik terrorism. restaurant in 2005, and The restaurant was hit hard turned it into the first after the U.S. government franchise in the La Shish issued an indictment last May chain. Impressed by the against La Shish, its owner good name, high quality Talal Chahine and his financial amir "Sa m" Saleh and financial opportunity, manager on four counts of he was just two days away tax evasion. Papers filed with the court from finalizing a deal to buy the entire claimed Chahine has "connections at the 14-restaurant chain from Chahine when highest levels of ... Hizballah," referencing the indictment for tax evasion was filed. Chahine's participation in a fundraiser Saleh took a double hit: The deal for the La Shish chain fell through when Chahine did not return to the U.S., a requirement for closing the deal; and many of his previously satisfied customers, which he estimates as 75-80 percent Jewish, stayed away. "It was like a hurricane hit you; we went right down to 45 percent of our business:' Saleh said. While Saleh knew of the tax evasion charges, he says "I didn't know about his issue with terrorism. We had no knowledge. I never would have met with [Chahine], never would have talked with him. I didn't need that aggravation." Condemns Hezbollah Samir Saleh was born in Beirut in 1967 and came to the U.S. in 1986. He lives in Rochester Hills with his wife and two children and owns nine other restaurants, including another Mezza Mediterranean Grill on Grand River in Novi. He is trea- surer of his church, St. George [Greek] Orthodox Church in Troy. He says those who know him don't feel he was treated fairly. "I respect the con- cern and support the concern. I respect and understand their opinion; and I hope they understand me, toe Saleh says. "[Chahine's] problem become my prob- lem, and I had nothing to do with it. I'm just an honest guy who wants to make a living." Saleh says as soon as the story broke and the deal fell through he cut all ties with Chahine and has been an indepen- dent owner since last year. He says he hasn't paid his franchise fees since April 2006 and has been preparing his own food since July. The Orchard Lake restaurant is no longer listed on the La Shish Web site. Saleh prefers to talk about his busi- ness, and not politics. But when asked, he had no problem condemning Hezbollah and supporting Israel's right to exist and prosper. "I have no love for them, no support for them, and I condemn them by all means:' Saleh says of Hezbollah. He says he has only returned to Lebanon once since leaving and then only to try to buy the restaurant chain. "I am an American. I gave up my citizenship from Idealogical Battle Ex-jihadist calls for reinterpreting the Koran. Don Cohen Special to the Jewish news D r. Tawfik Hamid, a former member of the Islamist Jamaal Islamiah in Egypt, a move- ment he now describes as evil, told an audience of more than 300 at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield on March 12 that the biggest threat posed by radical Islam is not a terrorist act but the threat to freedom. "We must stand clearly against any violent teaching that will threaten our freedom:' he told his largely supportive audience. "Stopping terrorism is just to treat the symptoms of the disease, rather than the disease itself:' In a wide-ranging talk that was autobio- graphical, political and theological, Hamid analyzed Islam and the Muslim world, calling for a reinterpretation of the Koran. He said, "Islam can be understood in a very peaceful manner" without changing a word. He added such a reinterpreta- tion is necessary to promote co-existence and tolerance rather than domination 26 March 22 2007 and persecution of Jews, ing the question-and-answer Christians, and other non- period. El-Amin said he and Muslims as well as women, many other Muslim leaders gays and apostates. have condemned terrorism The former jihadist and, specifically, the 9-11 turned medical doctor, attacks. psychologist and Islamic "Why do you come and scholar says the prob- speak negatively about Islam?" lem is aggravated by an El-Amin asked. "Why did the unwillingness to criticize audience just come to hear Islam and projections of something negative?" weakness. He said that if Hamid challenged the imam Dr. Tawfik Ha mid America had responded to speak positively about Jews strongly to the bombings and Christians in "an unam- of the U.S. embassies in Tanzania and biguous manner." El-Amin responded that Kenya in the late 1990s "9-11 never would he always does as do others he knows. have happened." A man who identified himself as "an "Concessions will never make you win American Muslim" calmly told Hamid that this war. You don't stop tyrants this way:' some of the things he said "seem incite- Hamid said, calling for a multi-directional ful" and misrepresented Islam. Hamid approach employing military, educa- responded that Islam is good, but top tional, financial and ideological resources. Muslim leaders and universities over- "Extreme power can bring peace after it. whelmingly promote hate and violence in Never make concessions or show weak- the name of Islam. ness.", Mark Segel, who organized Hamid's Imam Abdullah El-Amin of the Muslim visit, which included meeting with stu- Center in Detroit challenged Hamid dur- dents at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, a leadership lunch and two radio appearances, was pleased with the program. "I want the interaction to take place Segel said. "I'm glad they came to listen and to challenge. This is an ideological battle, and it allowed for another idea to enter the market of ideas. This is how a reformation [in Islam] can occur." Dan Levy, president of the Michigan Region of the Anti-Defamation League, a co-sponsor of the event, said he agreed with about 90 percent of what Hamid said but was disturbed by his "alienating" state- ment that all imams are anti-Semitic and supporters of terrorism. "If we don't find ways to actively, persis- tently and unmistakably make it clear that we are opposed only to jihadist Islam, how can we expect the rest of Islam to join us?" Levy said. Hamid's appearance was sponsored by the Zionist Organization of America, with co-sponsors ADL, Herschel Fink and Bert Stein.