Letters

Who's Accountable?

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson do not
speak for all black Americans ("Sharpton's
Accountability," May 3, page 27). They
speak out only on high-profile, safe issues.
I have heard their tirades against Jews and
have been appalled.
I will never understand how one can
worship Jewish Christ but despise Jews. To
me, that is equivalent to saying I love my
black sister but hate my mother because
she is black. Oh, yes, I forgot to mention, I
am now a black Jew.
I walk into my temple and do not feel
my skin color. My black husband concurs
and is taking classes to convert. I am
thankful for the experiences I have had to
help me recognize we are all one and enjoy
the diversity of our lives. Unfortunately,
some people refuse to open up their hearts
and minds as they proclaim themselves
religious leaders. I am proud to be black
and Jewish.

page 17).
Mark never let go of his goal of mak-
ing the event a success with his constant
follow-up e-mails, meeting minutes and
action item lists to his committee.
If he didn't know someone to get some-
thing done, he got someone to find some-
one to get it done.
Mark, I congratulate and thank you for
your drive, energy and steadfast work for
the Jewish people.

Ed Kohl

West Bloomfield

Inspired Leader

Camille F. McMillan

My congratulations to Mark Segel for
creating a most wonderful and successful
Walk For Israel ("In Step With The Spirit,"
May 3, page 17). His devotion and interest
in the welfare of the Jewish community is
beyond measure.
We are indeed fortunate to have Mark
Segel in our midst. May he continue to pro-
vide leadership and inspiration to all of us.

West Bloomfield

Leonard P. Baruch

Southfield

Walk's Ambassador

Our Detroit Jewish community is blessed
with many volunteers that give their
time and effort to advocate, promote and
do just plain good things for the Jewish
people and Israel.
One of our volunteer stars is Mark Segel,
who again this year spearheaded, planned
and implemented the Walk for Israel on
May 6 ("In Step With The Spirit," May 3,

This Month In History:

Settlement And Resettlement

May 1939: The moshav (farming set-
tlement) Shadmot Devorah ("fields of
Devorah"), located northeast of Kefar
Tavor, was founded by German settlers.
In 1970, the moshav had 166 inhabit-
ants; in 2002, 367. Its economy was
based on field crops, fruit orchards
and dairy cattle. Devorat ha-Tavor, a
silk- and honey-production visitors'
center, is located in the moshay. The
moshav is named for Dorothy (d.1988;
Devorah), wife of British politician and
philanthropist James de Rothschild.

About Patrilineal

The headline stating that there is a"...
patrilineal problem" is a mischaracter-
ization of the facts stated in the article
("Unique Obstacles," April 19, page 27).
The article clearly points out the Reform
movement's adoption of patrilineal
descent along with its vigorous outreach
program have both been rousing suc-

May 10, 1948: German and Hungarian
immigrants founded Sheluhot
("shoots," "sprouts") kibbutz in
northern Israel at the foot of Mt.
Gilboa upon the area's capture by
the Haganah during the War of
Independence. In 1970, Sheluhot had
340 inhabitants; in 2002, 414. Its
farming was based on irrigated field
and fodder crops, palm orchards, dairy
cattle, poultry, turkeys and carp ponds.
It operated electrical and metal facto-
ries and guest rooms.

May 10, 1949: Kibbutz Barkai
("morning light") was founded in

cesses. Thousands of our fellow Jews
from interfaith marriages have opted for
Judaism and are loyal and contributing
members of the Jewish community.
On the other hand, some individuals
Jews, for the reasons stated in the article
and for probably many reasons not stated,
choose to undergo a Conservative or
Orthodox conversion. These Jews are to
be commended and supported in their
choice. These conversions obviously sat-
isfy their individual needs.
However, these Jews aren't any more or
less Jewish than they were before their
"conversion:" And they certainly aren't
any more or less Jewish than their fellow
patrilineal Jews who proudly live as Jews
without the need for some extra ritual.

Al Sulkes

Tallahassee, Fla.

Help Our Soldiers

It was less than a year ago when Israeli sol-
diers Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev and
Gilad Shalit were abducted. Soon after that
horrific time, the news media buzz about
the men was incredible. In fact, the inci-
dent sparked invasion of the Gaza Strip,
gaining even more support and attention.
However, recently there has been little to
no mention of these soldiers in the newspa-
per and even in day-to-day conversations.
As the days pass and there is still no con-
crete word on their whereabouts, it seems
that people have started to lose hope.
But I for one, and I'm sure along with

central Israel by pioneers from North
America, joined later by newcomers
from Romania and from English-
speaking and other countries. In
the mid-1990s, the population was
approximately 500, and by the end
of 2002 it had decreased to 327.
Farm branches included dairy cattle,
poultry, avocado plantations and field
crops. As well as farming, the kibbutz
runs a factory for polyethylene prod-
ucts.

May 14, 1948: The Israeli Declaration
of Independence was promulgated
and the State of Israel established

Which city in South Africa was once known as the ''..Jerusalem of Africa."

-Goldfein

QCopyright 2007, Jewish Renaissance Media

2007'

iN

Amanda Fisher, 20

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor

Clarification

To clarify a reference in "MSU's Hillel
Invigorated" (May 3, page 5), the percent-
age of Jewish students on the 45,000-stu-
dent Michigan State University campus is
6 percent, or 3,000 students.

during the War of Independence.
During the war, the kibbutzim played
an essential role, serving as bases for
the Haganah defense force and the
Palmach commando section (founded
May 19, 1941). Most of the new villag-
es established under emergency con-
ditions during and immediately after
World War II, especially in the Negev,
were kibbutzim. By the establishment
of independence, they numbered 149
out of the 291 Jewish villages in the
country.

Taken from Encyclopaedia Judaica, 2nd Edition, © 2007, www.encyclo-

paediajudiaca.com . © 2007, Thomson Gale

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many others, have not. I am, however, con-
cerned that we have started to lose the fire
to fight to bring these brave men home. I
cannot even fathom what it would be like
to go to sleep every night, knowing that
someone I cared about was gone without
answers.
We must rekindle the fire to find these
men, and I am asking for the Jewish com-
munity's help.
We will be selling dog tags in honor of
Ehud, Eldad and Gilad; all proceeds will
be going to the Israeli Emergency Fund.
Einat Sarouf, an amazing Israeli singer,
will be performing at the Birmingham
Community House, 380 S. Bates, at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 8; and we will be selling the
dog tags there. Register online at
www.jewishdetroitorg/sarouf.
I hope to gain everyone's support in
this cause and give these families another
chance to live their lives again. We must
recapture the passion for our missing
soldiers, we cannot lose the fight. Please
remember them.

sonar ue!uen11411 •11001.1s1pno :JaMsuy

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