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New Conservative Paradigm
Publisher Arthur M. Horwitz's point that
the Conservative Movement needs a new
model is correct ("Emboldening The
Conservative Movement," Sept. 13, page 43).
His suggestion for consolidating con-
gregational schools with the resources of
Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit
is an excellent idea. Here is why I believe
he is right:
1. In an effort to market to declining
memberships, the Conservative syna-
gogues have participated in a mutually
destructive competition to reduce the days
and hours in the afternoon schools. This
has resulted in our children having less
Judaic knowledge while not reversing the
trend of enrollment erosion.
2. The number of students in the con-
gregational schools, and their lack of
familiarity with each other, is too small
to successfully operate USY programs
and Shabbat services. This lack of social
interaction among Conservative youth
threatens the future of our synagogues.
This trend has continued for decades and
is evident in the aging demographic of our
Shabbat minyans.
3. Individual congregations cannot
continue to run afternoon schools at a
financial loss. These losses threaten the
financial existence of our synagogues. A
community sharing of scarce educational
resources will also support the vitality of
smaller synagogues that offer choices that
are essential to the diversity within our
movement.
Statistics indicate that more than two-
thirds of our children will not be attending
Jewish day schools. For too long, we have
not done nearly enough for the Jewish
educational needs of these children. Mr.
Horwitz's suggestion should be pursued
immediately.
Frank J. Ellias
Farmington Hills
Hillel Day School Alums
Having taught at Hillel Day School of
Metropolitan Detroit from my mid-20s
until my retirement 2 1/2 years ago, I always
take a great deal of pride in the accom-
plishments of its graduates. It was great to
see the "Celebrating 50 Years" insert last
week detailing what 50 alumni have done.
You could have profiled 500 students •
and still not show the impact Hillel has
had. Each week, I look through the IN to
see whom I know, and it is unusual when
I don't read about at least one former stu-
dent who has done something of note.
Beginning with the second graduating
class, I became "la prof," teaching French
and, later, geography and history graders. I
taught nearly every student in the middle
school grades for almost 40 years.
I told people I was teaching in a dream
world - most of the time. Leaving Hillel
was difficult; being able to follow the grad-
uates' paths still gives me great pleasure.
Southfield
When Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of
the Union for Reform Judaism, said the
American news media demonize Islam,
he passed a red line ("Reaching Out," Sept.
13, page 31). He said so at the 44th annual
conference the Islamic Society of North
America in Chicago on Aug. 31.
Rabbi Yoffie also called for an end to
discrimination against Muslims. Ironically,
his statements came a few days before
9-11. About 3,000 Americans died in the
Twin Towers when 19 Muslim fanatics flew
planes into these towers in the name of
Islam. They came with support of a large
Islamic community and their families.
Not many Muslim scholars stood up
and have said, "Allah, the merciful, does
not allow killing." No beheadings, suicide
bombings, kidnappings; no civil com-
munity would accept that, including the
American media, no matter what caused
the heinous crimes preceding them.
There are courageous Muslims such
as Wafa Sultan, who was interviewed
on Al Jazeera and had her say about
Islamic reform. Most other Muslims have
remained quiet, very quiet.
Rabbi Yoffie is in denial or he is so naive
that he cannot accept the simple reality.
He became an instrument in the hands
of Muslim propaganda. Sometimes good
intentions lead to hell.
Isaac Barr, M.D.
Southfield
-Goldfein
et i4 si 1.18S01) ayl to
eCopyright 2007, Jewish Renaissance Media
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September 20 • 2007
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Hellish Presumption
Which Jewish TV star is married to a man named Bacon?
uinam gels avtow to a!M
By Kathi Handler
(bookssss@aol. corn)
Cherna Kowalsky
F1LEFnEr 'cha Don't Know
•uopee
Jewish Puzzler
gels Vma6pas eiAN Liamsuy
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64
66
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4G
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Across
1. Epsilon Pi
6. Imitates
Thomashefsky
10. Owns biblically
14.Designing Donna
15.Drill
16.Wiesel
17.Schrieber
18."
Shabbat"
19.Beame and Vigoda
20.Finest
21.Punim (English)
22.Arrested
Development Funke
23.Rabbi Isaac Luria
24.Biblical garb
25.Use the tuchas
26.Mezuzzah holder
28. Babylonian Talmud
editor
30.
relief, sculptor's
style
33. Philosopher Hannah
35.Actor Cobb
36.Writer Howard
37.Grey and Charisse
39. Karaite Mideast
center
41.Starter bet for
Greenstein
42.Tsitsit site?
44. Brokerage firm
45. Hadassah hires
13. Myra, pianist
46. Accords city
21. Jericho
47. Third dynasty king
22. 102
48. Hagar and Sarah
24. Used a horse
49. Mila 18 writer
25. Bearsted's company
51. Days of Rosh
27."
upon a time"
Hashanah?
29. Exodus egress
54. David's high priest
30. Rite of adulthood
57.Israeli mountain
31. Khazars' homeland
58.Prophet
32. Musician Getz
59.Ginzburg publication 33. 50 First Dates, Sandler
60.2,051
34. Atlas Shrugged, writer
61.Rat Pack Sammy
36. The Mummy, actor
62.Satirical songwriter
38. Gilda's comedy revue
63.Ender
40. Ramat Gan specialty
64.Emulate Abba Eban
43. Chai related to
65.Bialik writings
XXXVI
66.Joseph or Adam
46. Tu b' Shevat planting?
67.Sacrifice residue
48. Law giver
50. Noah's forecast
Down
52. Sopher action
1.Eilat gulf
53. Desert cool spots
2.Tabernacle vessel
54. Actor Mostel
3. Katsav and Weizmann 55. Son of Gad
4.Songster Lorenz
56. Atop the shul?
5.Whichever
57. Poet Lazarus
6.First American rabbi
58. Hamantaschen?
7.Secure the afikoman?
60. Harvey Kurtzman
8.Life or Knowledge
magazine
9.Parshah, shortly
61. Reason for shivah?
10.Pharaoh's was hard
11.Spanish philosopher
For Crossword answers,
12.Imitates Gellilah
see page 72.