I Letters How to Send Letters CROSSWORD We prefer letters relating to JN articles. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Letters of 225 words or less are considered first. Longer ones will be subject to trimming. Letter writ- ers are limited in frequency of publication. Letters must be original and contain the name, address and title of the writer and a day phone number. Non-electronic copies must be hand signed. Send letters to the JN: 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax (248) 304-8885; e-mail, letters@the jewishnews.com . We prefer e-mail. 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 6 September 20 • 2007 iN 1 2 3 4 6 6 7 a 9 10 14 15 18 17 la 19 20 21 23 28 11 12 13 30 31 32 61 62 63 22 24 26 27 28 33 34 29 36 37 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 38 41 42 46 48 ■ 48 64 66 39 43 4G 44 47 49 68 38 60 67 68 69 60 61 62 63 64 65 68 67 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.