Letters Disguised Blessing? page 33). Mr. Sachs captured the true A Special Bond While strong opposition to allowing a person such as Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to appear in a venerable institution of learning such as Columbia University in New York City is quite understandable, I tend to think that, after all, this was a blessing in disguise ("Repelling The Revulsion You Stand For," Oct. 4, page 29). By speaking there, he exposed once again the ignorant fool that he is, some- thing university leaders were not at all shy about and told him so in no uncertain way. If he learned anything from the Columbia encounter, it is hopefully that he has a lot to learn. This includes not only about modern world history, but also the history of his Persian nation. He will probably come across a much more worthwhile forebear of his, the most ven- erable King Cyrus. Cyrus ruled the Persian Empire from 259 to 229 B.C.E. Upon conquest by the Babylonians, Cyrus called upon Jewish exiles from 586 B.C.E. to return to their land and rebuild their Temple, which was demolished by Nebuchadnezzar. A num- ber of Jewish exiles heeded his call and returned to the land of Judea and started Jewish life there once again. King Cyrus's call to the exiled Jews is known in Jewish history as the Cyrus Proclamation. The now Iranian nation has a glori- ous history. It is deserving of better leaders than they now have; hopefully, Ahmadinejad's pathethic showing at Columbia helped prove that. essence of those two exceptional indi- viduals. Forty years ago, Joe Mermelstein taught and nurtured our three sons. Ruth and Joe embraced our boys as family. To this day, when our sons speak about Joe and Ruth Mermelstein, it is always with respect and deep affection. We thank you for acknowledging the lifelong service that Joe and Ruth Mermelstein have given to Congregation Beth Ahm and to the Jewish community. Thanks for the beautiful piece on the two Larrys ("A Tale Of Two Larrys," Sept. 27, page 35) and Larry Horowitz's gift of his wonderful sukkah to his friend Larry Winer, both of whom are members at the Young Israel of Oak Park. Larry H's gift to his friend is simply the latest in a series of gestures between the two families. For many years, Larry, his wife, Rita, and the entire Winer family have performed numerous acts of chessed on behalf of the Horowitz family, during times of illness and difficulty and espe- cially since the passing of Larry Horowitz's beloved wife, Phyllis. Every Shabbos, I watch from the bimah as Larry Winer — after picking up Larry H from his apartment and wheeling him to shul, escorts his friend into shul with a sense of tenderness and care and assists him on his return home as well. While Larry Horowitz's gift of his suk- kah to the Winer family is a beautiful ges- ture, it is a gift of thanks for years of care, kindness, chessed and friendship. May their friendship continue for many years. through the Games. Not only will the kids benefit, but so will host families and vol- unteers. Anyone who attends opening ceremo- nies will kvell during the parade of ath- letes — watching more than 3,500 Jewish athletes and coaches march in or during the week watching Jewish teens from all over the world interact or even hearing about kids who may not otherwise be exposed to so many Jews, learn and grow from each other. The JCC Maccabi Games is something everyone in the Detroit Jewish community should be a part of. Paraphrasing what Zachary Silver says, we hope everyone learns how to make playing sports a Jewish experience. If you are interested in participating as an athlete for the Games, please attend an informational meeting Sunday, Nov. 18, at 4 p.m. at the JCC in West Bloomfield or Monday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. at the JCC in Oak Park. To house athletes or to volunteer, please contact Karen Gordon, (248) 432-5482, or kgordon@jccdet.org . Rabbi Reuven Spolter Young Israel of Oak Park 2008 JCC Maccabi Games chair Rachel Kapen West Bloomfield The Mermelstein Gift We would like to thank Senior Copy Editor David Sachs for writing such a beautiful and sensitive article about Joe and the late Ruth Mermelstein of Congregation Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield ("Soul Of The Shul," Oct. 4, Zita and Don Kirsch West Bloomfield A Charter School? I enjoyed your Editor's Letter about Jewish education and its funding ("The Contours Of Learning," Oct. 4, page 7). By my rough calculations — based on current tuition with 5 percent inflation — you'd pay close to a quarter-million dollars (unsub- sidized) to send a local child through 12 grades of Hillel Day School and the Frankel Jewish Academy. Oy! Perhaps it's time to explore establishing an English-Hebrew charter school, like South Florida's Ben Gamla Charter School. After all, a charter school could teach his- tory and culture, literature and language, giving students the tools they need for an intellectual understanding of our religion. For free. Religious studies themselves could be handled in the home, the syna- gogue and after-school programs. One Florida rabbi quoted in Hadassah magazine (October 2007, page 40) warns: "With charter schools like Ben Gamla, we are opening the door for public money to be used to support all sorts of religious ideologies across America" The door is already open thanks to our democratic process. Other ethnic commu- nities have already stepped inside. Shall we join them? Joe Lewis Oak Park Maccabi's Something More When asked to describe the JCC Maccabi Games, the first answer most people give is, "It's the Jewish Olympics." The Games, however, are so much more than that just athletic competition. Participants take away from the Games so much more than just the thrill of vic- tory or the agony of defeat. It is evident in the teen articles on Maccabi ("An Amazing Event" by Zachary Silver and "A Life- Changing Experience" by Sarah Richard, Oct. 11, page 50). They got the true experi- ence of JCC Maccabi Games. It is not just athletic competition for Jews, but also a Jewish event through athletics. When the Games come to Detroit Aug. 17-22, 2008, this community will have the opportunity to give each visiting par- ticipant a meaningful Jewish experience Most U.S. synagogues place their ark, containing the Torah scrolls, on the eastern wall so congregants face east toward Jerusalem during prayer. Congregation Beth El Keser Israel in New Haven, Conn., has an interesting history as to why their ark is on the western wall. -Goldfein bu!Aeid apqm tp.mqo e 4e mopLum ay; }no buNool alcielniwoun 41al aneq mom sluebaibuo3 '43.mqo 2 seen }sea ay; ol Jogqb!au i!aq4 is0961 all LI! Pl!nq Apadoicl .qaql pa4e3o1 sJagwaw anbobeuAs ay} uaqm :Jamsuy . 6A October 18 • 2007 Karen Gordon 2008 JCC Maccabi Games director West Bloomfield Corrections •"A Matter Of Choice" (Oct. 4, page 44) should have stated in the caption that Ellen Grumeretz of Superior Township is a breast cancer survivor. • In "Food For Thought" (Sept. 27, page 59), the name of Estie Tolwin was mis- spelled in a photo caption. • In "Israel Advocacy" (Oct. 11, page 8), the sponsor should have been listed as the Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan Detroit. How to Send Letters We prefer letters relating to JN articles. We reserve the right to edit or MENET icha Don't Know 'Copyright 2007, Jewish Renaissance Media Dr. Harold S. Friedman reject letters. Letters of 225 words or less are considered first. Longer ones will be subject to trimming. Letter writers are limited in frequency of publication. 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