Letters January Fur Sale How to Send Letters 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 writers 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. Due to incredible response, we have extended our sale through January 31st! SAVE 40 % 60% 80% • Men's Leather Jackets From $195 • Men's Shearling 3/4 Coats From $495 • Black Sheared Mink Jackets, Reverses to Taffeta From $1,295 • Black or Whiskey Sheared Mink Hooded Coats, Reverses to Taffeta From $1,695 4 3. fi 181 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009 (248) 642-1690 M, T, W, F: 10-6, TH: 10-8 SAT: 10-5, SUN: 1-5 Parking located at store front. CeresnieAndOffenFurs.com 8 Financing Available. a' Make Chessed Call As a volunteer for Project Chessed, I am but a small cog in the workings of this wonderful organization ("Project Chessed Honors;' Dec. 27, page B1). Yet my pride couldn't be greater in the recognition given to Project Chessed and the Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit by their having been presented the Sosnick Award. Especially in the economic down- turn that we are suffering from here in Michigan, we probably all know people who can't afford health care. By matching those people with the gener- ous doctors who have offered their services, Project Chessed is giving hope to thousands. Several hundred doctors from all fields are volunteering their time to make this program a success. But where are the other doctors? You who have the God-given ability to treat, to cure, to relieve this burden, how can you not do so? How can you not give even an hour of your time to people who are suffering? As a community volunteer, I have seen the beautiful results of this pro- gram. Please, if you are not yet a part of Project Chessed, become a part of it now. The Jewish Family Service is waiting for your call. Cherna Kowalsky Southfield NEXT M ON .V-V. Janet Marie & Archkbald' s TION IMAGINA CE.LE ATION Sat., February 16th N4yhouse-1' eclise 3rd Saturday of Every Month Maureen Schiffman di Her Puppet Pal Coco Jewish Side Of MLK Martin Luther King Jr., whose 79th birthday will be celebrated on Jan. 21, was, no doubt, the greatest civil rights fighter for blacks in the United States. On Aug. 29, 1963, Dr. King made in Washington, with the Lincoln Memorial as a backdrop, his historic "I Have a Dream" address, which can be regarded as the start of the victory in the difficult struggle against the discrimination and segregation of African Americans in this country. In a letter to an anti-Zionist friend, MLK wrote that anti-Zionism is noth- ing but anti-Semitism in disguise. He said that in Western countries, it is no longer popular to express hatred of Jews publicly so the anti-Semite had to find new ways and new forums to drip his venom. Now the anti-Semite isn't a hater of Jews, but merely an anti-Zionist. However, there is no margin for error. When people throw accusations at Zionism, their true object is the Jew. And when sitting in a Birmingham, Ala., jail cell, Dr. King wrote a historic letter where he said, among other things, that we cannot forget that all that Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and that all that the Hungarian freedom fighters did was "illegal." In Hitler's Germany, it was "illegal" to extend a helping hand and encourage a Jew. However, Dr. King underscored that had he lived in Germany at that time, he would have helped and given encour- agement to his Jewish brethren even though it was against the law. Knowing this courageous man, these words can be believed. Rachel Kapen West Bloomfield A Sacred Duty Many contemporary Jews look on Tu b'Shevat (Jan. 21-22 this year) as a Jewish Earth Day and use Tu b'Shevat seders as occasions to discuss how Jewish values can be applied to reduce many of today's environmental threats. While Judaism teaches that "The Earth is the Lord's" (Psalms 24:1), and that we are to be partners with God in preserving the environment, there are daily news reports about global warm- ing, water shortages, air and water pollution, rapid extinction of species and other environmental threats. Tu b'Shevat is the New Year for Trees, the date on which the fate of trees is decided for the coming year. Hence, it is an ideal time to consider the rapid destruction of tropical rain forests and other environmental problems. Tu b'Shevat can be a great opportu- nity for education about environmen- tal crises locally, nationally, in Israel, and internationally. For a complimentary copy of our new documentary A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World for possible use for an environ- mental program, please contact me at president@JewishVeg.com . Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D. professor emeritus College of Staten Island Staten island, N.Y. Our JN Mission The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that's useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. It strives to reflect the full range of diverse viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continuity. We desire to create and maintain a challenging, caring, enjoy- able work environment that encourages creativity and innovation. We acknowledge our role as a responsible, responsive member of the community. Being competitive, we must always strive to be the most respected, outstanding Jewish community publication in the nation. Our rewards are informed, educated readers, very satisfied advertisers, contented employees and profitable growth. WEST BLOOMFIELD • MICHIGAN Orchard Lake Road • North of Maple 248.851.7727 A6 January 17 • 2008 JN 1348700