Letters Camping's Worth Kudos to Rabbi Aaron Starr and his col- leagues for joining the cause for Jewish camping. I was delighted to see Rabbi Starr ("Creating a Home Feb. 7, page A31) focus on the importance of Jewish camping, Jewish continuity and Jewish identity. We are grateful for the tremendous sup- port the many rabbis of our community provide to help train our staff, consult on a variety of issues, serve on our board of directors and come to camp to enrich our Judaic programs and visit with children and young adults from their congregations. Tamarack Camps, established by the Fresh Air Society in 1902, provides enrich- ing Jewish camping experiences for chil- dren and families, independent of financial ability, building a vibrant community. We are proud to have Jewish children from all economic levels enjoy our enhanced programming and facilities, provided by quality staff, while building self-confidence, independence, meaningful friendships and a strong Jewish identity. As a member of the Foundation for Jewish Camping and the Jewish Community Center Association, Tamarack Camps remains dedicated to integrating Jewish programming into everyday camp experiences, as well as to its founding principal that no Jewish child be denied a Jewish camping experience due to financial need. Our important partnership with the rabbis of the Jewish community of Metropolitan Detroit helps Jewish camping become Jewish continuity. Jonah Geller executive director Tamarack Camps Oakland County against the Jewish state. Apparently, ifs OK if it's Jews who are suffering and dying. But Israel starts to defend the land and people and suddenly there is an outcry. Suddenly, voices in the European Union, the United Nations and the Bush admin- istration are making a moral equivalence between terrorists who attempting to mur- der innocent men, women and children and a democratic nation attempting to protect itself from the murderers. The moral bankruptcy and the hypocriti- cal double standard is outrageous. Would America or any other nation permit daily bombardments of its land and people without trying to stop the terrorists? The Arabs are waging a genocidal war against the Jewish state and the Jewish people. At least the decent people who understand and sympathize with this existential threat to Israel should raise their voices. Where are the good people? Where is the outcry? Where are those voices who shout, "Never again?" because it is happening again. or Israel. I daresay he's probably right. But the problem, as has been observed, is not that he needs to be suspected of agreeing with Pastor Wright. It's that Obama didn't think it sufficiently important to disagree with him by getting up and leaving his church. Israel is fighting a losing battle in the world arena precisely because the great majority of the world's politicians, intellec- tuals and news media figures, though not necessarily against the Jewish state, think like Obama that the attack now taking place on its legitimacy isn't worrisome enough to warrant their doing anything about it. This isn't so much a question of Barrack Obama's public relations as it is one of his private understanding and conscience. Perhaps four more years in the Senate will help these to mature some more. Marilyn Fishman West Bloomfield Crossing The Divide I would like to share some thoughts about your cover story "Hot Suburbs" (Feb. 7, page A13). Our oldest daughter began first grade at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit in Farmington Hills this year. We make the commute, with a carpool of four families, from "the Woods" and Ferndale to Hillel five days a week, twice a day. We have found the commute manageable and totally worth- while. Our daughter is enveloped in a com- munity of caring, Judaic learning, fun and support from the moment she arrives there to the moment she leaves. On the road, we wave at the many other cars driving from east to west for the same purpose. On Saturday mornings, our family corn- mutes west again, to Congregation B'nai Moshe in West Bloomfield. There, we join another warm and welcoming community on a weekly basis. Once again, there is a steady flow of westward traffic on Saturday mornings — so much so, that some of us even carpool to shul with regularity. I think your article was a nice nod to what I value about the eastern Metro Detroit suburbs — made obvious by my choice to live there. I live in a community with sidewalks for our children, neighbors who look out for our house when we are out, nearby family relatives, caring diligent community employees, well taken care of properties and good friends around. Douglas Miller Franklin Help Is Utmost I received so many calls and comments regarding your article "Jewish Denial, Recovery"(Jan. 31, page A27). Everybody said that the article was written beautifully. Thank you for respecting all of my wishes. The main purpose of the article was to see if we could help other Jewish alcoholics and addicts and, judging from the respons- es, your article was a rousing success. Thank you for helping bring awareness to the Jewish community that there is treat- ment for this devastating disease. Dr. Jay Kutinsky Never Again? Israel, after enduring more than 2 1/2 years of almost daily missile barrages deliberately targeting civilians, has finally, although timidly, attempted to defend her citizens by fighting back. The missiles have been slamming into homes, businesses and schools at up to 50 per day. The damage is extensive, with many casualties, a few deaths and hundreds of thousands of people in shock. But voices have been still for the past 21/2 years since Israel left Gaza, and nobody has raised a stink about the escalation in terrorism Farmington Hills Obama's Associations Consider the sorry case of Jeremiah Wright, the pastor of Democratic presidential can- didate Barrack Obama's congregation, the United Church of Christ. Wright has reportedly called Jews blood- suckers and recently presented Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan a lifetime achievement award in a gala ceremony ("Obama: A Friend Of Israel," Feb. 7, page A27). Obama says he has nothing against Jews Our JN Mission However, I think it's important to note that the east-west divide is really an old image for Metro Detroit Jews. It exists from the days before 1-696, when a trip west took 45 minutes on a good day. I don't think it is necessary to continue to define our Jewish community as split between east and west. There are so many parts of our Metro Detroit Jewish community that draw people from all around regardless of their address. And the subtle cultural differences of our living communities are just the things that add color to our larger community and that allow us each to find the right home for our families. Daniella HarPaz Mechnikov Huntington Woods Peters: Better Choice I have been following the letters of pro- Knollenberg stalwarts in their praise of the congressman ("Joe's Wide Support:' March 6, page A6). That support appears to be because of his pro-Israel stand in Congress. It is a given that any politician with a large Jewish voting block, will of course, be pro-Israel. As a Republican, Joe Knollenberg, R-Farmington Hills, follows the Republican line: continued war in Iraq, pro-Guantanamo repression and a sus- tained veto of any progressive measure that President Bush dislikes. With Democratic opponent Gary Peters, we have a friend of Israel without Joe's Republican baggage. Marvin Fink Northville Good Going, George I always look forward to George Cantor's clever, entertaining and timely columns. His column "Words From The Wise" (Feb. 21, page A25) shows his way with words and getting it right, which I think was his best. I don't know if he can top this, but I encourage him to keep up the good work. Saul Arsht Farmington Hills How to Send Letters 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 con- tinuity. We desire to create and maintain a challenging, caring, enjoyable work environment that encourages creativ- ity and innovation. We acknowledge our role as a responsible, responsive member of the community. Being competi- tive, 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. 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-elec- tronic 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. A8 March 13 • 2008 Atv:!. .2,zrzjvatwif. .0 f • t:11- rirt. vr-rio-rfi$ -r;vi 14 i, t't VIC C^T- 11fttli'V• 41-'t v st• **, ok: ■ :