The Community is Invites
to Attend the
80th Annual Meeting
of
Jewish Family
Service
featuring
Rabbi
Irwin Kura
Ranked #8 in Newsweek Magazine's
Toy 50 Rabbis in America
Ii?arning to Serve:
The Aricticr of Going
R.abbi Kula is president of CLAL The
National Jewish Cente r Leamin,sr and
yderchip, a leadership training insti-
tute, think tank and soi u center. A
faculty member of the Wexner Heritage
Foundation, Rabbi Kula is a regular on
NBC Tugs The .Tbday Show ht his latest
book, Yearnings: Embracing the Sacred
xl o scine o oftfia Rabbi Kula explores and
celebrates seven of our deepest desires.
Tuesday, June 3
Tooy.m. Dessert Reception
7:30,p.m. Program
Jewish Community Center
Marion a David Handfeman Auditorium
D. Dan S Betty Kahn Budding
Eugene a, Marcia Ayyfebaum
Jewish Community Camyus
6600 W Mayfe Road, West Bioon_ifiefd
(comyrimentary valetyarking)
There is no charge to attend.
For reservations, lease call
Lori Drucker at IFS,
248-592-2339, or e-mail
Lirucker@jfsdetroitorg
Diane Orley Judy Stern
Chairs, JFS 80th Annual Meeting
Sandy Muskovitz Danto
President, Jewish Family Service
josi‘h Faray
A34
4 1.JJ Jewish
Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit
WE'RE PART OF THE TEAM
May 22 a 2008
Olmert snared in investigation of political donations
made by Jewish businessman from New York.
Ron Kampeas
Where do religious
ritual and the actual
practice of caring
meet? Do we define
ourselves as Jews by
how much we ,ei'm
or how much we do?
How does the prac-
tice of caring affect
the way we treat ow' family and othet -s?
At our annual meeting, Rabbi Kula will
share his thoughts on those people who
embrace their inner yearning to serve
those in need,
P
Campaign Abuse?
1393670
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Washington
D
Sheldon Adelson, the world's sixth-wealthiest individual and a
close associate of Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu. The
paper has focused on boosting Netanyahu's political prospects.
The newspaper is "clearly running at a loss, but Adelson is
getting the influence he seeks," the fundraiser said.
Last week, Israeli police interviewed Adelson about the
allegations against Olmert. Ha'aretz reported that Adelson was
questioned whether Olmert had asked him to purchase mini-
bar services from Talansky for Adelson's many hotels.
Adelson, who has hawkish views on Israel, said in a rare
interview last year that he believed Olmert was prepared
to discuss far-reaching territorial compromises with the
Palestinians "to stay out of jail."
Adelson also has contributed to President Bush's campaigns.
Before his trip to Israel last week, Bush wished the Israeli
prime minister well.
"The legal issue goes on, and I fully
understand that and respect Israeli rule
of law," Bush said in an interview with
Israel's Channel 10."I have great relations
with the prime minister. I find him to be a
frank man, an honest man, an open man,
a guy easy to talk to and somebody who
understands the vision necessary for Israeli
security"
One complicating factor in donating to
Israeli politicians is the constantly shift-
ing laws governing such donations. Limits
vary according to whether it is a national
election, a primary election or a municipal
election.
onors to Israeli political campaigns are like any oth-
ers: They want to influence politics and wouldn't
mind a bit of yichus — access — besides.
Amid an Israeli scandal that could spell the end of Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's career, three Jews who live in
the United States and are deeply involved in fundraising for
Israeli politicians spoke to JTA about how Israelis raise money
overseas.
All three, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order
to protect their ties with a range of Israeli political figures,
say that if the allegations of illegal
financial dealings between Olmert
and New York businessman Morris
Talansky are true, they are very
much the exception.
"No quid pro quo is expected:' said
one who frequently attends fundrais-
ers for hawkish Israeli politicians.
"When people are giving a couple
thousand bucks, they're expecting
that the candidate will win and do
what they promised to do."
Israeli politicians regularly col-
lude with American Jews to sidestep
Israeli law in raising money from
overseas Jews interested in influenc-
ing Israeli elections.
Ehud Olmert denies on May 8 that he
accepted bribes from A merican busi-
One Washington consultant to
Diaspora Influence
Israeli and American politicians
nessman Morris Talans ky.
The laws have been changed with an eye
described a common tactic: An
toward reducing Israel's dependence on
American donor pays a grossly
diaspora Jews. Ironically, Olmert has been
inflated price for some minor publicity work by a well-known
outspoken in rejecting such dependence. Last year, he rep-
U.S. political consultant. The consultant — perhaps Arthur
rimanded diaspora Jews who have opposed negotiations on
Finkelstein on the right or James Carville on the left — then
Jerusalem as infringing on Israel's sovereignty.
"donates" his services to an Israeli party or candidate.
In the mid-1990s, the Knesset passed a law severely limit-
The Israeli politician avoids having to deal with fundrais-
ing donations to political parties and another allowing for the
ing restrictions in finding the money to pay the U.S. political
direct election of a prime minister. The donations law did not
consultant; the consultant is working for "free." In reality, the
cover direct elections. That allowed parties to funnel unlimited
American donor picks up the tab.
cash into the prime minister's race and made a mockery of the
"It's come to appall me," the Washington consultant said of
earlier effort to limit cash donations. The direct elections law
Israeli politicians' outreach to American Jews. "It must be an
has since been rescinded.
entrenched thing that they just can't give it up."
Contributions to primary elections for the leadership of
Israeli police have questioned Olmert and several wealthy
Israeli political parties carry the highest maximum restric-
American Jewish businessmen in recent days about corruption tion. Individuals may donate up to about $11,000 within nine
allegations.
months before the election; donations are unlimited before
All three of the fundraisers interviewed by JTA acknowl-
this period.
edged having heard of super donors who might expect specific
Limitations on how much candidates may raise overall
dividends for their money, but only as hearsay. None knew of
depend on party membership. Candidates for the leader-
specific instances.
ship of parties with more than 5,000 electors may raise up to
But U.S. Jewish influence on Israeli politics is inevitable, a
$570,000.
left-wing fundraiser said.
General elections are funded by the state. The perpetually
He pointed to the free Israeli daily Yisrael Hayom, a new
shifting laws have led to confusion both among American
newspaper launched recently by Las Vegas casino mogul
donors and Israeli politicians. El