I
World
Really,
Really
High
Holidays
GOP Platform
Republicans offer strong
support for Israel.
Minneapolis/JTA
a a oU our os
aShanah Family retrea
at Butzle Conference
Center!
j
Where: urton ementary
Huntington Woods
Dates: R"H Sept, 30 & October I
Cost: No Cost
The Aish High Holiday program is unique
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uplifting. The multi-level kids program,
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delicious lunch guarantee you will enjoy the
Hi Holidays.
www.aishinthewoods.com /248-327 -3571
1432820,.
Yiddish
Language
Classes
Presented by
The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring
& Bernard and Reva BroderYiddish Culture Fund • Charles and Frances Driker Fund for
Yiddish Culture • Congregation Beth Shalom • Congregation Shir Tikvah • Jewish Com-
munity Center of Metropolitan Detroit • Sholem Aleichem Institute • Temple Emanu-El
At the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
jimmy Prentis Morris Building • 15110 W. 10 Mile Rd., Oak Park
Taught by renowned Jewish educator, Daniella HarPaz Mechnikov
10 sessions, Wednesday evenings beginning October 15, 2008
Advanced class, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
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Intermediate class, 8:40 - 9:40 p.m.
$110 - members of Workmen's Circle and partner groups
$140 - others (new member sign-up available)
For further information or to enroll, contact Workmen's Circle office
at the JCC, 248-432-5677 or micirclel@ aol.com
ARAM.
THE CENTER
EgaSE SAT
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1432850
A36
September 18 • 2008
MI
supportive of Israel that should be
attractive to the Jewish community.
ohn McCain's Jewish sup-
Sources familiar with the forma-
porters characterize him as
tion of the platform say the language
a Republican maverick who
dealing with Israel and fighting anti-
shares his party's bedrock support for
Semitism was drafted in consulta-
Israel and combating anti-Semitism.
tion with the American Israel Public
Critics dismiss him as the standard-
Affairs Committee and other groups.
bearer of a staunchly conservative
The platform echoes AIPAC's posi-
party at odds with the Jewish commu- tion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
nity on a host of issues.
calling for a two-state solution but
They're both right, judging from
placing the onus on the Palestinians
the platform approved last week at the to take several key steps and calling
Republican convention in St. Paul.
on nearby Arab countries to play a
The platform includes a call for an
more constructive role. It also declares
end to all government-funded embry- support for "Jerusalem as the undi-
onic stem-cell research and a ban on
vided capital of Israel and moving the
all abortions — positions that, polls
American embassy to that undivided
show, are contrary to those of most
capital of Israel:'
Jewish voters. Of course, they also do
Both McCain and Sen. Barack
not conform to the views of McCain,
Obama, D-Ill., the Democratic
who has said that he would revoke
nominee, have said that the status of
President Bush's restrictions on federal Jerusalem ultimately would be decid-
funding for stem-cell research, permit
ed in negotiations between the two
abortions in cases of rape, incest and
sides. McCain has pledged to move the
threats to the life of the mother.
embassy to Jerusalem right away — a
On immigration, McCain, the U.S.
promise that the Obama campaign
senator from Arizona who is the
rejected, essentially calling it a lie.
Republican nominee for president,
The GOP platform calls for the iso-
has pressed for legislation that would
lation of Hamas and Hezbollah and
provide undocumented workers with
vows to maintain Israel's qualitative
a path toward citizenship, but the plat- edge in military technology over its
form declares: "We oppose amnesty."
enemies — all positions shared by
The McCain campaign reportedly
Obama and McCain.
decided to avoid significant fights over
In several contexts, the platform
the platform rather than upset leaders stresses the need to combat anti-
of the party's conservative base, many Semitism — on college campuses, in
of whom have expressed concern over Europe and across the world — and
the GOP nominee. His supporters
declares that discrimination against
argue that the platform is irrelevant to Israel at the U.N. is unacceptable."
understanding McCain and that vot-
It says that Iran cannot be permit-
ers will make their decisions based on ted to obtain nuclear weapons, calls
how they view the candidate.
for a "significant increase in political,
Texas state Sen. Florence Shapiro,
economic, and diplomatic pressure"
the only Jewish female Republican in
on Tehran and insists that the United
her state legislature, said that the plat- States "must retain all options" in
form is "not what guides my everyday" dealing with the situation.
decision-making and doubts voters
Without naming Obama, the plat-
will be using it to make decisions.
form draws a contrast with the his
They will and should be "looking
previously stated willingness to meet
at John McCain and his positions and
with the Iranian president. It states:
record:' she said.
"We oppose entering into a presiden-
Another Jewish delegate from
tial-level, unconditional dialogue with
Texas, Houstonian Stuart Mayper,
the regime in Iran until it takes steps
said the strong "pro-life" language in
to improve its behavior, particularly
the platform could be a problem for
with respect to the support of terror-
some Jews. But, he quickly added, the
ism and suspension of its efforts to
platform contains language strongly
enrich uranium." ❑