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degree of violent crime in general.
But Jewish leaders and most of the
district's Jews vehemently deny the
gang-violence argument, often heard
after 17-year-old Rudy Haddad was
attacked on June 21. Haddad ended up
in a coma at the time.
Prosecutors in that case are charg-
ing two young men with "attempted
murder and group violence aggravated
by their anti-Semitic character."
For his part, Thierry is exasperated
by the notion that the incidents stem
from gang violence. "These gangs
don't exist — all that is just a media
circus:' he said.
He cited a French TV report quoting
the secretary of the National Police
Union as saying the Sept. 6 incident
"might not be anti-Semitic but just a
settling of scores between gangs."
Gang Warfare?
Yet despite such reports, in the first
days following the crime, many offi-
cials and the French media suggested
the attack appeared different from the
one on Rudy Haddad, mainly because
the victims — one in law school and
all in rigorous academic programs
— did not appear involved in inter-
ethnic skirmishes.
Thierry's son Dan said a stone was
thrown at his group of friends, ages
17 and 18, as they walked to one of
their homes between Sabbath services.
The encounter quickly turned violent,
he said, involving at least one set of
brass knuckles, when one of the three
Jewish teens approached the stone
throwers — boys they recognized
from the neighborhood — and then
refused to fight.
The Jews went to the hospital with
JFS Continuing Education
West Bloomfield-based Jewish Family
Service has scheduled the next ses-
sion of its Continuing Professional
Education Series for social workers
and nursing home administrators,
1-4 p.m Thursday, Oct. 16, at the
Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield.
"The Changing Face of Long Term
Care" will be led by Stephen A. Moses,
president, Center for Long-Term Care
Reform in Seattle, Wash.
The program has been approved by
the Michigan Continuing Education
Collaborative and will provide 3.0
contact hours for Licensed Social
Workers (LMSW or LBSW). The
Michigan Board of Nursing Home
Administrators has approved the con-
minor fractures. Dan's left cheek was
fractured and his lip was cut.
Richard Prasquier, the president
of the Jewish umbrella group CRIF,
said the fact that one of the alleged
suspects may have been Jewish "com-
plicated" the affair but still did not
negate the anti-Jewish nature of the
crime.
"The police say it's not anti-Semitic
if a Jew is involved; but for me, if
you throw a stone at a youth wear-
ing a kipah, it's anti-Semitic:' he said.
"There was an anti-Semitic nature to
this attack!"
Though the National Bureau of
Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism said
such crime is down across France this
year, in the 19th district it has doubled
from 14 to 28 incidents.
Meanwhile, the families targeted
by the latest violence are left to cope
with the trauma. "I told him what I've
always told him," a visibly distraught
Thierry said. "I tell him that we live
in France and so, unfortunately, these
things are common. I tell him, `You're
Jewish, be careful, but I can't stop him
from living!'
Thierry, whose family immigrated
to France from Algeria, said he would
never ask his son to hide his religious
identity and has no plans to leave the
neighborhood, though many of his
Jewish neighbors have "had enough"
and have moved to safer areas.
His father's explanation hasn't made
it any easier for Dan, who started the
school year in an optometry program,
to understand why wearing a kipah
was such a crime.
"I'm proud of putting my kipah on:'
said Dan. "Why that's a provocation
I don't understand. It's my religion!' ❑
tinuing education program for three
credit hours. Contact hours for nursing
are pending. Content is also appropri-
ate for CPAs.
Moses is an expert and innovator in
long-term care. The Center for Long
Term-Care Reform is a private, non-
partisan think tank and public policy
organization dedicated to ensuring
quality long-term care.
There is a charge. Course materials
are included. Reservations are required
by Oct. 10, to Stephanie Appel, (248)
592-2667, or e-mail Sappel@jfsdetroit.
org for more information.
For information about licensure
and credentialing for social work in
Michigan, contact Robin Mingus,
(517) 487-1548 x107 or mingus@
nasw-michigan.org .
Wi invite tie 054-avid
senior community tojoin us
nextyearfor many
"QTArry-ee" kofiatays.
Erickson®
Novi, MI 4837
Retirement Communities
ince 1983 ,
Jasori, Feld
West Bloomfield Township
Treasurer
Most Experienced
•16 years Financial Experience
•Corporate Controller at The Farbman Group
Most Knowledgeable
•Master in Accounting, Walsh College
•Bachelor of Business Administration,
Western Michigan University
Most Trusted
•Retiring Treasurer, Denise D. Hammond,
endorses Feld as her successor
•And hundreds more endorsements
• Jason married Franci Lopatin at Adat Shalom in .1995
• Father of three • Recent Maccabi Host Family
• Member of ZOA
EXPERIENCE YOU CAN COUNT ON
www.votefeld.com
(248) 302-3377
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Jason Feld 5577 Abington, W. Bloomfield, Nil 48322
JIM
September 25 2008
A55