Thoughts

MIX OF IDEAS

George Cantor's Reality Check column will return next week

The Jerusalem Knock-Out

Karnei Shomron

l ust one day after Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
ihimi
assertive words against the U.S.
demand to halt all construction in east
Jerusalem, his bulldozers already began to
destroy buildings in outposts in Samaria. In
his televised speech on July 19, Netanyahu
explained that a demand to halt construction
in Jerusalem is unacceptable. If this demand
were to be made in a different city in the world,
it would be labeled anti-Semitism, he said.
The same logic, however, can be applied to
all the towns and settlements in Judea and
Samaria. Why is a forced construction freeze
in Jerusalem anti-Semitic while the same
freeze in Judea and Samaria accepted policy?
Two years ago, as now, the international
community was calling upon Israel to relin-
quish east Jerusalem to the Palestinian
Authority. The answer to the pressure to stop
flourishing Jewish life in Jerusalem and in

the entire Land of Israel lies in the
"I an honored to present
following encounter on a Sunday
the Jerusalemite who holds
evening in 2000 at the Jerusalem
the Education portfolio in the
theater. [The description of
Palestinian Authority, Dr. Faisal
which was published in Makor
Husseini," says Gideon Levi.
Rishon on May 16, 2007.]
Loud applause accompanies
"Shalom, this is Gideon Levi
Husseini as he ascends the steps
from the Ha'aretz newspaper,"
and seats himself near the small
said the voice on the other end
coffee table at center stage.
of the phone line. "On Sunday;
"Our second guest is Health
Moshe Feiglin
I will be moderating a sympo-
Minister Professor Yuli Tamir."
Sp ecial
sium on the topic of Jerusalem.
The honorable minister also
Comm
entary
Health Minister Yuli Tamir will be
enjoys loud applause as she sits
there, Faisal Husseini [who died
next to Husseini.
in 2001] from the Palestinian
".And our third guest, Mr.
Authority will speak; and I will be happy if
Moshe Feiglin."
vou Ivould also come," he says.
I don't hear any catcalls, but the absolute
The Jerusalem Theatre is filled with
silence shouts even louder. I walk between
Jerusalem leftists — all sorts of "human
the rows of seats to the stage. But before I
rights" types. A film depicting the suffering,
could ascend the stairs, Husseini gets up,
of Jerusalem's Arabs under the Israeli occu-
stands at the top of the steps and greets
pation is screened. At the end, the audience is
me with his outstretched hand. His hand
palpably angry
remains in the air. I ignore him and seat

myself next to Yuli Tamir.
"Before we be0 our discussion:' Levi
says, "I must ask you a question, Mr. Feiglin.
A respectable, mature person gets up in your
honor and wishes to shake your hand. Why
don't you respond in kind?"
"Mr. Husseini is my enemy," I answer
simply "He wants my Jerusalem. Would you
shake the hand of someone who demands
your home?"
The discussion begins. Husseini speaks
about his family who has lived in Jerusalem
for 600 years. He speaks of the good neigh-
borly relations between the Arabs and Jews,
depicting the pastoral Garden of Eden that
existed in Jerusalem before the Jewish con-
quest.
"When the occupation will end," he con-
cludes his words to the vigorous nodding of
Minister Tamir, "we will once again live in
peace:'
"You know what, Faisal?"

Knock out on page A22

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Pulse Of Jewish Family Service

A

s the chief program officer
at Jewish Family Service of
Metropolitan Detroit, I deal
with budgets, proposals, presentations,
deadlines, funders, planning, opportuni-
ties, webinars, personnel, contracts and
problem solving. Every day. I help run a
business. I make sure the lights are on,
the employees are paid and we're ready
for those who need us. I help people help
people. That's my job.
I know we provide safety-net services.
I know what trends we are experienc-
ing. I know my colleagues like working
here. I know we need more office space. I
know our fringe benefit line is skyrock-
eting. I know our strengths. I know our
challenges.
I walk around our building to check in
with people. I hear about their families,
their vacation plans, where their chil-
dren are going to college. I'm reassured
that we're doing well and ready to help
others.
I ask my colleagues for stories to put
in our newsletter, tell Federation, use at a
presentation and share with the board. I
know the stories are about real people.
It's not until I go to our annual meet-
ing that I get to feel our mission.
Ten-year-old Gabe walks up to the
dais with his mentor Bob Citrin (JFS'
Mentor of the Year) to a room full of

applause. Gabe, winningly,
says,"I'm proud of Bob."
Mentor Connection is helping
this young person now so that
he can have a successful future.
That's when I feel our mission.
Norm Keane, JFS' CEO,
explains the careful process
of choosing the Employee of
the Year. Finally Sarah Bleich,
director of financial services, is
announced. Shocked, she walks
up to receive the thanks of the
room. Sarah never meets with
families in crisis, never drives
an older adult to a doctor's appointment,
never goes to a classroom at the Frankel
Jewish Academy. Sarah writes checks,
balances budgets, facilitates petty cash
and often works 50 hours a week.
At that moment, I realize that there
is no way Jewish Family Service could
function without this unsung hero. After
the meeting, Sarah introduces me to her
mother and fiancee (ushered in without
Sarah's knowledge). She says she's glad
they were able to attend as now they
actually know about the important work
she does. That's when I feel our mission.
Lois Berman, N1.D., JFS' full-time
volunteer director of our prescription
assistance program, introduces Volunteer
of the Year Carol Singer. Carol tells us

about the hundreds of people
she has helped to receive
low- or no-cost prescriptions.
When Carol speaks to accept
her award, she displays the
commitment, respect and
humility that are at the core
of JFS. That's when I feel our
mission.
Julie Yolles, commu-
nity activist, introduces
the first-ever award for JFS
Community Partner of the
Year to Warren Prescriptions'
Nori and Mark Klar. Mark
speaks about the pharmacy's generos-
ity toward community members that do
not have prescription coverage. He talks
about how he learned to give back to the
community from his parents and his in-
laws. At the same time, he addresses his
children (sitting behind me), delivering
an admonition that the family tradition
better continue. Warren Prescriptions is
a partner in Project Chessed, JFS' Access
to Health Care program; together we
save lives. That's when I feel our mission.
I look at the centerpiece on my
table and see names of other com-
munity partners. Across Handelman
Hall, I see Jewish Senior Life of
Metropolitan Detroit executive direc-
tors Marsha Goldsmith Kamin and Carol

Rosenberg, sitting near Federation's
Linda Blumberg. At another table
are the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit's David Stone
and Leslee Magidson. Near them is the
United Way's Judy Muhn.
I know the work our partners do is the
work Jewish Family Service does. I know
we could not do it without each other.
That's when I feel our mission.
After the meeting, I schlep leftover
cut fruit to my car. The next morning, I
bring the fruit to JFS' kitchen and know
that in a matter of hours my colleagues
will be nourished by it. I go about my
meetings and budgeting while I know
that these colleagues will be in the com-
munity helping older adults to age in
place, intervening in school situations to
aid a student's ability to learn, prevent-
ing utilities from being shut off, making
payment arrangements with landlords,
taking a family to a domestic violence
shelter. Today, I will feel Jewish Family
Service's work. Today, I know our mis-
sion. I look forward to our 82nd annual
meeting.
Jewish Family Service is dedicated to
helping individuals and families cope,
survive and thrive in an ever-changing
world. We are focused on the needs of
the Jewish community while providing
services to all.

A21

