World

ROUNDUP

New ORT America Director
New York
ORT America has
appointed Alan Edward Klugman to
serve as the organization's national
executive director, announced
Doreen Hermelin of Bingham Farms,
national president, and Shelley B.
Fagel, chair, executive committee.
"Man is an exemplary senior
Jewish communal professional,
saluted by his peers
as a visionary with
more than 20 years
of solid expertise
in such key areas
as strategic plan-
ning, leadership
development, major
gift solicitation,
Alan Klugman
campaign planning,
and team-building. We look forward
to working closely with him to build
and grow ORT America at this critical
time," said Hermelin.
Klugman mostly recently served
as executive vice president of the
Jewish Federation of Palm Springs
and Desert Area, in Rancho Mirage,
Calif. Fluent in Hebrew, he lived
and worked in Israel for eight years,
developing a meaningful insider's
understanding and appreciation that
will be invaluable for the organiza-
tion's Kadima Mada initiatives in
Israel. He maintains dual U.S./Israel
citizenship.
"Whether it was at the high schools
that I watched my cousins attend in
Israel while I was living there, or the
impressive ORT school that I visited
in St. Petersburg, Russia, the quality
and influence of this extraordinary
institution is something unique. I
look forward to working with its lay
leadership and staff to expand its
base of supporters throughout the
United States," said Klugman.

—

"At Regent Street I have found
lasting friendships, good service and
have enjoyed cultural events that I
never would have experienced in m
own home" -Rose Bennet

Visitors welcome!
Call or stop by today.

Goldstone Defends Report
Washington/JTA
Richard
Goldstone defended the report by his
U.N. panel on Israel's Gaza operation
last winter.
At an Oct. 1 conference at the
National Press Club in Washington,
Goldstone said that every possible
measure was taken to ensure that
the report was compiled in an even-
handed and fair manner.
The former South African judge
maintained that the report did not
look at the justifications for either
side's actions but rather at the man-
ner in which military force was
applied.
The recently released report by his

—

REGENT I STREET

cZeoOF WEST BLOOMFIELD(X)

A

ncan
ous

4460 Orchard Lake Rd. West Bloomfield, MI 48323

Located next to Comerica Bank

Created to care for our family, devoted to serving yours.

www.re entstreetwestbloomfield.com

28

October 8 - 2009

commission found that Israel and
Hamas committed war crimes and
possible crimes against humanity
during the military offensive known
as Operation Cast Lead.
In response to Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's state-
ment that the U.N. Human Rights
Council's acceptance of the report
would deal a fatal blow to the peace
process, Goldstone was adamant that
the commission's work was absolutely
necessary.
"We went to great lengths to get
the full story:' Goldstone said, stress-
ing that a public acknowledgment of
both Israeli and Palestinian victims
was necessary and important for the
healing process.
"Without that, there can not be an
enduring peace."
Israel, believing the investigation
was biased, did not cooperate with
Goldstone's commission.

Agriprocessors' Guilty Plea
San Francisco/JTA
The former
chief financial officer of the defunct
Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking
plant pleaded guilty to charges of
conspiracy.
As part of a plea bargain, Mitchel
Meltzer admitted on Sept. 28 in U.S.
District Court in Iowa that he con-
spired to make false statements to a
bank.
According to the Des Moines
Register, Meltzer signed papers in
February 2008 overstating the value
of the plant's collateral so its owners
could obtain an advance on a $35
million loan.
Prosecutors allege that he conspired
with another person whose initials are
S.R.
Sholom Rubashkin, former
Agriprocessors manager, is await-
ing federal trial on a slew of charges,
including allegations that he lied to
a St. Louis bank to obtain the loan
advance. Rubashkin has pleaded
innocent to all charges. His trial
begins Oct. 13.
Meltzer was the latest former
Agriprocessors employee to reach a
plea bargain with federal prosecu-
tors. His plea follows one in August
by former financial employee Yomtov
Bensasson, who was facing the same
charges.
Meltzer is free on bail pending
sentencing. He now works at a private
tax and accounting firm.

—

Roundup on page 30