Letters How to Send Letters We prefer letters relating to JN articles. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Letters of 225 words or less are considered first. Longer ones will be subject to trimming. Letter writers are limited in frequency of publication. Letters must be original and contain the name, address and title of the writer and a day phone number. Non-electronic copies must be hand signed. Send letters to the JN: 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax (248) 304-8885; e-mail, letters@the jewishnews.com . We prefer e-mail. NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 51 5' DETROIT'S ONLY AREA APPEARANCE This engaging, multi- media exhibition features the famed "chicken soup" slide, a dress-up area, and activity stations where children can let out their inner Wild Things. Strange Question It is disturbing to see that the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit's upcoming Jewish Book Fair is sponsoring an essay contest for Jewish youth devoted to the question: Who do you believe has the most rights to retain control of Jerusalem? ("High School Essay Contest," Oct. 8, page 22). There is something pathological about a people that endlessly seeks to justify itself, its rights and its exis- tence not only to the world, but also to itself. When will we Jews take our rights as axiomatic? When will we cease to infect our next generation with this same pathology? The Land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem belong to us for eternity. We have no need to justify our claim any more than we as Americans would seek to justify the claim to Washington, D.C., as our capital; than the French would seek to justify their claim to Paris; or the Saudis to Mecca. Several years ago, I wrote a letter to the Jewish News on the identical subject. It is sad, but not surprising, to see that there is truth to the adage that "the more things change — the more they stay the same." David Arm West Bloomfield PItS: hotographs • Illustrations • Book Memorable Moment I also was fortunate enough to meet Adam Lambert and Kris Allen at the Adcraft Club of Detroit luncheon meeting on Sept. 18 at the Ford Conference and Event Center at the Henry Ford in Dearborn ("Yes, Adam!" Oct. 1, page 6). Adam was particularly warm and friendly. When I wished him l'shanah tovah, he smiled and said, "Thank you — same to you!" It was a memorable concert by both talented young men; and also, it was an honor to meet and greet them afterward. selections • Letters • Audio-visual component about the life-long art of Maurice Sendak. LET THE WILD WMPUS *GO. Dennis R. Green West Bloomfield Appropriate for children of all ages! Fee: $5 per person, $18 per family. Jewish Community Center, D. Dan and Betty Kahn Building Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus 6600 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield 1-877-SHALOM -3 • www.shalomstreetmuseum.org r-sha ,„ street I Lic Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit - — — - 3SSIM THE CENTER Jewish Community Confer of Metropolitan Detroit With the generous support of The Charles H. Gershenson Trust Maurice Binkow, Trustee 1544090 6 October 15 • 2009 Tears And Pride Thanks to the Jewish News and Story Development Editor Keri Guten Cohen for the beautiful retrospective of JARC's 40 years, which I read with great pride and many tears ("JARC At 40," Oct 8, page 11). It is moving to recall how our com- munity embraced JARC over these four decades and how, together with JARC'S outstanding lay leaders and staff, it continues to ensure that no family takes this unique journey alone. Yet it is the anticipation of what is to come that is most heartening. Rick Loewenstein, JARC's CEO and my dynamic successor, is poised to lead JARC into a new era of exciting growth, innovation and collaboration. JARC's godfather, Norman Wachter, of blessed memory, believed that we must never be satisfied with what is, but instead reach for what can be. How fortunate for JARC that Rick too embodies this core belief in his fresh vision and abundant enthusi- asm. I am proud to have helped bring JARC to where it is today and thrilled that Rick's leadership will take it places beyond my wildest imagina- tion. Joyce Keller, retired executive director, JARC Farmington Hills Exposing J Street Commentator Morton Klein does an excellent job exposing the Muslim Public Affairs Council and Salam Al- Marayati for what they really are ("J Street: Rescind Your Invitation," Oct. 1, page 33). Marayati's defense of himself and of J Street supports Klein's expose by offering us a valuable look into Marayati's core beliefs. His claim that Israel should be a suspect in the 9-11 attacks was not "a mistake" as he claims. Rather, it was a visceral reaction that comes from that deep-rooted hatred which holds "the Jews:' or, in this case the Jewish state, responsible for all of the evil in the world. His apology was for accidentally exposing his true feelings, not for his scapegoating of Israel. Marayati pretends to be work- ing for peace, but even in defending himself, his anti-Israel bias bursts forth when he writes, "I believe also that the injustices that the Palestinian people have endured for more than 60 years as well as the ongoing occu- pation that started in 1967 ..." Again, it's all the fault of that Jewish state. In his mind, the Palestinians are respon- sible for nothing. History shows us different. J Street, in inviting Salam Al- Marayati to be a speaker at its upcoming conference, clearly dem- onstrates that it is working diligently against Israel and the best interests of the Jewish community. Harry ()nickel Ferndale