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Supplying Israel's Soldiers
F
ormer Detroiter Avraham
Yitzchak Lichtenstein has a
request for the community
where he lived as a young boy. Now age
19 and a soldier in the Israeli army, he
is hoping Detroiters will help contribute
toward the needs of his unit.
"I have realized the myth that the Israeli
army provides all necessary equipment
and clothing to its soldiers is simply false,"
Lichtenstein wrote in a letter to family and
friends. "There are soldiers on the border
risking their lives without proper clothes
and equipment. My Gdud [unit] 931 from
Nachal is turning to you to help us prepare
while we protect your country:'
Lichtenstein lived in Southfield with
his parents, Rachel and Moshe (Marc),
and his siblings and attended Yeshiva
Beth Yehudah, also in Southfield. He
made aliyah with his family seven years
ago. His grandparents, aunts, uncles and
cousins still live in the Detroit area.
"My son was sent to the Gaza border:'
said Rachel (Stebbins) Lichtenstein. "All
donations will be forwarded to his com-
mander who will purchase and get the
equipment to his unit wherever they are
Before leaving for Gaza, Lichtenstein
wrote, "We have a huge shortage of equip-
ment, like thermal shirts, hats, gloves and
camel packs. We are appealing to anyone
who can donate even a few dollars to help
us be properly prepared for the upcoming
winter."
To help purchase clothing and supplies
for Israeli soldiers, send a check made
out to Young Israel of Oak Park, to YlOP,
Fighting Hate Crimes
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., praised
the Oct. 22 congressional passage of the
Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate
Crimes Prevention Act. He called the act
"an important milestone in preventing
violence against people based on their
gender, sexual orientation or disability"
The bill is part of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010,
which President Obama signed last week.
"The hate crimes legislation would, for
the first time, give the Justice Department
jurisdiction over crimes of violence that
are committed not only because of a
person's race, color, religion and national
origin, which we already have on the
books, but also based on gender, sexual
orientation or disability," Levin said.
He said the law belongs as part of the
National Defense Authorization Act. "The
values our men and women fight for
include tolerance and freedom from hate-
inspired violence against our citizens,"
he said. "Indeed, hate crimes represent a
dangerous variety of domestic terrorism
while our troops fight terrorism overseas."
As chairman of the Senate Armed
Services Committee, Levin worked
through conference with the House to
ensure the act remained in the final bill.
The new legislation will prohibit hate
crimes based on race, color, religion,
national origin, gender, sexual orientation,
gender identity or disability of any person;
provide support for the criminal inves-
tigation and prosecution of hate crimes
by state, local and tribal law enforcement
officials; prohibit attacks on United States
service members based on their military
service; and ensure that state and local
law enforcement will retain primary
jurisdiction over investigations and pros-
ecutions.
Giving Thanks
During these trying times, it is
especially important to stop and
remember the things in our lives that
are cherished and meaningful. For
an upcoming Jewish News article,
please let us know what or whom you
are thankful for — and why. Please
respond by Monday, Nov. 9, to Senior
Writer Shelli Dorfman by calling (248)
351-5141 or sending a paragraph
or two in an e-mail message to
sdorfman@thejewishnews.com .
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Editorial
Former Detroiter Avraham Yitzchak
Lichtenstein with fellow Israeli soldier
Aviv Elmashali.
15140 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, MI
48237. Include a notation: "For Israeli
soldiers." II
— Shelli Liebman Dorfman, senior writer
The act is named for two Americans
murdered in 1998 as a result of hate
crimes. Matthew Shepard died at age
21 in Wyoming after two men beat him
severely because he was gay. James Byrd,
Jr. was an African American lynched in
Texas by three men; he was 49.
At a White House reception Oct. 28
commemorating the signing of the bill
earlier that day, President Obama said,
"No one in America should ever be afraid
to walk down the street holding the
hands of the person they love. No one in
America should be forced to look over
their shoulder because of who they are or
because they live with a disability."
At the White House ceremony, Anti-
Defamation League National Director
Abraham Foxman called the new law a
monumental achievement and a great
day for America"
CC
— Robert Sklar, editor
Quotable
"One of the oldest and most beloved fruits known to mankind,
the red pomegranate, native to southwestern Asia around the
Caspian Sea, has been grown in countries such as Iran, Iraq,
Turkey, Armenia and Israel for more than 3,500 years. Biblically,
it is significant as the first fruit of the season, but also because
it appears often throughout texts as a symbol of abundance,
knowledge, fertility and peace."
— Joan Nathan in "The Pomegranate: A Rich and Holy History,"
Moment magazine, September/October 2009
Our JN Mission
The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that's useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. It strives to reflect the full range of diverse viewpoints while also advocat-
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10 November 5 s 2009
Editor: Robert A. Sklar
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