,] 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. our gift department. Stop in and check out our new spring merchandise! Always unique & unusual gifts for weddings, showers, birthdays - all occasions, plus an outstanding selection of home accessories ... all new! Complimentary Gift Wrapping Shop Shermva „ tLyw8rth ili Gilad Updates The Jewish News' continuing cover- age of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit's captivity, including the Jewish Federation-sponsored Detroit pre- miere of a film about him and his family (Family In Captivity, Feb. 18, page 9) is appreciated. The outpouring of concern and support by film goers earlier this month was both moving and mean- ingful. For those who wish to take further action to help free Shalit, please visit the special "Bring Gilad Home" pages at the Jewish Community Relations Council Web site, /www.detroitjcrc.org/israel/ issues.php?page=23452. Allan Gale, associate director Jewish Community Relations Council Fine Designer Furniture • Stunning Accessories GIFTS ALWAYS 30% OFF most mfrs 6644 Orchard Lake Road just S of Maple West Bloomfield • 248 855.1600 Mon Tue Wed Fri Sat 10-6 Thur 10-9 Sun 12-5 www.sherwoodstudiosinc.com •2- Friendship Recovery Homes & Coaching Teaching the tools for a balanced sober life — spiritually driven self-reliance and healthy boundary setting. Program Manager - Sarah Rosenzweig, LLMSW, CAAC 248-666-6666 http://friendshiprecoveryhomes.org Sponsored in part by a generous grant from The Jewish Fund - Jewish EUOil Join the Jewish Recovery Community at Daniel B. Sobel Friendship House Thursdays 6:30pm Dinner & Learn • 7:30 Jewish Recovery Meeting •Counseling •Support •Guidance •Spirituality SCHEDULED 12-STEPS MEETINGS: Sunday •Healthy Living •The Healing Power of Friendship 7:30pm AA Monday 7:00pm OA Monday 8:30pm DRA Tuesday 7:30pm NA Wednesday 8:00pm AlAnon c Meer Family Friendship Center k) West Maple Road, West Bloomfield • (248)788-8888 on 6892 http://thefriendshiphouse.org February 25 • 2010 iN Bloomfield Township Israeli Relief Israel went into action immediately after the horrendous Haiti earthquake. The magnitude of the quake — with loss of lives, injuries, destruction and human misery — could not be ignored. As in past international humani- tarian efforts, Israel, with its bitter experience in dealing with the trauma of death and destruction, dispatched its experts and rescue teams, treating trauma teams, field hospitals, sur- geons, nurses and doctors. Even the canine rescue team appeared. Alyn Hospital, heavily supported by our own Michigan Region, joined IsraAID in helping Haiti with medical experts in the rehabilitation of chil- dren and adolescent amputees. Israel's Haitian relief effort dem- onstrated the human decency of the United States and Israel. Though America dwarfs the rest of the world in aid, there were crowds of Haitians cheering, "Good job, Israel!' There are people, oddly enough, who accuse Israel of hypocrisy — who view its compassionate behavior as merely a ploy to offset the action that Israel takes in its rightful defense against Palestinian terrorists. Palestinians in trouble might consider cooperating with an Israel that will help them instead of trying to destroy the Jewish state. Joseph F. Savin executive committee officer Herbert D. Sherbin, M.D. Farmington Hills Hunger Fighter I read "The Wonders of Challah" in jewish@edu section (Feb. 11, page 4) with particular interest as the founder of Challah for Hunger, Eli Winkelman, is originally from the Detroit area, start- ing this endeavor as a sophomore at Scripps College in Calif., and remaining the head of the nonprofit with active chapters on almost 30 college campuses and expanding across the U.S. Her parents, Marc and Suzanne Winkelman, are from here; three of her grandparents still live here with one liv- ing in New York City, but from this area. Eli also was written up in Bill Clinton's book Giving It would be so nice to give her credit for coming up with this idea and broadening it into what it is today. Zionist Organization of America 1572800 6 of Metropolitan Detroit More On Immigration The editorial "Immigration Reform Now" (Feb. 4, page 22) is strong on emotion, but wrong in important ways. Two of those ways deal with scape- goating and jobs. Scapegoating refers to an innocent group or person made to take the blame for an act or acts committed by another. Illegal immigrants are not being scapegoated as they are not innocent. Indeed, they are blame- worthy for taking jobs that should be held by U.S. citizens and others legally authorized to work in the U.S. Keep in mind that illegal immi- grants are here illegally and are work- ing unlawfully. There is estimated to be 11 to 20 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Of those, millions are working, made up of those who came over the border taking low-tech jobs and those who overstayed their visas taking high-tech jobs. That's a lot of jobs that are needed by U.S. citizens and others authorized to work. Although joblessness in the U.S. and Michigan is due to factors in addition to illegal immigrants taking jobs, the high number of jobs illegal immigrants are taking can be cur- tailed if all levels of government and businesses adopt the federal E-Verify system. This system prevents illegal immi- grants from taking jobs by fraudu- lently using forged documents. Views on other illegal immigration issues should be debated. Michigan Region Sally Winkelman Birmingham Southfield