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Leaving The Faith?
I must be missing something. On the eve
of Passover, I open the Jewish News to
read of an Ethiopian Jewish family that
has immigrated to Michigan ("Passover
Of Freedom," April 14, page 1).
As I read the story, I expected to be
informed about the poignant travails of
a family leaving Africa only to bring with
them and maintain their Jewish identity
once they re-established themselves in
Michigan. Instead, the story goes on to
state that the father of the family is the
only Jewish one, having married outside
of the nation of Israel, and the brother
has converted to Greek Orthodoxy.
The poignancy turns to sadness as
I realize I am reading about the end
of another two branches of the Jewish
people.
I realize there are those who will deem
me not broad-minded. But, I will take
that risk in stating that it seems to me the
article is an inappropriate cover story for
the Jewish News on the eve of Passover
when we celebrate the continuity — not
the destruction — of our people.

David Arm

West Bloomfield

Sensationalizing
The issue of human slave and sex traf-
ficking ("Not For Sale," April 7, page 8)
is critical and troubling enough without
using sensationalist language and rumor
mongering to gain reader attention.
If anything, they serve to diminish the
real horrors.
While the use of "pretty white girls" in
the photo montage on the cover certainly
attracted viewers, it's pretty non-repre-
sentative of the main cohorts.
Perhaps even more distressing is the
use of a friend-of-a-friend claim of an
attempted child abduction at the mall.
Even if this had happened, a single and
isolated event from years ago at one loca-
tion most assuredly does not mean we

should all be fearful of our shadows.
The story of a child being grabbed in a
mall and then dragged into a bathroom
where she was drugged, reclothed, and
her hair dyed is one of those fearsome
rumors that get widely spread, and are
pretty much always false.
Human trafficking is all too real. But so
is fear mongering.

Danny Burstein

New York City

Out-Of-Town Kids
I enjoyed reading "How Far Will They
Go?" (March 31, page 9). Having children
and a grandchild in California, I can cer-
tainly relate.
For several years, John and I have been
having weekly i-chat Havdalah sessions
with our son, daughter-in-law and now
7-year-old granddaughter at the end of
Shabbat. Although we talk regularly and
see each other often, this weekly on-line
ritual is a sweet way to begin each new
week "together."

Judy Marx

West Bloomfield

Rabbi's Views
The article about Rabbi Richard Jacobs
("Settler Foe," April 14, page 38), slated
to become the next leader of the Reform
movement, describes his strong opposi-
tion to the global Boycott, Divestment
and Sanctions movement against Israel
but that he does not necessarily have the
same feelings towards a boycott of prod-
ucts made in Jewish communities in the
West Bank.
That such a boycott would hurt not
only Israelis but Palestinians as well has
been made very clear. For example, the
Gaza economy grew tremendously while
Israelis lived there and Palestinians found
jobs in Israeli businesses, such as the
greenhouses that flourished where once
there was only sand. Sadly, since Israel left
Gaza, its economy has suffered.

The article mentions Rabbi Jacobs' vis-
its to Efrat in the West Bank to study with
Rabbi Riskin; I wonder if Rabbi Riskin
would also support boycotts of products
from that city?
The settlement issue is a legal as well
as a moral one, given that Israel is tech-
nically still at war with the Palestinians
since no final peace agreement has ever
been signed. I hope that when Rabbi
Jacobs becomes the head of the Reform
movement he does not give aid and
comfort to those who would destroy not
only "settlements" but all of Israel, by
advocating a boycott of West Bank Jewish
communities.

Your
Financial
roblems

Margot Gardner

Bloomfield Hills

Partisan Reporting
The JTA article about Jewish groups
and Jewish lawmakers condemning the
Republican-backed budget proposal for
2012 follows partisan, Democratic views
of the U.S. economy ("Jewish Groups Rap
House's Budget Plan,"April 14, page 5).
The facts are loud and clear. The U.S. is
on the verge of total bankruptcy. We spend
money recklessly, increasing the national
debt at an accelerated pace. We imposed
heath care reform with no financial cover-
age. The interest on the national debt is
5465 billion for 2010 and in 2021 it will be
$1.1 trillion.
These are facts. What do the Democrats
suggest? Tax the "millionaires and billion-
aires!!!" Be sure that the rich will take their
money elsewhere.
What is depressing is the fact that 47
percent of Americans did not pay any
federal taxes. It is quite likely that most of
social services go to this group and that
these are the core of Democratic support.
The common reasoning is that these citi-
zens do not have money. Yet it is imperative
that everybody pay taxes, even if it is $1.

Isaac Barr, M.D.

Bloomfield Hills

If I can't afford
to pay my
taxes, should I
still file my returns?

Yes, IRS and the State
assess failure-to-file
1 penalties that can
--- add up to 25 % of the
unpaid tax. If you don't file
your returns, they may file
your return for you at a sig-
nificantly inflated rate. If ig-
nored, they may unmercifully
levy or garnish you. Handled
properly, affordable payment
terms and sometimes a com-
promise of the debt is obtain-
able. You have rights - but
you should not try and fight
them alone. The national tax
services are good at taking
your money - not defending
your rights. BOTTOM LINE
- You should call us - we've
been protecting taxpayers
for 30 years - we're your
neighbors and we have
your back.

THAV GROSS has been

Israeli Man Killed
At Joseph's Tomb
JERUSALEM (JTA) — The nephew
of an Israeli government minister
was killed and at least four men were
injured during a visit to Joseph's Tomb
near the West Bank city of Nablus.
Ben-Joseph Livnat, 25, a father of
four from Jerusalem and the nephew
of Science and Culture Minister Limor
Livnat of the ruling Likud Party, was
among a group of 15 Breslov chasidim
who arrived early Sunday morning
in three cars to worship at the site,
which is holy to Jews and is located in

Rioting occurred in Nablus
West Bank territory under
following the shooting, and
Palestinian control.
the tomb was set on fire by
The worshipers did not
Palestinians. The tomb was reno-
coordinate their visit with the
vated recently after being badly
Israeli army and tried to break
damaged and desecrated during
through a Palestinian check-
the second Palestinian intifada.
point, according to a joint
Ben-Jos eph
Thousands attended Ben-
investigation of the Israeli mil- Livnat
Joseph Livnat's funeral Sunday.
itary and Palestinian Authority.
The IDF sets monthly prayer visits to
A Palestinian security guard fired on
the tomb, believed to be the burial site of
one of the cars as it was leaving, saying
patriarch Joseph and his sons Ephraim
the men's activities looked "suspicious."
and Manasseh. Members of the Breslov
A senior Israel Defense Forces offi-
cial termed the incident "a serious mis- sect frequently sneak into the tomb to
pray without coordinating their visits.
hap caused by both sides."

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April 28 20i"

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