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December 15, 2011 - Image 5

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 2011-12-15

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

frontlines >> letters

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jarc

www.jarc.org

4. 11111ri

A Plea For Civility In
Our Jewish Dialogue
A disturbing trend is developing in our
community. Online bloggers, sometimes
anonymous, have been taking pot shots
at our community's rabbis, congrega-
tions and Zionist organizations. As the
community's rabbis, we feel it necessary
for us to stand together against such
divisive rhetoric.
One anonymous blogger, for instance,
recently offered a disturbing attack
directed toward Congregation Shaarey
Zedek, the Zionist Organization of
America and our colleague Rabbi
Joseph Krakoff. It focused on the pres-
ence of a certain imam at a community-
wide 9-11 commemoration that hap-
pened to be held at Shaarey Zedek.
This blogger criticized the ZOA for
having the "gall" to honor the rabbi of
that congregation with its Justice Louis
D. Brandeis Award, the ZOM highest
citation of merit, at its annual Balfour
Celebration on Nov. 6. We write this
rabbinic letter first to reaffirm, what
should be beyond question, that Rabbi
Krakoff, Shaarey Zedek and the ZOA are,
and always have been, exemplars of pro-
Zionist activism in our community.
As rabbis, we are often called upon
to participate in ecumenical and civic
events, and occasionally provide the
forum. Although we have no desire to
proffer legitimacy upon an anti-Semite
or anti-Zionist, it is also true that we
must not allow such anti-Semites to
force us out of the public arena by their
presence. We are not willing to "leave
the field" of public discourse because
there are those participating with whom
we fundamentally disagree. Should
there really be no Jewish presence at a
9-11 commemoration? Are we to allow
ourselves to be forced off of the com-
munal dais?
We do, however, routinely ask the
Jewish Community Relations Council,
Anti-Defamation League and American
Jewish Committee to vet clergy of other
faiths for us before we appear with them
in such public forums. We do so, not
necessarily in order to absent ourselves,
but rather so that we will be better pre-
pared to confront them publicly should
the need arise. Jews have worked too
hard and for too long to be included as
equal partners in American society for
us to cede that position now.
Jews of good faith, of course, can and
should respectfully disagree across the
vast spectrum of political opinion. Still,
the unconditional love of Israel shared
unanimously by this community's rab-
bis, congregations and pro-Israel orga-
nizations should be beyond question. It
is in this spirit of Ahavat Yisrael (love

for fellow Jews) that we, the undersigned
representatives of the Michigan Board
of Rabbis, call upon all members of our
pro-Israel community to maintain civil-
ity in their dialogue and reject and con-
demn divisive speech wherever it arises.
As always, we stand together as col-
leagues, friends and partners in support
of a strong, secure and peaceful Israel.

Rabbis Jeffrey Ableser, Joshua Bennett,

Jonathan Berger, Aaron Bergman, Amy

Bigman, Robert Dobrusin, Dorit Edut,

Michele Faudem, Robert Gamer, Peter Gluck,

Arianna Gordon, Marla Hornsten, Jennifer

Kaiuzny, Joseph Klein, Tamara Kolton,

Joseph Krakoff, David J.B. Krishef, Robert

Levy, Albert Lewis, Harold Loss, Jason

Miller, Robert Morals, Michael Moskowitz,

David Nelson, Elliot Pachter, Jonathan Plaut,

Norman Roman, Steven Rubenstein, Rachel

Shere, Daniel Schwartz, Dannel Schwartz,

Ariana Silverman, Arnie Sleutelberq, Aaron

Starr, Daniel B. Syme, Paul Yedwab, Herbert

Yoskowitz, Michael Zimmerman

Remember The Vets
Who Served America
I read with interest your Nov. 10 cover
story on "Remembering Our Vets." I
found it well written, and I thank you
for publishing it.
I would like to see more articles on
our Jewish War Veterans. They served
our country well and deserve to be
brought before our citizens who read
the IN.

David George, USMC

JWV, Post #510

Auburn Hills

Help Is Sought To
'Feed The Need'
Kudos to Robin Schwartz for writing
such a wonderful cover story about Feed
the Need ("Cooking Up Kindness," Dec.
1). We cannot thank Robin enough for
shedding light on a major problem that
dwells in and around our city.
Feed the Need is attacking the grow-
ing problem of hunger, but it takes a
village to surround and eliminate the
problem in Detroit. We hope the article
will encourage the community to see
the vast problem we are confronted with
and join our battle to end hunger in our
neighborhoods.
We are so happy that you highlighted
the wonderful job that the area restau-
rants, catering companies and hospi-
tals are doing to make Feed the Need
a success. Our chefs and their staffs
have been extremely generous in their
resources and time, preparing and serv-
ing wonderful and nutritious meals.
We are heartsick when we go to the
shelters and soup kitchens we serve
and see so very many hungry and often

homeless adults and children. When we
leave a facility, we feel better because
the people we have served lunch to are
all so gracious, appreciative and full.

Feed the Need Committee:

Judi Shefman, Mindy Van Hellemont, John

and Jane Carlin, Kate Lawson, Paula Grandon,

Michelle Todd

Newt Gingrich And
The Palestinians
Newt Gingrich could have cited this
source to support his remarks ques-
tioning the existence of a Palestinian
people, because the media and political
experts" are getting all tied up trying to
get back to the accepted narrative.
On March 31, 1977, the Dutch news-
paper Trouw published an interview
with Palestine Liberation Organization
executive committee member Zahir
Muhsein, who maintained:
"The Palestinian people does not
exist. The creation of a Palestinian state
is only a means for continuing our
struggle against the State of Israel for
our Arab unity. In reality today there
is no difference between Jordanians,
Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese.
Only for political and tactical reasons
do we speak today about the existence
of a Palestinian people, since Arab
national interests demand that we posit
the existence of a distinct Palestinian
people to oppose Zionism.
"For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is
a sovereign state with defined borders,
cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa,
while as a Palestinian, I can undoubt-
edly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva
and Jerusalem. However, the moment
we reclaim our right to all of Palestine,
we will not wait even a minute to unite
Palestine and Jordan."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Zuheir_Mohsen.

((

Dorene Weisberg

West Bloomfield

Tribute Planned For
Kindertransport Rabbi
As one who was brought out of Austria
on the first kindertransport arranged by
Rabbi Dr. Solomon Schonfeld, I would
like to appeal to any of your readers
who were also brought out by him.
In February, we will mark a century
since his birth, and I hope to arrange
for a memorial tribute on Feb. 27 in
Jerusalem. I would ask any of those
kinder or their children who would like
to attend to contact me online at
fischerjlm@hotmail.com or by mail at
P.O. box 18279, Jerusalem 91182.

Emanuel Fischer

L to R: JARC crafters

Lee Schanfarber, Mia Weiss

and Caryn Martel

JARC participated in a

festive Holiday Bazaar

held December 1 at

Groves High School.

Crafters had fun making

fragrant hand soaps

and candles as well as

decorative magnets

to sell, just in time for

Hanukkah. Proceeds

from the event will be

used to help fund future

JARC art programs.

Whether as a volunteer

or donor, your generous

support will benefit the
men, women and

children JARC serves.

Help JARC continue...

1-4%.
5arria- c.

DONATE
TODAY

atjarc.org/donate

or call

248.538.6611

Jerusalem

ir,!-15070

December 15 2011

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