frontlines >> letters HOW Ask Financial Crisis Attorney Ken Gross about... 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 email. Black Jewish Family Finds Spiritual Home As I read the delightful story of the Knox family, I smiled throughout it ("Jews Of Different Hues:' Feb. 2, page 27). I could identify with the family. Many of us as black Americans have no idea of our roots. I'm glad Ms. Knox's grandmother was able to help her iden- tify her Jewish roots. Just as Ms. Knox stated, I too, went to church every Sunday. I tried my hardest to accept the Baptist faith and accept Jesus as my personal savior. I went to Sunday school, sang in the choir and did as much as I could to become a good Christian. I failed. My family is mostly Christian; it just wasn't for me and my beliefs. When my church started preaching that Jesus was God, it was definitely time for me to move on. I embrace the God of Abraham and Sarah. I never baptized my 26-year-old daughter, which is hard not to do in a black church. She freely chose Judaism. I also attended different churches and denominations searching for what was right for me. I never found it. I knew it was Judaism that I was seeking. I am a lighter-skinned black per- son with green eyes. My husband and daughter are darker; we have had some experiences. It didn't matter that I am lighter. What we mostly experienced was curiosity of the unknown. Most blacks are viewed as Christians or Muslims, and here we are stating that we want to be Jewish. It's different in both communities. I don't expect all Jews to accept me because I am black, just as every black person doesn't accept me as black because of my complexion and eyes. People are people. I can state, within my own Temple Israel family, our color doesn't matter. We are just another Jewish family. When we visit B'nai Moshe, we experience the same. I share the dream Ms. Knox envisions of bringing the communi- ties together and tikkun olam. We have submersed ourselves in the Jewish com- munity, found genuine acceptance and couldn't be happier. I am glad the Knox family has found what is right for them. I hope they have a wonderful life in the Jewish commu- nity just as we are. No community has treated us fairer than the Jewish com- munity, including the black community. We are home. Camille F. McMillan West Bloomfield Israel Isn't The 'Bad Guy' In Conflict With Palestinians Toby Citrin's article ("My Long Journey From 12th Street To J Street:' Feb. 9, p. 40) noted his Zionism and humanitari- anism and ultimately his multicultural- ism, as related to the suffering of the Palestinians. However, I am quite disappointed in what I see as his failure to take into account why the plight of the Palestinians is so difficult. Imagine how things would be if they were to accept the legitimate right of Israel to exist as a Jewish State rather than vowing its destruction and sending in terrorists? Look at how the Druze thrive in Israel. On our 2010 family trip to Israel, we visited the Druze village, Delet-Ha Carmel. It was booming! Tourists wait- ing in line to buy trinkets, eat the Arabic foods, and see the city. Imagine how dif- ferent it might be ... What Mr. Citrin fails to take into account is the Palestinian conviction and vow to destroy the Jewish State. I believe the Palestinians' religious ideology contributes greatly to the deni- al of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish State. That is because they believe that Jews are dhimmis, second-class citizens who have no right of political sover- eignty. It's a concept that is quite foreign to Western minds like our own and flies in the face of "multiculturalism." Yet, it's time we recognize that many people in this world are, underneath it all, "anti-multiculturalists." Yet what they believe is unimportant. But what they put into action hurts us all. Without acknowledgment of the above, an oversimplified stance makes Israel seem like the bad guy, and that isn't fair. Mr. Citrin needs to look at the whole picture, not just the snapshots. Ruth Katsnelson West Bloomfield Israelis Want Peace, Palestinians Do Not In response to Mr. Toby Citrin's guest column, I find another well-meaning, moral and ethical person not under- standing what is going on in the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict. Keeping focused on the true cause of the conflict is sometimes hard with the deluge of negative press and descrip- tions such as Mr. Citrin's of how the Palestinians are living, but focusing like a laser beam we must. Whose fault is it that the West Bank Arabs are "water-starved"? Theirs. Your= Financial Problems Whose fault is it that they must walk through "narrow, fenced checkpoint corridors:'? Theirs. Whose fault is it that the "ugly separation barrier" even exists? Theirs. The Palestinians do not want peace with Israel — they want to destroy Israel. If they had lived peacefully next to Israel for the last 60 years, they would have their own country with infrastruc- ture and laws. Israel must defend itself with checkpoints and the barrier. We Jews all want peace and the Israeli government wants peace. But those of us who can keep focused know that giv- ing the Arabs what they want will not magically bring peace. Michael L. Kahan What can you do ff I have tax problems? Bloomfield Hills Have J Street Members Read Hamas' Genocidal Charter? J Street representatives consistently present themselves as "pro Israel and pro peace' But they always leave certain questions unanswered. For example, why do they place the onus for peace on Israel while ignoring any responsibility the Palestinians have for the continuation of violence? Why, in their alleged quest for peace, can't they admit that those hated checkpoints and that divisive separation barrier were forced on Israel by unprovoked Palestinian violence and have saved many lives? How will J Street's policies help get Fatah and Hamas to the nego- tiating table? Has anyone from J Street read Hamas' genocidal charter? Why does J Street still cling to a two- state solution when Palestinian leader- ship has demanded a one-state (no Israel) solution? Why, when every other Jewish organi- zation was able to reach a compromise and together produce a document condemning the recent Boycott- Divestment-Sanctions (BDS) program at Penn State was J Street's signature absent, preferring instead their own weak scolding of BDS, complete with a false moral equivalence between the Israelis who are defending themselves and the Palestinians who are trying to murder them? In short, why does J Street ignore the reality of the situation in exchange for wishful thinking and self-delusion? Well - I wish I could say we can snap our fingers and the problem will vanish. If you call the big outfits you see advertising on Cable TV they lead you to believe it is that easy. The truth is — they oversell to get your money. What we do is take control of the issue and resolve the problem. We obtain reasonable payment terms, seek to have penalties abated and sometimes, we use the bankruptcy laws to discharge the debt. Most important - we take the necessary steps to protect your business and paychecks from IRS and State levy and eliminate the panic most people endure who bury their heads in the sand and refuse to address the problem. THAV GROSS has been solving its clients' business, tax and financial problems for 30 years. Be sure to tune in to the Financial Crisis Talk Center, Saturdays at 10 AM on the New Talk Radio 1270 WXYT AM We are unique - catch the radio show & visit our websites to see why! 0 THAV GROSS Harry Onickel 888.235.4357 (HELP) or 248.645.1700 Ferndale For information, visit is online at thavgrass.com fetaikeenter.com Letters on page 6 30150 Telegraph, Suite 444 Bingham Farms, M148025 "VM 3 Pftlner h**t1 February 16 • 2012 5