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NCJW Seeks To 'Unchain'
Women Refused A 'Get'
National Council of Jewish
Women once again joins with
the International Coalition for
Agunot Rights (ICAR) to observe
International Agunot Day on March
7 — a day designated to call atten-
tion to the urgent need to address the
denial of legal equality in marriage of
Jewish women in Israel.
Under religious law, a Jewish woman
may not receive a final writ of divorce
or "get" without her husband's consent.
Women in Israel called agunot, or
chained women, are unable to remarry
or have legitimate children because
their husbands have either disappeared
or refused to grant them a divorce.
There is no civil marriage authority in
Israel. The situation affects not only
Jewish women in Israel, but also Jewish
women worldwide who seek termina-
tion of their marriages that are sanc-
tioned by rabbinical courts.
International Agunot Day is part
of an international effort to promote
solutions to this problem through
change in Jewish law. The day is
observed on the Fast of Esther to
highlight the contrast in contributions
to Jewish life made by Jewish women
and their second-class status under
marital law. Queen Esther rescued the
entire Jewish community from a death
sentence, and yet was herself subject to
this denial of legal autonomy.
All of us need to act in support of
legal reform by calling the Israeli gov-
ernment, the Knesset and religious
community leaders to find legal, just
and moral solutions to this uncon-
scionable violation of human rights
that this denial of equal rights under
marital law represents.

Sharon Lipton
State Policy Advocate Chair

NCJW/GDS
Waterford

Tip Of The Hat
To Mr. Silly
Thank you, Jewish News, for covering
the story of Mr. Klegman, aka Mr. Silly
("Go Ahead, Be Silly," Feb. 23, page 1).
As a psychiatrist, I spend my days
helping people realize that emotions
can be choices. Sadness can be changed
to feelings of acceptance or times for
appreciation for what one has instead of
focusing on what one has lost. Anxiety •
or worry can be moments of opportu-
nity or the awareness that everything
has a purpose.
As Jews, we believe that Hashem has
only a positive purpose in mind for His
children, and this realization helps to
reframe moments of negative emotions.
I have the honor of being greeted by
Mr. Klegman at the JCC of Oak Park when
I go to exercise on some Wednesdays.
When asked one day how he was doing,
he replied, "I can be happy or sad, I
choose happy — it costs the same'
We are so blessed to have Mr. Klegmen
in our community. I hope he continues
to make people happy for many years
to come. Hats off to Mr. Klegman, but
please, Mr. Silly, you keep your hat on.

Bryan Weinstein D.O.

Farmington Hills

Mr. Silly Brought Joy,
Even Back In 1943
Robin Schwartz's article about Mr. Silly
brought back a very fond memory about
the Klegman brothers that occurred
in 1943. I was walking south near the
corner of Grand Avenue and Linwood. I
bumped into the two brothers, and we
chatted a bit. I asked, "Where are you
guys going — to the Avalon?"
"Nope," they said. "We're going to
work. We are ushers at Briggs Stadium
when the Tigers are home."
Well, needless to say, the next time
they went to work, I went with them. I
also became a kid usher, unpaid, but I
did see the games for free, plus tips. The

years were 1943-45.
So it looks to me, Ms. Schwartz, that
Mr. Silly was already bringing joy and
happiness, certainly to me. Many thanks
for your article.

Edward F. Stein, O.D.

Financial
Issues

Southfield

Jews Must Speak Out
For Religious Freedom
We recently saw our president disregard
the First Amendment to the detriment of
Catholic and other Christian institutions.
Having been a professor at a Catholic
university I saw that the university well
served all, regardless of religion, but also
adhered to the religious principles at the
foundation of the institution.
Every meeting began with an invoca-
tion. Each classroom had a crucifix,
and there was a chapel down the hall.
Among my fellow professors were many
priests who, when not teaching, were
leading mass and performing other reli-
gious duties.
Where are the Jewish voices defending
the freedom of such universities? Where
are Jews protesting government interfer-
ence with the freedoms of religiously
principled schools, hospitals and social
service institutions? Freedom is the issue,
not birth control. There are many ways
to facilitate birth control availability
and women's health concerns without
infringing on religious freedom.
Respect for, and rigorous protection
of, religious freedom is why this coun-
try has been a haven for people of every
religion and of no religion. Jews might
now update the oft-cited quotation from
Martin Niemoller: "First they came for
the Catholics, and I did not speak out
because I was not a Catholic ... And
then they came for me, but there was no
one left to speak for me."
Our Christian brothers need us to speak
for their religious freedom, and ours.

Support For Israel At NASCAR

T

he Charlotte, N.C.-based America Israel Racing (AIR)
team has unveiled a unique paint scheme for the No. 49
Robinson-Blakeney Racing Toyota Camry.
Inspired by AIR's mission of promoting the importance of
America supporting Israel, the design prominently displays both the
U.S, and Israel flags as well as the image of a bald eagle holding both
nations' flags in its claws and an olive branch in its beak on the hood.
"The eagle in particular contains a great deal of symbolism — it
has a determined look on its face, because we are determined to
voice the importance of America's support of Israel," said AIR co-
founder Rich Shirey.
Through strategic partnerships and joint ventures with other
organizations, AIR hopes to spread the message throughout the
world that the United States supports Israel. For more information,
AmericaIsraelRacing.com . ❑

Ask Attorney
Ken Gross
about...

Eugene Greenstein, Ph.D.

Farmington Hills

Do Short Sales
Work?

Yes. A Short Sale is
an ideal way to exit a
house under water.
The benefit is that
you do not spend the
next 20 years paying $300,000
for a house that is only worth
$195,000. The scuttlebutt in
the marketplace that short
sales are problematic is false.
The key is to make sure you
know the priorities. The
broker's priority is to close the
deal. Your priority is to get
the release from the lender on
any claim of a deficiency and
only then do you close. Our
role, as the attorney, is to fight
and make sure you gain the
release. Time is also ticking,
because after 12/31/12 the tax
exclusion on canceled debt
on your primary residence
expires.

THAV GROSS has been
solving its clients' business,
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30150 Telegraph, Suite 444
Bingham Farms, MI 48025

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