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Ameinu Challenges AIPAC
On 'Two-State Solution'
On its website, the American Israel
Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) pur-
ports to endorse "a negotiated two-state
solution — a Jewish State of Israel and
a demilitarized Palestinian state'
Ameinu, the largest progressive
Zionist membership organization in the
United States, also supports the notion
of two states but is troubled that AIPAC,
America's "pro-Israel" lobby, doesn't
appear interested in using its influence
to help bring about this outcome.
Ameinu Vice President Judy Gelman
proposed a modest amendment to
AIPAC's Action Principles on March 4,
during the group's annual policy confer-
ence in Washington, D.C.
The proposal stated: "AIPAC supports
Israel's commitment to democratic
values and the rule of law, including the
protection of minorities and the dis-
mantling of illegal settlement outposts"
The amendment was defeated in a
voice vote of about 300 against to five in
favor. I feel that outcome reflects poorly
on AIPAC.
Prior to the vote, Gelman said, "The
proposed amendment is meant to serve
as a reminder to Israel that it is com-
mitted by its own law to dismantle
illegal settlement outposts. Failing to
do so damages Israel's commitment
to democracy as well as the chances
to achieve peace with the Palestinians.
Protection of minorities is another area
where Israel is failing to live up to its
own laws and standards.
"Also, the best defense against the
unacceptable charge that Israel is an
Apartheid state is to highlight minor-
ity rights and show that even the most
extreme Israeli nationalists must live
within the law."
After the vote, Gelman said, "We
have no doubt that the vast major-
ity of American Jews support Israeli
democracy, minority rights and the
rule of law. And we had hoped that
AIPAC would lend its support as well?'

Don't Rely On Obama
To Stand With Israel
It is no accident President Obama
has visited Egypt and not Israel since
he was elected. He visited Israel and
Sderot before his election as a tacti-
cal stunt to reassure the Jewish vote.
His recent seemingly more harsh
language vis-a-vis Iran is once more
a political calculation to gain re-
election.
So the answer to Contributing
Editor's Robert Sklar's column "Can
Obama Really Stand With Israel As
Iran Raises Stakes" (March 8, page
31) is no, he will not. He has perfected
the art of saying what people want to
hear and then reversing course when
it is expedient.
For example, he called super-pacs
a "threat to democracy" and recently
started his own super-pac. Have his
supporters forgotten Obama's dispar-
aging remarks aimed at Netanyahu
to French PM Sarkozy? What about
Biden's gaffes when he visited Israel?
Biden protested Israeli construction
on Har Homa in Jerusalem, which
Palestinians had never protested until
Biden opened his big mouth which
led to Palestinian riots.
Obama's cult-like followers claim
everything he does is "unprecedent-
ed" and "historic." The only "historic"
thing is the blinders liberals use to
heap unearned praise on a president
whose only qualifications are that he
is a demagogue. Just as Obama was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize before
he had actually achieved anything,
his star-struck followers desire his
re-election for his eloquent words, not
his failed policies.
Does any one doubt that a re-
elected Obama will pressure Israel to
cede more territory and return to the
indefensible so-called "1967 lines"?
Jews who support Obama would be
wise to sit this election out and starve
Obama for cash by not donating to
his re-election.

Joel Waldbott
board member, Ameinu Detroit

Marc Baker
Birmingham

Praise For JFS' Legal
Referral Volunteers
I am so pleased that the JN saw fit to
publicize the wonderful work done by
Jewish Family Services Pro Bono Legal
Referral Service ("The Equalizers:'
March 1, page 7). As one who has been
involved since the onset, I have seen
the extraordinary commitment of our
volunteer attorneys and the dramatic
impact on the lives of many within our
community.
We only ask our volunteer attorneys
to accept one matter per year (be it
a phone call, a letter, a meeting or a
lawsuit), yet repeatedly we see many
attorneys willing to do more, all with-
out expecting any recognition for their
quiet and heroic efforts. They each
dedicate time and passion, and in the
process demonstrate the true essence
of tzedakah.
It was also wonderful to see the
Jewish Women's Fund (JWF) get the
credit they so richly deserve. JWF has
been enormously generous to our
program for several years, and has
enabled us to grow and continue to
serve the legal interests of people in
urgent need.
As a result of their support, many
women and their children facing a life
crisis have had a much-needed advo-
cate in their corner. JWF embodies a
spirit of kindness and charity, and we
are deeply appreciative of and forever
indebted to them for their support.

Mark Jacobs, chair,
JFS Pro Bono Legal Referral Service

Farmington Hills

Correction

• The caption accompanying the
photo of the wedding of Shannon
Fink and Tal Slemrod (Celebrate,
Page C56) is incorrect. The bride and
groom still reside in Seattle and have
no son. Scott is the bride's brother
and he lives in Bloomfield Hills.

Oak Park

Yad Ezra And Moies Chetim
Passover Food Distribution
For the 20th year, Yad Ezra and the
Moies Chetim Organization of Detroit
are joining forces in a campaign to dis-
tribute Passover food packages to 1,500
needy Jewish families in the community.
Each family will receive chicken, mat-
zah, soup mix, grape juice, gefilte fish,
eggs, horseradish, fruit slices, produce
and other holiday items.

Ask Attorney
Ken Gross
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The two-day distribution, scheduled
for April 1-2, is handled by 60 volun-
teers under the direction of Yad Ezra. To
volunteer, contact Brooke at (248) 548-
3663 or brooke@yadezra.org.

Seder And Chol HaMoed
Dinners At Beth Ahm
Congregation Beth Ahm in West
Bloomfield will be hosting a first-night
seder at 7 p.m. Friday, April 6, led by

Rabbi Steven Rubenstein. The cost is
$36 per adult; $25 for ages 6-12; chil-
dren 5 and under are free. RSVP by
March 30: (248) 851-6880.
There will be a Chol HaMoed din-
ner at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, pre-
pared by Paul Wertz and Dish Kosher
Cuisine. The cost is $25 per adult,
$13 for ages 6-12, and children 5 and
under are free. RSVP by April 6: (248)
539-8825.

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March 15

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