metro

summer furniture sale

Seeking Solutions

JCPA Plenum attendees explore
domestic, international issues.

presence is the greatest impetus for
peace."
Rogers addressed Israel's safety
and security by saying the present
he Renaissance Center con-
sanctions on Iran seem to be help-
eence mom. was packed
ing. He also expressed concern that
with attendees fiom Portland the Iranians do not believe the U.S.
and San Francisco to New Jersey
would consider military action so it
and Vermont at the Jewish Council
is more likely to continue work on its
for Public Affairs (JCPA) national
nuclear program.
Plenum. This gathering of national
"Time is on Iran's side. They know
leaders from Community Relations
that. Time is not on Israel's side. They
Councils and 14 national organiza-
know that:' Rogers said. "A strong U.S.
tions occurred in Detroit because
defensive posture is the greatest force
outgoing JCPA Chair Dr. Conrad Giles for peace in the world."
of Bloomfield Hills is from the region.
Leonard Cole, a Plenum delegate
Workshop attendees listened to
from New Jersey, said that both
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., who
Stabenow and Rogers "shared the
discussed domestic challenges cur-
concerns of most of us in the Jewish
rently facing Americans. At this time
community about poverty and the
of economic downturn, Stabenow
economy. For me, Congressman
warned, we must be united because
Rogers hit all the right foreign
there has "never been a more urgent
policy buttons — a military to pro-
time to repair the world." Michigan
mote goodness in the world and to
has been hit hard, she said, but "we're strengthen and protect Israel and our
coming back."
allies. Both of them noted that Iran
As chair of the Agriculture
is not just a threat to Israel but to
Committee, Stabenow discussed the
everyone in the world."
importance of manufacturing and
Joel Jacob, an attendee from the
"growing something." Michigan, she
Detroit Jewish community and a
said, "knows how to do both."
member of the board of Mazon: A
The senator was proud of her com- Jewish Response to Hunger, com-
mittee's ability to work across party
mented on Stabenow's remarks.
lines on the Farm Bill and stressed
"One of our priorities at Mazon
the importance of reauthorizing the
is to have a really strong Farm Bill,
bill, which has been a legislative pri-
which includes the food stamp pro-
ority for the JCPA.
gram:' he said. "We want to see these
Stabenow explained that 46 million programs strengthened, but because
Americans, most of them children,
of deficit reductions, many members
need help with food. The stagnant
of Congress want to cut these pro-
U.S economy has forced many people
grams. Sen. Stabenow has a realistic
to seek help obtaining food for the
view of what can be saved. I think, in
first time in their lives, she added.
the end, there will be cuts, but hope-
fully, not too deep. This is absolutely
International Concerns
a Jewish issue. Our Torah lays out
Republican Congressman Mike
how we take care of people who are
Rogers, a self-described former "FBI
hungry."
man:' from Michigan's eighth district,
was up next. Rogers, chair of the
Retaining Young Adults
Intelligence Committee in the House
While Plenum attendees attending
of Representatives, turned to interna- workshops dealt with subjects as
tional issues.
diverse as the economy, American
"Why do we have a military?" he
poverty, and securing the safety and
asked. The answer came from his
security of Israel, some delegates took
belief that the United States must
down time to explore Detroit. Reports
work from a position of strength so
were upbeat. Some people enjoyed
that it can negotiate with strength
Pewabic Pottery; others rented bicycles
and "have the ability to protect and
and rode on the River Walk and into
get goods and services across the
Downtown.
world."
As the Plenum neared its conclu-
With leadership, he said, "comes
sion, were there solutions offered to
responsibility ... A strong military
the many challenges?

Jeannie Weiner
Special to the Jewish News

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14 May 17 • 2012

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