DETROIT JEWISH NEWS the.JEWISHNEWS.corn frontlines >> letters DETROIT JEWISH NEWS theJEWISHNEWS.corn Letters from page 5 Arthur M. Horwitz Publisher / Executive Editor ahorwitz@renmedia.us Jackie Headapohl Managing Editor jheadapohl@renmedia.us Keri Guten Cohen Story Development Editor kcohen®renmedia.us Gail Zimmerman Arts Editor gzimmerman@renmedia.us Deborah Schultz Corporate Creative Director dschultz®renmedia.us EDITORIAL Senior Copy Editor David Sachs dsachs@renmedia.us Editorial Assistant Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist Danny Raskin dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net Contributing Editor Robert Sklar rsklar@renmedia.us Contributing Writers Bill Carroll Suzanne Chessler Annabel Cohen Don Cohen Shelli Liebman Dorfman sdorfman@thejewishnews.com Ronelle Grier Esther Allweiss Ingber Harry Kirsbaum Lynne Konstantin Rabbi Jason Miller Allan Nahajewski Robin Schwartz Steve Stein sports@thejewishnews.com RED TITIE magazine Managing Editor Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@renmedia.us Executive Editor Gail Zimmerman gzimmerman@renmedia.us Peace? School Board Needs Transparency, Accountability The letter "We Need Peace In Our Neighborhoods" (Aug. 9, page 5) distorts the legitimate concerns of the citizens of Farmington Hills and West Bloomfield. I suggest that the writer is reacting to the fact that the purchasers of Eagle Elementary are an Islamic group. She stated, "It is no secret that if the buyer wanted this property for a Christian or Jewish center, it is unlikely that it would have created controversy:' This is how she sets up a specious claim of discrimination. In fact, there were serious buyers from both the Christian and Jewish communities for the purchase of the school. They were told the property was not for sale. Had the property been sold to one of those organi- zations, in an identical manner, and then been sprung on the community, after it was, in effect, a done deal, the uproar would have been just as intense. The writer claims that what we need is peace. And she is clearly emotional about that. So emotional that she made some kind of connection between the Eagle controver- sy and the conflict in the Middle East. This is not an emotional issue nor a question of peace in the Middle East. The truth is, the Farmington School Board has a responsibility to the "multi- cultural community" to get the best price possible for an asset that belongs to the tax- payers, through an open and publicized bid process. This is not a difficult or obscure process to understand. The writer needs to consider better what her emotional accusa- tions mean. Rather than focusing on what is the best outcome for the citizens of the Farmington school district, she is mak- ing accusations of reprehensible behavior against the citizens of our community. Really? Had the school board postponed making a decision on the bid they received, then Eagle school could have been market- ed properly, for the best price and thereby have avoided the legal process. In that event, any purchaser, including the Islamic Cultural Association, would have had equal opportunity to purchase the property. If the situation, as the writer claims, is toxic, how do her accusations increase or decrease the toxicity? And how do her ram- blings about Michele Bachman improve her point of view? She asks what is the goal of those protesting the Eagle sale? That's sim- ple. Since the school board did not handle the sale properly, the community has taken on the responsibility to hold the school board accountable. That's how we operate in a democracy. Dorene Weisberg Contributing Editor Keri Guten Cohen kcohen@renmedia.us 70 6 August 23 2012 West Bloomfield See a related story on page 18. Chabad-Lubavitch Explains Need To Appeal Lawsuit Although we understood from the begin- ning that this complex case could require a process involving multiple steps through the legal system, we are disappointed that the case was dismissed by the circuit court on a procedural matter and that its fundamental issue has not yet been judged on its merits. That is why we are asking the Michigan Court of Appeals to consider this case. It is important for the community to remember that Chabad Lubavitch is an organization with a special mission to the Jewish community and has executed that mission successfully in Michigan for more than 50 years. Our movement has a specific form of governance based on Jewish law and Lubavitch tradition. This is imperative to the success of the movement, its future and its ability to work together in a cohe- sive manner. Any tampering with that sys- tem would undermine the structure of the movement. At its core, this case is about following Jewish law, rules and rabbinical court decisions. Throughout this case, the ownership and authority of Bais Chabad has been determined by numerous rabbinical bod- ies, based on Jewish law and Lubavitch tradition. We sought action in the secular courts with full permission of the rabbinic courts and only because the rulings of the rabbinic courts were not followed. We still hope that Bais Chabad and its rabbi will change their direction and choose to abide by the rabbinical rulings. That would save additional money, heart- ache and division within the community. It is not an option of Chabad-Lubavitch of Michigan to walk away from this case and somehow grant independence to Bais Chabad, as that is a right not granted to our organization. Under Jewish law and Lubavitch tradi- tion, the director of this organization is entrusted by the Rebbe, of blessed memory, and the Lubavitch movement as a custodian to build, protect and secure the success and future of the movement, its property and the funds that rightfully belong to the organization. Because some have charged, via the Jewish News, that we plan to somehow take away Bais Chabad and displace its members, we reiterate what we wrote in our letter to the congregation on the day that circuit court litigation was filed: "While this suit is going on, we encour- age the members of Bais Chabad to con- tinue to pray, attend services and study at Bais Chabad. We do not wish this case to cause any disruptions in the operations of the congregation. "It is our hope that after this situation is resolved with the authority of Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan rightfully estab- lished, that Bais Chabad will continue to grow as a place of Torah and chasidus in the community. Chabad Lubavitch of Michigan will not, God forbid, interfere and will indeed be willing to help in facili- tating the growth of the congregation." Chabad-Lubavitch of Michigan Oak Park See a related story on page 12. Letters on page 24 F. Kevin Browett Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us Keith Farber Sales Director kfarber@renmedia.us Account Executives Ann G. Abrams Jan Haskell Melissa Litvin Heidi Martin Rick Nessel Senior Sales Assistant Kim Metzger BUSINESS OFFICES Customer Service Asst. Jan Shain Billing Coordinator Pamela Turner Collections Analyst Hazel Bender Production By FARAGO & ASSOCIATES Manager Scott Drzewiecki Designers Amy Pollard Pam Sherevan Michelle Sheridan Susan Walker PUBLISHED BY: RENAISSANCE MMEDIA Chairman Michael H. Steinhardt President Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Chief Operating Officer F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Controller Craig R. 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