frontlines >> letters How 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. Brown Center Praised For Dementia Assistance I am ecstatic that the Brown Program was recognized for its exemplary, inno- vative programming and respite care for people with dementia (Nov. 22, page 25). I was the sole caregiver for my hus- band when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Without the Brown Center in Southfield, I am positive I would have dropped off the edge of the Earth. The staff at the Brown Center treated him with respect and kindness. I was able to have some free time for myself. I also benefitted from counsel- ing and get-togethers with other care- givers. Now I have the pleasure of bringing my Tap-A-Way program to both facili- ties. I love seeing the people "dance" with me and swing the hats and canes with gusto. I love having the amazing staff work right along with me. We have far too much fun! Congratulations, Brown Program! I hope you continue to be a beacon of hope to all of us who have lived, and are still living, with the ravages of dementia/ Alzheimer's disease. Euni Rose Southfield Money Wasted On Lawsuit Could've Helped Needy Jews The last 30 days have seen two events of immense significance for the Jewish people. Hurricane Sandy destroyed the homes, the schools and the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Jews on the Atlantic seaboard. The forces of Israel struck back at Gaza, with Israel under attack. Both of these events are bound to require enormous amount of finan- cial and emotional support from us. At about the same time, the Lubavitch Foundation of Michigan filed an appeal to its lawsuit against Bais Chabad of West Bloomfield (that suit was dis- missed on Aug. 15 by the Oakland County Circuit Court). If it continues, the appeal will cost each side vast amounts of money. This sad matter is a stain on our com- munity. Rather than wasting it on end- less litigation, the money would be bet- ter spent by giving donations to those who really need it. For this reason, the appeal should be dropped. John R. Klein Oak Park, MI See related story on page15. Gays Deserve Marriage Equality Thank you for the excellent cover story about the legal obstacles that gay couples still face ("Jewish And Gay:' Nov.15). It wasn't too long ago that the JN would not list life-cycle events for gay people because of a fear of backlash. How nice to see a more inclusive publi- cation! Julia Pais, Beth Greenapple and Nadav Pais-Greenapple are no less a family than a woman and man with a child. They deserve the same benefits as a couple who can marry legally in Michigan. Hearts and minds are chang- ing, but until the LGBT community has the same civil rights as heterosexual folks, it is incumbent on allies to step up and demonstrate our support of our LGBT family and friends. If we work together, we can be agents of change for marriage equality. Linda Lee West Bloomfield Gay Rights Can't Wait For Next Generation I want to thank the MI for Karen Schultz Tarnopol's article "Jewish And Gay" (Nov.15, page 1). She learned the issues and told our stories skillfully. Since the story appeared, several well-intended, sympathetic people told me, "Be patient; change takes time; in another 25 years, we'll look back and wonder why it was an issue Did they read the same article I read? Did they hear that they have more than 1,100 rights and protections that we do not enjoy? What if something inca- pacitating or fatal happens to one of us before that time is up? What will hap- pen to the one who is left supporting our family? Isn't it time now? The LGBT community is too small to effect significant change alone. We need all sympathetic citizens to speak on our behalf. Yes, I know it's challenging. Yes, our government is an unholy mess that is largely unresponsive to our needs as citizens in general. Here is my answer: If you are willing and able to get involved in the Marriage Equality movement with your energy and time, we need you. Or you can get involved in a less-engaged way by join- ing Facebook or Moveon.org and lend us your voice by signing petitions and sharing media with your online network to spread awareness and support. And if you are able to support the Marriage Equality movement finan- cially, make a donation to Equality Michigan or the ACLU LGBT Project in Michigan, and to the Human Rights Campaign, which is pursuing our cause at the national level. Please. The time is now. We would prefer not to wait. None of us is getting any younger. Beth Greenapple Southfield Law Inadequate When Same-Sex Parents Split As both an Orthodox Jew and a domestic relations attorney, I read the article concerning the rights — or lack thereof — of LGBT Jews with great interest. I was particularly thinking about the unintended consequences of failing to recognize parental rights in the same-gender non-biological partner. Under the Michigan Child Custody Act, when parents separate, custody is awarded in the child's "best interests:' a statutory term of art. However, the child's best interests clearly are over- looked when the only inquiry in separa- tion of a same-gender couple is which parent is biological/legal? This is an example of how displacing civil rights with religious values can result in suffering, even for our inno- cent children who do not choose their parents. While we hope our laws are guided by high moral principles, I question the foundation of a democracy that gives way to religious beliefs and fervor. History has repeatedly taught us the les- son that when we practice discrimina- tion, we make ourselves vulnerable to the turning of the tables. I was also surprised that the author of the article failed to point out that Michigan voters enacted a constitu- tional amendment defining marriage in our state as between one man and one woman, an important point to remember in the struggle for sexual orientation-based civil liberties. (L to R) Mia Weiss and Lauren Richmond at Mitzvah and Munchies jarc Ig J A RC's Mort Eskin Mitzvah and Munchies Fund enables individuals to come together monthly to discuss ways of bringing Loving Kindness into their Lives and the Lives of others. Through meaningful discussions and interactive activities, the group focuses on ways to demonstrate goodness in the world. Together they are proving at people can change the world! Laurel Stuart-Fink West Bloomfield Ex-Detroiter In Israel Aids Beersheva Poor I am a former resident of the Detroit area. I am a student at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya. During the war, I volunteered in Beersheva. With the number of rockets falling, it was astonishing to witness the amount of people who did not have access to a bomb shelter, etc. I experi- enced firsthand, what I felt to be, the Support JARC a ke your gift at jarc.org or 48.538.6611 Letters on page 6 JN November 29 • 2012 5