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Divorce Professionals Must
Focus On Harm To Kids
Great article ("Parental Alienation:'
Nov. 8, page 1). Parental alienation (and
its associated issue — false allegations)
has become so ingrained in the divorce
process that many attorneys see this
as just another strategy to zealously
represent their clients in obtaining their
clients' desired outcome — all at the
expense of children.
Until judges, lawyers, and yes, even
therapists who make a living in the
divorce process, realize the damage
caused by this behavior, there will be
little to no relief for children of divorce.
Education is the key. Enforcement of
visitation orders and punishment for
false allegations are a must.
While I applaud Mr. Victor's efforts,
I believe that Mr. Hack has a much
better understanding of the issues and
wish that the article explored his views
in greater depth, perhaps in a future
article. Nonetheless, thank you for the
identifying and publicizing an impor-
tant issue that parents and children
suffer from.
Michael D. Gerhardt
Chicago
Rabbinic Panel Reaffirms
Chabad's Appellate Cause
We are writing in response to com-
ments that have been made regarding
our current litigation, now being heard
by the Michigan Court of Appeals, in
the pages of the Jewish News ("Appeal
Moves Ahead; Nov. 29, page 15).
Lubavitch of Michigan regrets that
this very important and sensitive topic
is being discussed through "sound-
bites:' some of which are intentionally
deceptive and needlessly inflammatory.
When Lubavitch of Michigan was con-
fronted with this issue, we chose to try
and correct it in front of several panels
of objective rabbis. Each panel held that
this must be corrected. The civil litiga-
tion against Bais Chabad was pursued
only after every other opportunity for
resolution was exhausted.
Since there have been some members
of the community who question the
rabbinic authority to pursue this case
in the courts, we would like to share
with the JN readers excerpts from a
letter that we received from the Union
of Orthodox Rabbis of the United
States and Canada from Sept. 10, 2012,
reaffirming the support for our case.
They have also attached to their letter
a lengthy and scholarly opinion writ-
ten by one of the judges on their court.
Here is an excerpt translated from the
original Hebrew:
"Clearly, as long as the Rabbinic rul-
ing is not followed in full, this permis-
sion remains in force, and it is permit-
ted for Rabbi Sholom DovBer Shemtov
to do anything in his power to seek ful-
fillment of the ruling issued by a Jewish
beth din, and for which the two parties
signed their agreement to accept. This
permission is not limited to a specific
person or to a specific claim, but to the
actual ruling, and he may continue pur-
suing his claim in civil court in order to
confirm the ruling of a Jewish beth din,
without [any need] to participate in any
further din Torah [Rabbinic court case],
and it is obvious that there is no place
for concern in this case for [possible]
desecration of the Divine Name, G-d
forbid"
"From what we have written, it fol-
lows that Rabbi E.Y. Silberberg was
obligated to obey the Rabbinic ruling,
and Rabbi S.D.B. Shemtov is permitted
to claim back his property from the
Board members ..."
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, heartache and division within
the community.
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 chasi-
dus in the community.
Chabad-Lubavitch of Michigan
Oak Park
Moving To Mars
Won't Be Enough
As to the latest conflict in the Middle
East, the U.N. vote and as a reflection
on the Rosenzweig article ("Double
Standard:' page 34, and "War In Real
Time page 18, Nov. 29), it isn't about
deals or blockades or settlements or
right-of-return or whatever else is used
as rationalization.
It is about the age-old hatred of Jews.
If all the Jews in the world got on a
rocket ship and went to Mars and set
up a homeland there, radical Islamists,
Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran would
declare that it was their God-given obli-
gation to destroy that new homeland
because somewhere in the Koran, Allah
gave them the rights to that planet, too,
and even perhaps that they were there
first. Telling the truth has never been
those groups' strong point.
Further, I would not be surprised
if the rest of the world (particularly
the member nations of the U.N.) went
along.
Kenneth M. Bertin
West Bloomfield
U.N. Palestine Vote
Will Encourage War
This week, the U.N. General Assembly
overwhelmingly endorsed genocide.
They essentially voted to grant state-
hood to the terrorist organizations
operating in and around Israel. A large
majority of nations voted to grant [non-
member] nation status to groups of
thugs who have declared their mission
is to wipe Israel off the map.
The General Assembly voted to carve
up the Land of Israel and create a 22nd
Arab/Moslem-dominated country, a
58th Moslem-controlled country and
to undermine the survival of the only
Jewish state. The U.N. voted to grant
statehood to terrorist organizations
whose singular goal, beside seeking
money and power, is to annihilate Israel
and to exterminate the Jewish people.
The U.N. did not denounce the ter-
rorist-supporting nations or the terrorist
organizations that are planning the next
Holocaust. The U.N. did not criticize
the bigotry and intolerance oozing from
many regimes in the Middle East. The
U.N. did not condemn the oppression,
violence and ethnic cleansing being per-
petrated in every corner of the Middle
East. Instead, they chose to endanger the
only free, democratic, humane and just
nation in that part of the world.
This inflammatory and immoral act
by the U.N. guarantees that there will be
another war of aggression waged against
Israel that will certainly result in a mas-
sive loss of life as Israel is forced once
again to fight for her survival.
The U.N. should be ashamed of itself.
Douglas Miller
Franklin
See related story on page 36.
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December 6 • 2012
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