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. U.S. Jews May Not Agree With Israel's Right Wing It appears that the political trends in the United States and Israel are diverging. Whereas the United States just rejected a right-wing agenda, the right in Israel is thriving. Reform and Conservative rabbis in Israel are left powerless because of the Orthodox monopoly, not to mention tensions due to the IDF exemption given to some of the haredim. I would respectfully submit that the right in Israel should carefully consider its policies when it comes to seeking support of American Jews, not all of whom are rightists. It is very disconcert- ing to be placed in a difficult situation when Israel takes a right-wing position and then expects reflexive unity from American Jews regardless of whether the Israeli policy is consistent with cen- trist views. American Jews should not feel compelled to defend every decision of every Israeli government regardless of its soundness. Michael Bolo!) Bloomfield Hills Zionist Roots Led To IDF Volunteer Work My Zionist roots run very deep, reach- ing down to the Drajne, Russia, of my paternal grandmother, Sarah Levin. It was in her father's library where Theodor Herzl met with the town lead- ers to discuss the creation of a home- land for the Jewish people. These roots travel over to Odessa, in the Ukraine, where my paternal grand- father, Isadore Levin, grew up among the many early Zionist leaders who were household names there at that time. In fact, this past summer in Odessa, I visited the Jewish Museum of Zionist History. There I got the true flavor of the times through primary documents, original photos and artifacts, and being in a home such as many lived in at that time. I came to better understand the influence of the early, secular Zionists on the entire Zionist movement. So, what would be the best way to express my support and love for Israel? Some friends and family wondered why I would join Volunteers for Israel/ Sar-El, and live and work for a week on an army base rather than work in a pro- fessional capacity teaching English as a second language to new immigrants. I wanted my commitment to translate into personal, direct efforts to relieve the young soldiers from mundane tasks so they could focus on their primary duties and missions. We had an amazing, diverse, interna- tional group of 14 Jews and Christians. I am proud that Israel has many non-Jew- ish friends who are willing to volunteer their time and energy. One high point was working together with Israeli women who had emigrated Looking At The Mideast After The Arab Spring The Zionist Organization of America-Michigan Region will host Dr. Mordechai Kedar, director of the Center for the Study of the Middle East and Islam at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel. He will speak on "Israel's Future After the Arab Spring" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, at Young Israel of Oak Park. Kedar drew attention with a June 2008 Al-Jazeera interview that was broadcast all over the Middle East in which he challenged the modera- tor's assertion that "You cannot erase Jerusalem from the Koran" by pointing out that Jerusalem is not even men- tioned in the Koran. Mordechai Kedar served for 25 years in IDF Kedar Military Intelligence where he special- ized in Islamic groups, the political discourse of Arab countries, the Arabic press and mass media and the Syrian domestic arena. The Los Angeles Times' Edmund Sanders described him as "one of the few Arabic-speaking Israeli pundits seen on Arabic satellite channels defending Israel." There is no charge. Co-sponsors are Young Israel of Oak Park and StandWithUs Michigan. For information, contact the ZOA at kobi@mizoa.org or (248) 661-6000. Ask Attorney Ken Gross about... Your Financial Issues Dede Domstein, center, with her two 20-year-old IDF guides, Sgts. Amit Ahava and Lea Grab-Sznyd from Arab countries in the mid-1950s. I was able to use my Hebrew, and I learned a lot about these remarkable women. I was grateful to all of my teachers at United Hebrew School and Midrasha as well as to Camp Ramah for enabling me to learn Hebrew and continue to build my close connections with Eretz Yisrael. This experience was one I will long remember! For information on VFI/Sar-El, con- tact Ed Kohl at (248) 420-3729 or mich- gan@vfi-usa.org, or Paul Matlin at (248) 557-0004 or prm371@yahoo.com . Visit the website www.vfi-usa.org. Dede Domstein Clarkston Yiddish Limerick Definitely Not Rosh Hashanah Do the Math! A If you are in a 30% tax bracket and you e i are carrying $80,000 of credit card debt at 18% interest - do the math. You're paying $14,400 per year in interest (80K x 18%). This is non-deductible. In a 30% tax bracket, you have to gross $20,571 in order to have $14,400 after tax to pay the interest. If you're making $175,000 a year, $20,571 is 17.5% of your earnings and you're wasting it on credit card interest! Think how much better off you could be in 15 years, if that $20,571 went into an IRA or 401(k) plan instead. Don't waste your retirement. Call us - we know the math and the path you must take. It's not Rosh Hashanah, we call it New Year, We make lots of noise un mir trinken un * cheer. THAV GROSS has been solving its clients' business, tax and financial problems since 1982. Be sure to tune in to the Financial Crisis Talk Center, Saturdays at 8:30 AM - on WDFN 1130 AM, "The Fan." Mir zogn, "a gut yor" un tantzn' all night, We wear funny hats that are quite out of sight. 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