frontlines >> letters
}low 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.
Proud To Be Citizen Of
Two Great Democracies
As a person of dual Israeli-American
citizenship, I am often asked if this
doesn't cause a conflict at times. My
unequivocal answer is, "No, never."
First of all, I remind the inquirer,
Israel, my country of birth and upbring-
ing, and the United States, my adoptive
country where I lived most of my adult
life, are strong friends and allies, and
I can't see a possibility of a conflict
between the two in which I would have
to choose sides.
But what about the decided lack of
warmth between my president, Barack
Obama, who, to my complete satisfac-
tion, was recently awarded a second
term, while at the same time, not to
my satisfaction, Prime Minister Bibi
Netanyahu seems to have just won
another term? "How do you feel about
that?" I keep getting asked.
Well, to tell you the truth, I do under-
stand my president and his dislike for
my prime minister, for I, too, do not like
the man and strongly oppose his poli-
tics. Yet, paradoxically, I have to admit
that I feel pride seeing him appear in
forums such as the United Nations and
speak in defense of Israel.
But, you see, being the citizen of two
countries that are model democracies,
in which one can and does voice his
opinion freely and noisily — in Israel
with its multiple parties, it is even nois-
ier than in the United State with only its
two major parties — I have no problem
in doing so.
The inauguration of the 44th presi-
dent of the United States, whether
first term or second, is an immensely
more formal and festive event than the
election of a prime minister in Israel.
There's no pomp and circumstance
in the much-smaller Israel, where to
engage in such extravaganza would be
unseemly.
Also very dissimilar is the method
of electing the cabinet and the legis-
lature — the Knesset comprising 120
members is a topic for another time.
Yet, both my countries are democracies
to their core, and I am equally proud of
both. To be the product of two model
democracies is a real privilege.
Rachel Kapen
West Bloomfield
Israeli Voters Decrease
Support Of Haredim
I confess to being somewhat surprised
by the angry responses to my rather
bland letter concerning the rise of right-
wing parties in Israel ("U.S. Jews May
Not Agree With Israel's Right Wine
Jan. 3, page 5).
My initial letter did not mention
Palestinians or the settlements, but that
did not stop my right-wing American
Jewish friends from setting up that
straw man.
Obviously, Israel requires a negotiat-
ing partner, which does not appear to
exist at this time.
My letter did mention the Orthodox
monopoly and the fact that some hare-
dim [ultra-Orthodox] do not serve in
the Isreal Defense Forces. Apparently,
the Israeli electorate shifted somewhat
with the sentiment that too many
resources are being allocated to the
ultras, not to mention the unfairness of
exempting some of the haredim from
their IDF service.
I hope our right-wing friends respect
this apparent shift in the Israeli electoral
trends as well as the hard right-wing
policies, which they so heartily endorse
on a reflexive basis. You can't have it
both ways.
Michael Golob
Bloomfield Hills
Rabbi's Goldman's
Early Shul Recalled
Here is a little more information on
Congregation Shaarey Shomayim. Rabbi
Leo Goldman was its rabbi for many
years, before the synagogue moved to
Oak Park ("A Life Of Kindness And
Torah:' Jan. 3, page 40).
The synagogue was located on the
northeast corner of Muirland and
Midland in Detroit. I was bar mitz-
vahed there in 1949. My father, Jacob
Arbit, was president, and a friend's
father, Harry Horowitz, also served as
president. The synagogue also had a
cemetery at Hebrew Memorial Park on
Gratiot.
My grandfather Peretz Weinziger
would go there for daily minyan. The
shul had a mechitzah to separate men
from women. It was very small and
comfortable.
Rabbi Goldman was superb in leading
the congregation. My parents donated
two Sefer Torahs to the synagogue.
They were still being used at the Oak
Park synagogue. One year at the High
Holidays, Rabbi Goldman had a blind
cantor lead the services. He was mag-
nificent. This was all during the war
years. The original building remains in
use as a church.
Joining MLK Taskforce
Was A Great Experience
I was fascinated as I read Kenneth
Jacobson's article because I have been
affiliated with my Southfield Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. Taskforce for almost five
years ("MLK's Legacy: An Enduring
Reminder Of The Just Way:' Jan. 17, page
25). I joined the taskforce because, as a
Jewish citizen of Southfield, I wanted to
see more diversity in the annual event.
I cannot tell you how glad I am to
be part of this group. They embraced
me right from the start and honored
me last year by nominating me for the
Diversity Champion Award given by
the Birmingham Community Building
Diversity program. Happily, I was one
of 40 people honored that beautiful day
in April, and many taskforce members
came to the breakfast ceremony to sup-
port me.
The taskforce also adopted the won-
derful Jewish saying, "From Generation
to Generation:' as we focus on program-
ming for our youth. I am so proud.
I look forward to many more years
with my fellow taskforce members. I
invite my Southfield Jewish friends to
join me as we work together to further
our relationship with each other.
Euni Rose
Southfield
Gun Control Advocates
Should Study Constitution
What a shame to feature a short, trite,
shallow article about a complex subject
on the front page ("Gun Control; Jan. 24).
Drunk driving isn't caused by cars, com-
puters don't cause identity theft, and fraud
and guns just don't go off by themselves!
Our permissive society does not
intervene to stop those who should be
monitored. Violence in the media is
rampant, yet those who create the prod-
uct "self-righteously" deny they have set
a violent mindset.
The Jewish Community Relations
Council has regularly assumed that its
liberal or secular agenda is the "Jewish
ideal." Wrong! Regarding a citizen's need
for protection from a Hitler-like govern-
ment, Rabbi Joseph Klein [of Temple
Emanu-El in Oak Park] said, "My
America is not Germany in the 1930s:'
However, many Jews in Germany in
1930 felt positively about Germany.
I suggest that those who truly want
to understand the Second Amendment
read the original source material related
to the creation of the Constitution.
Dr. S Meyer Arbit
David L. Harold, M.D.
West Bloomfield
West Bloomfield
Ask Attorney
Ken Gross
about...
Your
Financial
Issues
Do the
Math!
If you are in a 30%
tax bracket and you
• 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.
THAV GROSS has been solving
Al
its clients' business, tax and financial
problems since 1982. Be sure to tune
in to the Financial Crisis Talk Center
on Radio and now on TV - Saturday's
at 8:30 AM - on WDFN 1130 AM,
"The Fan,"and Sunday's at 1 PM on
MyTV20
We are unique - catch the shows & visit
our websites to see why!
0 THAV GROSS
888.235.4357 (HELP) or
248.645.1700
For information, visit us online at
thavgross.com • fctalkcenter.com
30150 Telegraph, Suite 444
Bingham Farms, MI 48025
We're a premier debt relief agency helping people file for Bankruptcy Protection.
January 31 • 2013
5