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Hillel's New Habitat
Will Transform Education
As Hillel parents, how excited we
are that Hillel's forward-thinking
leadership is not complacent with
their already outstanding school
("Dreaming Big," Feb. 20, page 1).
Many educators and parents
acknowledge the inadequacies of the
industrial-age model of education,
which are so eloquently articulated by
Ken Robinson in his virally popular
RSA and TED talks. We nod our heads
when Sir Ken tells us, "Education
is not a mechanistic system; it is a
human system" and that students will
naturally thrive in "the proper cli-
mate
But what resonates most profoundly
now, in light of the announcement of
Hillel's building renovations, is that
transforming the climate is mainly
about "the habits of our institutions
and the habitats they occupy."
Hillel's new "Innovation Hub, Media
Studio, Art Room and Maker Space"
transform the climate. Personalized to
the needs of our children and designed
to stimulate the many diverse aspects
of their total intelligence (not merely
academic), these spaces could become
most treasured for the way they'll give
children the opportunity to discover,
on their own, their individual pas-
sions.
Is it merely ironic that in this
technology-driven era we are now
recognizing that learning is an organic

Physicians Present Talks
By IDF Officer/Surgeon
Maj. Jacob Chen, M.D., an Israel
Defense Forces medical officer and a
fellowship recipient of the American
Physicians and Friends for Medicine
in Israel (APF), will speak at two
free gatherings sponsored by friends
and supporters of APF, including

system that succeeds best on a truly
personal level? How grateful we are
that Hillel Day School is so astutely
aware of this concept and, in that fash-
ion, is so boldly improving itself.

Jennifer and Mitchell Bass,
West Bloomfield

Islamic Claims Are
A Barrier To Peace
I was anxious to listen recently to
Daniel Kurtzer, former ambassador
to Egypt and Israel (see story on page
18). What I got is the usual Washington
mantra: Here is a "golden" opportunity
for Israel to conclude a peace agree-
ment with the Palestinians, only Israel
is inflexible and not willing.
Kurtzer neglected to mention
President Bill Clinton's 2000 Camp
David Summit, where Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Barak agreed to almost
all of Arafat's demands; Israel's retreat
from Gaza in 2005; and Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert's peace plan in
2009.
Clinton never explained why he
failed; neither did U.S. administrations
explain why 60 years' efforts by tal-
ented diplomats failed, too.
Are Palestinian demands nation-
alistic? Until 1967, there was no
"Palestine The West Bank was
annexed to Jordan and Gaza to Egypt.
Palestinians had no specific borders.
Then, what was the big barrier that
prevents a peace agreement?
In the letter of Haj Amin al-Hus-

Federation's Maimonides Society.
His topic is "Treating Enemy Under
Fire: Upholding the IDF Medical Oath
Despite Personal Conviction"
Chen has served as an IDF physician
since 2001. He has completed a series
of challenging assignments, includ-
ing service as an infantry battalion
surgeon, a course commander at the
IDF School of Military Medicine, a
medical company commander and an
evacuation company commander in
the Israeli Air Force Airborne Rescue
& Evacuation Unit.
On Sunday, April 6, at 10 a.m. Chen
will appear at Adat Shalom Synagogue
in Farmington Hills. RSVP at conta.
cc/lce305k.
At noon Monday, April 7, he will
speak at a location in Downtown Detroit.
RSVP at conta.cc/OI9ZZV.
The APF Michigan Chapter organiz-
ing committee includes Elie Basse,
M.D.; Jeffrey Devries, M.D.; and Robert
Kelman, M.D.

seini, the grand mufti of Jerusalem,
to Winston Churchill, he demanded
annexation of Palestine to Syria and
Jordan. In 1926, he declared that
Mandatory Palestine is "waqf," defined
best in Hamas Covenant: "The Islamic
Resistance Movement believes that the
land of Palestine is an Islamic waqf,
consecrated for future Moslem genera-
tions until Judgment Day." Hamas is
quite honest: No Jew or Christian can
own Palestinian land, including the
Land of Israel proper.
This issue of Islam was never dis-
cussed publicly by U.S. administrations,
U.S. or European media, nor Kurtzer.
Is there a conspiracy not to mention
Islam? Does Islam intimidate the West?
How is it possible that the plight of the
Christian Arabs is ignored while the
Christian/Muslim relations are a model
of Jewish/Muslim coexistence?
The Mahmoud Abbas Palestinian
Authority presidency ended six years
ago. Is he a legitimate, legal partner
to negotiate with Israel? Will Hamas
accept any of Kerry's agreements?
Will global Islam accept Abbas deci-
sions? Will Sunni-Shiah rivalry use
any Israel-Palestinian agreement as a
weapon? Will Iran accept any agree-
ment?
Why is the status quo such a bad
option? Moreover, other options such as
annexing the West Bank to Jordan and
Gaza to Egypt were never considered.

Isaac Barr, M.D.
Bloomfield Township

Federation's Women's
Philanthropy Coffee Talk
On Thursday, March 20, from
10-11:30 a.m., Federation's Women's
Philanthropy will host "Israel's Aroma
Blend" at the home of Lisa Lis.
Attendees will hear about the
meaningful relationship that the
Detroit Jewish community has sus-
tained with the Central Galilee since
1994 from Naomi Rockowitz and Ziva
Ohayon-Rech.
Rockowitz is Federation's on-the-
ground professional who will offer
insights on life in the region. Ohayon-
Rech, director of the Central Galilee
Partnership, will tell of the impact that
Detroit makes on Israel each day.
Kosher snacks will be served. The
event is free, but space is limited
and registration is required at www.
jewishdetroit.org/coffeetalk . For
information, contact Megan Topper
at topper@jfmd.org or (248) 203-
1460.

JN

March 6 • 2014

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