frontlines >> letters Hew 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. Palestinian State Won't Stop Islamist Violence Two weeks ago, the Palestinians lost their bid to have the U.N. Security Council declare a Jew-free Palestinian state based on the 1948 armistice lines — the "Auschwitz borders." Only the United States and Australia voted "no." France voted "yes," ostensibly so as not to impede the "peace process." The resolution would have uprooted 700,000 Jews from around Jerusalem. The old city would no lon- ger have been in Israel. Against all experience, many in the media, the professoriate and government still hold that a forced Palestinian state and other appease- ments will eliminate radical Islam. Last week's atrocities in France pro- vide one more example that refutes this view. French Muslim terrorists murdered Charlie Hebdo journalists, police officers and Jewish shoppers in the name of Islam. They did so notwith- standing tolerant immigration and generous social welfare policies that have resulted in a 10 percent Muslim population in France. Tolerance and generosity are not antidotes for radical Islam. Islamists hate the West — not for what it does, but for what it is: the domain of non- believers. Among the Iranian mullahs, the U.S. is the Great Satan and Israel is the Little Satan. ISIS and Boko Haram murder all in their paths — Christians, Yazidis, apostates, child- Lectures To Look At 21st-Century Judaism The Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies at Wayne State University and Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit will take a fresh look at the complexities of Judaism in a series of lectures by WSU Professor Howard Lupovitch. Howard "Living a Jewish Lupovitch Life in the 21st Century: New Challenges, New Opportunities" will coincide with the ongoing celebration of Hillel's new school facility. The Wednesday series begins Jan. 21 with "The Menu of Judaism: What Do We Do? What Do We Believe?" Subsequent lectures are on Feb. 11 ren and nonbelievers — all who do not submit to their brands of totali- tarian Islam. In particular, the Hamas charter calls for killing Jews, but "peacemak- er" Abbas partners with Hamas, will not recognize Israel as a Jewish state and demands that there be not a sin- gle Jew in the Palestine he envisions. Arab citizens make up more than 20 percent of Israel's population. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi spoke on New Year's Day at Al-Azhar University to Muslim cler- ics and academics and to the world. El-Sisi recognized the need for reform within Islam, that the Muslim world "is being torn, it is being destroyed, it is being lost — and it is being lost by our own hands." He speaks from Egypt's near-death experience with the Muslim Brotherhood. Western leaders — including our own — need to recognize what el- Sisi courageously says, and what the French premier has said: The prob- lem is radical Islam. Appeasement, wishful platitudes and Orwellian political correctness will not obstruct those who hate us because of our freedoms and because we will not submit to their ideology. The first step to a solution is recog- nition of the problem: We are at war with people who cannot be appeased because they hate us for who we are. Eugene Greenstein president Zionist Organization of America-Michigan Region ("Activism, Not Slacktivism"), March 25 ("Define Yourself: Who You Are and Who You Would Like To Be") and May 13 ("How To Achieve Greatness, In Ourselves and In Others"). According to Lupovitch, a Hillel graduate and Cohn-Haddow Center director, the lectures will focus on the ways that Judaism is a thinking person's religion, demanding creativ- ity and critical thinking in order to respect its core values while simul- taneously challenging the authority of the past. Learning, discussion and debate, Lupovitch says, will ensure that Judaism will remain relevant and dynamic. Lectures will all begin at 7 p.m. in the mercaz (center) at Hillel Day School in Farmington Hills. The talks are free and made possible by the sup- port of Miriam and Fred Ferber. For Don't Take Freedom Of Speech For Granted Forty heads of state, plus 3.7 million marching Sunday in France. Our repre- sentative was who? Even I would have been appreciative to have witnessed our president in the front row linking arms with fellow marchers. For me, actions do speak louder than words. It's my belief that any reference in any form to radical Islam is not in this president's lexicon. Was it a health issue that he needed to be within four hours of his hospital and physicians? I'm sure that there must be some very good reason why he was not able to attend this demonstration of solidarity being forged and history being made. This was a huge moment, such a diverse group of leaders and just regular people marching peacefully! I was quite taken with this demonstration of unity. Over the years, I have composed sev- eral letters to the Jewish News, sent one letter in 2004. This is my second. Why now? Because, at this time and place, I can still speak my mind, and I am thankful and appreciative for that. Not easy these days to speak one's mind or delve into facts, visit history or consider the future. I do think of those who cannot or have not been able to enjoy what we in our country take for granted, free speech. I think of those who can't speak their minds, and when they do they pay a high price. So I speak. Mary Jane Larson retired RN Livonia details, contact Patricia Ruda at Hillel Day School at (248) 539-1317 or by email at pruda@hillelday.org. RSVPs are appreciated. 'Roll' Back In Time At BBYO Skating Event All Jewish teens in grades 8-12 are invited to flashback to the 1980s at BBYO's annual winter kickoff event from 8-10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Bonaventure Skating Center. Cost is $8 per person for BBYO members, and free for 8th graders and non-members. Teens are encouraged to get into the '80s theme and dress in style. Eighth-graders who register for a BBYO membership before or at the kickoff event (and attend) will receive a limited edition BBYO swag item. For information, contact Katie Fried at (248) 432-5685 or kfried@bbyo.org . Ask Attorney Ken Gross about... Your Legal Issues IT IS TIME TO ACT! What is the plan for 2015? To preserve future income for retirement - and to take the steps that are necessary to shed high interest credit card debt. It's this simple. If you have $30,000 of Credit Card debt at 20% interest, how much interest will you pay per year on the debt? The Answer is $6,000. If you are in a 30% tax bracket, do you know how much you need to make to pay your taxes and net $6,000 to pay the taxes? The Answer is $8,571. If you are making $85,710 per year, do you know how much of your income you are wasting on the interest? The Answer is 10%. Next Question - If you have credit card debt like this, do you know what you should do? The Answer is YOU NEED TO TAKE ACTION to get rid of the debt, so the $8,571 goes to pre-tax retirement savings instead. If you earn 7% on your money in an IRA or 401(k), do you know how much the $8,571 will be in 15 years? The Answer is $226,405. If you would rather have the $226,405 than pay the credit card debt, do you know what to do? The Answer - Call Thav Gross - we do many things - but there is nothing better than what we do with credit card debt! Make 2015 the year you get rid of the bad habit and begin a good habit! Make 2015 Your Year! L THAV GROSS has been solving its clients' business, tax and financial problems since 1982. Be sure to tune in to the new Law and Reality - Saturday mornings 8:30 to 10 AM on WDFN 1130 AM Radio and Sunday's at 11 AM on TV20. THAV GROSS 888.235.4357 (HELP) or 248.645.1700 For information, visit us online at thavgross .com • www.lawandreality.com 30150 Telegraph, Suite 444 Bingham Farms, MI 48025 We're a premier debt relief agency helping people file for Banlauptcy Protection . January 15 • 2015 5