•. .. * * ** • * • • • • frontlines >> letters 17TH }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. Ameinu Supporter Says Its Voice Must Be Heard Thanks for reporting on Ameinu's cel- ebration of Yom HaAtzmaut ("Ameinu celebrates Israel Independence Day with a sing-along," May 21, page 44). Unfortunately, the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is making false accu- sations that Ameinu and other progres- sive or liberal Zionist organizations are anti-Israel. As I was preparing the Ameinu table for the Walk for Israel, I was confronted by a leader in the ZOA who seemed proud of preventing Americans for Peace Now and Partners for Progressive Israel from having tables and was told that next year he intends to do the same to Ameinu. I spent eight months last year work- ing in Israel, took shelter repeatedly and had colleagues in the tunnels dur- ing the Gaza war, and was even fea- tured on the front page of the Jewish News ("Hands-Free Driving:' April 24, 2014), yet the ZOA claims my brand of Zionism is anti-Israel. They claim it is anti-Israel to agree with large parts of the Israeli security establishment that the settler enterprise is harmful to Israel or to object to the racist or anti-democratic positions of specific Israeli politicians, even though a large part of the Jewish citizens of Israel agree. I believe that it is their anti-demo- cratic attitude that threatens the exis- tence of the State of Israel. My question is, if they succeed in ostracizing these organizations, who is next? Which pro- gressive or liberal Zionist organization will they attack next? Jeremy Salinger Southfield discusses Israel and the Middle East should be welcome with open arms even if we do not agree with each other's opinions. That is what they call democracy and should be what the ZOA is calling for not trying to quiet voices of dissent. Mark Phillips Oak Park Cancer Thrivers Join Jewish Family Service On June 1, the nearly 300-member Cancer Thrivers Network for Jewish Women officially joined the Jewish Family Service in its family of pro- grams. We will collaborate in JFS Wellness programming, including Cancer Connection. At this time, we publicly extend our gratitude and deepest thanks to the Jewish Community Center. In 2008, our founders, Sandy Schwartz, Michelle Passon and Patti Nemer (z"1) were encouraged to establish a home for the Thrivers at the JCC, including the use of its facilities and personnel. Without the JCC's tremendous sup- port, the Cancer Thrivers Network would not have been able to continu- ously achieve our mission: "to enrich and empower Jewish women through activities, friendship, resources, education and humor. The Network welcomes women who have been diag- nosed with any kind of cancer at any time in their lives." We look forward to partnering our efforts with Jewish Family Service in the years to come. For information about the Cancer Thrivers Network, please contact our program coordina- tor, Tracy Agranove at (248) 592-2267 or tagranove@jfsdetroit.org . simpler than people make it out to be. And you have all summer. Two indispensable books for your Israel education are Israel, A History and In Ishmael's House, both by historian Martin Gilbert. More historical and current information is easily available on the StandWithUs, ZOA, CAMERA, Honest Reporting and Elder of Ziyon websites. You should "like" them all on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter for regular, informative updates. The Israel-haters have gotten very ugly and anti-Semitic. They are bullies. Don't be afraid to stand up to them. And if you need help you can get help, at least here in Michigan, from your local StandWithUs and ZOA chapters. Contact them. I also know a certain obsessive, letter-writing Israel advocate (also on Facebook) who is willing to help. Ameinu Member Is Proud Of Progressive Zionism The organization that I belong to, Ameinu, is being unfairly attacked by the ZOA as being anti-Zionist for questioning the policies of the present government. As someone who lived, married and had children there, I find it insulting that my Zionism is being questioned. Also, I find it insulting that Ameinu and its members are also being questioned about their Zionism. Ameinu has been around for many decades and is a supporter of progres- sive groups in Israel including the Labor Party. We also support Habonim Camp Tavor, where love of Israel is taught. In my opinion, any group that Benefitt ng Children with Disabilities THANK YOU ONE AND ALL! Correction • Nancy Firestone of West Bloomfield, mother of Israel mission-goer Richard Kay of Birmingham, was misidentified in the JN story "Israel Unmasked" (May 28, page 38). Yiddish Limerick PT% To each sponsor, volunteer and guest... thanks to you, SpringElation was a huge success! Your support will impact hundreds of Father's Day founders Prepare To Defend Israel On Campus More advice for high school seniors heading off to college: The thing to remember about the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) propo- nents and all of the other on-campus Israel-hating groups is that they are all liars. They are informed and practiced enough, though, to make their lies sound convincing — unless you know the truth. Most people know very little about Israeli and Jewish history. They are eas- ily taken in. Learn the truth. The truth is much SPRING ELATION Ferndale Miriam Cohen, chair; Rita Sitron, co-chair; Michelle Passon and Sandy Schwartz, ANNUAL Harry Onickel Cancer Thrivers Network for Jewish Women: For related opinion pieces, see page 33. taro Far undzer mames, * there is a tog*in May So what about us? di tates*** did say. Un**** this is how der tate,***** too Deservedly received his due. So have a Happy Father's Day. * Far undzer mames — for our mothers **A tog — a day *** di tates — the fathers **** Un — and ***** der tate — the father — Rachel Kapen (dedicated to her husband, the late Dr. Shelly Kapen, father of their four sons). children with disabilities and their families. Eracinc 5, 13arriv. VOLUNTEER FOR JARC ci"Tg5/ royal•oak Sunday, September 4, 2015 SIGN UP TODAY! 248.488.7535 HallieEisenberg@jarc.org June 11 • 2015 5