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Will Charleston Massacre
Fade From Our Conscience?
After Charleston, will we talk for a few
days or perhaps even a couple weeks
about mental illness, guns, terrorism and
racism and then move on — or will we
finally and collectively take constructive
and productive action to protect the lives
of the living while honoring those who
lost their lives so tragically?
Or, will we let yet another horrific act
of violence fade from our collective con-
science?
Jill Farber-Bramson
West Bloomfield
There Are Many Reasons To
Support Hillary For President
Regarding Israel, Berl Falbaum has a
strong argument, but that's not the only
issue in the upcoming election ("Will
Jews Support Hillary At The Polls?" June
4, page 28).
The Republican concept of "conser-
vatism" means the following to me:
Establishment of Catholic and extremist
Christian religious beliefs regarding abor-
tion. Opposition to science regarding evo-
lution and climate and misleading school-
children with creationist mythology.
Persecution of homosexuals. Deportation
of people brought here by their parents
while too young to have a choice, who
don't even remember their homeland or
language.
Also, repackaged versions of the
baseless trickle-down economic poli-
cies. Fighting for right to work laws and
repealing prevailing wage and minimum
wage laws to drive down wages of work-
ing people. Voting for budget cuts and
vouchers that undermine public educa-
tion to divert tax dollars into private and
parochial schools that segregate kids
and indoctrinate rather than educate.
Preservation and expansion of gerry-
mandering and procedures that frustrate
targeted voters to pervert democracy.
Reduction of regulations that protect us
from pollution and fraud. Opposition to
Prof. Lupovitch To Lecture
About Jews On Television
For more than half a century, Jewish
characters and themes have appeared on
American television.
Through video clips and readings,
Professor Howard Lupovitch of Wayne
State University will explore what the
Jewish presence on television reflects
about the relationship between American
Jews and American culture.
This four-part series will be presented
at Congregation Beth Ahm in West
Bloomfield on Tuesday nights in July
beginning at 7:30 p.m.
election finance reforms to end the auc-
tion sale of our leaders.
Climate change is making storms more
violent in America, and Republicans
defend the polluters who add to it. The
odds of dying in a storm in America are
greater than for being killed by a terrorist
in Israel.
Yes, I would prefer someone with
stronger ties to Israel than Hillary, but the
moral scale is far out of balance.
Dennis L. Green
Farmington Hills
Ameinu Should Be Included
At Next Walk For Israel, Too
Why was I not surprised to read the let-
ter to the Jewish News from the Zionist
Organization of America president con-
demning, yet again, Ameinu, the organi-
zation that I am proud to be a member
of? ("Why ZOA Objects To Ameinu For
Israel Walk," June 18, page 5).
One of the facts from the latest World
Zionist Organization election results is
that the overwhelming majority of World
Jews do have a progressive point of view
when it comes to Israel (religious plural-
ism, two-state solution and gender equal-
ity) as the ARZA [Reform Judaism] slate
took 56 out of 145 seats.
With other parties that they can join
with, they will be the ones speaking for us
to Israel and not the ZOA.
Also, it astounds me that the ZOA is
already saying that Ameinu, which is a
legitimate supporter of Israel and was
able to run in the WZO, will have to beg
to be able to take part in the Walk for
Israel next year. I thought the walk was an
opportunity for all Jews to celebrate Israel.
It seems to me that the walk is for only
those who agree with the ZOAs point of
view, which, as I said, is not the world
Jewry point of view.
Mark Phillips, treasurer of Ameinu
Oak Park
Volunteers View Israel As
Home Away From Home
We recently had the good fortune to
return to Israel as a participant with the
Volunteers for Israel. VFI is a program
that offered us a way to contribute to
Israel. This was not only a vacation, but
also a great adventure and opportunity to
work with and talk with young soldiers at
our base.
The adventure started with the group
meeting at Ben-Gurion airport, where
the group was divided and sent to vari-
ous bases throughout Israel. Our group
consisted of six men and four women of
which there were four couples. At the air-
port, each group is assigned a madricha,
who guides you though your stay.
The mornings consisted of breakfast at
7:30 a.m., followed by a flag-raising cere-
mony and a brief meeting with the group
for news and assignments. Our work con-
sisted of working in a warehouse.
We would check and pack duffel bags
to make sure they were ready for the
soldiers, we organized supplies on shelves
for storage and unloaded storage contain-
ers. The work was not hard but accom-
plished with lots of laughs.
During the two weeks that our group
was together, we bonded, and when we
departed, we all left feeling Israel is our
home away from home.
The VFI/Sar-El Program offers a way to
contribute to of Israel in a very direct way.
The program accepts volunteers from age
17 through senior citizens.
For information, contact Ed Kohl,
(248) 420-3729, michgan@vfl-usa.org; or
Carol Kent, (248) 865-8580, carolkent@
aol.com; or visit the VFI-USA website,
www.vfi-usa.org .
Sar-El/Volunteers for Israel volunteers
typically spend two or three weeks living
and working alongside Israeli soldiers
at an army base, Israeli Defense Forces
warehouses or service bases.
Sharlene and Sid Beck
West Bloomfield
The series starts on July 7 with "From
Absent to Invisible: The Mainstreaming
of Jews on Television."
"Criminalizing Anti-Semitism" is the
focus on July 14. From older shows like
the Twilight Zone to more recent shows
like Law and Order, anti-Semitism has
been used as a trope to show moral
failure and the struggle of mainstream
American culture to eliminate it and
other forms of prejudice.
Lupovitch explores "Laughing at Jews,
Laughing with Jews" on July 21. He
answers the question: How have televi-
sion shows managed to present Jewish
mannerisms and quirks in a way that is
funny and sometimes even irreverent —
but rarely offensive?
The series concludes on July 28 with
"Beyond the Yiddishe Mama." The depic-
tion of female Jewish characters reflected
the changing image of women from
the stereotypical Mrs. Goldberg to the
stronger, more independent women like
Rachel Menken on Mad Men and Ziva
David on NCIS.
Tuition is $50 for the series or $15 per
lecture. There is no charge for Beth Ahm
members. RSVP to Alison at (248) 851-
6880 or ablau@cbahm.org.
Do you want to make
a difference?
As an NCJW/Greater Detroit
member you can make a difference!
You will impact your community
and the world at large by becoming
part of a growing grassroots
network of courageous and
compassionate individuals who
improve the lives of women,
children, and families every day.
Why Become a Member?
• Be a part of a National
Organization
• Advocate on progressive social
issues
• Receive invitations to Greater
Detroit Section's special programs
• Receive NOW/Greater Detroit
bulletins
• Receive E-mail action-alerts on
legislative issues
• Become involved in community
service projects
• Meet new friends and re-acquaint
with old friends
• Annual and Life Memberships
available. Special Membership
available for our GROW (Girls
Reaching OutWard) Teen Group.
We invite you to become
a Member today! Support
the work of NCJW/Greater
Detroit. Visit our website
or give us a call.
MISSION:
The National Council of Jewish Women
(NCJW) is a grassroots organization
of volunteers and advocates who turn
progressive ideals into action. Inspired
by Jewish values, NCJW strives for
social justice by improving the quality
of life for women, children and families
and by safeguarding individual rights
and freedoms.
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June 25 • 2015
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