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'V
4,1
Annual Benefit
Luncheon
Federation Shouldn't Have
Given View On Iran Pact
Here is what we wish the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit had
said concerning the P5+1 agreement
with Iran:
"Out of respect for the diversity of
opinion of our donors, the Federation
will neither support nor oppose the
agreement:'
This is what the Jewish Federation of
San Diego County said on July 30, and
we applaud that.
Both in rushing to judgment before
the ink was even dry on the document,
and in deciding to join the campaign by
the Israeli prime minister, AIPAC and
certain other major Jewish organiza-
tions to defeat the agreement seemingly
by whatever means necessary, we feel
that JFMD has made a serious, divisive
error in judgment that will over the
long run prove detrimental to Israel, the
American Jewish community and our
local Jewish community.
We certainly feel alienated from
Federation at this point and strongly
protest its presuming to speak for us on
this subject.
To help put things in perspec-
tive, we commend three excellent
articles by Israeli commentators: two
by Jerusalemite Gershom Gorenberg —
one titled "What We Talk About When
We Shout About Iran," and another
titled "What a No Vote on the Iran
Deal Would Mean," published in the
American Prospect on July 22 and Aug.
13, respectively — and a blogpost by
Tel Aviv resident Hillel Schenker titled
"Support for Iran Deal from Israel:
which was posted on the Times of Israel
website on Aug. 15.
These articles make it clear that there
is significant support for the agree-
ment among knowledgeable Israelis,
including nuclear scientists, former
intelligence heads and security-defense
experts.
We support the agreement because we
believe in diplomacy, and we feel that
the deal offers a comprehensive, multi-
lateral approach to ensuring that Iran's
nuclear program remains weapon-free.
And we agree with our president that
many of the voices calling for defeat of
the agreement are the same people who
were cheerleaders for the calamitous
U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 (including
Benjamin Netanyahu, who was out of
office at the time and testified before
Congress in support of the invasion as a
private citizen).
We have no confidence in what these
people have to say about the P5+1
agreement.
Nancy and Michael Kaplan
West Bloomfield
It's Better To Confront Evil
Than To Make Deal With It
I am responding to Rep. Sander Levin's
article "Iran Nuclear Deal Is the Best
Option" (Aug. 6, page 33).
I have no doubt that Rep. Levin
believes in this line of reasoning.
However, over the course of history,
deals made with certain world leaders
have proven disastrous. These leaders
are treacherous, evil, deceitful and con-
sumed with destroying any nation or
people that does not accept their ideol-
ogy and religion.
Common sense is critical. Delaying
Iran's program will not solve the threat
that this country's leadership imposes
on Israel, the rest of the Middle East and
the world.
I believe it is better to confront this
evil. Any agreement made with this
country is a joke. They are terror-
ists, liars and killers of innocent men,
women and children. This deal is a fal-
lacy.
Jack Rosenzweig
West Bloomfield
Invading Iran Would
Not Achieve Success
Opponents of the P5+1 agreement with
Iran argue that we failed to achieve all
our goals, so the agreement should be
rejected and the sanctions maintained
until Iran agrees to all our demands.
But if we reject the agreement, then
we can see no reason why Russia and/
or China will continue to support and
enforce their sanctions against Iran
in the face of our failure to accept the
negotiated agreement.
Why should our strategic rivals forego
the opportunity to make large amounts
of money when blaming us for the
failure will allow them to drop their
support of the existing sanctions and to
openly buy and sell material to Iran?
Our only alternative will be to accept
an Iranian bomb in the near future or
else start a war against Iran. Do we really
want to take that failed path once again?
Opponents of the agreement offer
us a mirage of another quick victory.
Containment takes patience, tenacity
and foresight. We won the Cold War by
containing and negotiating. We did not
win it by invading Vietnam or Laos.
Invading Iraq did not help us achieve
any long-term strategic goals in the
post-Soviet era. Invading Iran will only
continue the list of American strategic
defeats brought about by our own folly
in mistaking shooting for succeeding.
Robert and Lucille M. Arking
Troy
Stand Up To Country That
Chants 'Death To America'
I have been following with great interest
the discussion in the Jewish News about
the Iran nuclear agreement, and want to
thank the Jewish News for that.
I was particularly impressed by
the column authored by Dr. Eugene
Greenstein and Dr. Irving Ginsberg
("Nuclear Capitulation Will Lead To
Iranian Bomb:' Aug. 13, page 58). They
both seem to have an understanding of
the technical aspects of the proposed
agreement, and their points are very
powerful.
It seems to me that we are putting our
trust in a regime that has a long history
of cheating and ignoring U.N. resolu-
tions as well as being a major funding
source for terrorism.
The inspection and verification
processes are weak and inadequate. It
can take almost two months to get an
inspection: 24 days through the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action com-
mittee, and then 30 days through the
Security Council. After that, it is unclear
what happens if Iran still refuses to
allow inspections.
As pointed out in the column, the
snapback of sanctions is impractical.
Does that mean that refusal of inspec-
tions will be ignored, or will the U.N.
Security Council, where Russia and
China have vetoes, take military action?
Just this week, Canada, our biggest
trading partner, has announced that it
will not lift sanctions until Iran proves
it has dismantled its nuclear weapons
work. And that will be their position
regardless of whether the U.S., the E.U.
and the U.N. accept the agreement.
Too bad that we, the strongest eco-
nomic and military power in the world,
refuse to stand up to a terrorist theoc-
racy that chants, "Death to America:'
Thursday,
September 3, 2015
Congregation Shaarey Zedek,
Southfield
Featuring
A Vision of Fashion
A Fashion Show, Luncheon,
Award Presentation and
Boutique Shopping
HONORING
Woman of Vision Award Recipient
Liz Guz - Entrepreneur
Josephine S. Weiner Award for
Community Service
Recipients Elizabeth Bank,
Jewish Community Champion
Michael Williams, President and
CEO Orchards Children's Services
Fashion plays an important role in
all of our lives. Fashion has also
played a major role over the years
for National Council of Jewish
Women, Greater Detroit Section.
LOCALLY
1934: NCJW/Greater Detroit
opened its first resale shop in
Detroit. For over 80 years, store
proceeds locally benefit our
community service projects,
advocacy work, and programs.
IN ISRAEL
Funding is provided for "Turning
the Tables," a program that
provides economic and professional
empowerment to women who
exit the destructive cycle of
sex-trafficking and prostitution.
Through vocational training for a
career in fashion and promotion
of an alternative livelihood,
participants develop self-worth.
Luncheon tickets
and Patron levels
still available.
To purchase tickets,
visit our website.
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.
Deborah Parks,
Howell
26400 Lahser Road, Suite 306
Southfield MI 48033
248-355-3300
www.ncjwgds.org
August 20 • 2015
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