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Editorials

Supporting
The Iran Deal

have repeatedly supported strong
sanctions, backed by the inter-
national community, to pressure
Iran to give up its nuclear weapons
program. Those sanctions have suc-
ceeded in isolating the Iranian regime,
crippling their economy and forcing
them to the negotiating table. But
sanctions by themselves have not
stopped Iran's nuclear program. In
2003, Iran had just 164 centrifuges for
a nuclear weapon. Today, they have
over 19,000 and have the capacity to
acquire enough nuclear material to
build a nuclear weapon by the end of
this year.
This is a dangerous
regime that kidnaps
Americans such as
Michigan's Amir Hekmati,
who needs to be released
immediately, and sends
weapons and other support
to Hezbollah and other ter-
rorists who seek to destroy
the United States, Israel
and our other allies.
The only thing worse
than Iran being the largest
state sponsor of terror-
ism would be Iran as the largest state
sponsor of terrorism with a nuclear
weapon. That's why getting this right
is essential for the security of America,
Israel and the entire Middle East.
I have had extensive classified and
unclassified briefings, extensive dis-
cussions with our U.S. negotiators and
leaders from every country involved in
negotiating this agreement. I have met
with leaders representing the current
Israeli government as well as former
military and civilian Israeli leaders.
And I have heard from so many people
in Michigan with passionate feelings
on both sides of this critical issue.
I have determined that the immi-
nent threat of Iran having a nuclear
weapon outweighs any flaws I see in
the international agreement. For this
reason, I must support the agreement.
For me, the decision comes down to
this: Without this international agree-
ment, Iran will have enough nuclear
material for a weapon in three months.
With this agreement, and the inter-
national coalition committed to it, we
have the opportunity to stop Iran from

getting a nuclear weapon, certainly for
at least 25 years.
I completely understand the deep
fear and emotion involved in this
debate. When Iranian extremist lead-
ers chant "death to America" and
"death to Israel:' the first question we
have is "how in the world can we trust
them to live up to an agreement?" The
answer is: We cannot. That is why this
agreement is not based on trust in any
way. It's based on strict inspections
and verification coupled with the fact
that America keeps all of our current
options, including military action, if
Iran in any way continues down the
path of creating a nuclear
weapon.
Under the agreement,
Iran must reduce its
stockpile of low-enriched
uranium by 98 percent and
the number of centrifuges
from over 19,000 to 6,104,
with those centrifuges only
being allowed to be used
for medical research or
other peaceful purposes.
Iran will be subject to
an intrusive inspections
regime under continuous monitoring.
If Iran violates this agreement in any
way, America will know about it and
be able to snap sanctions back into
place.
And critically important to me, we
will have additional information about
the movement of uranium and com-
ponent parts needed to make nuclear
weapons for at least 25 years.
Again, most importantly, if Iran
tries to develop a nuclear weapon, the
United States continues to have every
option on the table, including military
action.
I do share concerns about parts of
the agreement, including how Iran
could use funds from sanctions relief
to continue funding Hezbollah and
other terrorists around the world. It
is clear that they have been funding
these activities despite the crippling
sanctions. And we are right to be
concerned that additional funds from
sanctions relief, or any other sources
from other countries if this agreement
is not approved, could be used to con-
tinue these outrageous activities.

Supporting The Deal on page 39

38

September 3 • 2015

An Intriguing Spiritual
And Educational Journey

A

s synagogues tackle the
delicate art of balancing the
operating budget while main-
taining educational services, Jewish
Detroit presents yet another example
of inter-stream cooperation, this
time one that combines K-7 religious
schools.
Plans by Beth Shalom, a
Conservative congregation, and
Emanu-El, a Reform temple, to com-
bine their religious schools to control
costs and maximize resources cer-
tainly are imaginative. They're also
logical given the proximity of the
Oak Park synagogues, their small K-7
enrollments and their willingness to
overcome denominational differences
in pursuit of a vibrant curriculum long
on the teaching of Jewish values.
In 2010, in a prudent arrange-
ment, B'nai Israel, a Conservative
synagogue, and Kol Ami, a neighbor-
ing Reform temple, consolidated
general operations in Kol Ami's West
Bloomfield building. Jewish Detroit
boasts all kinds of inter-synagogue
cooperation within streams — as well
as moments of failed opportunities to
team up to one extent or another.
In relation to combining their reli-
gious schools, Rabbis Robert Gamer

A

of Beth Shalom and Arturo Kalfus of
Emanu-El talked enthusiastically with
the JN ("Sharing Resources," Aug. 20,
page 24) about lessons that explore
Conservative and Reform perspec-
tives — about Jewish learning rooted
in pluralistic teachings and not theo-
logical quicksand.
Just the notion of fuller classrooms,
and the diversity of ideas and broader
social interaction that's bound to
result, is exciting — let alone besting
the challenge of different approaches
to Jewish tradition. Parents quoted by
the JN share a similar excitement.
With funding and outreach support,
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit helped parlay the prospect
of an Emanu-El-Beth Shalom school
merger into reality, replete with
jointly developed policies and a joint
governing board.
It helped that the synagogues
started with curriculum similarities,
enterprising rabbis and open-minded
parents. But this match between two
spiritual timbers of Jewish Detroit,
resulting in a school appropriately
called Yachad ("Together" in Hebrew),
also had to have the innovative qual-
ity of not letting egos divert finding a
better, more compelling way. ❑

Iliffticp Jpwjsh Cnmmtinity

C habad's opening of a new cen-
an ancestral heritage yet widely
ter for Jewish engagement in
divergent in the way we express our
Commerce/Walled Lake rein -
Judaism.
forces the Detroit Jewish commu-
The Chabad Jewish Center of
nity's historic northwesterly march
Commerce/Walled Lake marked its
through Detroit, its suburbs and
grand opening on June 7. The con-
points beyond — but only to a degree. gregation, dating to 2002, is geared
Over the years, Jews also have
toward outreach with a range of tai-
moved north to Pontiac, Birmingham, lored programs and services. Jews
Bloomfield Hills, Waterford, Troy and
come not just from Commerce and
Rochester, for example. To the east,
Walled Lake, but also from Milford,
the Grosse Pointes have built a small
White Lake and Highland.
Jewish council.
Under the endearing guidance of
Meanwhile, young Jewish families
Estie and Rabbi Schneor Greenberg,
are flocking to Huntington Woods,
the center is helping fulfill the vision
Ferndale, Berkley and Royal Oak
of the Lubavitcher rebbe, Rabbi
in southeast Oakland County. The
Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who
Orthodox community especially has
saw the promise of Jews coming
assured a strong Jewish presence in
together where a Jewish presence
Oak Park and Southfield.
had been minimal.
What's more, the draw of urban
With the Chabad Jewish Center of
living has brought a few hundred
Commerce/Walled Lake now part of
young Jews, many with a passion for
the family fabric of Jewish Detroit,
Detroit's rebirth, back into the cen-
the backdrop is right to kvell over
tral city.
the multiple and richly varied ways
Clearly, we've become a com-
we celebrate and embrace Jewish life
munity that's more mobile, diverse,
locally, even as our population num-
scattered and intrepid — bound by
bers have fallen. ❑