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Pro-Israel Democrats
Can't Support Obama
The attendees of the "Southfield Rally"
(Sept. 3, page 20) and all American
Jews and especially the Jewish members
of Congress who support the Iranian
nuclear deal need to ask themselves if
they would have supported a similar
deal with Hitler's Nazi Germany.
The Obama administration's
engagement of Iran recalls Neville
Chamberlain's appeasement of
Germany, which led to World War II. In
light of these troubling developments,
as a community we need to re-evaluate
the historical blind loyalty a majority of
Jews have given the Democratic Party.
The fact that our Jewish and gentile
representatives such as former Sen.
Carl Levin ("Why Hawks Should Back
The Iran Dear Aug. 27, page 37), Sen.
Debbie Stabenow ("Supporting The
Iran Dear Sept. 3, page 38) and U.S.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence ("Iran Pact
Called The 'Best Option",' Aug. 27, page
14) all blindly support this deal should
be a warning to their Jewish supporters.
Unfortunately, as we witness on
college campuses and in the halls
of Congress, the liberal/progressive
agenda has metastasized into a "group
think-follow the leader mentality"
where, vis-a-vis Iran, President Obama's
assurances are accepted as gospel by
his followers, and legitimate opposition
is rejected as purely partisan by the
superficial and dishonest media.
To continue to support the
Democratic Party because you like its
position on the minimum wage, etc. —
but know the party's position on Iran
will endanger Israel and may lead to a
another world war — is intellectually
dishonest.
This is Obama's legacy, and it is not
too late for the Jews who blindly sup-
ported him to change course.

Marc Baker
Birmingham

A Practical Guide To
The Art Of Listening
This is in response to the article
"Family Matters" by Ellen Yashinsky
Chute, (Sept. 17, page 47). As a regis-
tered nurse, I reflected on the words,
"Mattering is a perception."
When we truly listen to people (and
impart that we will make every effort to
understand what is most important to
them), we are sending them the mes-
sage that they matter to us.
Based on my years of experience as

a listener, I am reminded to go back
to the basics. The following practical
guidelines help me stay on track as a
compassionate and effective listener:
• Observation: Share your observa-
tions. Examples are "You look ... sad,
frustrated, angry, discouraged, peace-
ful, relaxed; etc.
• Reflect back: Restate what you
heard: "So, if I'm understanding you
correctly, you are saying (or you are
feeling) ..." "It sounds like you are tell-
ing me ..." Or, "I hear you saying ..."
• Ask questions: Posing wise and
timely questions is an art. It takes prac-
tice. If the moment feels right and you
feel able, you can ask: "How can I help
you?" "Would you like some feedback?"
"Can I share some thoughts with you?"
Or, "I'd like to respond to your ques-
tions; is that OK?"
• Listen and listen again: Try to
remain quiet and do not interrupt. We
can reflect back what we heard, and we
can tell someone: "I'm listening to you,
and I'm thinking about what you are
saying." Or, "I'm listening, and I think
I need to consider what you are saying
before I can best respond." Or, "Tell me
more about it; I want to be sure I'm
understanding you:' And, if needed,
we can gently give a pause, a gesture
or caring touch with a statement such
as "Let's slow down and take a breath:'
Then, how to proceed can be more eas-
ily determined.
What is most important is putting
forth the effort to become a compas-
sionate and effective listener — to truly
strive to "get it" — while worrying less
about finding the perfect response.

Your Legal
Issues

Yiddish Limerick

Sukkot

IT IS TIME TO ACT!

Ich hob mine succah lib, * it's zeyer,
zeyer shein. **
It isn't zeyer greis,*** it's zeyer, zeyer
klein.****
With just a table and a chair,
mir essn, trinken,***** without
care.
Now kum arayn,****** it starts to
rain.

* Ich hob mine succah lib — I love
my succah
** zeyer, zeyer shein — very very
beautiful
*** zeyer greis — very large
**** zeyer klein — very small
***** mir essn, trinken — I'm eat
ing, drinking
****** kum arayn — come inside

- Rachel Kapen

Karen Burstein, BSN, RN, CCM
West Bloomfield

Shaarey Zedek Cantor
Wins National Honor
Southfield Congregation Shaarey
Zedek's chazzan, David Propis, has
made the short list
in the New York-
based Forward
newspaper's search
for today's best
Jewish voices.
The search for
"21 Jewish Voices
That Move Us"
David Propis
drew more than
300 names. Propis was nominated by
Larry Nemer.
In the Forward, Propis said, "Jewish

Ask Attorney
Ken Gross
about...

music is part of the fabric of my soul.
"It began at age 5 singing with my
father, Cantor Dov Propis. My sisters
and I were his High Holiday choir.
Whatever our differences at home,
when we sang, all was right with the
world. That calming, yet excited feel-
ing I had singing as a child inspired
me to follow in my father's footsteps.
"For the past 30 years, I have had
the honor of training more than 3,000
b'nai mitzvah students.
"It's a source of pride to know that
many have become cantors, rabbis
and Jewish professionals who them-
selves are creating their own legacy of
inspiration:'

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L

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September 24 • 2015

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