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AJC Unites Mayors Against Anti-Semitism
Importance Of
Music Education
I
n the past few months, the American
Jewish Committee (AJC) has undertaken
a national initiative to get mayors from
cities around America to issue a universal
statement against anti-Semitism, including
from cities in the Detroit metropolitan area
and other parts of Michigan.
Approximately 300 mayors have issued
the statement from municipalities in almost
all 50 states and the District of Columbia,
representing more than 71 million people.
The statement is a strong condemnation
against anti-Semitism. Its highlights include
concern over the alarming spread of anti-
Semitism around the world, especially in
Europe, and from which the United States is
not immune; anti-Semitism not being just
an attack on Jews, but also an assault on the
core values of any democratic and pluralistic
society; condemnation of anti-Jewish hatred
in all forms; rejecting political excuses for
anti-Semitism; supporting government
efforts to eradicate anti-
Semitism; and anti-Sem-
itism being incompatible
with fundamental demo-
cratic values.
AJC is now expanding
this initiative to mayors
throughout Europe, with
Todd R. Mendel additional commitments
from those European
mayors of pursuing a
zero-tolerance policy on
anti-Semitism; ensuring that anti-Semitic
incidents are thoroughly investigated; and
assuring the physical security and safety of
their Jewish communities.
It is our hope that this will have an
impact on combating anti-Semitism. At a
minimum, it is a high-profile and strong
start to addressing this problem. Our AJC
offices in Paris, Berlin and other parts of the
world are actively pursuing other efforts on
the ground to combat anti-Semitism.
There is also something that each Jewish
person can do right here at home to help
in this effort. Each Jewish person should
see himself or herself as an ambassador of
the Jewish people. Our interactions should
not give any person a reason to believe that
there could ever be any justification for anti-
Semitism.
Whether we realize it or not, each non-
Jewish person with whom a Jewish person
has contact could very well view all Jews
through the lens with which they have that
one interaction. If each such interaction cre-
ates a positive feeling, perhaps we can each
in our own small way start to combat anti-
Semitism on a grassroots and eventually
global basis. The best way to be treated like
a mentsh is to be a mentsh. *
Todd R. Mendel is president of the American Jewish
Committee, Detroit Regional Office.
essay
Talks Only Way To Solve Israeli-Palestinian Crisis
T
he window of opportunity to restart
talks between the Israelis and
Palestinians is still cracked open.
It behooves both sides to respond, however
slim the prospects amid escalating unrest.
Israel can't continue its military occupa-
tion and settlement expansion in the West
Bank interminably. And the Palestinian
Authority (PA.) must ponder its anti-Zionist
mindset and the hatred taught in its schools,
mosques, summer camps and TV shows.
In his Oct. 1 speech to the U.N. General
Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu extended a political olive branch
to P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas.
Noting he was shot during Operation
Isotope in Tel Aviv in 1972 and his brother,
Yoni, died during Operation Entebbe in
Uganda in 1976, Netanyahu declared,
"Those who know the price of war can
best appreciate what the blessings of peace
would mean — for ourselves, our children,
our grandchildren. I am prepared to imme-
diately, immediately, resume direct peace
negotiations with the Palestinian Authority
without any preconditions whatsoever:'
That's a sterling offer from a prime minis-
ter who has foundered at diplomacy.
The day before Netanyahu spoke, Abbas,
who also chairs the Palestine Liberation
Organization, the governing body in West
Bank areas controlled by the P.A., seem-
ingly spurned seeking a negotiated bilateral
agreement, telling the U.N.: "It is no longer
useful to waste time in negotiations for the
sake of negotiations:'
The United Nations recognizes "Palestine"
as a nonvoting observer state. Abbas is pur-
suing increased recognition of the "state of
10 October 8 2015
Palestine" beyond the current 137 countries, Resolution and not violated the U.N.
"international efforts to oversee an end to
Charter by attacking Israel, there would be
the occupation" and "international protec-
a Palestinian state today next to Israel, and
tion for the Palestinian people
there would not have been a single
in accordance with international
Palestinian refugee:'
humanitarian law"
Ordinary Palestinians don't
Still, he revealed a glint of hope
deserve the misery, indoctrination
in appealing to the Israeli people
and dashed dreams imposed by
for peace "based on justice, securi-
ruthless leaders. Statehood would
ty and stability for all." He affirmed
work only if built upon a "culture of
support for a two-state solution
peace and coexistence between our
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
people and in our region," as Abbas
based on pre-1967 borders and a
unwittingly put it at the U.N. His
Robert Sklar
time frame to end the "occupation"
Fatah leadership, despite inherent
Contributing
— both certainly preconditions.
corruption, has been able to install
Editor
Clearly feeling the tug of Fatah
some governmental infrastructure
hardliners, Abbas foresees "two
and institutions. And it grudgingly
states" emerging via international affirma-
has developed some economic, water and
tion. If pushed hard enough by the U.S.,
security arrangements with Israel.
U.N. and Arab League, Abbas would be
Yet Fatah's inviting Hamas, a terrorist
compelled to genuinely negotiate once more
group, into a desired national unity govern-
in pursuit of statehood.
ment is senseless. So is unilaterally rejecting
Abbas had the gall to lament the
the 1993 Oslo Accords. So is not denouncing
Palestinian yearning for statehood going
Fatah's terrorist wing, the Al Aqsa Martyrs
back to the U.N.'s founding in 1945. The
Brigades. The day after Abbas addressed the
Arabs rejected the 1947 U.N. Partition Plan
U.N., a Brigades cell orchestrated the mur-
for dividing British-run Palestine Mandate
der of a young Israeli couple driving home
while the Jews accepted it. Consequently,
to a West Bank settlement; the couple's four
the Jews of Palestine, part of which became
kids, ranging in age from 4 months to 9
Israel, have been forced to repeatedly defend years, were in the car but unhurt.
their ancestral homeland from Arab invad-
The Palestinian sovereignty and the
ers. And Palestinian Arabs have rejected all
regional peace and prosperity imaged by
negotiated possibilities toward an indepen-
Abbas can best be achieved through the
dent, demilitarized Palestinian state.
cracked-open window of opportunity,
CAMERA, the U.S.-based Committee
through direct, unconditional negotiations
for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in
punctuating not xenophobia, but such final-
America, gives historical context: "The fun-
status issues as borders, security, settlements,
damental fact remains that had the Arabs
refugees, Jerusalem, mutual recognition,
and the Palestinians accepted the Partition
water rights and holy sites. *
Helen Kerwin
I
love music, the performing and
the teaching. I have been studying
since I was 8 and teaching others
since I was 14. My bachelor's degrees
are in piano, education and humani-
ties, and I've played for Jewish
composers including Copland, Julius
Chajes and Elaine Lebenbom.
The foundation for music study is
critical. Not everyone teaches theory,
history and jazz basics in a "fun"
way.
Often I hear, "When my child gets
serious, I will call you:'
By then it is too late.
Music stores and music teachers
know qualified teachers. Look at the
website Music Teachers National
Association for teachers as well.
Music study is important for life
skills: creativity, discipline, doing
four things at one time, concen-
trating, taking orders, following
directions, working independently,
making choices, developing self-
confidence, developing personality
and humor — initiative, too.
When employers are asked what
skills they need in potential hires,
they say relationship-building,
teamwork, creativity, transforming,
cultural sensitivity — all skills piano
study addresses. Music lessons may
be a precursor to a future job.
Music is physical: using muscles,
fingers, arm, feet to pedal, etc. Music
is corroborative. Children express
ideas about fingering, dynamics,
style and pieces to learn.
They learn to make decisions on
the spot, to incorporate many com-
plex things at once. They also see
music as a reflection of life's happi-
ness and sadness through music and
learn to choose certain music to suit
them.
Parents must see the need and
have the patience to allow for music
study even when children do not
practice.
The one-on-one relationship of
a private music lesson is great, but
so is group learning. I'm planning a
series of five-week group classes for
young children that will teach basic
concepts necessary. Piano instruc-
tion should be available to all. *
For information on piano lessons, call Helen
Kerwin at (248) 353-6245 or send her an
email message at HKerwin@comcastnet.