viewpoints VIM >> Send letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com National Council of Jewish Women Greater Detroit Section Celebrating 124 years for openers We Don't Need No Stinkin' Primary Debates A fter one Democratic debate and political theater. three Republican debates, this is Although the Democratic debate was what new information more measured and issue-orient- we've learned about the candi- ed, too many podiums were on dates: nothing. the stage. A few days later, Hillary Primary debates are useless Clinton had the same negative when too many podiums are polling numbers she had the on the stage; the moderators week before. are trying to make a name for With an aggrieved Republican themselves, and the questions party trying to wrest some r are sometimes longer than the control over future debates in answers. Harry Kirsbaum the mainstream news media, Considering that CNBC is thinking that Sean Hannity, Rush Contributing NBC's business channel, I expect- Writer Limbaugh and Mark Levin would ed to hear some questions about be a moderating "Dream Team" the economy at the last Republican debate. is fraught with danger. But I guess with 10 candidates on stage, The candidates are all trying to get their including a reality show star who is lead- message out to the base, get exposure and, ing most polls, the moderators decided to above all, get the greenbacks. go for the ratings. I wouldn't mind having modera- If they really wanted to put Donald tors hand-picked by the Republicans or Trump on the spot, they could have asked Democrats during any primary debate him a real question that demanded a because it's just a primary debate. But thoughtful answer and not allowed him to there are moderators, and then there are deflect to one of his roaming answers that radio hosts. usually include trade with China, the wall I could possibly see Hannity as a in Mexico and Putin. moderator because he interviews other We only heard the same thing out of all people on his radio and Fox News show. the candidates because the questions were He knows how to ask a question and let a so bad. person give an answer, unless, of course, I'm a fan of politics, but I'm no fan of he disagrees with them. Rush Limbaugh has made a fortune by giving his take on politics, the media and anything else that comes to mind to an avid radio listening audience. He takes phone calls from his ditto heads, but mostly he interviews himself. Mark Levin is the lesser known but equally knowledgeable radio host, but again he's a solo act. And his voice is bor- derline crazy. He sounds as though he is moments away from a heart attack and in need of an ambulance. Neither Limbaugh nor Levin would do anything other than hog the mike during a debate, and they would go head to head to head, with Hannity; the viewing audience would learn a lot more about them than the candidates. But what's most telling is that as we get closer to the Feb. 1 Iowa caucus, the debate ratings are falling, which is fine. There won't be a real debate until after the conventions are over. I agree with Trump on one thing: Candidates need to drop out. Note to both political parties: A candi- date shouldn't have a spot on any debate stage if he or she can double their polling numbers in Iowa by convincing three cousins and their families to move to Des Moines. * MAKING THOSE END OF YEAR DONATIONS? Think of re 'design HOME consignment and council re sale Fashion Resale At Its Best council re sale needs your winter clothes for men, women and children, holiday apparel, career attire, jewelry, furs, shoes, handbags, and housewares. Drop off during store hours or call for a pickup. 3297 West 12 Mile Road Berkley, MI 48072 (248) 548-6664 Store hours: 11:OOam-7:OOpm Monday-Saturday Noon -4pm Sunday reldesign HOME consignment showcases fine furniture, lighting, rugs, crystal, and fine art editorial Call to make arrangements to donate or consign your items. Temple Mount Payouts Are Disingenuous A group of far-right Jewish extremists will pay $500 to any- one whom Israeli police arrest for violating the ban on Jewish prayer at Jerusalem's Temple Mount. The group, dubbed "Returning to the Mount:' seeks Jewish sovereignty at the religious landmark, imagining the Third Temple there. The payment pitch is intended to disrupt a tenuous longstanding arrange- ment allowing Jews to visit the revered Old City site, but not pray there. The pitch inflames a site where Jewish and Muslim holiness intersect. The Temple Mount, where the two Jewish Temples stood, is the holiest place in Judaism. Today, the sprawling compound houses the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, making it the third-holiest site in Islam. Palestinian leaders have stoked dozens of terrorist stabbing attacks on Israeli targets this fall largely by assert- ing Israel seeks to alter the fragile status quo relating to non-Muslim visits to the Temple Mount — and by inciting youthful "lone wolf" knife-wielders to fight and even die for Allah in defense of Palestinian interests. Israel's Chief Rabbinate agrees with the government's ban on Jewish prayer at the Mount, citing religious-based reasons. Ban-dissenters should appeal to those authorities, not flout the law, espe- cially in politically tense times. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies Israel wants to take over the Temple Mount. He accused Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who governs West Bank areas under Palestinian control, of incitement via propaganda. Religious officials of Jordan, which controlled the Old City from 1948 to 1967, administer the Temple Mount on behalf of the Islamic Waqf. Adherrents of "Returning to the Mount" believe the ban on Jewish prayer is discriminatory and the situation for Jews on the Mount "worsens with each passing moment:' "We must act not only to end the slide, but moreover for the addition of rights for Jews on the Mount, the first of which is prayer;' leader Raphael Morris told the Times of Israel on Oct. 28. Yehuda Glick's Temple Mount Heritage Foundation is another of 27 organizations in the United Temple Mount Movement that's busy recruiting Jews to visit the contentious hilltop adja- cent to the Western Wall. About 10,000 Jews visited last year and the number will likely jump by 4,000 in 2015. "When we have 100,000 Jews visiting the Temple Mount, we will be able to demand Jewish prayer:' Glick told the Associated Press. Clearly, Israel, by virtue of secular law and rabbinic ruling, isn't angling to "Judaicize" the Temple Mount, as the Arab world propounds. Jewish extrem- ists seeking to inject paid prayer there are only creating havoc for Israel. * 32801 Woodward Avenue Royal Oak, MI 48073 (248) 439-6040 www.redesignhomeconsignment.com Store hours: 10:OOam-6:OOpm Tuesday-Saturday Noon to 4pm Sunday Proceeds support NCJW/Greater Detroit's services, which benefit women, children, and families in need. 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. 111/1 26400 Lahser Road, Suite 30 Southfield MI 48033 248-355-3300 www.ncjwgds.org 1969100 JN November 12 • 2015 5