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Random
Observations
About Reclining And Rising

JVP Denies
Israeli Jews Justice

P

I asked him to turn it off. I mean, even
esach can be really nice because
with my legs planted firmly on the
it’s all about sitting together with
ground, grammar is just not my cup of
family and friends, reclining and
tea. Period.
doing our best not to rise for at least 18
One more thing about sitting.
minutes. Except if you’re the
We inherited a couch when my
hostess, in which case you’re
relative passed away. Though
jumping up and down and
the couch was from the 1970s,
serving and clearing and wip-
it looked brand-spanking new
ing and washing and trying not
… although the plastic cover-
to let it all afflict you too much.
ing that had been resting on it
Speaking of jumping, my
for over 40 years was slightly
friend was recently diagnosed
yellowed. Well, I ripped off
with sleep apnea, and the clini- Rochel Burstyn
that plastic within seconds of
cian told her the next available
it crossing the threshold of our
appointment was six weeks
home and that avocado green
away. My friend joked, “Well,
couch, so “vintage” it’s almost
it’s not like I’m going to drop
trendy, promptly took up resi-
dead in the meantime, right?”
dence in our den. Today it looks as old
and the clinician paused and said,
as it really is — stuffing coming out the
“Ummm … let me check,” leaving my
top, sides marked up by aspiring artists
friend clutching the phone, horrified,
who ran out of paper and with slight
wondering what exactly she was check-
indentations on the cushions from
ing.
But then again, I’ve noticed that folks some unfortunately oversized bottoms.
Every so often I look at the couch and
in the medical field, no matter how
skilled and lovely they are, can be rather say, “Why is this couch different from
all other couches?” (Not really. That’s
interesting. One of my doctors is a JN
just a little Pesach humor.) But it does
fan, and at one appointment we got
make me feel a little sad for my relative
to talking a bit about writing … but I
who so carefully preserved her couch
was still completely taken aback when,
— for what? She never even actually sat
right at the — shall we say, crux of the
on it.
exam — he whipped out his phone and
“Later” doesn’t always come. We need
started playing a lecture on grammar
to enjoy today and appreciate and enjoy
for my listening pleasure. A lecture on
what we have (especially because the
grammar! While I admit I was relieved
next owners might not treasure our
to discover he wasn’t snapping pictures
stuff like we do; they might even treat it
with his phone and uploading them to
like a trampoline).
Facebook or anything, I was fascinated
Wishing you a wonderful, meaning-
he evidently thought that was the way
ful and enjoyable Pesach. May your
to enhance my medical experience.
recliner go all the way back and may all
Anyhow, call me a killjoy or a fuddy-
your chairs rock! •
duddy, call me whatever you want, but

IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM

I have tremendous admiration and
respect for Avodah (“Avodah’s Work
Toward Social Change Attracts Many
Detroiters” March 30, page 10) and
am honored by the fact that I have a
two-degrees-of-separation-connec-
tion (through my acquaintance with
their parents) to both Lizzy Lovinger
and Miriam Liebman, as well as to
NOLA-based Josh Lichtman, who was
an Avodah volunteer when it first
began.
These young people are motivated
by a quintessentially Jewish love of
justice. Their selflessness and dedica-
tion to humanity are character traits
that our local community, our state,
our country and indeed the whole
world need a lot more of right now.

Nancy F. Kaplan
West Bloomfield

Nurse Practitioners
Provide Expertise

In the article “Boutique Medicine”
(March 30, page 54), you presented a
“new” concept in medical care that
allows patients to pay out of pocket,
over and above their insurance, to see

continued on page 8

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Local Avodah members, while insisting
they have strong ties to Judaism, are
working against the Jewish community
(“Avodah’s Work Toward Social Change
Attracts Many Detroiters” March 30,
page 10).
By supporting Jewish Voice for Peace,
some Avodah members are actively
denying Israeli Jews justice. JVP recent-
ly invited unrepentant terrorist Rasmea
Odeh to speak at its 2017 national
meeting in Chicago. In 1969, Odeh
helped carry out the terrorist bombing
of a supermarket in which two Israeli
Jews were murdered.
JVP’s lineup of more than 20 Israel-
hating speakers featured Joy Karega,
recently fired by Oberlin college after
her anti-Semitic statements on social
media were exposed, and Judith Butler,
who proposes an end to Israel.
Also working tirelessly for the end
of Israel is the BDS movement, which
JVP is a proud sponsor of. Rebecca
Vilkomerson, JVP’s executive direc-
tor, said JVP is the “Jewish wing of the
Palestinian Solidarity movement.” She
has admitted to working to divide the
Jewish community. This is justice?
Prior to 1948, our enemies worked
for the destruction of the Jewish people.
Today they still do, but they mask their
anti-Semitism as “anti-Zionism.” This
makes it palatable to some Avodah
members who haven’t bothered to ask
what the end of Israel would mean for
Jews. Remember, anti-Semitism has
been around a lot longer than modern
Israel. And if Israel were to disappear,
anti-Semitism would not only remain
but grow stronger.
The one consistent strategy of anti-
Semitism is lying about Jews. That
strategy is still working very well for the
anti-Zionists, who lie about Israel.
Justice cannot be based on lies. It

can only come from truth. The truth
is that Israel is the only just society in
the Middle East and that Palestinians
consider all of Israel occupied territory.
Support for JVP and BDS is support for
injustice, the suppression of human
rights (especially for women) and anti-
Semitism.
We Jews joke that our holidays cel-
ebrate the fact that: “They tried to kill
us. We won. Let’s eat.” Some Avodah
members, who redefine Jewish identity,
mourn: “They tried to kill us. We won.
Let’s help them try again.”

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248-644-8565

jn

2141080

April 13 • 2017

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