Mazel Tov!

for college students by college students

commentary

JARED ARBIT

You have filled all our lives with
laughter and joy. You set goals for
yourself and met each one.
We are so proud of you and your
accomplishments.We wish you
happiness, health, and success. May all
your hopes and dreams come true at
Michigan State and beyond.

All our love,
Francine, Phil, Jake, Rachel,
Bubbie, and Nana

Congratulations!

Sydney,

We are so incredibly proud
of you and all that you
have accomplished.
You are an unbelievably
talented artist with a
bright future ahead of you.
We can’t wait to watch
you soar.
May all your dreams
come true.

All our love,
Mom, Dad, Tatum & Izzy
Grandma Sue & Papa Shel
Grandma Loretta & Papa Al

Congratulations!

Maya Skolnik

Maya,
It has been a wonderful journey
watching you grow into an
amazing young woman.
We couldn’t be prouder for all
that you have accomplished.
Continue reaching for the stars
and you will continue to
achieve your dreams.

We Love You!
Mom, Dad, Stella, and Nora

100

May 24 • 2018

jn

Value Of Knowledge

HMD’s Israel Fellowship offers
ways to form your own opinions.

O

n occasion, I have found
and political scene of the Middle
myself watching an argu-
East and the Israeli-Arab conflict
ment and observing that
as well as the difficulties faced by
the foundation of the argument
Israel and the Palestinians.
was a simple misunderstanding.
For each conflict, position and
How often has this happened in
debate, many aspects were dis-
your life? As col-
cussed. What is the fundamental
lege students we
root of the issue? What was the
find everything is
cause? Who blames whom and
about becoming
why? What should or could be
the people we
done? What would those who
want to be and
are impacted by the issue think
getting the tools
of our proposed solution? The
and information
purpose was not to definitively
to do so, it is
solve every or even any one spe-
Meyer Hochstadt astounding how
cific problem. The main goal was
some things are
to see each option or viewpoint
missing — like
for what it is and allow each
what you should
participant to form his own well-
believe in regarding morals, reli-
informed opinion as he saw it.
gion or politics. These are con-
We all must remember that
cepts that college cannot effec-
those who differ in opinion are
tively try to teach.
not automatically
However, when
“wrong” or “bad.”
it comes to the
It is the actions
We all must
contemporary
taken and ideals
issues and stan-
they stand for that
remember that
dard points of
should dictate our
those who differ attitudes.
contention, do
you think having
Finding common
in opinion are
as much informa-
values, customs
tion and data as
not automatically and character-
possible before
istics is the first
“wrong” or “bad.” step for all conflict
forming an opin-
ion or starting a
resolution. I have
debate is the best
observed that the
course of action?
biggest issue, but
This semester, I took part in a
also the greatest sign of potential
program offered by Hillel of Metro for improvement, is passion. Each
Detroit called Israel Fellowship. It
person on both sides in a debate
was a 10-session crash course in feels so strongly about his posi-
all things Israel. Informative read-
tion. This is encouraging because
ing assignments were assigned
it means that all involved want
and dinner was provided. For
to see an amicable resolution.
each session, the main presenta-
The catch is that ego and rheto-
tion was clear and well-presented ric designed to play on emotion
and, more importantly, the pre-
alone cloud the mind and some-
senters were third-party activists
times lead to ill-advised actions.
and lecturers from both sides of
My request is this: Take the
the political fence. This allowed
time in all things in your life to be
for a better and more honest view informed. Take the time to try to
of the facts.
see things from the other view-
We had representatives from
point. If we all can do this, I think
J Street and the ZOA, AIPAC,
most of our conflicts will see a
Jewish Religious Action Center
quick and amicable solution for
and AJC that gave their take on
all parties involved. @
the idea of “Israel advocacy.”
Meyer Hochstadt of Oak Park is a senior at
Wayne State University profes-
the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
sors Howard Lupovitch and
Saeed Khan reviewed the history