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continued from page 10

counselors. [It] has always been regarded as best-in-
class in terms of a camping experience for children.
“So many of the great camps in Michigan and
beyond studied Arnie and Lorraine’s style and
sought to copy it. There are not many camps left like
Willoway. In a hectic, sometimes crazy world, it is so
reassuring to know there is still Willoway — a magi-
cal day camp for kids run by the most loving and
capable people in the camping world.”

ABOVE: Door-to-door transportation has been a
Willoway tradition since 1969.

FAMILY TRADITION

It’s a family business in another, more obvious
way, too. Lorraine and Arnie’s children, Bruce
Fisher, Carol Vieder and Jay Fisher, are all deeply
involved. And, each of their eight grandchildren
are either past or current campers and counselors.
This summer, more than 600 children, ages 5
to 14, will participate in camp sessions from June
18-Aug. 17. Activities include swimming, fishing
and paddle-boating, waterskiing and lake sports
at a nearby lake, nature, cheerleading, gymnastics,
go-karts, miniature golf, crafts, ceramics, tennis
and more. New this summer is an expanded ropes
and ninja challenge-style obstacle course.
The 50th summer begins with a kickoff party
from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 9, at the
camp.
“It’s going to be a great day for new and return-
ing campers to swim, enjoy lunch, games and all
that Willoway has to offer,” said associate director
Jason Rosen of Farmington Hills, who is mark-
ing his 41st summer at the camp. “I hope alumni
campers and staff will stop by for an Arnie Burger
or just to enjoy the day.”
Arnie added, “I’m excited. I don’t know if I
thought in 1969 that we would eventually cel-
ebrate 50 years. And I hope that together with our
team of directors and staff, we’ll have 50 more
summers of wonderful experiences.” •

For details about Willoway Day Camp or its summer kickoff
party, visit willowaydaycamp.com or call (248) 932-2123.
Jonathon Koenigsberg of West Bloomfield is an associate
camp director; his involvement began as a camper in 1981.

TOP: Camper with his fish, 1971. CENTER: Current
camp associate director Jason Rosen teaching
swimming as a member of the pool staff, 1987.
BOTTOM: Three generations of Fisher men cel-
ebrate at the final campfire of the 2017 season:
Bruce Fisher, Adam Fisher, Brandon Vieder, Daniel
Fisher, Ben Fisher, Arnie Fisher and Jay Fisher.

No Israeli
Soldiers Allowed?

Israelis may be singled out from U.S. program.

JACKIE HEADAPOHL MANAGING EDITOR

T

he Islamic Center of America (ICA)
in Dearborn is considering a ban on
Israeli military officers from visiting
the mosque.
The decision comes after the mosque
was criticized by its congregants for
allowing an Israeli military officer to
participate in a program of the National
Defense University through the U.S. State
Department on April 14.
A delegation of 67 top-ranking student
officers had come to the ICA to learn
about Islam in America. The ICA has been
participating in the program for 10 years.
Some members of the congregation,
one of the largest Shia mosques in the
country with more than 1,200 members,
were angry when they learned an Israeli
officer was among the delegates.
Ned Fawaz, an honorary board mem-
ber and longtime leader of the mosque,
told the Detroit Free Press, “Some people
complained that with the situation in
Palestine, Gaza and Syria, the mosque
should not have an Israeli officer in the
group visiting.”
Trustees addressed the incident in a
May 5 letter to the congregation that was

12

May 31 • 2018

jn

posted to Facebook. “We addressed the
group as a whole … without distinction of
nationality and/or political background,”
it read.
Congregants were not appeased. There
was a protest at the mosque May 11,
where members distributed fliers stating,
“Did you know Israeli military officers
were welcomed at the Islamic Center of
America?”
Another letter from the trustees, posted
to Facebook the following day, had a
different tone and message. “We were
unaware that one Israeli officer had been
part of the delegation … the Center never
had or will have any intention of honoring
such an officer. We understand and sup-
port the concerns raised by members of
the community to such a visit.”
The letter goes on to say, “Our Board
of Trustees and administration will take
the necessary measures to ensure that no
Israeli military personnel will be received
at the ICA in the future, as we consider
our interfaith outreach program.” Mosque
leaders later told the Free Press that the
ICA Board of Trustees would make the
final decision on whether Israeli soldiers

Islamic Center of
America in Dearborn

would be allowed to visit in the future.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State
Department, when asked if it would main-
tin its relationship with ICA if it chose to
ban Israeli military from the program,
said, “We decline to comment on hypo-
thetical questions.”
David Kurzmann, executive director of
the Jewish Community Relations Council-
AJC, an organization charged with repre-
senting the Metropolitan Detroit Jewish
community and establishing collaborative
relationships with other ethnic, racial and
religious groups, says that to his knowl-
edge, the JCRC has never had a relation-
ship with the leadership of the ICA.
He said that, at the very least, its deci-
sion to ban future visits from the Israeli

military is “a terribly anti-Israel gesture. If
the Israeli military is the only one being
banned, it’s no different than the double
standard Israel faces elsewhere on the
world stage, such as at the United Nations.
“By some measures,” he added. “If you
treat the Jewish state differently, that’s a
form of anti-Semitism.”
Kurzmann said it was unlikely that
the JCRC-AJC would be “the ambassador
leading the conversation about this issue
because we don’t have a relationship with
any of the mosque’s leaders.
“However,” he added, “we don’t shy
away from difficult conversations, and we
raise concerns when we see
them.” •