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Observant Jews Feel
Welcome at Hillel

As observant Jews and parents of current
Hillel students and/or Hillel alumni, we
take exception with the recent Popu-
lation Snapshot that states “Orthodox
children cannot be expected to attend
… Hillel Day School.” Not only do our
children attend Hillel, they thrive there.
As a community day school, Hillel is
comprised of students from every Jewish
affiliation. While not homogenous, the
student body, and its families, learn about
every facet of Judaism, find commonali-
ties and respect the differences.
Additionally, our children learn about
their history, Halachah and heritage, and
truly apply this knowledge to the diverse
world in which we live. The innovative
way in which all children, regardless of
Jewish affiliation, learn at Hillel is inspir-
ing.
All Jewish children and families are
respected and welcomed. Hillel truly
strives to be a viable choice for families
who are Torah-observant, and while we
may be the minority at Hillel, we feel at
home here.

— Lea and Jonathan Brateman, Southfield
— Naomi and Joshua Elberg, Southfield
— Monica and Ari Fischman, Southfield
— Aviva and Moses Fridman,
West Bloomfield
— Amy and Bryan Gottlieb,
Huntington Woods
— Dana and Larry Horwitz, Windsor
— Gabi Burman and Adam Kaplan,
Huntington Woods
— Amy and Jeff Schlussel,
Huntington Woods

Still Making An Impact

Thought you might like to know that
your cover story “No One is Immune”
(March 1, 2018) has had an impact on a
neighbor of mine in Florida. She and I
happened to be talking in early Septem-
ber, and something she said prompted
me to think of the article. I had read it
only a couple weeks earlier when going
through old Detroit JN issues that I’d set
aside to read.
In that article, it stated that Jamie
Daniels’ treatment included a stay at a
facility in Palm Beach, Fla. Since I was
just getting ready to go to Michigan for
Yom Kippur when my neighbor and I
spoke, I gave her the issue to read while
I was gone. The first time she saw me in
our building’s lobby after my return to
Florida, she thanked me for sharing the
article with her, saying she really found

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November 1 • 2018

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it of value.
That article, which undoubtedly had
an impact in the Metro Detroit Jewish
community when it was first published,
is still helping concerned parents and
grandparents!

— Sheryl Silver
Hallandale Beach, Fla.

A Culture of Hate

This letter is responding to the online
story “Fliers on 3 college campuses blame
Jews for Kavanaugh assault allegations,”
posted on Oct. 9 at thejewishnews.com.
There is no longer the truth being dis-
seminated in politics. As far as the bigots
and despots are concerned, anything
goes.
I believe this article is the direct result
of Dangerous Donald’s hate speeches.
Jews should be very, very concerned
because even with his decent Republican
followers, there are too many assorted
xenophobes, who will speak and spread
more hatred because of their leader’s
example of spewing hate of minorities.
When you hate browns, blacks, yel-
lows, you also hate whites, normally
Jews (except for their lawyers, dentists,
doctors, and comedians). Hate knows no
boundaries. Please remind your children
of this sad fact, the earlier the better.
Because there is no limit to hatred,
many people who may feel they will be
exempt just may be future targets, as
well. Republican Jews and their families
are not exempt. They will suffer with the
liberal Jews, too.
There are bigots waiting in the shad-
ows for the minorities they hate, and
then they let loose with their false ven-
omous accusations. Jews make great
targets in the political experience, even
among themselves.
Ever wonder why the increase in
anti-Semitism during these last two
years?

— Jerry Soble
Orchard Lake

Endorsements
Were Objective

There is so much negative campaigning
these days. I appreciated your objective
descriptions of the candidates for gover-
nor in the Oct. 25-31 issue of the Detroit
Jewish News. Although you endorsed
Ms. Whitmer, you also listed some good
arguments for voting for Mr. Schuette.
While I plan to vote for Ms. Whitmer,
it was gratifying to see positive aspects
of both candidates described instead
of negative ones. Similarly, although
you endorsed Ms. Stabenow, you also
acknowledged potential positive aspects

of Mr. James. Thank you for staying pos-
itive — it was refreshing!

— Peter Wolf
Lake Orion

‘I’ll Vote for James’

It is too bad that the DJN chose to
endorse the tax-and-spend incumbent
Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Her recent record
includes voting against House Resolu-
tion 1 to reduce taxes and voting against
House Bill 1 to allow tax payer education
savings plan to be used for elementary
and secondary school expenses, includ-
ing home schooling.
Stabenow voted for House Bill 1
that raised taxes; voted against House
Concurrent Resolution 1 that cuts
federal spending by $41 billion; voted
for House Concurrent Resolution 1
that allows filibustering on tax reform;
voted against House Bill 1628 Heller
amendment that repeals the 40 percent
tax on employer-sponsored health plans
(“Cadillac” plans).
Stabenow voted for the flawed, feck-
less Iran nuclear deal, endangering the
U.S. and Israel.
Stabenow voted against Senate Bill
2311 that would have banned abortions
after 20 weeks except in cases of rape
and incest or when the life of the mother
is threatened.
With regard to her experience, her
whole career has been as a politician
living off the taxpayer. She has no expe-
rience in the private sector or creating
jobs. On the other hand, her opponent
John James has created a successful busi-
ness and jobs. James has years of suc-
cessful management and administrative
experience in the military. Just on that
basis, I shall vote for James.

— Sylvia Fleshman
Farmington Hills

No on Proposal 2

There is a problem with creating vot-
ing districts in Michigan. When the
UAW had the State Legislature Demo-
crat dominated, and now with Repub-
lican dominance, the voting districts
are created every 10 years to favor the
dominant party — gerrymandering
(“JCRC/AJC Endorses Proposals 2 &
3,” Oct. 25, page 8).
Using the serpentine-shaped 14th
Congressional District as their exam-
ple, the Voters Not Politicians group
created Proposal 2. Their slogan:
Voters should choose their politicians,
not the other way around. This is
true. But their example of the 14th
District is not true.
Prop. 2 would create an
“Independent Citizen’s Redistricting

Commission.” This commission
would consist of 13 people, whose
names would be randomly selected
by the Secretary of State. Supposedly,
the 13 would be divided among
Democrats, Republicans and unaffili-
ated registered voters.
But there is no means of guarantee-
ing the truth, or permanence, of these
claimed affiliations; Prop. 2 states:
“self-identifying.” Whole groups of
politically related people, many with
relevant experience, and even their
relatives, would be prohibited. (There
is a discrimination question here.)
There is no consideration for com-
petence of these commission mem-
bers. There would be practically no
accountability for them whatsoever.
They cannot be fired, terminated or
voted out of their position by anyone
other than 10 of the other 12 commis-
sioners. The Michigan voting public
would have no vote over them.
Their use of funds has no oversight.
They would be given a blank check to
spend taxpayer dollars.
The only judicial review would be
at the Michigan Supreme Court. And
even the Supreme Court would only
be able to require the commission to
re-do their mapping.
Gerrymandering into unfairly
dominated districts is a real problem,
needing addressing. But Proposal 2
is a poorly developed and dangerous
solution, which would put possible
incompetence, discrimination and
almost total unaccountability into the
redistricting process — and into the
Constitution.

— Larry Freedman
Clawson

‘So Sorry’

I am an American Muslim from Ann
Arbor, and I am writing to express my
horror at the heinous murders that
occurred at the Tree of Life synagogue
in Pittsburgh and to express my sol-
idarity with the Jewish community. I
am sickened by the world-wide rise of
anti-Semitism, and my heart bleeds not
only for the loss of each of those who
were killed and for their families, but
also for the terror this act undoubtedly
has ignited among the members of the
Jewish communities throughout the
U.S.
I am just so sorry. This is not the
America I know.

— Karen Hanson
Ann Arbor

