xt7ht727dj6h https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7ht727dj6h/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 1987-09 Newsletter of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, previously named the Central Kentucky Jewish Association and Central Kentucky Jewish Federation. The Federation seeks to bring Jewish community members together through holiday parties, lectures, Yiddish courses, meals, and other celebrations of Jewish heritage and culture. They also host fundraisers and provide financial assistance for Jews in need, both locally and around the world. newsletters English Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records Jews -- Kentucky -- Lexington Jews -- History Central Kentucky Jewish Federation newsletter, September 1987, volume 10 number 6 text Central Kentucky Jewish Federation newsletter, September 1987, volume 10 number 6 1987 1987-09 2020 true xt7ht727dj6h section xt7ht727dj6h CK3§XJF VOL. X SHALOM LEXINGTON Once again CKJF coordinated “Shalom Lexington”, a fall social event for newcomers to the Central Kentucky Jewish community. Co-hosted by area Jewish organizations, this year’s "Shalom“ took place Sunday afternoon, August 30 at Carnahan House. Representatives from the following organizations were on hand with warm greetings: B’nai B’rith, CKJF, Lexington Chapter of Hadassah, Lexington Havurah, Hillel, LEXTY (Temple Youth), Dhavay Zion Synagogue and its Sisterhood, Temple Adath Israel, its Brotherhood, Sisterhood and Mitzvah Corps, U.K. Faculty Association on Jewish Affairs, and Young Judaea. Entertainment was again provided by Larry, Harold and Marianne Sherman. _ ‘f we" _ Xx" ”3““ F ‘ «33:, . e" M awma§ @omfiral Kemfiueky Jewlesh Fodorafon SEPTEMBER 1987 NO. 6 Send Rosh Hashonah Greetings to Refwseniks This year start the Jewish New Year off American style -— make a new year’s resolution! But make it a special one, make a Rosh Hashonah resolution to begin correspondence with a Soviet Jewish Refusenik family. As you continue the time honored tradition of sending Rosh Hashonah greet- ings to close family and friends, won’t you consider extending this bit of warmth to a refusenik family? Names and address- es have appeared in the Bulletin over the past year, and many of you, with excellent intentions, have clipped these and put them aside. Now is the time to start your correspondence; now is the time for you to resolve to take a few minutes periodically to let a refusenik family know that your thoughts are with them. The following addresses have appeared in the CKJF Bulletins over the past year. we suggest that you choose a family or individual for this list so that we can concentrate our efforts. Aleksey Magarik (male) Rusahovskaya 87-88 Moscow 107113 RSFSR, USSR occupation: cellist status: prisoner of conscience & refusenik continued ...................... on page 8 fietdsaixs continued Valeria & Anatoly Levitin Sumskaya 73/137 Kharkov 310083 Ukrainian SSR, USSR occupations: Valeria—ophthalmologist Anatoly-economist & engineer daughter, Elena, 1? status: refusenik since 1979 Aleksandr Lerner Dmitry Ulanova 4-8-328 Moscow 117333 RSFSR, USSR occupation: noted scientist daughter, Sonya in Israel status: refusenik since 1971 Anatoly and Alla Goldberg Sofijskaya 48/1/37 Leningrad 196836 RSFSR, USSR occupations: Anatoly-computer scientist Alla—librarian son, Boris, 1? status: refusenik since 1979 Letter Writing Tips * Write regularly to a refusenik family * Number your letters and send them registered mail * Avoid political topics, direct mention of Israel, and the names of Zionist organizations * Send greetings on Jewish holidays * Answer return letters promptly * Report topics of special nature to the CKJF office (i.e., illness, arrest, harassment, etc.) for forwarding to activist organizations we are especially pleased to report that one family, Alexandra & Mark Leylnov and daughter Naomi, who we were about to list here, are now living in Israel. Administrator Linda Rawin Reports From Institute In June, I was fortunate to have participated in the Small Cities Executives Institute which this year was held in Jerusalem. Held under the auspices of the Council of Jewish Federations, the program was a very intensive one, concentrating primarily on the Jewish AgenCy. Bur seminar leader was Dr. Daniel Elazar of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, which has published many of the materials available on the Jewish Agency, its history, functions and relationship with both Israel and the Diaspora. we were addressed by Howard Heisband, Secretary General of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency and had a lunch meeting with Charles Hoffman of the Jerusalem Post, who has been writing controversial articles on the Jewish Agency. The timing of our Institute was well arranged so that we were able to participate in both the Pre-Assembly Seminar and the Jewish Agency Assembly itself, in addition to our own Institute. The focus of the Pre-Assembly Seminar was ”Judaism in the Jewish State: The Challenge of Religious Pluralism”. He met with Rabbi David Hartman, Director of the Shalom Hartman Institute and had an animated discussion with Rabbi Yedidya Atlas representing the office of the Chief Rabbinate. A lunch panel was arranged at the impressive new complex of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. On Shabbat we were fortunate to hear the views of author Amos 02 on religious pluralism. Immediately after Shabbat we were challenged by the Views of Rabbi Zui Hirsch representing Neturei Karta which does not recognize Israel as the ”Jewish State”. I was able to visit Netanya Sela and spent a morning seeing the facilities and the improvements in our Project Renewal community and having the opportunity to speak with the neighborhood residents and workers. This was my first trip to Israel. It was exhilarating, frustrating, and extremely rewarding. I say frustrating because my tOuring time was nonexistent. I managed to spend 10 days in Israel and really not see Israel at all. I have vowed to myself and my family that the next trip to Israel should be a family one and in the very near future. wave ties was 1cil 5 a ting UUI‘ of .rs, 1815 its uith ind, of the wing tish £11 to bly Ibly was The an, ute bbi of was of ear nus we Zui ich ish and and Mal to and It and ing 1t. and ave :he Jne Plan now for your next trip to Israel, and be more than just a tourist. The United Jewish Appeal has announced its 1988 schedule of Israel Missions, missions that cater to families, students and singles. What are UJA Missions? Each mission brings together a group of people for an Israel tour that combines sightseeing with lectures, discussions and visits to sites well off the beaten tourist path. These are tours for supporters of Israel who want to see the UJA at work in Israel. Tentative Mission Calendar 1&2 AOth Anniversary Mission II ($10,000 minimum) Sept. 9-18 40th Anniversity Mission III ($10,000 minimum) Oct. 18-88 Fall Study Mission ($1500 minimum) Nov. 2-11 Winter Family Mission, Dec. 24-Jan. 3 1.15152 Jan. 17—85 — $2500 Minimum Outreach Jan. 29—31 — Winter Presidents’ Feb. 1—11 — Winter Singles Feb. 8-17 - Region V Outreach Feb. BS—Mar. 9 - Region IV Outreach Feb. 88-Mar. 11— UJA Allocations Mar. 13-83 — Region III & 1 Outreach Mar. 13-83 - Mature Singles Apr. 17-87 - Yom Ha’atzmaut Outreach June 19-89 - Summer Family Mission July 10—89 - Summer Family Mission July 3-13 - Summer Singles Mission Aug. lA-EA - Summer Singles Mission Oct. 16-86 - Fall Study Mission Nov. 6-16 - Fall Study Mission Dec. 88-Jan. 1 — Winter Family Mission Dec. 27—Jan. A — Winter Students Mission For information on any of the above missions, call the CKJF office at 606-858-7682. Israel Celebrates A rededication to basic values will be the theme of Israel’s 40th anniversary celebrations in Israel and abroad, accord- ing to Asher Naim, Minister of Information of the Israeli Embassy. Festivities will begin in September and culminate on April 21, Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. ”We have had our difficulties in the past year, but now we must concentrate on our sense of destiny and purpose,” said Naim. In Israel, schools, universities and the media Will focus on the principles of liberty, justice and peace as embodied in the state’s Declaration of Independence. A national ceremony will be held on Independence Day in which citizens will sign a symbolic Declaration of Indepen- dence. Throughout the United States, anniver- sary committees are planning theatrical events, marches, festivals and concerts. According to Naim, three themes will dominate: the meaning of Israel, Israeli-U.S. ties and Israel-diaspora relations. Reprinted from Near East Re ort, July 87, 1987. Samye and Norman Auerback invite you to join them when their son HICAH LOUIS is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah Saturday, September 12, 1987 10:30 in the morning at Temple Adath Israel. Luncheon immediately following services. Micah will symbolically share this occasion with Roma Avadiaiev of Derbent, Soviet Union ~..-—w‘;-\ fir“ m'vfi:‘i"f "#le LL‘ililliJ. th‘Ju [ll -4 Dear Editor’s Note: The following letter was recently brought to the attention of the CKJF Community Relations Committee. He share it with you here. July 31, 1987 I would like to apologize to the Jewish community and to dissociate myself and our church from the recurring statement made by one Bailey Smith, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Several weeks ago the Reverend Dr. Smith reaffirmed his statement of several years ago: ”God does not hear the prayers of Jews“. V It is our opinion that the Creator of the universe will not be limited by the Reverend Dr. Smith as to whom she/he will hear. It is also our opinion that such prejudice is not consistent with the application of the Faith which we affirm. We hope that you understand that in the Baptist tradition, no one person speaks for another Baptist, and certainly not for Central Baptist Church. There are times when some Baptists speak in words that are repugnant and unacceptable to us. We further plea not to be judged by the words of Mr. Smith. Central is proud of our past cooperation, acceptance and work with the Jewish community. We also acknowledge that our Faith was birthed and is maintained in the Old Testament scriptures and influenced by Jewish tradition. We believe that God heard the prayers of Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets and all the people of the Old Testament period, all the prayers of the Jewish people since then, as well as the prayers of the Jews today. He also believe God heard the prayers of Jesus, who was a Jew. Ne offer to you, who share the common expression of God in our lives and the ultimate goal of humankind, our affirmation of you as people of God. We apologize for this deliberate display of prejudice by one who happens to be Southern Baptist. we assure you that that statement does not speak for us and neither do we believe it speaks for the majority of Southern Baptists. Sincerely, J. Spurgeon Hays Senior Minister Sephardic Music Highlight of l:‘-ues’t Recital "I can Clot . ‘1: Spanish soprano Sofia Noel and guitar— ist Redrio Elias will perform a recital of traditional Sephardic and Spanish Songs on Sunday afternoon, October 4 at 3:00 in the Recital Hall of the U.K. Singletary Center for the Arts on the corner of Rose and Euclid. Co—sponsored by CKJF and the U.K. departments of Spanish and Music, this performance is free and open to the public. Noel and Elias have recorded on the Phillips, Telefunken, and RCA labels and have given over 350 recitals in the U.S. and abroad over the past four years. Bring the family to this afternoon concert of music stemming from the Jewish tradition, and show your support of the CKJF’s efforts to bring quality cultural events to Lexington. Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education Regional Conference The Cleveland Bureau of Jewish Educa— tion has scheduled its first mini—CAJE Conference for the weekend of November 14 and 15. In addition to five workshop periods, with a choice of 25 simultaneous sessions, the conference includes a fully staffed Teacher Resource Center and exhibitors from many national publishers. The keynote speaker for the conference is Harold Himmelfarb of Ohio State Universi- ty’s Department of Sociology. He will address the issue of the impact of changes in contemporary American Jewish society on the work of the Jewish teacher. Schedule: Saturday, Nov. 14, B p.m. — concert at the College of Jewish Studies; 26500 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood, Ohio; Sunday, Nov. 15 — Orange High School 8 a.m. registration and tefillah; 9 am - 5:30 pm - workshops. A $85 fee includes the conference, kosher meals and a ticket to the concert. Home hospitality will be available for out—of—towers. Call (216) 371‘0446 for further information or call CKJF Adminis— trator Linda Ravvin (858-7688) to find out about others from this area going. tar— l of s on the dter and J.K. this the the and J.S. noon wish the Jral Ica— IAJE 14 shop PDUS illy and :rs. is "si- n11 iges ' on .95; lCEy :rt. for for lis- out Asohkenasy to Speak at TEN‘U‘JQ “4.1.; Nehama Aschkenasy. noted author and lecturer, will speak on two literary topics in Temple Adath Israel’s fall Keynote Speaker Program on Sunday evening, September 13 at the Temple. “Eve’s Journey: Feminine Images of Hebraic Literary Images” is the topic for an informal presentation from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. and will be accompanied by a dairy/vegetarian potluck dinner. To participate in this dinner, RSVP to the Temple office (869—8979) by September 10. A formal presentation, ”Between Victim and Hero: Literary Images of the Jew”, will take place from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. and a reception will follow. Dr. Aschkenasy is a professor of English literature at the University of Connecticut at Stanford and is the Direc- tor of Program of Judaic Studies and Middle Eastern Affairs. Her recent book. Eve’s Journey: Feminine Images in Hebraic Literary Images (Univ. Penn. Press. 1986), explores the female role in literature from ancient times to modern times and is the topic for her informal dinner presen- tation. The evening of programs sponsored by Temple Adath Israel is free of charge and open to the public. Central KY Jewish Singles Alone on Rosh Hashanah? CKJS will meet at a pm, Ned., Sept. 23 at Smitty’s Restau- rant (in Chevy Chase) for a ore-services dinner. Make reservations by calling Brad Hacker at 871-4783 before Mon., Sept. 81. Interested in a monthly discussion group? Contact Nancy Sethi (878—1181). Meetings will be held at TAI the first Tuesday of each month beginning Sept. 1 at 8 pm. Suggested reading is "The Road Less Traveled” by Scott Peck. Don’t like to attend services alone? Come the second Friday of each month to TAI and CKJS members will be there to worship with you. For more information call Dana Monahan (878-9841). News From Unavav Zion Sisterhood Dhavay Zion Sisterhood will welcome all new members to their organization on Tuesday, September 15 at 8 p.m. at the home of Susan Caller. Kate Fisher will speak on ”The Art of Tapestry Making“. DZS Sisterhood again invites all members of the Central Kentucky Jewish community to send their Rosh Hashonah greetings to the entire community through the Sisterhood’s annual greetings book. To place an add please call Janice Brock at 269—4030 or Rolene Berk at 866—7185. Ohavay Zion Sisterhood Fund Raiser Raffle grand prize, ”A Downtown Getaway", has been announced by Sisterhood President Sue Ezrine. The prize includes a candlelight dinner, one night’s lodging and breakfast (all for two) at the Gratz Park Inn. The drawing will take place Nov. 7. The tax-deductable donation/ticket of $5 is available through the Synagogue office or by calling Sue at 899-4404. Temple Sisterhood Opens Year Temple Adath Israel Sisterhood will begin the year at 18:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 16 for a luncheon at the Temple. Dr. Mike Nichols, Director of Counseling and Testing at U.K., will be their guest speaker. On Sunday, Sept. 80 TAI Sisterhood will welcome all newcomers at a ”Nine and Cheese” event in the Temple auditorium beginning at 7:00 p.m. Synagogue Dedication Dhavay Zion Synagogue will formally dedicate the new structure on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at 8048 Edgewater Court. Community members who facilitated the construction will be honored along with a cornerstone ceremony and dedication of the Rabbi Bernard Schwab Education wing. There will be guest speakers and refreshments served. All members of the community are invited to attend. Good News, Bad News Editor’s Note: The following is reprinted from the Near East Re ort, July 80, 1987. A soviet consular delegation arrived in Israel last week for the first official visit since Moscow broke relations with Jerusalem after the 1967 Six—Day War. Ostensibly, the purpose of the trip was to survey Russian church property and check on the status of Soviet passport holders living in Israel. However, the Finnish embassy -- which has handled Moscow’s affairs in Israel for the past 20 years -— could have attended to these matters routinely. The real reason for the visit seems to be Gorbachev’s desire to increase Soviet-Israeli contacts. A recently expressed interest by Hungary in estab- lishing a low-level diplomatic office in Israel similar to that opened by Poland last year is part of the pattern. Neither Budapest nor Narsaw would have acted without clearance from Moscow. That is the good news. The bad news was noted a few days earlier. Morris Abram, chairman of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, called Gorbachev’s hints that thousands of Jews would be allowed to emigrate soon "blandishments and soft soap” meant to cover an increasingly repressive policy. This spring Abram and Edgar Bronfman of the world Jewish Congress had voiced optimism after meetings with Russian officials. They suggested that the Kremlin’s lasnost, [opennessl reforms heralded a large increase in Soviet Jewish emigration and a.decrease in cultural and religious repression of Jewish life inside the Soviet Union. But now Abram says ”I must conclude that lasnost, as far as the Jewish population is concerned, at best doesn’t exist and at worst is a fraud." Although emigration is up from the trickle of recent years, it remains well below the record levels of the late 1970’s. While some well—know refuseniks are being granted emigration visas (Yuli Edelstein flew to Israel at almost the same time as the consular delegation), the Soviets are not accepting new applications and would-be emigrants face tighter requirements. The Kremlin, Abram said, intends to pressure "the great majority of Soviet Jews to give up their hopes of leaving and accept their fate as typical cookie~cutter Soviet men and women rather than people with their own religious and cultural identity.” Abram’s gloomy assessment accords with the views ex— pressed to Egg by several recent Soviet emigrants in Jerusalem last month. A restoration of diplomatic relations with Israel and greatly increased Soviet Jewish emigration are two standards by which both Washington and Jerusalem have said they will judge Moscow’s intention to play a constructive role in Middle East diplomacy. Specifically, they are the price of admission if the Soviets want to join the United States in convening a regional peace conference. Gorbachev has gotten a lot of mileage out of remarks he made during a dinner for visiting Syrian dictator Hafez Assad several months ago. The general Secretary pointed out that it was unnatural for his country not to have diplomatic relations with Israel, and that Jerusalem’s concern for Soviet Jews was understandable. The activities of the Soviet consular delega- tion -- and Kremlin policies toward its Jewish citizens -- will reveal the reality behind the rhetoric. UPDATE PERES; SHEVARDNADZE TO MEET New York (JTA) - Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres is scheduled to meet with Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze here at the end of September, diplomatic sources disclosed. The two officials will meet while attending the UN General Assembly which is to open Sept. 21. Peres is scheduled to arrive in New York on Sept. 28, after Rosh Hashanah. The Soviet Unon severed its diplomatic relations with Israel during the 1967 Six—Day War and has not restored them since. According to sources, Peres and Shevardnadze will discuss Soviet—Israel relations; an inernational conference on Mideast peace; and the situation of Soviet Jews. Reprinted from American Israelite, Aug. 13, 1987. aid, y of of ical ther and oomy ex— viet ions viet by wave 1 to East the to aage for ssad tary his ions :ern The ega- its lity sign neet Jard ier, wile 1 is to Josh atic 1967 them and 'ael on viet Aug. N. American Jewish Leaders Apprise Israeli Leaders of Sentiment on "Who’s a Jew“ Issue Over the past year, the leadership of the Council of Jewish Federations has discussed at length the repeated attempts made in Israel to amend the Law of Return, or to otherwise legally redefine ”who is a Jew“. The following statement on reli- gious pluralism and letter to Prime Minister Shamir reflect the consensus of the CJF’s General Assembly on how to handle this issue and how to make the opinions of North American diaspora Jews known. Religious Pluralism we take note of the 1988 Report of the CJF Committee on Religious Issues in Israel approved by the General Assembly. This report recommends that, because of the lack of formal consensus at the time and appropriateness to CJF’s agenda, CJF take no formal position on religious issues in Israel; at the same time the Report underscores CJF’s responsibilities to inform Israeli leadership of the divisive impact any change in the Law of Return would have on North American Jewry. This policy has served the CJF and Federa- tions well. Three separate governments in Israel have had its leaders notified by CJF of the implications in three separate considerations of amendments to the Law of Return. Ne reaffirm this approach. we also support resolutions passed at annual Jewish Agency Assemblies strength- ening and guaranteeing respect for reli- gious pluralism in all funded programs and activities of the Jewish Agency. To the extent that actions on religious issues might impact the North American Jewish community by being discriminatory, CJF opposes them. we direct CJF to monitor and report on actions in this area of concern. In addition, we call on all Jews everywhere to respect all streams of Judaism. Council of Jewish Federations General Assembly Chicago ~ November 1986 07/07/87 Dear Prime Minister Shamir, Once again I wish to convey to you on behalf of our 200 member federations of North America, which represent more than 80 percent of organized Jewish life in this great continent of North America, our position on the issue of The Law of Return. This position was first passed in November 1982 at the General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations in Los Angeles, and reaffirmed at subsequent assemblies of the CJF and by the Council’s Board of Directors. The CJF Resolution instructs me to convey the following message to you: “The level of concern in Jewish commu- nities in North America is both high and widespread over the possibility of any change by Israel in The Law of Return or any legislation that would affect the current definition of ”Who Is A Jew". There is general agreement that such action would be highly devisive both in North American Jewish communities, as well as between Israel and North American Jewry.“ It is very important that you under- stand and be fully aware of the very strong sentiment prevalent in the North American Jewish federated communities and I would ask that you convey such message to members of your government and members of your political party. With all good wishes and warm blessings from North American Jewish communities for a strong Israel, united and unfaultering in its determination to keep our Jewish people unified, Sincerely; Shoshana S. Cardin, President Council of Jewish Federations In recent weeks, a special leadership delegation, representing various North American agencies, traveled to Israel to attempt to influence the leadership of Israel to remove the pending legislative proposal to indirectly amend the Law of Return, which was to come before the Knesset on July 29, 1987. This group met with the spectrum of elected officials, encouraging each to depoliticize this sensitive issue. The following statement clarifies the position of this delegation. continued ...................... on page 8 Who’s, continued Statement made by North American leader- ship delegation to Israeli leadership and Israeli press in connection with the issue of ”Who Is A Jew" — July 88 1987 We are a delegation authorized by and representing the largest portion of North American Jewry in organized Jewish commu— nity life. He include the Council of Jewish Federations __ with 800 Federations in North American from Vancouver to Maine and from Ninnipeg to Florida and San Diego, California. We include the United Jewish Appeal, representing over 600 Jewish communities in the United States; and the United Israel Appeal of Canada, represent— ing Canadian Jewry. We are also author- ized to speak on behalf of the United Israel Appeal of the United States and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency. We wish to dispel any misconception as to the purpose of this visit of our delegation and the intentions of the organizations we represent. we are not here to impinge upon the sovereignty of the State of Israel, nor to interfere in its internal political processes; nor are we here to favor any political party within the State of Israel. Ne do not represent any religious movement in North American Jewry, although adherents of all branches of North Ameri- can Jewry are represented within our organizations. We are here solely on the basis of the concept of ”Klal Yisrael” ~— the peoplehood of Jews worldwide, Jews in the Diaspora and the Jews of Israel. We are committed to the centrality of Israel for the Jewish people; we are committed to the unity of our people and to the mutuality of responsibility and interdependence of the Jewish people of the State of Israel and the Jewish people in the Diaspora. We stress our belief in that interdependence —— we are dependent on them; they are dependent on us. Because of that interdependence, we have the right and the obligation to speak out when there is a threat to our unity and to the centrality of Israel. That right and that duty which we represent here is, in fact, the other side of the coin by which the State of Israel quite properly asserts its right and its duty to speak and act on matters affecting the well-being of Jews generally. It is our assertion of the parallel right to that which Israel quite properly assumes when, for instance, it speaks out on the Haldheim question and when it claims jurisdiction to adjudicate on the guilt or innocence of an Eichman or a Demjanjuk. Those rights go in tandem, and we both —— Jews of the Diaspora and Jews of Israel —— have the obligation to act whenever and wherever we see threats to us as a Jewish people. This delegation, on behalf of its constituents, views the current legisla— tive issues affecting the definition of "who is a Jew”, directly or indirectly, as a threat to those concepts of unity and the very centrality of Israel, both of which we have previously enunciated. In doing this we are fulfilling our duty to act as resolutely and as firmly as Israel acts when it perceives threats to the Jewish people. Amending the Law of Return, directly or indirectly, will cause a significant portion of our people to feel disenfranchised —— to feel that the essential unity which has characterized our relationship over these past 40 years to have been assaulted and shattered. We know that neither the Jewish people of Israel nor the Jews of the Diaspora can tolerate this. We must understand the lessons of our history; we must understand that our futures are inextricably bound to each other. We urge in the strongest terms that there be no alteration in the relationship between Jews of the Diaspora and the State of Israel. This relationship is essential to all of us and we sincerely hope that no legislative action will be taken which will cause our relationship and our people irreparable harm. CENTRAL KENTUCKY JEWISH FEDERATION NEHSLETTER 333 Heller Ave., Suite 5 Lexington, KY 4050# (606)852—7522 Gail R. Cohen, President Linda Ravvin, H.L.S., Administrator Elissa Golin, Editor Beth Altenkirch, Office Manager HEHBER Council of Jewish Federations its la— of as and of our as to or ant ael the zed ars ile :an and to iat iip ite Lal Lch )le )T' F‘ltn‘alism Gains in the U.S. Editor’s Note: The following is reprinted from The Canadian Jewish News, July 16, 1987. Results of the American elections to the World Zionist Congress indicate a substantial victory for Zionist parties promoting religious pluralism in Israel and losses for all traditional parties except Friends of Labor Israel. Two parties running on the platform of religious pluralism -- Mercaz, the newly formed organization for Conservative Judaism and ARZA, the Association for Reform Zionists of America -- made the largest gains of seats in the American delegation to the December 1987 quadrenni- al Congress. Mercaz, running for the first time, received 20 seats. ARZA won 33 seats, 19 more than it had in the previous Congress. Hadassah made the strongest showing in the election, with 48 seats, but that represented a loss of 21. Friends of Labor Israel gained two seats to win 15. The Zionist Organization of America garnered 12 seats, a loss of 10, and Herut Zionists of America won 9, a loss of 4. Religious issues in general seemed to dominate the voting, as more than half of the seats before imposition of penalties on the Orthodox Zionist slate went to the religious parties. The Religious Zionist Movement (Orthodox) had 56% of its ballots disqualified for penalties, leaving it with 14 seats, a loss of 5. Only one of the nine slates, the newly created Students for Israel list, failed to gain any seats, which are granted based on the percentage won of the total vote. The students were assessed heavy penalties for irregularities, and 98% of their votes were disqualified. The other 7% of its votes did not meet the 1,387 vote minimum needed to gain a seat. The Progressive Zionist list was also assessed heavy penalties. About 74% of its votes were disqualified, resulting in only one seat, a loss of one from the previous Congress. Penalties for all other parties were minimal. Karen Rubinstein, executive director of the American Zionist Federation (AZF) which administered the U.S. Zionist elections, explained that penalties were assessed for many voting and membership irregularities. Some ballots were disqualified for technical errors such as improper markings and codings. To check for compliance with the election guidelines, 2% of the membership lists of each organization on all slates (many of the slates are comprised of more than one organization) were randomly sampled by a computer. Under these guidelines, all eligible voters must be at least age 18, have signed the Jerusalem Program expressing commitment to Israel and Jewish values, and be paid members of a Zionist organization. Penalties were imposed for ”padding" the membership lists, multiple ballots cast by one person or failure to meet any one of the member- ship requirements. In the case of the student slate, Rubinstein said every ballot checked in the random sample of each student organ- ization’s membership was found faulty and thus disqualified. About 28% of all the eligible voters who are members of American Zionist organizations voted in this year’s elec- tion. The total number of valid ballots cast were 210,957, and about 8,500 were disqualified. American Zionist organiza- tions comprise 29% of the delegates at the Zionist Congress, or 158 seats. ”Tc-dab Rabah” “Todah Rabah” to our now departed Bulletin Editor, Elissa Golin. She is now settling in as a student in Baltimore, Maryland. we thank her for her dedication and wonderful work in pre