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REGISTER NOW 5th and 6th Grade Shabbaton: Sharing Sacred Community @ Tamarack Camps When? Friday, November 6th at 3:30 pm through Saturday, November 7th at 8:45pm Where? Tamarack Camps (transportation provided) Who? Open to Jewish 5th and 6th graders Cost? $50 Per Student (scholarships available if needed) Why? • Spend a Shabbat weekend at Tamarack Camps! • Make new friends and reconnect with old ones! • Gain exposure to diversity within the Jewish community! • Experience an interactive and meaningful Shabbat weekend! Register by October 18th at jewishdetroit.org/events Questions? Contact your congregational education director or Emily Zussman at zussman@jfmd.org or 248.203.1475. 2038480 Older Cemeteries Need Attention Giant thank you for reminding the community of the responsibility of assuring older cemeteries are not left to deteriorate ("Cemetery Care," Oct. 1, page 1). I am concerned that the Workman's Circle Cemetery (in Clinton Township) was not mentioned. Many of the graves have large cement barriers around them. My husband's grandparents have a double cement barrier. I am no longer able to kneel in order to clean up the weeds that cover the double area as well as the single site. The perpetual care results in the plant- ing of three hen and chicks per grave. This does not prevent the weeds. I hope the rabbis will consider removing the barriers and someone will sponsor the cost. This would permit the grass to be cut and a small area of flow- ers to be planted — thereby minimizing the appearance of neglect. Joyce Kliger Farmington Hills Netanyahu Faces Reality In Courting Putin, Obama During Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's time in the States, he must have become a fan of American mov- ies because his recent statements and trips could have come directly from the script of the Shawshank Redemption. Recall that the lead character, Andy Dufresne, recognized, upon entering prison, that being friends/allies with the powers that be — warden and prisoner bosses, made his life relatively safe. So, too, Mr. Netanyahu knows he has to play nice with the two world powers that are the ultimate external protec- tors of Israel's security, even when those two do not get along on many issues. Strange bedfellows indeed and a game Bibi plays well. He visits Russia and President Vladimir Putin because he knows that Russia is now the de facto power player in the countries of greatest threat to Israel. And as long as Russia is Israel's friend of sorts, the other players will not get nasty, other than words. With the United States last week and in the November trip, Bibi will keep the defensive weapons coming to offset major terrorist attacks on the home- land. And now that he has backhanded- ly accepted the Iran deal, that guarantee remains. A very pragmatic plan. Irv Wengrow Troy Volunteers Aid The IDF The room was packed with veteran Volunteers for Israel at our annual reunion at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills on Sept. 27. We gathered to reminisce about our experi- ences, share brunch and learn. We heard associate regional director Paul Matlin discuss how the individual volunteers can assist the Israel Defense Forces troops on bases while also assist- ing the IDF and Israel — the primary reasons we volunteer. Associate regional director and Ambassador Coordinator Carol Kent discussed improved growth of the VFI Ambassador Program, recruitment and volunteers. We welcomed Ohio regional director Jim Cihak and his overview of activities in our neighbor state. The highlight of the reunion was an exciting talk by IDF veteran and Michigan Friends of the IDF hasbarah [public diplomacy] spokesman, Uri Segel, who spoke of his upbringing in Israel, wartime experiences and the important work FIDF does for Israeli soldiers. The VFI/Sar-El Program offers a way to contribute to the State of Israel in a very direct way. The program accepts volunteers between the ages of 17 through senior citizens. For information, call or e-mail Ed Kohl at (248) 420-3729, michgan@ vfi-usa.org; Carol Kent at (248) 865- 8580, carolkent@aol.com; or visit the VFI-USA website www.vfi-usa.org. Carol Kent, Paul Matlin, Ed Kohl West Bloomfield Correction • In last week's cover story, "Cemetery Care," the photo caption misidenti- fied the location of Hebrew Memorial Park. It should have indicated it was in Clinton Township. viewpoints » S e n d l e t t e r s t o : l e t t e r s @ t h e j e w i s h n e w s . c o m continued from page 6 8 October 8 • 2015 letters TONY AWARD ® 2012 BEST SCORE BEST CHOREOGRAPHY WINNER! © Disney Detroit Opera House t Dec. 15 –27 ticketmaster.com, 800-982-2787; Fisher Theatre & Opera House box offices. Info: BroadwayInDetroit.com, 313-872-1000. Groups (12+): Groups@BroadwayInDetroit.com or 313-871-1132. Open-captioned performance 6:30PM Dec. 20. THEY DELIVERED THE PAPERS, UNTIL THEY MADE THE HEADLINES... 2029230