Newspapers / The Charlotte Jewish News … / Sept. 1, 1992, edition 1 / Page 3
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Time to Work Together —cont'd from page 2 — work to help those who have moved their families to Israel to realize their dreams. I have always believed that we as Jews cannot look at the narrow focus of a particular organization but how each fits into the total picture. The JCC is not just a place to work off those few extra pounds but a center where Jewish people come together for interesting programs and to schmooze with friends. The Jewish Family Services is not just a resettlement agency but a crucial presence in the health of our community. While we would like to think that our community is not beset by social ills, we do, in fact, have them and we are fortunate to have an organization so well prepared to handle them. Ha- dassah is not just a group of women raising money for a Year of Wonders — hospital but another forum where Jewish people get together to discuss issues and needs. I could go on about each organi zation from the Blumenthal Home to CAJE to ORT to demonstrate how each is an integral part of our Jewish community. I have found that in my short time here in Char lotte that many share my views that we can all work together. The New Year always revives my spirit of optimism for all that we can accomplish. Now that my family is here and we are settled in our new home I feel even better. The Charlotte communi ty has been wonderful to us in our transition and it has and continues to be greatly appre ciated. On behalf of Susan, Benjamin, Jesse and Alexander, I wish you all a Happy New Year. and a recognition of a higher power. This year’s calling is not only for wonders, but for big wonders. Although we expect that the year will bring with it big wond ers, it is important that we recognize its potential by invest ing in the year and make the big wonders happen. Just as in human interaction, one can evoke a friend’s kindness and benevolence through his/her own act of kindness, so it is with G-d. By doing our part in a big and wondrous way we could evoke G-d’s blessing in return. Let us prepare for the new year and take its name to heart. cont’d from page 2 Let us be kind in a big and wondrous way. Let us help those in need in a big and wondrous way. Let us not forget about our own spiritual Jewish needs; let us study Torah and perform its Mitzvot in a big and wondrous way. And may G-d grant all of us in Charlotte, in Israel and in the world over, a big and wondrous Happy New Year—a year of health, peace and prosperity— a year when the greatest wonder of all will be fulfilled, the arrival of our righteous Moshiach, and the rebuilding of the third Holy Temple in our big and wondrous city of Jerusalem. Note of Thanks The family of A1 Rovman send their heartfelt thanks to everyone who so kindly pitched in and gave their help and support at this time. Al always said Charlotte and Temple Beth El were home, and how right he was. Sincerely, Peggie, Wendy, Lisa & Harold ANN LANGMAN serving your real estate needs since 1972” lansn naiB Harrir^on/Dowd i T Y lUTi p a~n'T Office 364-3541 Home 364-1691 N reenspon & Associates •he. • Estate and Personal Financial Planning • Group Medical and life Programs • Individual life, Disability and Health Insurance • Profit Sharing and 401(10 Retirement Plans 125 Ck>ttage Place 376-7434 Never Asain Page 3-THE NEWS-September 1992 By Abraham H. Foxman How terribly familiar it is all starting to sound. Ethnic cleans ing. Sealed box cars. Selection process. International rational ization for doing nothing. We should never be glib about making historical comparisons. The Holocaust was a unique event carried out by a demonic leader and his followers who not only sought the extermination of the Jews, but world dominance as well. What is going on today in Bosnia-Hercegovina is not the same in many ways. But there is enough resemblance to make this a crucial test of our resolve, reflected in the phrase, “Never again.” This is a moment of truth for the civilized world. For some time now we have been hearing the refrain of “national interest.” Yes, it is said, there are horrors in Bosnia-Hercegovina, but how does it affect American interests. If it does not, why should we intervene? That will mean the U.S. will have to intervene everywhere at all times. Well, national interest argu ments were at the heart of U.S. inaction while six million Jews were being slaughtered. It was not in America’s interest to take in refugees because of our do mestic economic problems. It was not in America’s interest to divert the war effort to bomb the extermination camps. Today, we hear of other kinds of national interest arguments, we have too many problems at home to be the world’s police man. Let others do it. We will be getting into a quagmire, like Vietnam, if we take military action. All of these issues are legit imate problems that must be addressed. They cannot and should not have been an excuse for paralysis. In the 1930s, there were ways to absorb refugees without hurting the economy, if only there had been the will. In the 1940s, there were ways to bomb the camps without signif icantly hurting the war effort, if only there had been the will. Today, there are ways to prevent the murderous killing of of Bosnians by Serbs, if only there is the will. To intervene in the blatant ethnic murder of civilians for political purposes does not have to mean that the U.S. would intevene on every occasion when human rights issues arise; the extremity of this situation is self-evident, or can be made evident by political leadership. Let us remember that the case was made for U.S. intervention against Iraq two years ago because the case was successfully made from the top. And this did not mean that America would intervene everywhere in the world against every agressor. The challenge for us now is whether in a world where the Cold War is over, where there are not big-power rivalries, we can define American interests in terms of American values. The question is whether American action against the horrors in Bosnia can be understood to be not only the right thing to do but the necessary thing to do. It cannot be a “so what” to the horrors in Bosnia-Hercegov ina, because ultimately in a world where this can happen unchallenged, the signal to would-be thugs everywhere will be a great light. Just as Saddam had to be stopped so that other aggressors would get the message, so Mi losevic and his gangs must be stopped. That way, ethnic elim ination does not once again become a way of life and a rally point for political movements that could become the next threats to world peace in the mode of Hitler and Stalin. In the final analysis, American leadership in the world rests on a unique combination of inter ests and ideals. We are the only nation that is seen as potentially strong enough and politically idealistic enough to do anything about massive inhumanity of man against man. When it is said that America is the “last, best hope of mankind,” this is what IS meant. The challenge is before us. Words will not suffice. There must be a demand by the inter national community that the Serbs allow a full inspection of the situation in Bosnia-Herce- govina, whether by the Red Cross or another human rights body. If such inspections are re fused, in a world of satellites and high technology, we should still be able to pinpoint the existence of “concentration camps.” We are living in a world where it cannot again be said that “we did not know.” There must be an internation al call for the cessation of the ethnic violence by the Serbs now, which if not heeded will lead to international action, such as in the Gulf An emergency session of the U.N, Security Council must be convened to pass the necessary resolutions for action and to declare that the Serbs will be held responsible for genocide. These decisions are imperative to prevent this generation from being recorded in history as shamelessly paralyzed as was that of the 1940s. These deci sions are imperative to prevent a momentum for inhumane behavior that will lead us all down the abyss. Abraham Foxman is national director of the Anti-Defamation League. 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The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 1, 1992, edition 1
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