As the precious Summer weeks between Memorial Day and Labor Day have come to an end (too quickly, mind you) and kids have returned to school, it is time to focus on our Community’s Autumn issues like the Detroit Grand Bargain Trial, the Nov. 4th election and of course our High Holidays, only 3 weeks away.

(yes, this cartoon is a repeat from the past)

Detroit’s Bankruptcy trial commenced this past Tuesday to determine if the proposed plan is fair to all parties.  As you remember, our great city was $18 billion in debt and in my humble opinion, the architects of the Grand Bargain deserve kudos for their efforts to help rightsize our city. There has been $816 million committed over 20 years by our State, various non-profits and DIA donors to protect our City’s Art and Pension Funds.  Most like this offer however some creditors feel it is unfair to them.  Both sides (supporters and rejectors of the plan) have 85 hours to present their case to the judge. There are several outcomes that can occur plus the opportunity is still on the table for the City and the Creditors to negotiate a settlement.  With respectable leaders finally at our City’s helm, it is time to Rebuild, Renew and Restructure our metropolis. Innovation is all around Detroit as evidence of these 6 Sept. events:

Unless you live as a hermit in a cave with no access to civilization, this might be a good time to start educating yourself on our upcoming Nov. 4th election (only 8 weeks away). We, in Michigan, will be voting for our Governor, US Senator, several US Congressional Seats, vacancies in our MI Congress, MI Attorney General, MI Supreme Court and several ballot proposals. I will continue to research the issues and candidates and convey my (respectfully provided) opinion to help you with this important process.  We (in this country and state) have a disgraceful tendency to skip our privilege and responsibility to vote so I encourage you to help alter that phenomenon and encourage all you know to GOTV (Get Out The Vote).

Debates are an excellent tool for voters to garner vital information about candidates and their issues.  We have a very important US Senatorial race this November between Congressman Gary Peters and Terri Lynn Land.  Please sign this petition to help encourage a debate between these two opponents so we all have a better understanding of our choice for Senator.  This petition is from Congressman Peters’ campaign office as he has already agreed to 3 debates (Grand Rapids, East Lansing and Detroit) so your “signature” is to encourage Ms. Land to step up to the Mic and discuss her stance on the Michigan issues that concern all of us. http://www.petersformichigan.com/landing/debate-invitation/

What is NOT debatable is the despicable global bias against Israel and the Jews. It is exhibited everyday at the UN as tiny Israel is lavished with the most amount of resolutions against it than any other country against the backdrop of Jew-hating demonstrations (often violent) which erupt all over the world whenever Israel “sneezes”. Did you know there are (on average) 40 AP reporters covering Israel (and the number grows larger when conflicts arise) and only a fraction of that number covering other regions, even though Israel’s population dwarfs every other country. Why the fascination with Israel and the Jews? Of course Israel is NOT perfect as no country is and of course she has made mistakes, like every country has. But the intense criticism she gets exceeds any normal attention any normal county should get…Why? This essay by Matti Friedman is well worth the read as it gives a great perspective of the media’s bias from an insiders point of view:

Here is an excellent analysis of the Totality of Evil common to the Nazis and Hamas.  Yair Lapid asks why more Jews of the Holocaust didn’t fight the Nazi Regime and reflects that they, like us today, just can’t comprehend the Totality of Evil that exhibits both in our history with the Nazis and today with Hamas. Yair Lapid was an Israeli broadcaster who is now a Knesset Member and his recent moving and emotional speech at a train platform in Germany is well worth the 15 minute viewing.

Condolences to the family of Steven Sotloff, who was brutally murdered by the Islamic State this week.  Steven was Jewish, with grandparents who were Holocaust Survivor and as an adult became an Israeli citizen after studying there. To protect Steven’s life while in captivity, his identity was hid yet sadly it didn’t matter in the end.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/steve-sotloff-beheaded-by-isis-militants-had-deep-roots-in-israel/ The demented minds of IS would like to see a Global Islamic Community living under Sharia Law.  These people along with their “friends” Boko Harem, Hamas, Al Qaeda, Hizbollah and the likes, must be stopped dead in their tracks from continuing their xenophobic, racist and horrific acts against humanity.  For more scary info on these people who want to catapult us back into the Middle Ages, check out this article: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119259/isis-history-islamic-states-new-caliphate-syria-and-iraq.  Nato will be meeting in Wales this week to discuss this current world threat as well as the crisis in the Ukraine.  Godspeed to our World Leaders on their efforts to collectively address these tyrants.

Condolences to Mark and Margie Davidoff and their family on the passing of Mark’s father, Ronald Davidoff z”l.  May his memory, spirit and love bring comfort to those who mourn his passing.

She was abrasive, insulting, hilarious, hardworking, a proud Jew and ardent defender of Israel.  Her life was not easy as her career bounced from high to low and her personal life was devastated by the suicide of her husband.  Whether you loved her or hated her, she was a fixture in our American culture.   Rest in Peace, Joan Alexandra Molinsky z”l aka,Joan Rivers.  May you continue to bring laughter to those in your new audience.

Though Bernie Madoff destroyed many innocent families, it is also a tragedy that now both of the sons have died at an early age.  Andrew Madoff died this week at age 48 from cancer and his brother Mark took his life 4 years ago at the age of 46.  Both brothers turned their father in and maintained they were oblivious to the Ponzi Scheme of the Century.