-Soui:heastem Virginia.lewlsh News
Women's Cabinet honors officers, celebrates successes
By Sharon Laderberg
Women's Campaign Director
The Women's Cabinet of the
United Jewish Federation of
Tidewater held its Biennial
Installation Luncheon on Thurs-
day, May 22 at B'nai Israel Con-
gregation in Norfolk. The fea-
tured speaker was Dr. Khaheel
Mohammed, Kraft-Hyatt Fellow
and Professor of Islamic Studies
at Brandeis University.
The event celebrated the suc-
cesses of Women's Cabinet and
honored the women whose
terms of service on cabinet were
ending as well as those whose
terms were about to begin.
Outgoing Cabinet Outreach
Chair Shari Friedman and her
sister Renee Strelitz welcomed
the audience to "the event.
Incoming Education Chair Jodi
Klebanoff, delivered a meaning-
ful D'Var Torah, and Outgoing
Women's Cabinet President
Bonnie Brand thanked the Cabi-
net for allowing her the opportu-
nity to serve as President and to
represent the community, local-
ly, nationally, and international-
ly.
Annabel Sacks, a past presi-
dent of Women's Cabinet,
installed the new slate officers
and Terri Sarfan, incoming
Women's Campaign Chair, dis-
charged the present Executive
Board. Terri thanked the outgo-
ing officers for their service, at
the same time assuring them
that this was NOT the last that
they would be hearing from
Women's Cabinet. Annabel
offered words of inspiration to
the new officers, comparing
them to their Biblical forbear-
ers, Miriam, Ruth and especially
Deborah (the single Biblical
Matriarch who is known solely
for her own abilities and not for
those of her husband or any
other male re'lative).
The new slate of officers for the
2004-2005 Women's Cabinet are:
Phyllis Lannik - President;
Terri Sarfan - Campaign Chair-
man; Laura Miller - Campaign
Vice-Chairman; Karen Lombart
Secretary; Jodi Klebanoff-
Education Chairman; Rita Mal-
lenbaum Education Vice-
Chairman; Sheila Josephberg -
Outreach Chairman; Gloria
Siegel Cash Mobilization
Chairman; Cindy Kramer
Member At Large; Bonnie
Brand - Imediate Past Presi-
dent
Also recognized were new
Cabinet members Leora Drory,
Laurie Saunders and Helen
Sonenshine.
Following the installation Dr.
Khaleel Mohammed came to the
podium. To a rapt audience, Dr.
Mohammed delivered his
remarks on the subject, "Can
Militant Islam and Israel Coex-
ist?"(See acconmpanying arti-
cle)
Mazel Tov to our new
"Women's Cabinet Board of
Directors. We look forward to
the upcoming year, in which we
will achieve even greater goals!
Women's Cabinet Executive Board Members - Laura Miller, Terri Sarfan, Bonnie
Brand, Phyllis Lannik and Karen Lombart
Cindy Kramer, Annie Sandier and
Gloria Siegel
Diana Ruchelman and
Miriam Seeherman
Guest Speaker,
Dr. Khaleel Mohammed
Karen Jaffe and Renee Strelitz
Islamic Studies professor asks: "Can Militant Islam and Israel coexist?'
By Reba Karp Lebanon, Jordan, etc., all fought all time.'" torate. However, when Muslim region of Islam and that of non"
as allies .... their reason for being Although the Quran supports leaders began fighting amongst Islam. "Since the goal is thtt
"To understand the rise and was based on Arabism, not on the Jewish concept that Israel is themselves, it was decided to Islam must reign supreme, then.
creation of militant Islam, we Islam." their land, Militant Islam uses place a tradition into Muham- any treaty with non-Islamic tero"
need to go back into history," Dr. When they reasoned that Ara- something called "hadith" - the mad's mouth "that Muslims tories can never be permanent. "
Khaleel Mohammed began as he bism was not enough to unite the oral tradition. "And the oral tra- should make pilgrimage there." .this is applied to modem treaties
attempted to answer the question diverse forces, "they decided to dition has made Jerusalem part Then when Muslims in the 1 l th with Israel."
which was the topic of his use the one thing that they felt of Muslim territory." century lost Jerusalem to the cru- Consequently, if the preserg
address "Can Militant Islam and truly united them - Islam...The saders, the concept off regaining system is allowed to continue, he
Israel Coexist?" purpose of Militant Islam is to Then when Muslims in the lost land was born. Once the feels there is no hope for pea.C
As provocative as the ques- return the Arab nations to the llth century lost Muslims regained Jerusalem, "...Unlike Christianity wl].t
"the Muslims resolved never to has had its Reformation, Isl
tion is, his responses were both power base they once had. They Jerusalem to the cru- . ,, he
stimulating and as equally chal- problem is that only 15% of give it up...Muslims now saw has not been able to dig its thi"
lenging. He took his audience, Muslims are Arabs. But they had saders, the concept off themselves as 'owners.' mg out of the 7th century, _
The Women's Cabinet of the oil money, so they spread their regaining lost land was Other anti-Jewish concepts said. "Until this happens, th
United Jewish Federation of philosophy throughout the non- born. found in hadith are the return " will be no peace. I am a Musll "
Tidewater and guests back to Arab speaking Muslim majority of Jesus to lead the Muslims in You ask why I tell you these
1967 when Israel defeated its by giving scholarships. They What helped create the need battle to kill the Jews and rescue things. I do because my Qur
enemies, The United Arab indoctrinate people into their for hadith began as "political the land for the Muslims. tells me 'Stand up for jus tice'v
Republic. As Dr. Mohammed false creed of anti-lsraelism. By chicanery," for when the Mus "Again, this is not in the Quran," witnesses for God even if it be
explained: "the United Arab false creed, 1 refer not to Islamic lims captured Jerusalem in the he added, against yourselves or parentS oi"
Republic was actually only belief because the Quran is 7th century, they knew its status Treaties, according to your near kin.'
Egypt, since Syria had left the explicit in Chapter 5, verse 21. according to the Quran and medieval legal constructs, "I see what 1 do then as a
union in 1961. S yria, lraq, "the land of Israel is for Jews for therefore declared it a protec- divides the earth into regions, the mitzvah .... "
