July 30, 1999/17 Av 5759, Vol. 51, No.43
Letters to the EditorJuly 30, 1999
YWCA director clarifies point
Editor:Thank you for the wonderful article about my new position as the executive director of the YWCA of Maricopa County (Jewish News, July 2). I would like to clarify one point. The children pictured with me at the child-care facility are not from Haven House. Tristan and Miranda's families use Marilyn's Child Care and Development Center as private-pay customers. The location is convenient for many parents who work downtown. Thank you again for informing your readers about the many YWCA programs. We appreciate your interest. Barbara Lewkowitz Executive Director YWCA Phoenix ADL chair enters fray on gun control
Editor:On my own behalf and that of the Arizona Regional Office of the Anti-Defamation League, I want to clarify statements attributed to me regarding the retirement of former ADL Regional Director Joel Breshin (Jewish News, June 25), and to correct some resulting misperceptions. First, the Arizona regional board is on record with at least five other regional ADL offices as opposing a league stand in support of gun control. It is the consensus of our board that gun control is an issue unrelated to ADL's principal mission, which is to combat anti-Semitism. We believe that such a stand might alienate gun owners who, but for a pro-gun control position, might be supportive of our organization Of course, as Joe Stocker noted in a letter (Jewish News, July 16), it is silly to suggest that any position ADL might take on gun control might influence people to become anti-Semitic, and the implication that I believed otherwise is simply incorrect. Also, the article mistakenly implied that our local office is engaged in a bitter war with our national headquarters not only over ideology but over funding. The Arizona office, as each of ADL's regional offices, seeks the resources necessary for programming and services that best protect our community. Our efforts to increase the level of funding and staffing for our office did not contribute to Joel's departure. We have been engaged in such efforts since the day our office first opened its doors. Like all organizations with a national focus, our local office will have differences of opinion and priorities with the national leadership, but we view such differences as helping to make the league stronger for the very reason that vigorous debate has contributed to our nation's greatness. Marc R. Lieberman Board Chair Arizona Regional Office Anti-Defamation League Phoenix |
