• I DETROIT I SFIv la's XMAS DAY SALE Part II 25%-75% OFF EVERYTHING Including new Arrivals L Saturday December 29. 10:00 - 5:30 I All previous sales and layaways excluded. I Azriel Chelst's father, Kenneth, presents the Danish ambassador and his wife with bookends as a gift from Akiva while Azriel looks on. Akiva Student Meets With Danish Ambassador PHIL JACOBS Assistant Editor W hen Azriel Chelst is given a project, he takes it seriously. The 12-year-old Akiva seventh-grader was asked by geography teacher Kathy Sklar to put together a pro- ject on an aspect of a foreign country. Instead of going to the encyclopedia or the library like most of us would have done, Azriel went to the source. In this case, the Southfield resident chose to do his pro- ject on Denmark, a country that he and his family had visited. He said that he always wanted to go back to Denmark. So Azriel not only hit the books at the library, but he also, through some help from Mrs. Sklar and his parents, arranged an inter- view with Peter Dyvig, the Danish Ambassador to the United States. Mr. Dyvig was an honored speaker at the Holocaust Memorial Center's sixth an- niversary celebration last month. It was during an ap- pearance at the West Bloom- field center that the ambas- sador became a class project. That is, he was interviewed by Azriel. "He gave me a book on Denmark and a tour guide of the country," Azriel said. "He was very nice. I asked him questions about Jewish life in Denmark. I asked him about the synagogues and JCC in Copenhagen." Azriel talked to him about the country's role as a lifesaver to Jews who escaped the Holocaust. He also asked him to talk about Denmark's being one of the first nations to recognize the State of Israel. "I thought he was very impressive," Azriel said. "I didn't think anyone so im- portant would be so excited to talk with a student." Kathy Sklar, Azriel's teacher who helped arrange the meeting, said that the ambassador was happy to talk with him. "What Azriel did was ask the ambassador 10 questions about Denmark," Mrs. Sklar said. "I don't think that Azriel had any difficulty with the assignment because he is such a bright, outgoing and self-assured student." Azriel said that in the 20 minutes he had with the ambassador, he was able to learn a great deal about Denmark. But what he said he learned the most was that the ambassador, "was just such a nice person. We're fortunate to have a man who seems to really care about the world and the Jewish community be the ambas- sador to the United States." For Azriel, however, pro- jects seem to be ongoing. Re- cently, he sent money to Sports Illustrated for a poster of San Francisco 49er football star Joe Montanta. The magazine was about to name the quarterback its sportsman of the year. They called a random sampling of people who had ordered the Montana poster for a quote. And those who read last week's edition saw a quote from Azriel Chelst of Southfield. Something about him always wanting to be a quarterback. His parents, Kenneth and Tamy, probably hope he chooses a visit to Denmark instead. 6692 Orchard Lake Rd. • West Bloomfield In The West Bloomfield Plaza 851-4410 Mos•o ■ Ca WORK WITH THE BEST! FENBY STEIN TALENT AGENCY BILL MEYER JERRY FENBY SMILING FACES GEORGE BENSON SUNSET BOULEVARD TIM HEWITT LOVING CUP SIMONE VITALE TANGO SUN MESSENGERS ERIC HARRIS, DJ GAMUT VIDEOS AVAILABLE SUNSET BOULEVARD FENBY-6TEIN Featuring 313-553-9966 LESLYE SKLAR and DJ'S LARRY & DAVE DON'T GET LOST IN THE COLD! *WE INSTALL ALL YEAR ROUND* • WINDOW REPLACEMENTS • REMODELING • BATHROOMS • DOORWALLS • DECKS • SIDING & TRIM ADDITIONS • GREAT LAKES VINYL WINDOWS CASWELL MODERNIZATION • KITCHENS 6982081 SHOWROOM: 9450 Elizabeth Lake Rd., Union Lake HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 to 5 • Sat. 9 to 3 Barry's Let's Rent It PARTIES EXCLUSIVELY • Tents • Tables • Chairs • China • Paper Goods 4393 ORCHARD LAKE RD., N. OF LONE PINE IN CROSSWINDS 855-0480 698.2075 Your financial future can begin today. call 1-800-US-BONDS sk. U.S. SAVINGS BONDS THE GREAT AMERICAN INVESTMENT DAVID BURKE SALES & LEASING 851-7200 ❑ THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 25