I DETROIT I

Jewish Elderhostel
A Success At Butzel

KIMBERLY LIFTON

Staff Writer

L

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eon and Hilda Lucas of
Oak Park love to
travel. But this
summer, the retired couple
wanted to stay close to home.
When they planned their
summer schedule, they
selected two nearby
Elderhostel programs, which
are educational seminars
that take place at univer-
sities or campsites for senior
adults.
One was at Cranbrook
Academy. The other was at
the Butzel Conference
Center in Ortonville.
"We selected Butzel be-
cause of its Jewish content,"
Mr. Lucas said. "They both
were terrific. Cranbrook was
more secular."
Thousands of Elderhostel
retreats take place in the
United States. The Univer-
sity of Judaism in California
and some others with Jewish
content exist as well.
But Fresh Air Society and
the Midrasha College of
Jewish Studies brought the
first Jewish-sponsored
Elderhostel to Michigan.
"We loved the programs on
Jewish mysticism, storytell-
ing and the Jewish immi-
grant experience," Mr.
Lucas said. "We have been
to Butzel and really like it.
So we were excited to learn
this would be held at
Butzel."
Now in its second year at
Butzel, the program has
grown from two week-long
retreats with 91 participants
from throughout the United
States to eight programs
with 359 people. Of the par-
ticipants, 95 percent are
Jewish, said Elliot Sorkin,
administrator for Tamarack
Camps.
Because of its success,
Tamarack Camps is plann-
ing 15 Elderhostels for next
year, Mr. Sorkin said.
"Jewish people are looking
for Jewish topics," Mr.
Sorkin said.
The schedules and pro-
grams for each Elderhostel
vary. When Sylvia Feldman
of Mount Clemens and her
sister, Bertha Weinstein of
Southfield, attended
Butzel's program in August,
they experienced famous
Jewish trials, Jewish art and
listened with interest to a
Jewish storyteller.
In addition, they deviated
from the agenda for an
architectural tour at the
University of Michigan in

0

Ann Arbor. Mrs. Feldman
and Mrs. Weinstein loved
the art tour given by artist U
Irving Berg, who showed the
group his art at Camp Maas.
"We chose this Elderhostel
because of the Jewish con-
tent," Mrs. Feldman said. "I
would go back. It was
stimulating. People there
who had attended these ses---
sions regularly said this was
the very best."
Some courses covered at
Elderhostel this past year
included the Post-Gulf War:
Pre-Arab Israeli Peace,
taught by University of
Michigan Political Science
Professor Raymond Tanter;
and 1492; 500 Years Later,
taught by U-M Judaic
Studies Professor Judith
Elkin. ❑

-

1 LETTERS I--

Continued from Page 7

weekend, urged President
Bush to commute Jonathan's
sentence.
The upcoming months pre-
sent a window of opportunity
that has not existed before
and may not be available
again any time soon . . . Help
spread a special message dur-
ing this period to your rabbis
and fellow congregants: urge
them to mobilize during ser-
vices this Rosh Hashanah to
help bring about Jonathan's
freedom.
Letters or phone calls urg-
ing commutation of Jona-
than's sentence to the seven
years he has already served
must be immediately sent to
the following individuals:
President George Bush, Gov.
Bill Clinton, U.S. senators
and congressmen.
Please, urge your rabbis to
place an empty chair on the
bimah with a sign that reads,
"Reserved as a symbol of corn-
passion and commitment to
justice for Jonathan Pollard."
Please write to Prime
Minister Yitzak Rabin in
Israel to urge him to act on
compassionate and humani-
tarian grounds to intercede
with President Bush to have
Jonathan's sentence corn-
muted.

Carol Pollard

Neu.. Haven, Conn.

Let Us Know

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must include the signa-
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