The most beloved Jewish storyteller of our time guides us through the
world of Jewish folklore and wisdom with her unique humor and insight...

PENINNAH
SCHRAM

Founding Director of the
Jewish Storytelling Center
and author of Jewish
Stories One Generation
Tells Another, presents a
pre-Purim evening of

" HUMOR AND HOCHMA (WISDOM)
WITH A DETOUR THRU CHELM "
Sunday, February 21, at 7:30 PM

HOSTED BY

Congregation Beth Abraham Hillel Moses

5075 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC • REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED

This special event is co-sponsored by the Adult Education Committee of
Congregation Beth Abraham Hillel Moses and by the Midrasha-College
of Jewish Studies (a division of the Agency for Jewish Education).

SOMETHING page 81

The AAS was estab-
lished in 1972 and corn-
prises both professionals
and volunteers. Last year,
it helped 25,559 men and
women fill out income-tax
forms, a 140 percent
increase over 1990-91.
Most received a much-
needed refund (total
refunds were $11 million)
— the annual income of
the average client is
$6,000. The AAS helps
everyone from the elderly
on Social Security to the
disabled.
"The worst cases are
those who had a good job
and got laid off," Mr.
Abramowitz says. "The
problem is that those peo-
ple may end up actually
owing money."
A primary key to help-
ing the indigent is simply
knowing the system. Mr.
Abramowitz says low-
income families are eligi-
ble for any number of
deductions. One stipula-
tion, he notes, states that
"if a certain percent of
your income is lower than
the amount you have paid
in property taxes, the
State of Michigan will
refund the difference."
The downtown office is
workday home to a hand-
ful of employees, but the
AAS also depends on hun-

dreds of volunteers, many
of whom are Jewish. They
include a former teacher
at United Hebrew Schools,
the managing partner of
an accounting firm, and
an administrator with a
local university.
Finding volunteers is a
constant challenge, Mr.
Abramowitz says.
"Usually, we start by
approaching accounting
firms, then make contacts
wherever we can."
Mr. Abramowitz says
there's a place for every
volunteer — from those
with the dreaded matho-
phobia to the future
accounting Einstein.
"What's best is those who
have some background,"
he says. "But there are
administrative jobs for
those with no experience,
and it's relatively easy to
train people to fill out
some basic state forms."
The AAS, which has a
close relationship with the
IRS, also offers classes
and workshops and will
provide nonprofit groups
with volunteer speakers.
Among the AAS' clients
are the Children's
Leukemia Fund, the
Latino Family Services
and COTS (Coalition on
Temporary Shelter). 0

For more information, call 851-6880 or 354-1050.

Midrasha Program
Hears Of Gospels

a grea t

boy!
food
Dar Mitzvah party? The
and service were awesome!
called Jeff!
Mom
I'm glad my

Monsignor Leonard Blair,

,46s

bei 1 '

CALL JEFF ROSENBERG
W s- FARMINGTON MEADOWS KOSHER CATERING
ADAT SHALOM SYNAGOGUE
626-5702
851-5100

ell

supervised by The Council of Orthodox Rabbis of Metropolitan Detroit

For
Valentine's Day
Gift Giving

WEST BLOOMFIELD • MICHIGAN

Orchard Lake Road • North of Maplc

ecumenical officer, Archdio-
cese of Detroit, will be the
speaker at a lunch and learn
noon Feb. 18 at the United
Hebrew Schools Building.
The lecture, part of a series,
is sponsored by the Midrasha-
College of Jewish Studies, a
division of the Agency for
Jewish Education, B'nai
B'rith Michigan Regional
Council and Michigan Board
of Rabbis. Monsignor Blair
will speak on "When Were
the Gospels Written?" The
lunch will be followed by the
lecture.
Subsequent speakers in the
series include Rabbi Jack
Goldman, professor of Eng-
lish, humanities and public
speaking at Macomb Com-
munity College on "The Ten
Commandments: Differences
in Jewish and Christian
Beliefs" March 18; Rabbi
Amy Bigman, assistant rabbi

at Temple Emanu-El on "A
Jewish Understanding of the
Second Testament" April 22;
and Rabbi Arnold Sleutelberg
of Congregation Shir Tikvah
on "Passover's Relevance to
Oppressed People" May 20.
The lunch and learn is open
to the community. There is a
charge. Reservations are re-
quired. For reservations or in-
formation, call the Midrasha
office, 354-1050.

Ladies Auxiliary
Holds Meeting

The Department of Michigan
Ladies Auxiliary of the
Jewish War Veterans will con-
duct a meeting 8 p.m. Feb. 23
• at the JWV Memorial Home.
Refreshments will be serv-
ed after the meeting by the
hostesses of Zussman Auxil-
iary.