A fresh look at some recent stories in the headlines.
Safe Place
Orientation
Draws 80
RUTH LITTMANN
STAFF WRITER
M
ore than 80 women
attended a May 20
orientation for vol-
unteers at Safe Place, a
new apartment for bat-
tered Jewish families.
"Domestic violence is an
issue that's been waiting
to come out in the Jewish
community," said Sandra
Jaffa of the Jewish Family
Service. "Many women are
aware that domestic abuse
exists, whether for them
or for a neighbor. I think
that the education that
has been going on from
Jackie
Mason
Gives Heat
To Children
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Jackie Mason and
Eliezer Goldstock
State Guide
On Adoption
Makes
Debut
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
ASSISTANT EDITOR
new guide to adop-
tion, the first aimed
specifically at the
Jewish community, made
its debut earlier this
u) month at the State
u., Library of Michigan in
Lansing.
=
A
o U.S. Team For
20
Maccabiah
Is Completed
many sources has given
women the information
and the permission to
come forward and do
something about it. For
these women, volunteer-
ing is their way to help
bring about some change."
Most Safe Place volun-
teers belong to the
National Council of
Jewish Women (NCJW),
which is paying for the
one-family apartment.
The furnished facility
opened earlier this month.
NCJW is working in
conjunction with Jewish
Family Service to provide
counseling for women and
children who make use of
the facilities. Counseling
is administered through
JFS's Windows Program,
which deals with many
aspects of domestic vio-
lence, including child,
spousal and sexual abuse.
JFS social workers con-
ducted last week's orienta-
tion. The social workers
used role-playing to
demonstrate the dynamic
between spouses in abu-
sive relationships.
Last week's program
will be followed with
smaller training seminars
during which volunteers
can specialize in specific
areas. Some may choose to
participate in a speakers
bureau or help with the
Safe Place newsletter, she
said. Others may opt to
educate attorneys, police
officers and legislators
about domestic violence.
C
ment, like pediatric
wheelchairs and walkers,
and counseling to fami-
lies.
Dr. Goldstock started
Heart to Heart after the
birth of his daughter Sara
Mushka, who has Down
syndrome. "Our friends
didn't call to say mazel
tov; rabbis didn't feel com-
fortable coming to see us,"
he said.
when Dr.
Today,
Goldstock greets new par-
ents of special-needs chil-
dren, he tells them, "This
is a very special gift
you've been given."
Regardless of their dis-
ability, he says, children
are created in the image
of God.
In joining up with Heart
to Heart, Mr. Mason said,
"This is a very worthwhile
project that the entire
community should sup-
port."
For information, contact
Dr. Goldstock at Heart to
Heart, P.O. Box 595,
Monsey, NY 10952, or call
(718) 778-0525.
omedian Jackie Ma-
son recently pledged
his support to Heart
to Heart, the Jewish
Society for Distinguished
Children, a New York-
based organization that
helps families adjust to
having a physically or
mentally challenged child.
Founded by Dr. Eliezer
Goldstock, a psychologist,
Heart to Heart has offices
in metro Detroit, San
Francisco, Los Angeles
and Toronto. The organi-
zation provides free equip-
About 50 persons
attended the event, which
marked the release of
Celebrate Adoption: A
Guide for the Jewish,
Community. The book was
written by Carolyn
Flanders McPherson with
the input of Orthodox,
Conservative and Reform
Jews from throughout the
state.
The project was made
possible in part through a
grant from the
Department of Health and
Human Services. It stress-
es the positive aspects of
adoption and includes
advice on how to celebrate
the occasion and why
Jewish tradition stands so
strongly in support of
adoption.
Celebrate
Adoption also offers guid-
ance on how to welcome
newly adopted members of
the Jewish community.
Among those attending
the premiere of the book
were Mrs. McPherson,
chief speech writer for Lt.
Gov. Connie Binsfeld; the
book's adviser and artist,
Hillel Rosenfeld; and rep-
resentatives from. the
Department of Social
Services, the Department
of Mental Health and the
office of Rep. David
Gubow, D-Huntington
Woods.
Celebrate Adoption is
being distributed to syna-
gogues in Michigan, as
well as to Jewish cultural
and educational agencies
in the state.
Carolyn McPherson and Hillel Rosenfeld
ALAN HITSKY
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Eighteen athletes with
Michigan connections will
represent the United
States. Fourteen Michigan
residents will compete in
masters or juniors events;
four will compete in open
events.
The four athletes in
open events are college
students here who live out
of state. Michael and Yael
Rose of San Diego,
University of Michigan
students, are members of
the U.S. field hockey
team, along with Michigan
State's Michele Pokrass of
Medford, N.J. U-M's Noel
Strauss, of Little Rock,
he U.S. Committee
Sports for Israel has
completed selection of
the United States team for
this summer's World
Maccabiah Games in
Israel.
T
Ark., was recently named
to the U.S. swim team.
Other Michigan resi-
dents added in recent
weeks to U.S. Maccabiah
Games teams are: Adam
Morse, Bloomfield Hills,
junior table tennis; and
Hy Shenkman, Southfield,
masters swimming. ❑