donuts diminished quickly.
The coffee ran out, but the
program succeeded at
gauging the employment
needs of Russian emigres,
organizers said.
"The turnout is an indi-
cation of the great need
out there that's not being
met in terms- of finding
jobs," said Isaac Lakritz,
executive director of
Technion's East Central
Region. "The anxiety level
was certainly there to be
seen and felt."
"Scientists and engi-
neers feel that they're los-
ing their qualifications
while they're not doing
_ what they want to do,"
said Roman Lundin, chair-
man of the event. Mr.
Lundin, who left Russia
for the United States in
1979, also served as a
translator for new
Americans at the event.
Technion exists in Det

roit primarily to raise
funds for the university
in Israel, but since it
represents a technical
school, board members
say they can help expe
rienced professionals
embark on complicated
job searches in the
United States.
"Our intent was really
to create a connection
that goes beyond imme-
diate job placement,"
Mr. Lakritz said. "We
feel that we are part of
the Jewish community
and, as such, have an
obligation to share in
the responsibility to
help settle the Russian
refugees."
The Technion board
members plan to sched-
ule similar events. They
also will mail resumes
to recruiters and poten-
tial employers.

❑

Most Popular Man
At Shul Is...

ANNE R. LEHMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Rosalyn Liner on Memorial Day placed a wreath at Machpelah Cemetery in honor of U.S. veterans. Mrs. Liner, shown
being introduced by Jack Schwartz, state commander of the Jewish War Veterans, is commander of the JWV Ladies
Auxiliary. The JWV sponsored commemorations Monday at several area cemeteries.

La'Asote, 'To Do,'
On Verge Of Acting

RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER

I

t's Shabbat morning
and the din of people
praying in unison is
pierced by the gleeful
laughter of a young child
racing up the aisle.
One by one, people
stream into the sanctuary
and head directly to the
man they affectionately
know as the candyman. He
dispenses his bounty of
_ cellophane wrapped
morsels with a smile, and
the children run off leav-
ing a wake of fallen rib-
bons, yarmulkes and
candy wrappers behind.
"Candy giving is a
beloved tradition that has
endured for generations,"
said Rabbi Elimelech
, Silberberg of Bais Chabad
1 of West Bloomfield.
"Although there are no
\ specific references to this
'practice per se, there are
many traditions which
involve the use of sweets
or candy."
A traditional use of can-
dies occurs when a groom
is called up to the Torah

prior to his marriage. The
ceremony, called an
aufruf, literally translated
means a calling up. After
he completes his reading,
candies are thrown at the
prospective groom, symbol-
ically absolving him of any
capital crimes he may
have committed prior to
his marriage.
"The groom is exempt
from punishment through
sweetness," said Rabbi
Silberberg. "It represents a
sweet beginning for a new
marriage."
Still it is the candyman,
with his cache, who on a
weekly basis reminds
young congregants what a
sweet affair being Jewish
can be.
For the past 10 years,
Otto Herczeg has been
responsible for satisfying
the most compelling sweet
teeth at Bais Chabad of
West Bloomfield.
"I love kids," he said,
"and giving candy reminds
me of my childhood days in
MOST POPULAR MAN page 16

L

a'Asote, a new Jewish
organization in metro
Detroit, is on the
verge of living up to
its name, which in English
means "to do."
Formed earlier this year
to defend Israel and Jews
against media bias and
anti-Semitism, the group
will meet June 15 to dis-
cuss ways of taking action.
"Unfortunately, there's
always a lot of conversa-
tion. We're trying to go a
little further and change
the image of Jews and
Israel in the public eye,"
said Dr. Jerome Kaufman,
chairman of the issues
committee.
Of particular concern to
some La'Asote members
are television documen-
taries about the Middle
East conflict like "Journey
to the Occupied Lands,"
aired nationally this
spring and locally on
Channel 56.
Dr. Kaufman and others
believe the documentary

unfairly depicted Pale-
stinian Arabs as the down-
trodden victims of an
aggressive Jewish nation.
Last month, Dr. Kaufman
met with a Channel 56
executive to discuss the
documentary and offer an
alternative.
"La'Asote felt that we
should present a more fac-
tual case," he said. "The
onus is on us to get a
(more balanced) video."

"The onus is on
us to get a
(more balanced)
video."

Dr. Jerome Kaufman

So Dr. Kaufman has
searched for videos that
depict Israel in a better
light. He said he will meet
again with a representa-
tive from Channel 56 in
June. Hopefully, said Dr.

Kaufman, the station will
decide to air the documen-
tary he chooses.
Spearheaded by local
public relations executive
Berl Falbaum, La'Asote
has attracted 85 members
since its inception earlier
this year. At their June
meeting, members also
will discuss the possibility
of starting a speakers
bureau, comprised of Jews
who volunteer to meet
with the clergy of black
churches.
Mr. Falbaum is con-
cerned about what he con-
siders anti-Semitism
among blacks. Volunteers
and clergy will discuss
ways to counteract preju-
dice and bring the two
communities together, he
said.
Mr. Falbaum is opti-
mistic about the group's
future.
"We're doing fairly well,
considering we don't have
a full-time staff person,"
he said. ❑

w

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