Follow Op ■•■ A fresh look at some recent stories in the headlines. He's Still Pounding Pavement ALAN HITSKY ASSOCIATE EDITOR Mary Berman Stepping Stones Is Growing LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER I ast year, 27 families gathered on Sundays to learn about Judaism. They came from far- away Plymouth-Canton and nearby Farmington Hills and called it Stepping Stones To A Jewish Me — a two-year program for children of in- terfaith families that are un- affiliated. The program is sponsored by local Reform and Conservative rabbis. Excitement was rallied, families turned on — so much Agencies Say Thanks To Helpers RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER B'nai B'rith Launches Group KIMBERLY LIPTON STAFF WRITER F national ollowing trends to boost involve- ment of young Jewish professionals, B'nai B'rith International has brought its Young Leadership Network to metropolitan De- troit. This month, the group, al- ready comprising 46 mem- bers, will obtain its national charter. Membership Vice President Robbie Franklin said she expects to add at least 14 new members to the group's roster before it re- ceives its charter. year after he was re- leased by the Fresh Air Society, Marvin Berman continues searching for a full-time job. He hasn't hit the soup kitchens, however. The 59- year-old former director of Camp Maas, who was first employed by Fresh Air in 1955, has been doing some consulting work, substitute teaching and undergoing some re-training (paid for by Fresh Air). "I still don't have a full- time job, but I have several possibilities," Mr. Berman said, including two teaching positions at the college level and working with a human resource development com- pany. In the meantime, he has been doing part-time con- sulting with an experimental Head Start program in De- troit and conducting some training seminars. His semi- nars identify behavioral pat- terns in the workplace and show people how to get along better. "The (full-time) job situa- so that in its second year, Stepping Stones recently hosted 115 people at its open- ing program. The first- and second-year classes will learn together. Class A, those participants who began studying in 1992- 93, will graduate in the spring. Class B, those en- rolling this fall, will learn Class A material during the 1994-95 year. New additions to the pro- gram include a parent/rabbi discussion and learning com- ponent and administration from the Agency for Jewish Education. "We have people from all over, checking out the com- munity and finding affilia- tion. I think we're doing our job," said Rita Abramson, Stepping Stone director. "We're bringing people into a Jewish way of life who would have been lost otherwise." ewish Family Service and Resettlement Ser- vice are sending thanks 111 to people who often go without the recognition they deserve: volunteers. "In our busy, frenetic dai- ly lives, we sometimes take for granted the work done by volunteers," said Sandra Hy- man, executive director of Re- settlement. But many volunteers serve as the community's lifeline to Detroit Jews in need, she said. To show appreciation for these helpers, JFS and Re- settlement have organized a formal "Thank You Ceremo- ny" 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at B'nai Moshe. The event, which will fea- ture a reception and enter- tainment by new Americans, is open to the more than 300 persons who have volun- teered for JFS and Resettle- ment, as well as individuals interested in volunteering for these agencies. Many new Americans, who have been helped by volun- teers, are helping organize the event. "I feel very strongly that for us to have successful pro- The Young Leadership Network hopes to bridge pro- fessional, social and political gaps for Jewish men and women under age 40 in met- ropolitan Detroit. B'nai B'rith International is a 500,000- member organization, com- mitted to building unity and strength of world Jewry. Ms. Franklin, a data re- search analyst, joined the group about a year ago at one of its first meetings. She wanted to get involved in Jewish issues, and she be- lieved this group offered something different from ex- isting organizations because it is membership driven. "I joined to meet new Jew- ish people," Ms. Franklin said. "This was something new, and I could get in from the ground up." Stuart Novick will take the helm as the first president of the Young Leadership Net- work at an Oct. 26 installa- tion meeting at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham. There is a charge for mem- bership. The installation is open to the public. For more tion is tight out there, with a lot of people just like me who have been let go as companies downsized. In response to that, there seems to be a need for part-time contractors but I still want a full-time posi- tion," Mr. Berman said. He attended two recent programs at camp: the dedi- cation ceremonies at Camp Maas in Ortonville in memo- ry of the late Michael Zaks and the program at Camp Tamarack last month as Fresh Air permanently closed the Brighton facility. A bb- Stepp II S I(nes grams for the emigres, we have to have input from them," Ms. Hyman said. Southfield resident Harold Israel, 69, will be among the volunteers attending next week's ceremony. For almost three years, Mr. Israel has dedicated 24 hours a week as a JFS driver, transporting new Americans and elderly to their doctors, the hospital and shopping centers. "The work keeps me occu- pied," he said. "It keeps my mind working, so maybe I'm a little selfish for volunteer- ing." information, contact Ms. Franklin at 288-2052. ❑