FORGET SOMETHING? ISRAEL EXCHANGE page 3 BAUME & MERCIER GENEVE Brain Tauber, Joseph White and David Krinkin view an isotope separation project at a technological incubator. From the Hampton Collection for men and women. Masterfully crafted in stainless steel with precision quartz movement. Scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire crystal. Water-resistant to 99 feet. Open This Weekend Saturday 10-8 Sunday 10-5 M.B. JEWELRY DESIGN & MFG. LTD. Applegate Square • 29847 Northwestern Hwy. Southfield,Michigan 48034 • (810) 356-7007 of the U-M School of Business Administration, was particular- ly taken by the potential for stu- dents to learn from the region's "incubators," locations where sci- entists and other professionals develop new ideas into high-tech products. By the end of April, Professor White expects to have sent up to eight U-M students to the Galilee where they will help Is- raelis develop business plans and market their incubator cre- ations. Professor White also wants to work with Technion University. "I was interested in learning about its plans to develop a school of management — possi- bly forming a partnership be- tween it and the Michigan business school," he says. Exchange programs require money, and the U-M professors say nothing is written in stone until financing is secured, both through the university and the Jewish Federation. Robert Aronson, executive vice president of Federation, wants to raise $100,000 for grants sup- porting academic exchanges, business endeavors and other programs through Partnership 2000. Mr. Aronson and Tova Dorf- man, Partnership 2000 directors, call the U-M mission a success. To pay for the nine U-M travel- ers, Federation solicited S40,000, independent of annual Cam- paign donations. "These are the kinds of pro- jects that energize the universi- ty, can energize the region and can involve and excite the Jew- ish communities in Detroit and the State of Israel. The U-M rep- resents tremendous profession- al resources for the region," Mr. Aronson says. "Many of the members of our community are graduates of the U-M. Jews provide major finan- cial support for the U-M. The U- M — along with MSU and Wayne — represent enormous potential for exchange with Is- rael." Dr. Howard Markel, assistant professor of pediatrics and com- municable diseases at the U-M School of Medicine, also went on the mission. He believes the Galilee holds promise for Amer- icans interested in studying im- migration and public-health issues. "The country has some in- credible social programs that as- similate people into Israeli culture," he says. Referring mainly to Israel's newcomers from Russia and Ethiopia, Dr. Markel noted that the Galilee is fertile territory for research into how adolescent TEEN MISSION page 3 rael. The unit is designed to pre- pare teens for a mifgashim (en- counters) experience. This event consists of a week of joint pro- gramming during the mission with Israeli teens from the central Galilee, Detroit's sister region in Partnership 2000, with the aim of uniting Israeli and Diaspora Jews. Once in Israel, the teens will be paired with an Israeli teen from the central Galilee. There, they will see the region through the eyes of their Israeli peer. During the 16-week program, educators will devote a few min- utes to teaching the teens some basic Hebrew so they will be able to recite phrases such as, "I am a student in a high school in Michi- gan," "We are happy to be in Is- rael," or the all important, "Excuse me, where is the restroom?" `The program is literally trans- forming the high-school agenda of this city because nearly every rabbi and educator is thorough- ly invested in this process," Mr. Nosanchuk said. ❑ Et Applications are still being accepted for the teen mission. For information, contact Susan Langnas at (810) 642-4260.