Speaking Of Israel
Detroit teens tell CJF delegates how they were influenced by a trip.
F
PHIL JACOBS EDITOR
first, Audrey Baker
couldn't believe her eyes.
Then she couldn't believe
her ears.
Last month at the Council of
Jewish Federations General As-
sembly in Seattle, the 17-year-
old Birmingham Groves High
School student talked to 3,000
delegates about the importance
of teen trips to Israel.
Confident, yet emotional, she
hardly seemed stage struck. Ms.
Baker was a participant on last
summer's highly successful
Michigan Teen Miracle Mission
to Israel. The 3,000 CJF dele-
gates, of course, applauded her.
Then the intelligent and ar-
ticulate Ms. Baker heard her
name mentioned
Audrey Baker: in a way she never
Addressing
expected — when
the GA.
Israeli Prime Min-
ister Binyamin Ne-
tanyahu addressed the General
Assembly live from Israel via
video teleconference. At least
twice during his presentation,
Mr. Netanyahu mentioned Ms.
Baker and her comments about
visiting Israel.
"Israel had such a profound in-
fluence on my life," said Ms. Bak-
er, who the previous day in
Seattle spoke as part of a panel
of students who had visited Is-
rael. "I gained so much nachas
bor, who was at the GA with his
mother Carol, also addressed the
Thursday evening crowd of 3,000.
"I tried to articulate that go-
ing to Israel can change Jewish
lives," said Mr. Smokier. "A lot of Ln
kids haven't experienced anoth-
er way of Jewish life. Their only
exposure to Israel is something
they might have learned from
Hebrew school. But then, if
they're fortunate, they get to Is-
rael. For me, Israel was nothing
like I expected. But it was every-
thing that I wanted."
Mr. Smolder, a 17-year-old
from the people of Israel. I was student at Ann Arbor's Green
just so proud of Israel."
Hills School, visited Israel as part
Her mother, Sheryl, was also of the Nesiya Institute. Nesiya,
in Seattle to hear her daughter according to Mr. Smolder, brings
speak.
together Jewish students of all
"I think it was very emotional denominations for trips to Israel.
for her," said Mrs. Baker. "It's
"You can learn from a trip to
wonderful that she's able to share Israel that there is a Judaism
her experiences. I love hearing that can be primary in a person's
her stories."
life," he said. "It is something that
The Bakers weren't the only starts in our homes, and every
Detroit-area family speaking in day we practice it in our homes.
Seattle about Israel.
Going to Israel, you can see a
Dan Smolder, 17, of Ann Ar- country living Judaism."
"A country
living Judaism."
❑
STYLE
Additions
Kitchens • Bathrooms
Remodeling
magazine
TAKES A STAND
(actually about 400 of them)
From fashion to home, STYLE keeps you
PREFERRED BUILDING CO.
STEVEN TARNOW
Since 1986
Building Quality Into Every Project With
Unmatched Personal Service.
up to date with the latest trends and hap-
810-626-5603
penings. And now, we've made it easier to
Licensed & Insured
keep up with STYLE. Find STYLE at
more than 400 newstands throughout the
Detroit Metropolitan area, including Ar-
NAM'
NATIONAL AS:SOCIA nos OF
71. REMODELING NDOSTRY
bor Drugs, Farmer Jack, Kmart stores, Bor-
ders Bookstores, WaldenBooks, Little
Professor Book Centers and more.
For advertising rates and information,
please call your sales representative at
18
(810) 354-6060.
Heating and Air Conditioning
Ask about our
Preventive
Maintenance
Program
810-335-4555
24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE