EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

Israeli, Local Teens Affirm Jewish Identity
Against Backdrop Of A Cultural Exchange

H

S

Detroit's first Teen Mission was in
tephanie Fidler of Temple Kol
1996.
Ami will visit Israel as part of
Cultural exchanges have been pop-
Detroit's Teen Mission II this
ular
between Michiganians and Israelis
summer. She is eager to
since Israel's founding 50 years ago.
spend the five weeks there with 47
Partnership 2000, for example, is an
Israeli teens from the Central Galilee
exchange between metro Detroit and
who just spent eight days here.
the Central Galilee. It's a project of
Touring Israel together will allow
the Jewish Federation-sup-
the metro Detroiters to expe-
ported Jewish Agency for
rience the wonder of the
Israel/Department of Rural
countryside from an insider's
and Urban Development,
perspective. "That'll be a big
which links 27 regions of
asset," said Fidler, 14.
Israel with Diaspora com-
She's never been to Israel
munities.
but Fidler says it commands
Rabbi Norman Roman of
a special place in her heart.
Temple Kol Ami held an
"I feel a connection to it.
open house last week for
And I'm-excited about expe-
some of the mifgash partici-
riencing what I've only read
ROBE RT A.
pants. All talked about meet-
or heard about or seen in
S KLAR
ing new friends, sharing new
pictures."
Ed itor
experiences and reinvigorat-
Families,of 225 Reform
ing their Jewish identity.
and Conservative teens going
Few
were
bashful.
on Teen Mission II hosted the Israelis
Olga
Frankstin,
16, hopes Teen
during a mifgash, or encounter, that
Mission II "helps me become more
ended April 7. Eighty percent of all
observant and more familiar with the
Israeli Jews are secular; 20 percent of
history of the Jewish people."
the visiting teens said they keep
Scott Goldman, 15, wants "to learn
kosher.
more about what it means to be Jew-
Co-sponsored by the
ish and more about the differences of
Michigan/Israel Connection and the
our religion."
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Michele Persin, 15, anticipates ful-
Detroit, Teen Mission II runs from
filling a growing expectation, namely
June 25 to July 30. The itinerary
"to see for myself everything we've
includes observing Shabbat, floating in
learned about since we were really lit-
the Dead Sea, snorkeling in the Red
tle. What better time to go than with
Sea, riding camels, playing sports in
friends and rabbis?"
the desert and praying at the Western
Amy Schwartz, 16, hopes to be
Wall.

Anesthesia
Not Needed

I agree wholeheartedly with Dr. Jef-
frey Olbron that children undergoing
a circumcision should have anesthesia
to ease the pain. However, a child
having a brit milah should not. I will
explain.
The procedure used by doctors in .
the hospitals is a painful and lengthy
one. The baby is cut and pinched,
causing excruciating pain for an
extended period of time. This causes
the symptoms Dr. Olbron describes,
and anesthesia is recommended.
However, a brit milah takes a com-
petent mohel under a minute from
start to finish and entails one clean
swipe with a razor-sharp knife. To
give anesthesia would take longer
and cause more pain and discomfort

For the baby than to do the brit with-
out it.
I remember a urologist once telling
my father after seeing him do a brit,
"I'm considered fast and I have it
under five minutes; but I've never seen
anything like this!"

Rabbi Avraham Cohen

Certified mohel, Southfield

We Are
A Family

A pleasant surprise during the baking
of hamantashen at the Prentis Apart-
ments:
We who participated didn't know
that pictures were taken. Glad you
have written about the seniors ("Days
In The Life" March 27) who live in
their own apartments. But we are a
family. We participate in all the activi-

Amy Schwartz, Israeli Yossi Lenato, Michele Persin and Rabbi Norman Roman
share their impressions at an open house the rabbi hosted April 2.

shocked: "I hope to open my eyes a
little bit more. America can't be the
only place with unique traditions."
Two 16-year-old Israelis from
Migdal HaEmerk, a town of 23,000
Jews and 35 high-tech industries, said
they seldom go to synagogue. Both
were impressed, however, with morn-
ing minyans they attended at Hillel
Day School of Metropolitan Detroit
and Temple Israel.
Iva Mendenis could relate to the
freedom Reform Jews seem to enjoy
— "the equality of men and women
in synagogue and the singing and
playing of guitar in synagogue."
Concurring, Yossi Lenato said,

"Going to synagogue here in Detroit
was so fun, especially the singing and
guitar playing. I love Israel but don't
go to synagogue except on special hol-
idays."
Tal Rotshain, 16, is from Nazaret
Illit, a middle-class town of 55,000
Jews and Arabs. "We have a mixed
culture with Jews from all over the
world living among Arabs in friend-
ship and safety," he said. "We don't
have the politics that divide Israelis
and Palestinians."
Rotshain hopes the Michiganians
who visit his homeland this summer

EXCHANGE on page 36

of the Devitt
Award for Distin-
guished Service to
Justice. This is the
most prestigious
award that can be
given to a federal
judge.
The committee of
federal judges that
selected Judge
Sonia Pittman
Keith for the award
Oak Park
noted that his
career has been
Residents at Prentis get Shabbat dinner.
characterized by
dedication to the
constitutional and civil rights of all
people and service to the community."
A positive postscript to the article on
I concur.
Judge Keith ("Judge Damon Keith: A
Paul D. Borman
Local Legend" April 3): Judge Keith has
United States District Judge
just been named as this year's recipient

ties, some more,
some less, but all
are recognized.
Your observa-
tion was concise.
We thank you for
coming and hope
you come again.
Be a guest any
time.

Judge Has
Noted
Career

"

4/10
1998

35