COMMUNITY VIEWS

do

Hillel Day School
Shapes Jewish Lives

Passover we sing more songs than we
illel Day School has been
used to and the seders now have
the most wonderful expe-
more
meaning to us than before.
rience for me. It is where
I
know
that I will bring my Hillel
I have received a superior
values
with
me as I continue my life
Jewish and secular education.
because
these
values are a part of who
My education was excellent
I
am.
I
will
continue
my Jewish edu-
because the teachers are committed
cation,
I
will
continue
to read from
to helping students and giving stu-
the
Torah,
and
now I
dents individual attention
belong
to
a
Jewish
youth
whenever it is needed. The
organization.
support and guidance are
Even when I am at
not limited to those teachers
Interlochen
Arts Camp, I
whom I have in a classroom.
will
continue
to attend the
Teachers who have never
Shabbat
services
every Fri-
even taught me have also
day
evening
as
I
have
done
helped me to grow.
for
the
last
four
years
I
have
In regards to my Jewish
been
there.
I
now
know,
education, I have learned the
more than ever before, that
traditional Jewish language,
HANNAH
because
of Hillel I want to
which is so special because it
DWORKIS
have
an
observant
Jewish
is the language that our
Special to
home
where
all
the
holi-
ancestors spoke so many
The Jewish News days are celebrated with as
years ago in a land on the
much warmth and meaning
other side of the world. Last summer,
as
the
ones
I have experienced. I
on my bat mitzvah trip to Israel, the
know
that
I
want to send my chil-
only other student on the tour who
dren
to
Hillel,
too, because I want
could fluently speak Hebrew was
them
to
be
exposed
to this beautiful
from another Solomon Schecter
Jewish
culture
as
I
have
been.
school.
Many
of
the
Jewish
experiences
My Hillel experience impacted my
and programs at Hillel have signifi-
family life as well and has brought us
cantly shaped my life. Exposure to
closer to our Jewish community. It
JARC
has made me a better human
also helped us become more active in
being.
I am more sensitive to the dif-
our synagogue, where we have
ferences
in people. Other programs
become more observant of the Jewish
have
affected
me as well. On our
holidays. For example, during
eighth-grade trip to Washington,
Hannah Dworkis is a graduating
D.C., we spent a day at the U.S.
eighth grader at Hillel Day School of
Holocaust Museum. I can hardly
Metropolitan Detroit.
find the words to express the emo-

II

Hillel Day School influences its students, their families and the community at large
by imparting Jewish values and promoting Jewish continuity.

tions I felt as I walked from exhibit
to exhibit.
Although I have been exposed to
stories of the Holocaust all of my
life, walking through the cattle cars
that the Jews were transported in,
seeing the personal belongings they
were stripped of and robbed of and
hearing the personal stories of the
survivors brought tears to my eyes.
These events have reinforced my
responsibility and commitment as a
Jew. We have to make sure that we
don't forget the events of the past
and we must make sure that our her-

itage and culture will continue to
thrive in the future.
My friendships at Hillel will
endure forever. I know that I will
miss the comfort and support of my
friends and teachers that I have
grown to know these past nine years.
Even though my friends and I go our
separate ways, our strong bonds will
keep us together after we leave Hil-
lel.
To my parents, teachers and
friends, I want to say thank you for
enriching my life with this wonderful
world of Hillel. 111

On Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m., interfaith
clergy board members of the Ecu-
menical Institute will participate in a
discussion of "Ecumenical Seeds: The
Legacy of Rabbi Leo M. Franklin."
This program will be dedicated to the
memory of the Rev. Jim Lyons, who,
until his untimely death, chaired the
exhibit's clergy advisory committee
and had received the Franklin Award
in Human Relations.
You summed up Dr. Franklin's life
in your column's closing quote. Rabbi
Franklin's belief in Judaism and Amer-
ica's promise in the 20th century was
topped only by his belief in the ability
of people to work together.
Thanks again for bringing these
memories to your readers' attention.
Mary Shapero
Chair
Franklin Archive of Temple Beth El

UJF Piece
Served Well

LETTERS

for the opportunity to express my
views in this forum.
Robin S. Axelrod
Director, JEFF

Recognition
Appreciated

Your generous recognition of Rabbi
Leo M. Franklin and his leadership in
the formation of the United Jewish
Charities and the Round Table nearly
100 years ago is particularly appreciat-
ed by the members of the Franklin
Archive Committee of Temple Beth El
and his survivors ("Detroit Jewry's
United Communal Outreach Goes
Back To Beth El's Rabbi Leo Franklin"
June 5).
For those who remember Dr.
Franklin and for the many who can't,

6/12
1998

32

the Franklin Archive is preparing to
showcase his life. An exhibit, "Rabbi
Leo M. Franklin: The Man and His
Message," from Sept. 10 through Oct.
30, will celebrate the achievements,
between 1899 and 1948, of Temple
Beth El's longest-serving rabbi.
It will include photographs, letters
and audio tapes. Highlights of the
exhibit include how he worked to
combat anti-Semitism and his efforts
to unite the Jewish and black corn-
munities through student scholar-
ships.
There will be two special programs
during the exhibit. On Sept. 23 at
7:30 p.m., Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine,
1994 Franklin lecturer in ethics and
human relations at Wayne State Uni-
versity, will speak at Temple Beth El
about his personal memories of Dr.
Franklin:

This is to thank you for the fine
II4
piece you wrote about the United
Jewish Federation ("Detroit Jewry's
United Communal Outreach Goes
Back to Beth El's Rabbi Leo
Franklin" June 5).
The UJF is probably our least
understood communal organization,
and yet it plays a unique role in build-
ing and preserving the strength of our
community.
In explaining the origins and work
of the foundation, your editorial col-
umn performed an important service.
I am deeply grateful.
Robert Slatkin
President
United Jewish Foundation