Editorials

Letters to the Editor are updated daily and archived on _IN Online:
www.detroitjewishnews.com

Involving The Entire Family

he outlay by major donors is one
measure of success for the Jewish
Community Center of Metropoli-
tan Detroit's S25-million fund-
raising drive. There's no mistaking that.
But donations from dues-paying mem-
bers, a significant part of the JCC family,
should be important, too.
Like wealthier charitable folks, they
should have an opportunity to become a
stakeholder in charting a course for the 72-
rear-old JCC, so it can remain the central
address for Detroit Jewry.
It's encouraging to hear of plans to solicit
board, health club and general members of
the JCC. But those plans now must turn
into active pursuit of smaller donations —
whether S50, $500 or $2,500.
Thanks to its own initiative and the Jew-
ish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's
help, the JCC has raised 59.44 million. The
hope is to raise $17 million for building
improvements and $8 million to start a per-
manent endowment.
Major donations account for most of
what is already in hand, including $3.6 mil-
lion from D. Dan and Betty Kahn, for
whom the West Bloomfield JCC is now
named.
Gifts of $5,000 to $24,999 equal
$233,746 and gifts of less than $5,000 add

IN FOCUS

up to $23,480. Together, that's $257,226,
less than 3 percent of the overall running
total.
We applaud the JCC's newly announced
move to solicit the 10,000 dues-paving
members, about a tenth of Detroit's Jewish
population. A campaign devoid of a signifi-
cant number of donors from the member-
ship ranks, no matter ho\ ∎ successful dollar-
wise, wouldn't be reflective of the JCC's
greatest asset — its users.
And without a strong vote of confidence
from members — the people most apt to use
improved facilities — what's the point of
proceeding with renovation plans?
By involving them in the capital and
endowment drive, the JCC, in effect, is
telling members their support is valued
today and in the future — a great way to
spur loyalty among users while embracing
them as partners.
Major donors instantly validate a cause
through their generous and crucial gifts
Smaller donors help expand the scope of the
cause through the larger community they
represent.
The Jewish Community Center's capital
and endowment drive must be grounded in
small givers as well as major givers if
enhancements to programming and facilities
are to have a lasting impat

.
'

Dream Themes

Rabbi Steven Weil of Young Israel of Oak Park spoke Dec. 1
about "How to Analyze Your Dreams" as part of the Jewish
Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit's Top Secrets of
Jewish Living program. He addressed the Talmudic analysis of
dreams, the nature of the subconscious, and using Talmudic as
well as Freudian explanations.

LETTERS

Landmanshaften
form relief
societies during
the Depression,
circa 1935.

Inspiring New Lights

ext week, literally millions of
American Jews will light the
chanukiah, or Chanukah meno-
rah. It will be significantly more
than those who fast on Yom Kippur, eat a
meal in a sukkah for Sukkot or dip some
apple in honey for Rosh Hashanah.
The obvious reason for the high participa-
tion in Chanukah rituals — at least 80 per-
cent in most communities, according to
numerous demographic studies — is the cal-
endar proximity to Christmas. It is, say soci-
ologists, a way for Jews to feel a part of the
all-encompassing "winter holiday season."
With all due respect to Chanukah's mer-
its, it is but one commemoration on the
crowded and vibrant Jewish calendar. And
those of us who partake in its rituals, partic-
ularly people hosting Chanukah gatherings,
should grab the chance to expose more
American Jews (and non-Jews) to the depth
and breadth of Jewish
For example, don't just light candles; sing
Chanukah songs. Many of us remember the
rune to "Ma' Utzur" ("Rock Of Ages"), but

fewer recall the words. Get them, photocopy
them and share them with others.
For the kids, don't just give out gifts
(preferably inexpensive, but meaningful
ones); have a fun quiz about the holiday and
its story — before they can take their prize.
For the adults, don't just stand around
chatting, set up a real discussion on the holi-
day's values (withholding the latkes until
you're done). Material on this is abundantly
available on the Internet, from synagogue
libraries and Jewish educators. Get into the
nitty-gritty, such as, "Can we really celebrate
Chanukah if it's about a Jewish civil war?
What does that mean for us today?"
Remember: on some level, everyone pre-
sent at your gathering is interested in Jewish
life. Ask them if they'd like to return for a
party to celebrate Purim, Passover and
Shavuot. It's a way to show that being Jewish
is not seasonal but a lasting, rewarding
framework for throughout the year. Such
actions can hdp bring more light into our
individual and communal lives.

Photo courtesy Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives/Jewish
Detroit
Foundation of

Fond Glimpse
Of The Past

What a pleasant surprise to
turn the page to the article, "A
Peek At The Past"( The Jewish
News, Dec. 4), and see my
beautiful mother, Jenny Wein-
berg (Mrs. Harry Weinberg),
the third person from the right,
and my aunt Sadie Weinberg
(Mrs. Morris Weinberg),
standing next to her, the fourth
person from the right.

They were both very active
in the Women's Division of
the Sholem Aleichem Insti-
tute and the Detroit Chapter
of the American Federation of
Polish Jews. I do remember
this picture and I am certain
that they were packing boxes
to send overseas to help their
unfortunate landsleit in
Poland.
A few other persons in the
photograph look familiar, but
I cannot remember their

12/11
1998

Detroit Jewish News

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