Family AlBuM

This. happy boy is Andrew
Louis Serlin of Southfield,
born in December 1997.
Andrew is shown with
his father, Daniel,
his Grammy
Nancy and his
great-grandmother,
Leanor Reizen of
Okemos: Great-
grandfather Maurie
Reizen took the nice
photo.

Tell Us About Your Special Friend

SweetJulia Eisenshtadt, 1
month ; with Mommy
Sharon, enjoys her first
Purim. Julio is pictured
leaving the home of
Bubble Arlene and
Papa Chuck Beerman
for services and a
Purim party at Congre-
gation Shaarey Zedek.
Julia lives in Sylvan Lake
with her parents, Sharon
and Howard, and 2-year-
old brother, Cole. In
addition to the Beer-
mans, grandparents are
Barbara and Barry Litvin
and Carol and Jerry
Eisenshtadt.

The AppleTree's Family Album welcomes photos of your children, grandchil-
dren and other family members. Before sending in your pictures, please
observe the following guidelines:.
#1) All information MUST BE TYPED, no exceptions. You may include
names of family members, along with children's names and ages, cities of
residence, school and interests. If children live out of town, make certain the
Detroit family connection is clear. We reserve the right to edit copy.
#2) Photos may be any size, in black and white or color. We regret that
we cannot accept photocopies or images sent via the computer. If you
would like your pictures returned, be sure to include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope.
#3) Please, do not send photos of the same child more than once a year.
#4) Pictures are run on a first-come, first-served basis. Because of the volume
of photos we receive, it may be several months before yours appears.
Please do not call our office to ask when your picture will run.
#5) Envelopes MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED: Family Album.
Mail to: Family Album, c/o AppleTree, 27676 Franklin Road,
Southfield, MI 48034

4/16
1999

74 Detroit Jewish News

Perhaps one of the best days of
your life was when you went to
the movies with your next-door
neighbor, who is mentally chal-
lenged. Or maybe you spent an
unforgettable afternoon once
with a family friend who is autis-
tic.
The Jewish News, in conjunction
with the Daniel Sobel Friendship -
Circle, wants to hear about
your moments of friendship with
someone who is disabled.
Together, we are sponsoring an
essay contest, "My Special
Friend." The winner will receive
$100 and have his/her essay
puolished in The AppleTree.
The Daniel Sobel Friendship
Circle, founded in 1994 ; is
dedicated to providing respite
care and other help to families
with special-needs children. So
far, more then 250 middle
school and high school students
have volunteered with the
Friendship Circle, affording
them the opportunity to have "a
meaningful interaction with a
person who has a disability,"
says Rabbi Levi Shemtov of the
Friendship Circle.
Shemtov hopes that, through
this contest, "the barrier of inter-
action will be broken down.
"Over the last decade, there
has been an impressive effort
from society as a whole, and
especially from the Jewish com-
munity, to learn about accep-
tance of adults and children
with various developmental dis-
abilities,"says Shemtov. "Very
often, we read in The Jewish
News about how a synagogue,
school or organization started a
new program to include special-
needs children. Thanks to the
good hearts and great laws in

this country, many barriers that
have stood in the way of spe-
cial-needs children and adults
have come down. However, the
most important barrier of all is
what our essay contest will help
bring down: the barrier of inter-
action."
The contest is open to any stu-
dent in middle school or high

school. Essays should be no
longer than two, double-spaced,
typed pages and must focus on
the student's experience with a
special-needs person.
In addition to the prize money
and essay publication in The Jew-
ish News, the winner will be
invited to read his/her article at
the Friendship Circle's annual din-
ner on Monday, May 24.
Mail essays to Special Friend,
c/o The AppleTree, 27676
Franklin Road, Southfield, MI
48034, or fax (248) 354-
6069. Entries must be received
at our office no later than Friday,
April 23.
Editor's Note: If you are inter-
ested in the contest but do not
know a special-needs family,
please contact Elizabeth Apple-
baum at The AppleTree, (248)
354-6060, ext. 308. Leave a
message and your call will be
returned.