For The Children
Students among those honored for ecumenical work toward peace.
Rev. James R. Lyons,
who founded the
Ecumenical Institute
17 years ago, and in
tribute to Dr. Gary
Faber, in whose honor
the program was estab-
lished. Performing at
SHELLI DORFMAN
Editorial Assistant
T
he musical voices of children
echoed in the large social hall.
In words like "hope" and
"Love" and "peace," they sang
),
about "a world of many colors
and many faces, different
people with different views,
living together, holding
hands.
From the youth came the
announcement of the
Representing Orchard Lake Middle School, assistant
emphatic theme of the
principal Ken Gutman and student council represen-
evening — people of diverse
tative Elyse Fleischman accept the Youth Dove Award
ethnic and religious back-
along
with Abbott Middle School student council rep-
grounds comina b together to
resentative
Micha Hickey and assistant principal
make a difference.
Brian
Kaplan.
Rabbi
Norman
Roman
of
Temple
Kol
On April 29, the
Ami presents a Dove Award to Dr. Gary
Southfield-based Ecumenical
and Merton Segal, chair-
Faber.
Institute for Jewish-Christian
man and CEO of
Studies brought 325 rabbis
Meadowbrook Insurance
the dinner were Abbott
and priests and church and synagogue
Group Inc. in Southfield.
Middle
School's
Show
Choir
members to Congregation Shaarey
Regarding the middle
and Orchard Lake Middle
Zedek for the sixth annual Dove Awards
school
students present at
School's "Current" Jazz
Dinner, so named for the symbol of har-
the
dinner,
Segal said he
Ensemble.
mony.
felt
"reassured
to witness
Lyons described the young
The Ecumenical Institute was found-
the
talent
and
commit-
recipients as "a celebration in
ed to help Jews and Christians learn
ment of the young kids."
diversity,"
stressing that they
more about one another's beliefs and
In an ecumenical
Elaine
Sturman,
pres-
should remember the lessons
maintain a harmonious dialogue.
process,
the Rev. Bruce
ident
of
the
of the Holocaust where
Three local individuals were present-
Quatman of Holy Spirit
Ecumenical Institute's
"children
were
indoctrinated
ed with a 1999 Dove Award, developed
Lutheran Church in West
board of trustees,
into hatred." Looking with
to honor those who have made signifi-
Bloomfield led an invoca-
addresses
the
audience.
admiration at the groups of
cant contributions to building bridges
tion that was followed by
students, he reflected on the
between Jews and Christians. The recipi-
a
blessing
over
the challa by Rabbi Amy
recent school shooting disaster in
ents were Dr. Gary Faber, West
Brodsky,
the
Ecumenical
Institute's assis-
Littleton, Colo., and said that our chil-
Bloomfield School District deputy
tant
director.
dren should be playing in jazz bands,
superintendent; the Rev. Dr. Lottie
As guests ate desserts shaped like
not creating dangerous Web sites. "They
Jones-Hood, First Congregational
white-chocolate birds of peace, Elaine -\
should
be
singing
about
building
Church of Detroit pastor,; and Frank D.
Sturman, president of the Ecumenical
bridges, not building bombs," he said.
Stella, chairman, CEO and founder of
Institute's board of trustees, reminded
Faber stressed the importance of the
F.D. Stella Products Co. in Detroit.
the group that, "respect can be
inclusion of children through simple
David Blewett, the institute's execu-
learned," and added, "The Ecumenical
human kindness and giving them a
tive director, described the three hon-
Institute teaches us about each other. It
sense of belonging." When schools "cut
orees as "people who make a difference
teaches us about our differences and
kids from teams and offer clubs that
by living lives of dialogue that expand
our similarities. I know that together
don't accept everyone," he said, they are
mutual understanding and respect. "
we can make a difference and make
causing
exclusion.
It
is
the
disenfran-
A special moment in the evening was
this world a better place for us, our
chised
that
start
the
revolutions.
Our
when the students of Abbott and
children, our grandchildren and for all
nation's recent tragedies speak volumes
Orchard Lake middle schools, both in
the generations yet to come."
about these people," he added
West Bloomfield, were given the insti-
And the words of the youth lin-
The dinner, the Ecumenical
tute's first Youth Dove Award. They
gered
— in songs about building
Institute's major annual find-raising
were honored for their participation in
bridges
and seeing brighter tomor-
event, was coordinated by program
the Ambassadors of Goodwill program,
rows,
and
about hands. With hands
director Barbara Yuhas. The evening was
established to get young people involved
joined together, they sang of "hands
chaired
by
Ecumenical
Institute
board
in churches, synagogues and schools.
united in hope, hands united in free-
members Tarik S. Daoud, president and
The award was presented by David
dom,
hands united in peace." fl
owner of Al Long Ford Inc. in Warren,
Lyons in memory of his father, the late
Pho to by Bo b Be nyas
C
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