4.e

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Funny
and -raise

SHELLI DORFMAN

Editorial Assistant

\Th

T

o thank contributors and sup-
port their students all in one
evening, the Detroit Friends
of Bar-Ilan University have
invited to town author, comedian and
actress Rita Rudner to perform at the
group's yearly benefit.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the
announced entertainer, Jackie Mason,
has cancelled his entire Detroit-based
engagement.
With fund-raising dinners held in
Detroit since 1956, Friends Midwest
executive director Leslie Goldstein said
that last year's change in format to a
comedic performance proved both
worthwhile and fun.
As this year's featured entertainer,
Rudner, known for her humorous
insights into married and family life, will
offer a one-night performance
Wednesday, Sept. 22, at the Royal Oak
Music Theatre.
Bar-Ilan University, an academic insti-
tution and medical research center, is
located on 140 acres just outside Tel
Aviv in Ramat Gan, Israel. Goldstein
described Detroit Friends of Bar-Ilan
University as the local connection to the
Israeli school.
Bar-Man's mission is to blend Jewish tra-
dition with modern technologies and

Friends of Bar-Ilan hosting Rita Rudner
in benefit for Israeli campus.

Friends of Bar-Han University
plans annual fund-raiser as
Midwest director celebrates 20
years on the job.

scholarships. The university strives
to teach Jewish heritage, provide a
quality academic education and
bridge the gap between religious
and secular Israelis.
With 26,000 students and
1,300 faculty, course offerings are
increasing; a program of Internet class-
es will begin in October.
A current requirement of each stu-
dent is to minor in Jewish studies over
and above their major.
Goldstein said the university is con-
cerned with meeting two challenges:
the internal secular-religious debate
within Israel and the relationship
between Israel and the diaspora.
Solutions involve the intentional
inclusion of equal numbers of secular
and observant students. "If you live
with people who are different for four
years," Goldstein said, "you will see
that they really are okay." Funds raised
for Bar-Ilan come from secular and
religious sources, reflective of the
school's diverse student composition.
Organizers for the fund-raising
event are: Rosalie Rosen and Robert
Sher, chairs; Rochelle Lieberman and
Alan Zekelman, patron co-chairs; Eli
Sherr, playbill; Jeffrey Sakwa and
Aaron Sherbin, ticket co-chairs; and
Linda Schafer, arrangements and invi-
tations chair. II

8/20
1999

Detroit Jewish News 35