Concert To Benefit
Children of Chernobyl
On the heels of the latest flight carry-
ing Jewish children affected by the
Chernobyl nuclear disaster to Israel for
treatment, another family fund-raiser
is in the works locally.
Chabad's Children of Chernobyl rais-
es money worldwide on behalf of chil-
dren needing medical assistance as a
result of the 1986 nuclear disaster in
Chernobyl, Ukraine (formerly the Soviet
Union). The children suffer from life-
threatening and often terminal illness,
such as thyroid cancer. The organization
raises money to airlift these children to
Israel, where they can get much-needed
medical treatment and be exposed to a
healthful environment.
The seventh annual Children of
Chernobyl/Michigan Region Concert
will be held 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept.
29, at the Southfield Centre for the Arts,
24350 Southfield Road.
The event is being held in memory
of Joanne Zuroff, a founder of the
Michigan Region, who died Aug. 17,
1998. Other tikun olam causes that she
was involved in included Sinai Hospital
Guild, Hillel Day School of
Metropolitan Detroit, Akiva Hebrew
Day School, Alpha Omega, Bar-Ilan
Women, Amit Women and Jewish
Home for the Aged.
Concert chairs are Rabbi Eric and
Sheryl Krohner, Jerome Zuroff, Dr.
David and Miriam Zuroff, Dr. Michael
and Sherri Zuroff, and Rabbi Raffi and
Cheryl Zuroff.
The organization's latest airlift on
Aug. 16, amid singing and dancing,
brought 20 Chernobyl children through
Ben-Gurion Airport. That brought the
total of children assisted to 1,814 on 45
flights over the past nine years.
"Eighteen is the numerical equivalent
of the Hebrew word chai, which means
life," said Yossie Raichik, Children of
Chernobyl director. "This flight repre-
sents 100 times chai, and is a milestone
),
for our program.
Most of the children have settled in
Israel permanently following the eventu-
al arrival of their parents, who make
aliya within two years.
The organization's goal, said Raichik,
is to rescue 3,000 children.
Beth El Classes Study The Kabbala
. life. The second session will explore
Temple Beth El will offer a study of
the interplay between shatteredness
kabbala in four two-hour classes begin-
and wholeness, sadness and joy, as
ning Wednesday,
they relate to the development of the
Sept. 22.
soul. Session three will focus on the
The course,
practice of Shabbat and extending
"Kabbala and the
Shabbat into the week. In the final
Open Heart" will be
class, Dr. Ginsburg will focus on
taught by Dr. Elliot
working on one's spiritual ethical
Ginsburg, professor
qualities, spiritual friendship and the
of kabbala and mys-
path
of blessing/gratitude.
ticism at the
Cost of the course is $100 for
University of
members and $175 for non-mem-
Michigan, 7:30-9:30
Elliot Ginsburg
bers. To enroll, make checks payable
p.m. at Temple Beth
and mail to Temple Beth El, 7400
El on Wednesdays,
Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills,
Sept. 22 and 29, Oct. 6 and Nov. 10.
MI 48301, attn. Kabbala and the
The opening session will speak on
Open Heart. For information, call
how opening, transformation and
the rabbis' study, (248) 851-1100.
peak experiences can change one's
Fisher Foundation Grants Announced
The Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit will contribute
$100,000 to five metro Detroit cul-
tural and educational start-up pro-
grams through its Max M. Fisher
Jewish Community Foundation.
The Fisher Foundation was estab-
lished in 1964 to fund the start-up
period of innovative and creative
projects that enhance the quality of
life for members of the Jewish com-
munity.
While the Federation's Annual
Campaign meets essential, ongoing
budgetary needs, the Fisher
Foundation provides resources for
demonstration grants. Funding comes
from the annual grant allocated to
Federation from the United Jewish
Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit.
The five programs to receive
Fisher Foundation grants are:
• Daniel Sobel Friendship Circle:
$20,000 for the Friendship Circle
Boys Club, which provides needed
respite assistance to families with
children who have special needs.
• Educating our Community
about Homosexuals and Others
(ECHO), a program of the
Michigan Jewish AIDS Coalition:
$17,500 for a program that strives
to develop models of inclusion,
teach tolerance and provide advoca-
cy and support for gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender Jews.
• The Art of Jewish Caregiving, a
program of the Commission on
Jewish Eldercare Services (COJES):
$22,714 for this community-wide
training program that teaches
healthcare workers to be sensitive to
the religious and cultural needs of
their clients.
• Jewish Historical Society of
Michigan: $19,125 for
"Documenting the Past for Future
Generations," a program that focus-
es on increasing access and visibility
of the historical society's resources to
young people in the community.
The program will publish an index
of 40 years of journals, making sto-
ries about local people and events
accessible to students and
researchers. In addition, the society
will increase the access of its tour of
Jewish historical Detroit for syna-
gogues and organizations that work
with young people.
• Michigan State University:
$16,000 for the Jewish studies and
Hebrew programs. The number of
students enrolled in Jewish studies
programs are increasing and MSU is
offering more levels of Hebrew class-
es. The school has developed an
exchange program with Ben-Gurion
University in Israel for students who
want to continue their Hebrew and
Jewish studies courses beyond the
levels offered at MSU.
Proposals for the next cycle of
grants are due Sept. 15. For infor-
mation on the Max M. Fisher
Foundation Jewish Community
Foundation, call Jordana Weiss at
Federation, (248) 203-1467.
Teen Mission Si gnup Starts
Participants can now sign up for
Teen Mission 2000, June 28-July 31
The subsidized cost of $3,495
includes airfare and accommoda-
tions. A place on the
mission can be
reserved with a $100
non-refundable
deposit, due by Oct.
31.
The trip is open to
teens entering grades
10-12 in the fall of
It's happening
2000. Prior to depar-
ture, Israeli teens and
Teen Mission 2000
participants will have
a weeklong mifgash (meeting) here
to get to know each other.
Sponsors are the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit,
Federation's Alliance for Jewish
Education, the Agency for Jewish
Education, the Jewish News and local—%
congregations.
Counselors are
being sought to
accompany the teens.
Applicants must be
age 21 or older and
college graduates.
Prior Israel experience
is preferred.
Allan Nachman is
chairing the mission,
and Rob Gordon is
co-chair. For informa-
tion, call Federation's
Michigan/Israel Connection office,
(248) 645-7878.