MICHIGAN JEWISH AIDS
COALITION • 1998-1999
OFFICERS
President - Michelle Passon
Vice Presidents
Jeff Green - Programming
joy Schumacher - Education
Secretary - Laurie Frankel
Treasurer - Robert Mather
Past Presidents
Susan Leemaster • Linda Lee
LIAISONS
Jewish Federation
Mark Jeross • Karen
Weinbaurn
Peer/Educators
Jenny Hobson *Tali Zechory
STAFF
Edwina Davis,
Executive Director
Andrea Nitzkin,
Education Director
Arlene E. Sorkin,
ECHO Director
Suzanne Berman,
Administrative Assistant
Welcome to the World of !AMC
MJAC was created in 1991 by members of our Jewish community who refused to ignore
the plight of a Jewish family whose son was dying with AIDS. We are a community
committed to caring for and about " Kulanu-all of us." In that spirit, volunteer leaders,
rabbis, communal professionals from organizations, agencies and Temple Israel responded
by establishing MJAC. To this day, MJAC is the only independent Jewish HIV/AIDS
organization in America. Our curriculum, "Choose Life So That You May Live" has received
national recognition.
MJAC's mission is to provide, within a Jewish
context, educational programs and materials
for adults and youth aimed at the prevention
of HIV/AIDS. MJAC also provides referrals
and support for individuals and families
affected by HIV/AIDS. In 1998, an additional
responsibility was included in its mission —
The ECHO Project. E.C.H.O. stands
for "Educating our Community about
Homosexuality through Outreach."
• Tikkun Olam - repairing the world. In addition to its educational prevention programs
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1999
72 Detroit Jewish News
MJAC is growing rapidly. Families who have a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender member
are numerous and should know the Jewish community stands with them. Adults and youth
infected with HIV should find safety and comfort within our community so we must find
ways to keep this incredible organization going.
Your help, your participation and your good will are invaluable to MJAC. There are many
ways to help: become a member or a life member; think of MJAC when you wish to send a
tribute; consider MJAC for an endowment or testamentary gift; become a facilitator, office
volunteer or a committee member. Please call our office for details. (248-594-6522)
On behalf of the MJAC board, staff, volunteers, my family and I wish you a happy and
healthy New Year. Shana Tovah Tilcatevu.
— Michelle Passon, President
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1999 • 7:30 PM
at Cong. Beth Abraham Hillel Moses
5075 W. Maple, West Bloomfield
MICHIGAN JEWISH MN COMITION
51
Guest Speaker Dr. John Cohn of Harper Hospital, Election of Officers • Presentation of Volunteer Awards
Refreshments following program
Department of Infectious Diseases
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Educationally Speaking
Shalom! It is with great pride
that I write this article for the
Jewish News. For many of
you, this may be the first time
that you have even heard of the
Michigan Jewish AIDS
Coalition, MJAC. It is an
honor to introduce you to such
a truly fantastic organization!
ADVISORY MEMBERS
A sign language interpreter
will be made available
for any program upon
reasonable request
transgendered people. MJAC has added new information and exercises to its curriculum
which foster the commandment of "Binah".
for organizations, synagogues and temples' religious schools and secular schools, MJAC
BOARD MEMBERS
Howard Israel
Carol Kaczander
Renee Mahler • David Moss
Marge Samson
Michelle Schreiber
Janette Shallal
David Techner • Julie Voiles
"in the image of God." Since 1997,
MJAC has reached out to gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgendered Jews because
we believe people of good will reflect
The three presidents of MJAC (L to R):
God's goodness, no matter what their
Linda Lee, Michelle Passon, Susie Leemaster
sexual orientation. MJAC sponsors an
annual ECHO Program for the heterosexual and homosexual community to encourage
openness and frank discussion of issues relating to homosexuality.
• Binah - understanding and insight about how we accept gay, lesbian, bisexual and
• Chesed V'Emet- compassion and truth in relation to those affected by HIV/AIDS. Jews
are commanded to respond to an individual's death with loving kindness and integrity.
MJAC has stood by many (too many) families who have lost a loved one to AIDS, and
many of those families have found a place at MJAC, serving as board members and volunteers.
Randy Topper, ECHO Support
Sue Ellen Eisenberg
Rabbi Bunny Freedman
Nancy Gad-Hart
Arthur Horowitz
• B'Tzelem Elohim -we are all created
• Mishpat - justice, reach out to others with respect and dignity. MJAC has opened
doors throughout the community and is now recognized as a leader and resource by the
Jewish and general communities offering models of inclusion for organizations and religious
institutions to follow in becoming more welcoming to all.
Guided by Jewish values, MJAC is an
advocate for the health and well being of our
community. MJAC acts to ensure that no
Jew is turned away from full participation
Rabbi Arnie Steutelberg (Right)
in Jewish life because of their sexual
Sr Rabbi Joshua Bennett
orientation or HIV status.
• Bikur Cholim - visiting the sick. This teaches us that no one should be cut off from the world.
MJAC makes regular Hospice visits, distributes Passover packages to AIDS patients, and
collaborates with AIDS organizations and hospitals to reach out to those afflicted with HIV.
Julia Music, Education Support
Gary Anders
Rabbi Joshua Bennett
Sylvia Block • Susan Brown
Peter k Cooper
Michael Daitch • Sue Efros
Ron Elkus • Julie Falbaum
Burton Fogelman
Peggy M. Frank • Pola Friedman
Margie Fuller • Beth Goldberg
Julie Greenblatt
Eileen Isenberg
Nancy Josephson • Harriet Kanter
Jan Laurencelle • Carl Lauter
Sheri Lee • Kenneth Levin
Edith Maniker • Mindy Nathan
Milton Neuman • Jimmy Popkin
Daniel Singer
Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg
Jerry St Marilyn Soble
H. James Zack
is an advocate for the economic,
occupational and social rights of persons
with HIV/AIDS. Many of its members
provide financial support for medical
research.
Jan Lawrencelle (Left), Eileen Isenberg,
Edith Maniker, Andrea Nitzkin
The mission of the Michigan
Jewish AIDS Coalition is
rooted in the Jewish value of
Pikuach Nefesh, to save a life.
MJAC seeks to prevent the further spread of HIV by educating people about how
they can protect themselves. Unlike most illness, HIV is unique in that it is preventable!
Until there is a cure or vaccination, our only line of defense against this virus is knowledge.
We are each responsible for our own actions and decisions. Having the knowledge of
how to protect ourselves from exposure to HIV gives us the power to make informed,
lifesaving choices.
To disseminate our information, MJAC uses a dedicated team of trained adult and teen
facilitators that lead interactive presentations focusing on the basics of HIV transmission
and related issues. This curriculum is adaptable to any type of audience. In the last year,
MJAC conducted 60 presentations at local temples, synagogues, youth groups, organizations,
and public and private schools, reaching over 2,600 people. No audience is too small to
deserve our attention, or too sophisticated to learn from our presentations.
If you are interested in volunteer work, please consider MJAC. MJAC provides many
opportunities for volunteers, induding programs for families. MJAC Youth Corps offers
opportunity for teens to earn community service. MJAC has a group of teen volunteers
from all over the community who have been trained as peer educators to assist with our
presentations. They help create the agendas for our programs and then lead our audiences
in interactive activities. In addition, teens assist with packaging gift and food items for the
holiday's to deliver to persons living with AIDS, they contribute to our teen newsletter, and
they participate in making
quilt panels for the
NAMES Project AIDS
Memorial Quilt.
Our next training series for
new volunteers is Sunday,
October 10th at 9:30a.m.
and Thursday, October
14th at 7:00p.m. Please
call the office if you are
interested in participating
(248) 594 - 6522. And,
stay safe!
— Fondly, Andrea
Director of Education
An education weekend with
Rabbi Marc Blumenthal