MICHIGAN JEWISH ANTS COALMON Interviews with three special friends It was my great pleasure to be asked to interview three very special friends of MJAC: Sylvia Block, Eileen Eisenberg and Jimmy Popkin for the publication of our MJAC Moments Newsletter in the Jewish News. I have the Mary Ann Siege! (Left) Sr Linda Lee opportunity to speak to these people often but this was a unique chance to have them share their MJAC moments with many readers. I hope you, the reader, will be moved by their stories. Knowing and working with these wonderful people has enhanced my life, as I know it will enhance yours. . - • — Edwina C. Davis Interview with James Popkin, July 22, 1999 About four years ago, Jimmy was walking around MJAC'S display of Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilts at the Jewish Community Center. He came upon the panel made in memory of his daughter Shelley Popkin Zagacici and her name was spelled wrong. At that moment he stopped to talk with Susie Leemaster. Susie assured Jimmy that the people at MJAC would make a new panel for Shelley. She also asked him to fill out the balance of a board term due to a recent resignation. Jimmy said yes because he would do anything associated with Shelley. At that time he felt quite vulnerable and hoped MJAC would be of some comfort. The rest is history for which all those associated with MJAC are forever grateful. Currently Jimmy is one of the most valuable facilitators of our curriculum. Our team of facilitators at Temple Emanu-El has been working together and is deeply connected. Jimmy is a member of Temple Emanu-El, so there is special significance when he speaks there. During his presentation, Laura Kohn, another one of our facilitators who was Shelley's Social Worker, usually interviews Jimmy about Shelley, her life, her family and AIDS. Jimmy shows a beautiful picture of Shelley. Shelley had two sons, Zachary, now 21, and Eric, 10. Jimmy and his wife are very involved in the lives of their grandsons. When the AIDS Memorial Quilt was displayed in Washington, D.C. a few years ago, Jimmy joined Linda Lee, Mary Ann Siegel, and myself for an extraordinary weekend. The first morning Jimmy seemed to be miraculously guided to Shelley's panel among the thousands displayed. We all cried together. Jimmy spent each day at the panel and the evenings with us, As we were traveling home he said he felt as if he had just spent the weekend with his beloved Shelley and he was in a much different place, quieter and much more peaceful. Jimmy has a grand sense of humor and an innate sense of sweetness. These days he can and does talk freely about Shelley Jimmy has become our beloved Jimmy. Interview with Sylvia Block, July 20, 1999 It has been more than six years since Sylvia first interviewed for a volunteer position with the Michigan Jewish AIDS Coalition. At that time she told us about her son who was living with AIDS. Sylvia says that MJAC has always been there for her with open arms and she has certainly been there for MJAC. Every Monday, rain, snow or sleet, Sylvia is at her desk in the MJAC office. She will do absolutely anything and everything asked of her. She has been a vital part of our growth. She was co-chair of our major fundraiser, the Raffle, she is the chair of MJAC'S participation in AIDS Walk Detroit, and she is always active in our Hospice programs. When her son Nathan David died from the complications of HIV, we all felt the loss for our beloved family member Sylvia. Sylvia Block She will always receive much love and support from her MJAC family. Sylvia started MJAC's first named fund in memory of Nathan David. Through the years, Sylvia has gained the strength to become one of the most effective facilitators of our HIV/AIDS Education Curriculum. One of the most poignant moments came this year when Sylvia spoke to a group of fifth graders at Kennedy Elementary School. She spoke about her son and made him so very real that at the end of her comments, many of the students were in tears and one boy came up to her and said "I'm close to my mom like you were to your son." This was an unforgettable moment for all. The 90 students were so touched by Sylvia's story and her bravery in sharing difficult memories that they all formed a line to hug her before returning to class. Sylvia believes that to be part of the MJAC family is special. That is because Sylvia Block is truly special. •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • ECHO Educating our Community about Homosexuality through Outreach The ECHO Project originated in 1998 when it became evident through MJAC's HIV/AIDS education programs that homophobia existed in the Jewish community. In addition, many of our volunteers and board members had voiced feelings of being disenfranchised from the Jewish community because of their own sexual identity or that of a relative, and the lack of acceptance they experienced. Edwina Davis (left), Arlene Sorkin, The overall goal of the Petula Clark, Ron Elkus ECHO Project is to ensure inclusion of GLBT individuals in all facets of Jewish life by developing binah (understanding and insight) regarding how we accept gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people within our community, reduce myths and misconceptions regarding homosexuality, and increase the sensitivity of the Jewish community to the dignity of all persons. In order ro carry out this project, I was hired in September of 1998 and the ECHO Advisory Committee was formed. With the help of a generous grant from the Max M. Fisher Community Foundation, the ECHO Project is up and runt -ling. We have developed a "Model of Indusion" for use by synagogues and community organizations. Being inclusive is not just making a statement but changing such documents as registration and membership forms to make them gender neutral, and adding "sexual orientation" to any clauses that prohibit discrimination among other changes. Currently, Temple Israel, Temple Beth El and the Jewish Community Center have formed committees to assess how they can be more inclusive to the GLBT Jewish community and other non- traditional Jewish families. Congregation Shir Tikvah has historically been welcoming to all. In addition to our HIV/AIDS library located in our office, we have an extensive library of articles, books and videos available for individuals to borrow for • • • • • • • • • personal or educational use on GLBT issues. Our resources include subjects such as coming out, helping parents accept their children, lesbian and gay couples and parenting, Judaism and sexual orientation, and children's books for ages 3 and up, which illustrate differences and promote acceptance . We have assisted Temple Israel by providing speakers for a teacher's training seminar addressing GLBT issues on October 10, 1999. Interview with Eileen Isenberg, Sept.13, 1999 When I first asked Eileen how she came to know about MJAC, (Michigan Jewish AIDS Coalition) she hesitated for a moment and then said, "I guess whatever you really need to know in life will be revealed CO you if you are willing to open your mind and heart." She remembers speaking with Sue Efros, who had recently lost a brother to HIV/AIDS. Sue told Eileen that a group was being created to educate the Jewish community about this new disease. Around that time, the Jewish News wrote an extensive artide about MJAC, which led her to call Susie Leemaster, the group's founder. Eileen had recently learned that her son, Steven, was HIV positive, and she began a personal quest to learn all she could about the disease. Not only did she want to become knowledgeable; she wanted to strengthen herself emotionally and physically to prepare for this challenge to her family. When MJAC began intensive curriculum training sessions, Eileen attended and planned to be a quiet observer and support person for the newly trained facilitators. But Reuven Rotman, chair of MJAC'S Education Committee, recognized an able communicator and learned of Eileen's experience teaching health and sex education. Meanwhile, Steve was teaching HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention to teens through the San Francisco Jewish Family Service. It was his courage and dedication that inspired Eileen to undertake the same work in Michigan. Her openness and honesty have made her a gifted teacher. In the mid 1980's, many members of our Jewish community considered HIV/AIDS a mark of shame, a shined, and felt it could not possibly touch a Jewish home. Eileen was determined to work with MJAC to dispel this and many other myths. When Steven Isenberg died this past January, the complete love and support of Eileen's MJAC family sustained her. Steven was a member of that family. He had attended our meetings whenever he came to town and had been a guest speaker for MJAC at Temple Beth-El. He knew most of us, and we loved him. Steven was famous for his hugs: when he hugged you, you knew you were being'huKed by the Best! Jimmy Popkin & Eileen Isenberg •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • World AIDS Day A new curriculum has been written. It contains exercises that deal with oppression, discrimination, diversity, acceptance and homophobia. We will be training facilitators to bring these important topics to community and youth groups. There are currently many projects in progress. We are putting together a brochure and bookmark for ECHO to get the word out about what we have to offer. One of our priorities is to prepare resource kits for parents/family members, dergy, educators and individuals exploring their sexual identity. In addition, we are developing an agency/school staff training program. Our library will be duplicated at the Jewish Community Center Kahn Building. Since theater can be an effective educational tool, it is our hope that we will be able to fund the presentation of a play entitled "In the Beginning I Did Not Speak In Secret", which portrays the lives of eight characters ranging in age from 16 to 70 who are GLBT and Jewish. Our very creative ECHO Advisory Committee members are constantly coming up with new projects to undertake. I have been fortunate to personally meet and work closely with many members of the GLBT community since I began my position as ECHO Project Coordinator but most people have not had that opportunity. That is why education is so important. Just as our HIV/AIDS presentations include the faces of people with AIDS and those who have lost family members, we will need to also show the faces of the GLBT community and their family members who can talk about their experiences. The challenge has been in finding those who are willing to come forward and tell their stories to audiences which may not feel safe and welcoming. This reality is a due to the fear that is predominant in the GLBT community of the repercussions that might occur, especially in the work place, as a result of coming our in this way. If you would like ro become a fiicilitaror, speaker, are in need of resources or would like to book an ECHO presentation, please call Arlene Sorkin at MJAC. — Arlene E. Sorkin, MS.W, CS.W Board of Directors Installation - 1998 The concept of World AIDS Day was created by the United Nation's World Health Organization 15 years ago to be observed annually on December 1st. This day reminds us of the impact HIV and AIDS has had on all our communities — local, national, and global. It also reminds us to reflect upon our individual contributions and responsibilities in curtailing this horrible disease which continues to infect our children, our parents, and our friends and remains without cure or vaccination. On Wednesday, December 1, 1999, MJAC will hold a Jewish healing service for World AIDS Day. It will be held at 7:00p.m. at Adat Shalom Synagogue, Peggy M. Frank Sr Ron Elkus 29901 Middlebelt at 13 Mile Road in Farmington Hills. The service will include messages from local rabbis, panels from the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, and music performed by the Bel Canto Choral Society. The public is welcome and invited to attend. — Peter Cooper and Burton Fogelman MJAC • 30161 Southfield Road, Suite 102 • Southfield, Michigan 48076 • 248-594-MJAC (6522) Detroit Jewish News 10/1 199 73