Spirituality

MJAC holds its annual
healing service.

Fogelman hopes
for 150 partici-
pants in the ser-
vice, which fol-
lows a one-hour
religious pro-
gram compiled
by the Women's
League for
Conservative
Judaism. It will
include the

SHELLI DORFMAN

StaffWriter

U

nfortunately, too many in
our community find HIV
and AIDS too close too
home," says Dr. Burton
Fogelman, president of the Michigan
Jewish AIDS Coalition (MJAC).
Since MJAC's inception in 1991 as
a Jewish involvement in HIV/AIDS
prevention, Dr. Fogelman says an
annual healing service has been held in
conjunction with World AIDS Day.
"It's a good feeling to be together to

remember those who died, and pray
for those who are ill," says Dr.
Fogelman.
"AIDS — End the Silence: Listen,
Learn, Live!" is the theme of this year's
program, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1,
in the chapel of Adat Shalom
Synagogue.
The service will be conducted by
Rabbis Aaron Bergman of
Congregation Beth Abraham Hillel
Moses, Sheila Goloboy and David
Castiglione of Temple Beth El and
E.B. "Bunny" Friedman of Hospice of
Southeast Michigan in Southfield. Dr.

about homosexu-
ality with the
goal of heighten-
ing awareness,
sensitivity and
inclusion in the
Jewish commu-
nity.
Dr. Fogelman
says ECHO
MICHIGAN JFIVISH AIDS COALITION
teaches diversity
and inclusion, to
Mourner's
rid the world of
Kaddish, prayers for healing and reflec-
prejudice and teach acceptance of
tions, and music by the Bel Canto
homosexuality" Its "Choose Life So
Choral Society. Yahrtzeit candles, and
That You May Live" curriculum has
candles for those who are ill, will be lit.
educated 2,500 teens and adults
Scott Fried, an educator and lectur-
through discussions of self-esteem, sex-
er with HIV, will discuss youth and
ual practices, education and safety
responsibility, homosexuality, peer
"Grounded in a foundation of
pressure, refusal skills and death.
Jewish values," Dr. Fogelman says
Panels from a newly created quilt,
MJAC "celebrates life in all walks of
dedicated to those from the MJAC
Judaism." The healing service, he adds,
family who have been lost to AIDS,
is a part of "coming together as Jews
will be displayed, says Dr. Fogelman.
with a cause." ❑
Southfield-based MJAC strives to
improve the quality of life of persons
infected with AIDS or HIV and their
families, as well as those self-identified
For information on MJAC's
as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
annual healing service, 7 p.m.
Providing Jewish educational pro-
Wednesday, Dec. 1, at Adat
grams and materials for adults and
Shalom Synagogue, 29901
youth aimed at prevention of
Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, or
HIV/AIDS, MJAC also provides refer-
to buy raffle tickets to support
rals and support for affected individu-
AIDS research, call (248) 594-
als and their families. The two-year-old
6522, or e-mail
"Educating our Community about
MJAIDS@aol.com
Homosexuality through Outreach"
project provides community forums

"

11/26
1999

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