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Needs Fulfilled
Federation, Foundation board meeting actions
answer a call from Israel, and assist elderly
and college-aged Jews here.
HARRY KIRSBAUM
Staff Writer
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American Jewish Joint Distribution
Committee's hunger-relief program in
the former Soviet Union.
The boards of the Foundation and of
Federation voted unanimously last week
to dip into reserve funds, and offered a
$1.2 million grant to the cause.
"We didn't want to take any funds
from the ongoing campaign because
there are regular local and overseas
needs that-must be met," said Penny
Blumenstein, Federation president. "In
this emergency, we are pleased we had
the reserve to ensure our fair-share com-
mitment. Detroit always responds with
e spoke of thousands of
unexpected immigrants
pouring into Israel from
the former Soviet Union,
Ethiopia and the Balkans. He spoke of
hunger among elderly Jews in Russia.
He spoke of working together as a
global Jewish community.
He asked for money. He got it.
Sallai Meridor, chairman of the exec-
utive committee of the Jewish Agency
For Israel, made his plea in the midst
of a cross-country speaking
tour, seeking to raise emer-
gency funds for the organi-
zation that is responsible for
immigration and absorp-
tion of needy diaspora Jews.
. During his Nov. 23
speech before the combined
boards of the United Jewish
Foundation and the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit, Meridor explained
the dire situation. He said
Israel expected 14,000 Jews
to emigrate from Russia last
year, but got 32,000. More
than 100,000 elderly Jews
Robert Aronson, Sallai Meridor and Penny Blumenstein
live on a pension of $20
month throughout the
Soviet Union, he added.
compassion to our fellow Jews in need."
The 2,500 Jews who have been airlifted
In other board actions last week:
in recent months from Quara, Ethiopia,
• Michigan State University Hillel
need help with housing, food, language
got
the go-ahead to mount a $3 mil-
skills and job training. All told, 75,000
lion
capital and endowment campaign
Jews will pour across Israel's borders
to replace its current facility.
from around the world this year, he said.
Space limitations in the current build-
"In the name of the Jewish people
ing, a former sorority house, prevent any
and our Jewish values, we can meet
meeting of more than 50, said David
these challenges only if we work
Bittker, founding chairman of Hillel:
together as a global Jewish communi-
The
Foundation for Jewish Campus Life,
ty," he said.
and
honorary
campaign chairman.
Detroit was asked by the United
The
new
building
will include a
Jewish Communities to join with other
large lounge space for meeting, study-
Jewish communities in contributing a
ing and relaxing; a 100-seat dining
total of $31.7 million for the emer-
hall; a 100-seat chapel, and kosher
gency effort. That includes $21.7 mil-
meat and dairy kitchens.
lion to JAFI for rescue and absorption
Citing growth in student participa-
for immigrants and $10 million for the
tion and Federation support, Rabbi
Philip Cohen, MSU Hillel director,
Harry Kirsbaum can be reached at
said the program "touches at least half"
(248) 354-6060, ext. 244, or by e-mail
NEEDS on page 16
at hkirsbaum@thejewishnews.com