Heartfelt Gift

Donation froyn attorney Henry Baskin
begins Oakland University's first series
of courses in Judaic studies.

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

Adat Shalom Synagogue
29901 Middlebelt Road
Farmington Hills

6 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

Registration

Seder & festive meal

Henry Baskin

Dietary laws observed

DIANA LIEBERMAN
Staff Writer

A Women's Haggadah has been specially
prepared for this occasion

All women age 12 and older are welcome to attend.
No solicitation of gifts

Please bring kosher-for-Passover food items the evening
of the seder, to be collected for Yad Ezra.

RSVP by-March 20

Send check for '30 per person along with your name, address,
phone number and names of those with whom you'd like to sit.

Mail to: Women's Campaign and Education Department
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
P. 0. Box 2030, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-2030

Sharon Lipton

Terran Leemis

Chair

Associate Chair

For more information, call Toni, (248) 642-4260, ext 183.

T his is -re/via-Lion

Visit us on the Web: www.thisisfederation.org

e d e 1 o

of ...P.M mean

irmingham attorney Henry
Baskin has donated
$15,000 to Oakland
University to establish a
series of undergraduate courses explor-
ing the history and beliefs of Judaism.
The donation will underwrite the
position of Baskin Lecturer in Judaic
Studies to begin in fall 2000. Baskin
said the gift is a memorial to his par-
ents, Max and Gladys Baskin, who
both died in November.
This will be the first time the
Rochester Hills-based university has
offered credit-earning courses focusing
solely on Judaic studies, said Professor
Gary Shepherd, chair of the OU
department of sociology and anthro-
pology.
Oakland University does not offer a
major in religious studies. Instead,
Shepherd coordinates an interdiscipli-
nary curriculum consisting of courses
in various departments that lead to a
concentration in religious studies.
"We're very excited about it,"

Shepherd said, describ-
ing the Baskin lecture-
ship as an important
addition to the universi-
ty's curriculum. For the
first year, the series will
consist of two under-
graduate courses, each a
full four-credit offering.
The school and its
board of trustees have
been "talking about
having specific courses
in different religions,"
Shepherd said. "The
important thing to dis-
tinguish here is that it
will not be [taught]
from a faith orientation.
What we are envision-
ing is a more detached,
scholarly analysis."
Baskin said he hoped
the courses would help
clear up "misconcep-
tions and prejudices"
among those OU stu-
dents who might never before have
interacted with Jewish people. The
attorney, who was appointed to
Oakland's board of trustees in August
1996, is the first Jewish member of
the university's governing body.
This fall, Rabbi Dannel Schwartz of
Temple Shir Shalom in West
Bloomfield will teach an introductory
course called "The Jewish Experience."
During spring semester, Rabbi Schwartz
will teach a course on Jewish mysticism.
"They had no courses on Judaism
before this," said Rabbi Schwartz, who
was hired as Baskin Lecturer after a
series of interviews with the university.
"So I think this was much needed 'and
it certainly was welcomed by Oakland
University." Rabbi Schwartz said he
regards Baskin as "both a friend and a
congregant."
Baskin had been seeking a lasting
tribute after the death of both his par-
ents and a close friend, Rabbi
Schwartz said. All three passed away
within a single month.
"This donation is out of his heart,"
Rabbi Schwartz said, "not for public
relations." ❑

