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Bonnie Lipton
Beverly Ap el
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Elaine Sturman
Susan Yorke
Host city chairwomen are Susan Yorke and
Annette Meskin, both of West Bloomfield.
"The buzz term today is Jewish continuity,
and the speakers all relate to that," Yorke says.
11 kinds of Jewish issues critical to
today's community — Jewish-Arab rela- "We need to rethink our roles as Americans,
women and Jews."
Lions, 21st-century religious choices,
And helping them to do just that will be
ethics, spiritual continuity, professional
Professor Zvi Gitelman of the University of
opportunities for Jewish women — will be
Michigan Department of Political Science. He
addressed at the Midwest Area Cooperative
Conference hosted by the Greater
Detroit Chapter of Hadassah.
Held April 30-May 2 at the Troy
Marriott Hotel, the forum, dubbed
the Big MAC Conference, is coming
•
to Michigan for the first time. About
300 delegates will represent the
52,000 Hadassah members living in
has researched Jewish identity in other countries
the 14 Midwestern states designated as a sepa-
as well as the U.S.
rate region. With 300,000 members in America,
Gitelman will discuss how content and
Hadassah is the women's Zionist organization;
boundaries that set them apart define ethnic
men may join as associates.
groups. His approach will be global.
"We're drawing Hadassah's best and brightest
"The content and boundaries of Jewishness are
from Israel and the United States" for the con-
eroding and becoming blurred so I will talk about
ference, says Paula Jarnicki, co-chairing the
who is Jewish and what being Jewish means. I
event with Gail Cohen. Both are from Ohio.
also will explore the impact of the Reform move-
Israeli guests will include Nava Ben Svi, new
ment's (1984) decision to define Judaism by
president of Hadassah College of Technology,
patrilineal
descent." (Reform Judaism accepts as
and Hannah Gordon, occupational psychologist
Jewish the children of either a Jewish mother or
with the Hadassah Counseling Institute.
Jewish father; the Orthodox and Conservative
Also speaking will be Bonnie Lipton,
streams consider only matrilineal descent.)
Hadassah's 22nd national president; Charlotte
In Israel, Hadassah supports medical care,
Jacobson, former national president and an early
medical research, youth and educational services;
advocate for Israel; and Karen Venezky, council-
reforestation and parks development. The mid-
woman from Newark, Del., and a Hadassah
west region's themes include women's health edu-
national vice president.
cation, community volunteerism, social action,
"This kind of conference is a good place for net-
Jewish education and partnerships with Israel.
working and sharing ideas and materials," says
Yorke explains that organ donation is one of
Beverly Apel of West Bloomfield, president of the
the new Hadassah medical initiatives, and that's
West Bloomfield-based Greater Detroit Chapter.
why its discussion is an important part of the
"The topics were developed by each big chapter."
SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to the Jewish News
Annette Meskin
program. Nurses attending the session can get
continuing education credits.
"Hadassah also supports Young Judaea, a
(New York-based) program that reaches young
people from fourth grade through college, and
we want to know more about that," Yorke says.
Meskin has helped plan for educational, inspi-
rational and fun activities. She was part of the
committee arranging the last Big MAC
Conference, held in Cleveland. The
meeting is held roughly every four years.
"Hadassah is involved in so many
programs, and we wanted the confer-
ence to explore as much as possible,"
Meskin says. "Because our community
has a large Arab population, we wanted
to add to the dialogue. In Cleveland, we
learned a lot from a Palestinian speaker, and I
thought we could build on the experience."
Bloomfield Township's Elaine Sturman, presi-
dent-elect of the 5,500-member Greater Detroit
Chapter, has been assisting with the schedule.
"We have made sure there was no duplication
by the chapters planning individual presenta-
tions," says Sturman, who points out there will
be some cultural experiences as well as political
and educational sessions.
The Neiman Marcus breakfast will include a
preview of the Estee Lauder Compact Museum
Collection. Bob Conte, designer and master model-
maker, will talk about his 30-year project from pen-
cil sketch to collectible, hand-sculpted art.
"Because this year's national Hacla.ssah conven-
tion will be in Los Angeles and next year's will be in
Jerusalem, we wanted to have a large meeting that
would be close to home," Apel says. "We are always
enthusiastic about meeting members from other
chapters. This program gives us the opportunity to
get to know each other while addressing the sub-
jects that are important to all of us."D
Haclassah to tackle host of topics
at Via / west forum in Troy.
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