living Well
Teens
T
YOUTH AWARD WINNER TELLS OF STRIVING TO BUILD A JEWISH IDENTITY.
BILL CARROLL
Special to the Jewish News
t 18, Laura Fletcher of Troy
has gone through enough
adversity and hard work
that she could write a book
— and, in fact, she is writing a book,
along with her mother and two broth-
ers.
Titled Getting Through the Day, the
book tells how Laura's parents moved
to Troy because of her father's work,
their periods of unemployment, how
they struggled financially, their
divorce, her mother's bout with can-
cer, how the family was forced out of
their home by a flood, how she
worked as a Kroger stock girl to earn
money for a Teen Mission to Israel
trip, and how she has been trying to
maintain her strong Jewish identity in
a diverse community.
But the most recent "chapter" in
the book describes how Laura, a Troy
High School senior, won first prize in
the Jewish Youth Award competition
sponsored by the Greater Detroit
Section of the National Council of
Jewish Women. That group took over
sponsorship in 1996 from the League
of Jewish Women's Organizations,
which started the scholarship in
1945.
Laura bested 18 other applicants
for the 56th annual award and
received $1,000 at a reception May 6
at Temple Beth El. The award has
been funded for 15 years by Betty
and Grant Silverfarb of West
Bloomfield.
A
The Formative Years
Laura assimilated into Troy in
Hamilton Elementary School, where
she and her brother were the only
Jewish students. "My mother brought
Chanukah gelt (money) and dreidels
(tops) to school so the children could
learn about the holiday. The kids here
are eager to know about other reli-
gions and we get along great," she
said.
She now is one of about 15 Jews in
the high school. Her class of 500 will
LIFE'S JOURNEY on page 96
5/18
2001
94
LAURA FLETCHER
Special to the Jewish News
My vision of the city of Jerusalem in
the year 2010 is a hopeful one.
I am not unrealistic, so I do not envi-
sion a perfect world of peace and har-
mony. However, I am a very optimistic
person. I envision that the people of
Israel will make great strides to solve
the Israeli conflict.
In order that we might come to a
peace agreement among the people liv-
ing in Israel, I imagine that there would
be a committee established that resem-
bles the United Nations. It would
involve equal representation from all
the groups of people living in Israel.
They would meet on a daily basis to
settle disputes. The committee must
include everyone, including the
Palestinians. If we do not include the
Palestinians, they will bomb us thus
creating a worse conflict.
In the past, the different factions
have met in small, scattered meetings
that accomplished little. By meeting in
a "round table" atmosphere, we will
take small steps on the road to peace.
Laura Fletcher
Additionally, I think there will be
more separations among the different
groups. Each group, the Jews, Arabs, Muslims, etc., will try to separate more and create their own government
because they are not happy with the current government. When people are happy within their own borders, they will
be more peaceful in general.
There will be less physical fighting in 2010. Everyone will be more content with the new way of coming to an
agreement. Therefore, the stone throwing and bombing will cease. Kids will feel safe walking to school and women
will be able to go to the market to buy food for their family without the fear of a bomb. Tour groups will feel wel-
come instead of feeling scared to visit Israel. Families will feel comfortable sending their kids to visit their homeland
on exchange programs and summer trips like the Teen Mission to Israel that I participated in, without worrying
about the safety of their kids over seas.
Sadly, in the year 2010, there still will be fighting in the city of Jerusalem. But, we will make strides to peace. I
know that each little step on the road to peace can make a difference and we will be one step closer to peace in the
city I was proud to call home for 5 1/2 weeks of my life. 0