This Week
Staff Notebook
Shabbat, Downtown Style
High Court Showdown
Rabbi Craig Allen of Oak Park invites the commu-
nity to the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue
where, every Saturday morning at 8:30, he reads
Torah and conducts adult education classes.
Rabbi Allen, a musician and composer who teach-
es at Central Michigan University, received his rab-
binic ordination in 1985 from the Academy for
Jewish Religion in New York.
Along with Rabbi Allen, Cantor Asher Adler is on
the Downtown Synagogue's bimah for Shabbat serv-
ices. Cantor Adler is the son of the late Cantor
Hyman Adler of Congregation B'nai David.
The Downtown Synagogue, on Griswold and
Grand River in downtown Detroit, was founded in
the 1920s. It includes numerous black and Latino
members, Rabbi Allen said. The synagogue's previ-
ous rabbi, Rabbi Noah Gamze, served for 38 years,
returning to conduct this year's High Holiday servic-
es. Rabbi Allen was by his side.
"To have a Jewish presence of that diversity in
downtown Detroit — it's a wonderful thing," Rabbi
Allen said. In addition to leading Shabbat services
and classes, he works with two Muslims who are in
the process of converting to Judaism.
Although the synagogue defines itself as
Conservative, Jews
and potential Jews of
all denominations are
welcome.
Despite his
involvement with the
congregation, Rabbi
Allen is not the offi-
cial spiritual leader of
the Downtown
Synagogue.
"I don't want to
move into the role of
rabbi until they have
defined themselves in
terms of their mis-
sion, their future,"
he said.
For information
about the Isaac Agree
Downtown
Synagogue, call
(313) 961-9328.
Rabbi Craig Allen
— Diana Lieberman
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider a case on
behalf of Southfield City Councilman Sidney
Lantz.
He is disputing the city election of Nov. 2,
1999, because, according to his attorney, absentee
ballots received by the city clerk before the close
of the polls were not included in the official
count. He claims 1,143 absentee ballots remain
unaccounted for.
Lantz contends that the disputed ballots not
counted by the clerk and not produced for public
inspection may well have changed the outcome of
the 1999 election, according to his attorney, Stephen
Korn of Warren.
, The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Oct. 15 to
hear the case.
On Aug. 28, the Michigan Supreme Court
declined review of a decision handed down by the
Michigan Court of Appeals on May 8, 2001, affirm-
ing a Circuit Court decision of Feb. 18, 2000, which
dismissed the election case filed by Councilman
Lantz against the city clerk, Nancy Banks.
Lantz was re-elected to a two-year term in the
Nov. 6 general election.
— Robert A. Sklar
Bowling For Unity
A Unity Bowl to honor post-terrorism
ecumenical cooperation in Detroit will
be the centerpiece of a pottery show
and sale Nov. 10-11 at Fort Street
Presbyterian Church, 631 W. Fort.
The free-admission event will partially
benefit the Open Door homeless pro-
gram based at the church.
The tall, vase-shaped bowl, set in a
hand-forged metal stand wrought by
artistic blacksmith Ron Bishop of
Ypsilanti, carries Jewish, Christian
and Islamic religious symbols. It has
the description for God incised in the
clay around the rim in Hebrew,
Arabic and Greek.
Artist and potter Trish Bode of
Royal Oak created the Unity Bowl.
"I really feel that what the churches,
synagogues and mosques are doing here,
trying to pull the community together, is
an admirable effort," she said.
Fort Street became the site of two large interfaith
services in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on
A new Web site devoted to those with essential
America. The services brought together Jews,
tremor (ET) or Parkinson's disease is up and running.
Christians and Muslims in solidarity against the vio-
The site was created by Shari Finsilver of Orchard
lence of the attacks and the stereotyping or profiling of
Lake.
She suffered, since childhood, from ET, a neu-
groups in America, especially people of Arabic descent.
rological
disorder affecting six-10 million individuals
"For our first interfaith service, our congregation
worldwide.
joined with members of Temple Kol Ami and the
The site includes information on ET and
Islamic Center of America," said the Rev. Mark
Parkinson's, a description of the deep-brain stimula-
Keely, church pastor. "This incredibly moving serv-
tion surgery Finsilver underwent in 1999, and links
ice has begun relationships that we hope can contin-
ue into the future. We hope that the Unity Bowl can to related sites and online support groups.
The Web site also provides information on
serve as a symbol to remind us that good can come
Finsilver's
Michigan Tremor Support Group, open to
out of even the worst events."
anyone
suffering
from Parkinson's, where the tremor
— Robert A. Sklar
Surfing For Help
Shari Finsilver
is evident during resting positions, or ET, where it is
present during sustained posture or while perform-
ing an action.
"Most people are very aware of Parkinson's, espe-
cially since several celebrities have been recently
diagnosed," Finsilver says. "Most ET patients have
just been told that they are nervous people and not
to worry about it."
The Michigan Tremor Support Group, a non-
denominational organization, also welcomes care-
givers, parents, spouses, friends and members of the
medical community. The group serves as a forum for
education about tremor, treatments available and
coping with daily activities.
Meetings of the 6-month-old group have included
talks by a neurologist, neurosurgeon, physical and
occupational therapists and a hypnotherapist.
The Michigan Tremor Support Group meets 7
p.m., the second Thursday of each month, at
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.
There is no charge.
For information, call (248) 683-4138 or e-mail at:
finsilver@earthlink.net
To access the Web site, go to:
www.tremorsupport.com
— Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Correction
The Single Jewish Parents' Network and A Small
Miracle have changed the date of their Build-A-
Bear workshop, recently featured in AppleTree
("Small Miracle Gets Bigger," Oct. 12, page 92).
The event will be held from 4:30-6 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Build-A-Bear store at the
Somerset Collection in Troy. The event is open
to all single-parent Jewish families, and reserva-
dons are required. RSVP: (248) 205-2542.