Rabbi Eddie Feinstein kicked off the fourth annual Seminars for Adult Jewish
Enrichment-SAJE. Pictured with him, are, from left: SAJE Co-Chairs Susie
Citrin and Doris Blechman and JCC President Sharon Hart.
Filmmaker Chuck Davis, center, was in Detroit in February to talk about his
film, "Raising the Sparks," which was shown as a prelude to the Fourth
Annual Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival. Pictured with him, are, from left:
Dr. David Magidson, film festival director: guest speaker Rabbi Arnie
Sleutelberg of Congregation Shir Tikvah; and Film Festival Co-Chairs Martin
W. Hollander and Susan Marwil.
It's been a year of celebration for the Jewish Community
Center as it marks three major anniversaries and the suc-
cess of major cultural programs. On the occasion of its 75th
anniversary, the JCC created an exciting calendar of events
recalling a history of amazing accomplishments and laying
the foundation for a future of even more to come. The year
saw the golden jubilee-50 years!—of the Annual Jewish
Book Fair, featuring celebrities such as Dr. Ruth
Westheimer, novelist Susan Isaacs and new author Iddo
Netanyahu, brother of the hero of Entebbe, Jonathan
Netanyahu, and of the former Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu. It was also the occasion to celebrate
the 10th anniversary of the acclaimed Janice Charach
Epstein Gallery, whose exhibitions draw members of the
Jewish and general communities from far and wide.
Seminars for Adult Jewish Enrichment-SAJE, also in its
fourth year, saw an astounding response to its offerings of
adult Jewish education courses. More than 600 adults, reg-
istering for multiple classes-1300!—enriched their Jewish
identity at both JCC locations, as community leaders, rab-
bis, cantors, teachers and others representing the entire
range of Jewish observance imparted the history and her-
itage of the Jewish People this past winter. We could not
have accomplished all this without the support of the
orginizations, congregations and individuals who gave
countless volunteer hours to ensure the success of each
event.
The overwhelming response to the JCC's programs and
services upholds the JCC's mission to the community: to
provide meaningful informal Jewish educational opportuni-
ties, to enhance Jewish family life, to promote Jewish culture
and provide for Jewish continuity. On that foundation, the
JCC can look forward to many more years as the "center" of
the Jewish community.
The year 2002 will see an expansion of the JCC Lenore
Marwil Jewish Film Festival, generously endowed by the
late Milton Marwil and his family, in memory of their
beloved wife and mother In addition to its Commerce Twp.
site, the fourth annual film festival will show many of its fea-
tures in Birmingham and Ann Arbor, in partnership with the
Jewish Community Center in Washtenaw County. It will
again bring filmmakers, producers and stars to discuss their
works with local audiences.
Irwin Shaw, founder in 1952 of the JCC's Annual Jewish Book Fair, receives a
tribute from past Book Fair Chair Andi Wolfe at the opening of the 50th annu-
al event.