pity

spend the day with other people," said Hechtman
resident Helen Stebbins from West Bloomfield. "I
came to hear the music, and I'm really enjoying
watching the children. They seem to be having a
wonderful time."
Andrew M. Israel, a JCC board member volun-
teering at the event, said, "The seniors seem to be
enjoying the day as much as the kids. It's good to
see three, even four, generations enjoying the
Jewish Center. Now, if all of these people would
become members, we wouldn't have to worry
about a deficit."
Charlotte Cray, who works in JARC's Samuels
home in Bloomfield Hills, brought several resi-
dents who volunteered at the event.
"The ladies love to come out and help," Cray
said. "It gets them involved in the community,
and it's fun."
David Magidson, director of the JCC's Lenore
Marwil Jewish Film Festival, said, "Our Jewish
community has lots of connections, and this is an
important one — people from 1 through 90 gath-
ered to enjoy ice cream, music and summer fun.
Events like this keep our community fresh and
alive."
Although he came to enjoy the day, Ari Katz of
Southfield had concerns about security for such a
large public gathering of Jews.
"It's great to see so many people of different
walks of Jewish life come together like this," he
said. "However, in terms of security precautions
and awareness, it is critical and imperative in this
post 9-11 era to take a pro-active,
rather than a re-active, approach.
Assumptions should not be made as
to the harmlessness of any individual
entering this event."
He added, "We should never let
our guard down."
There were no incidents Sunday
and Oak Park police officers were
clearly visible; their presence had
been prearranged.
In addition to the participating
agencies, other local donors included
Jewel Kosher Catering, Detroit
Popcorn, Absopure Water Company,
A-Z Vending and David Morrison.
"Our little girl is crazy about the
ponies," said Sonia Faigenbaum, who
came to the party with her husband,
Neil, their two children and Sonia's
mother, Rita Rozencweig, all of West
Bloomfield.
"We support anything Jewish in
the community," Neil Faigenbaum
said. "In this day and age, you have
to." ❑

Annabel the Clown
shows Lilly
Morrison, 6, of
Huntington Woods
her painted face.

were Linda Lee and Douglas Bloom, both past
JCC presidents.
This event was the culmination of activities
held throughout the year to celebrate the JCC's
75th anniversary, planned by a committee chaired
by Bloom and Lee. The party also commemorat-
ed the 15th anniversary of Federation's
Neighborhood Project, which grants interest-free
loans to promote Jewish living in Oak Park and
Southfield.
Sharon Hart, JCC president, presided over the
cake-cutting ceremony that kicked off the festiv-
ities. The kosher cake was 4 feet by 8 feet, baked
by Morrison Senior Catering. Bloom, co-chair
of Federation's Annual Campaign, spoke to the
gathering about - the importance of supporting
Federation's special Israel Emergency Fund. The
fund was the recipient of proceeds from refresh-
ments sold during the afternoon.
Scott Leemaster, president of Neighborhood
Project, introduced representatives from partner
organizations celebrating anniversaries of their
own. They included Jewish Apartments and
Services (JAS), the Agency for Jewish
Education/Jewish Experiences For Families,
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah in Southfield, and from
Oak Park: Congregation Beth Shalom, Temple
Emanu-El, Workmen's Circle-Arbeter Ring and
Young Israel of Oak Park.

sponsors an outdoor event every summer, served
refreshments to the many senior citizens visiting
from the various Federation apartments, including
those in West Bloomfield.
"My family is away right now, and I wanted to

Celebrating Together

The sunny weather was the icing on the cake.
"This beautiful day is a sign that we obviously
did something right," said Linda Lee with a
smile.
While several hundred people ate cake and
played carnival games in the gymnasium of the
Oak Park JCC, hundreds more were outdoors
enjoying music and the children's activities.
The Friends and Family Society of JAS, which

6/14
2002

36

‘*:

Amanda Pape, 3, of Novi recovers fi-om
a bounce in the moon bouncer