"I work in fund-raising, and you hear is to make sure that you're involved.
himself thrust into a different kind of
voter registration drive at MSU when he
a lot that politics is all about money — Because that's the only way that your
voice is going to be heard."
arrived on campus as a freshman, in part Jewish community than the one he
and it's not," he says. "Politics is all
knew in Detroit. He joined and was
And what are plans for his post-elec-
to help sort out his own mixed political
about having an idea and trying to per-
active in the Michigan State University
tion
future? Nothing is set in stone.
feelings.
suade others that your idea or your
Hillel, becoming
"[Whatever
I do] would have to be
"I'd always just
cause is just.
president his junior
something
that
was really interesting
kind of stood in the
"Whether it's you attempting to help
and senior years.
and
where
I
really
felt I was doing
middle politically,
get a candidate elected or whether it's
"I had a better-
something
important
that was helpful
between being a
being a person who works with AIPAC
developed sense of
to
others.
The
only
thing
that I want to
Democrat and
and is attempting to lobby a member
my own religious
do
is
something
that
I
feel
is worth-
Republican, and I
heritage and I want- of Congress, you're attempting to get
while
and
is
helping
people.
needed to find
your point across and you're attempting
ed to ensure that
"As long as I'm doing that, then I'm
myself," he says. "So I
, to persuade people that what you
other people on
happy
with what I'm doing."
wanted to ensure that
'believe is a just and true belief. So,
campus would have
everyone's view on
the ability to express therefore, it's about the message."
campus, regardless of
themselves on a reli-
what his or her politi-
The Campaign Trail
gious, social and
cal background was,
For Wert, that meshes perfectly with
political Jewish
was being accurately
his feelings about working with
level," he says. "We
heard."
Granholm.
sponsored some
But Wert, who
"We think we have a candidate who
pro-Israel rallies. We
chose the left over the
has
a message of creativity and integrity Applications are being accepted from
invited a member of
college students interested in applying
right and now works
and intelligence," he says. "It's a credit
Congress to speak
for interest-free loans through the
for a Democrat's cam- "Politics is all about having an idea
to Jennifer that she's been able to pull
on a couple of dif-
Jewish
Educational Loan Service
paign, was no stranger and trying to perstuzde others that your ferent occasions. I
together such a culturally, religiously,
(JELS)
for the 2002-2003 school year.
to being caught in the idea or your cause is just," says Wert.
ethnically and racially diverse group of
was in charge of a
Administered
through JVS, Hebrew
middle. The son of a
people who've been able to do just
lot of the other
Free
Loan
Association
and the Jewish
Jewish mother and a
aspects of Hillel life, some absolutely great things and are
Federation
of
Metropolitan
Detroit,
Catholic father, he
going to continue to shine.
the
program
is
available
to
metro
was raised in the Church until the age of not just the political aspects."
"If she is able to put together a group
And in the middle of all that, Wert
Detroit - Jewish residents.
10. When a new priest arrived who dis-
of
people to work in the governor's
To be considered, applicants must
approved of mixed marriages, the family found the summer job that would ulti-
office that is even half as intelligent,
mately
lead
him
into
politics:
an
be
full-time students pursuing an
left their Troy church and, as Wert puts
half as compassionate and half as dedi-
internship
with
the
American
Israel
undergraduate,
graduate or profes-
it, "wandered the desert for four years as
cated as the people who are working on
Public
Affairs
Committee
in
sional
education;
be able to docu-
opposed to the biblical 40."
this campaign, then the state of
Washington, D.C.
ment
financial
need;
attend a
They finally set down roots at Temple
Michigan is going to be truly lucky."
"We would attend hearings and
Michigan
educational
institution
Beth El, where Wert took a crash course
As a young member of the Jewish
events that issues that were important
unless a comparable education is not
in Hebrew and became bar mitzvah.
community, Wert represents what he
to us were going to be discussed at,"
available in Michigan; and demon-
Although Judaism wasn't a huge influ-
says every registered voter should be: A
Wert
says,
"to
ensure
that
the
facts
and
strate academic progress toward a
ence in his home as a youngster, he says
part of the process.
statements
made
there
were
reported
career objective.
that changing religious horses midstream
"It's so important to be involved," he
back
accurately
to
the
lobbying
core
—
About 100 students are assisted
wasn't that much of a stretch.
says. 'As we saw in the last presidential
so
that
they
would
have
the
informa-
each
year through the JELS program.
"It actually felt very natural. I'm sure
election, and in the house race up in
tion necessary to effectively lobby on
JVS
also
provides counseling to par-
there was some kind of a culture shock,
the eighth district in Michigan, every
behalf of a strong U.S.-Israel relation-
ents and students interested in other
but luckily, I'm far enough away from it
vote really does count. It is so impor-
ship."
financial-aid options available through
that I don't remember it. It just seemed
tant when you're talking about one per-
His time in Washington gave him
state, federal and private sources.
right."
son.
some much-needed experience that
JELS applications will be accepted
"We all need to play a part in the
would serve him in his future endeav-
through Nov. 15. For information,
Jewish Activism
policy decisions that shape everything
ors, and also helped crystallize his feel-
call Marvin Berman, (248) 559-5000.
A few years later, when he moved to
that we do and the only way to do that
ings about both Israel and politics.
East Lansing for college, Wert found

.

❑

JELS Offering
College Loans

Featuring

inin with. ive Dinn.er Music

Lunch: Tuesday thru Saturday llam-2pm

LOUNGE

(c,

GRILL

248.669.2263

(Formeriv Nifty Normans)

Dinner: Tuesday thru Thursday 5pin-lOpm • Friday thru Saturday 5pm-11pm
Sunday 4pm-9pm

Live Entertainment anti, Dancing

Until

2

am In Our Lower Level

1403 S. Commerce Road in Walled Lake •• Just North of Pontiac Trail

6/28

629060

2002