For The Jewish Future
Machon ETomh celebrates its outreach success at annual dinner.
Deanna and Shlomo Sperka
Marc Kogan
Lynne Schreiber
topics on site at local businesses,
weekly
"Torah Team" one-on-one
Special to the Jewish News
tutorials, "Uniquely Ours" women's
programs, home study groups, "crash
e are working to ensure
courses" in Hebrew, weekend retreats
the future of the Jewish
and a Jewish history lecture series
people, Rabbi Avraham
(taught by Kollel Institute dean Rabbi
Jacobovitz told an audi-
Shmuel
Irons).
ence of 600 supporters gathered June
Other
features of the learning net-
24 at the Southfield Ambassador
work
are
Jewish
holiday presentations
Hotel for Machon L'Torah, the Jewish
for women, programs for Jewish
Learning Network of Michigan's 22nd
immigrants from the former Soviet
annual banquet.
Union, annual medical ethics confer-
The Jewish education and outreach
ences, a Judaic library, and daily,
organization began in 1980 with a
Shabbat, and holiday synagogue serv-
minyan in the Jacobovitzs' Oak Park
ices.
basement, where the indefatigable
On the University of Michigan
"Rabbi J," Machon director and a fel-
campus, Machon's JRC Director
low of Detroit's Kollel Institute,
Rabbi Aaron Eisenmann dubs his pro-
launched Machon I2Torah.
gramming "Spread JAM (Jewish
His primary aim was to facilitate
Awareness
Michigan) — Preserve
outreach to Jewish students on college
Judaism."
He
hosts Friday-night din-
campuses, a population he saw as par-
ners,
Shabbat
lunches,
Judaic college
ticularly vulnerable to assimilation and
lectures,
Torah
Team
study
groups,
Jewish alienation.
Dorm
Deli
Dinners
and
many
other
By force of his personality, devotion
social and learning activities for stu-
and drive in his self-proclaimed "war
dents.
on Jewish ignorance," Rabbi
Machon also runs campus in-state
Jacobovitz, along with his wife, Bayla,
outreach
programs at Michigan State,
built Machon into the internationally
Eastern
Michigan,
Central Michigan,
recognized kiruv (outreach) organiza-
Western
Michigan,
Oakland
tion it is today.
University,
Cooley
Law
School as well
The Jewish Resource Center (JRC),
as
the
University
of
Windsor.
a renovated fraternity house on Ann
Machon-sponsored learning tours
Arbor's University of Michigan cam-
bring groups of students to Israel as
pus, is now the hub of Machon's stu-
well
as to other Jewish communities in
dent programming. From the Oak
America.
Park building on 10 Mile, Machon
offers a plethora of Jewish education
programs to the Detroit Jewish com-
Dinner Honorees
munity at large.
The annual banquet honored several
Popular local programs include
individuals whose spiritual lives were
"lunch and learn" lectures on current
SUSAN TAWIL
Donald Scharg
enriched through Machon L'Torah's
educational programs. "Luminaries of
the Legacy" awards were given to
community activists Marc Kogan of
Southfield, Lynne Schreiber of Oak
Park and Donald Scharg of West
Bloomfield.
"Vanguards of the Destiny" awards
were given to university student lead-
ers Ezra Drissman, a junior at Wayne
State from Farmington Hills; Richard
Isakow, a freshman at Michigan State
from Bloomfield Hills; Lindsey
Kessler, a junior at Eastern Michigan
from West Bloomfield; and Adi
Neuman, a junior at University of
Michigan from West Bloomfield.
The Community Service award was
given to former administrative law
judge Shlomo Sperka and his wife,
artist Deanna Sperka, of Oak Park.
Legacy and Destiny, a video shown
at the dinner, highlighted the
evening's honorees giving testimony to
the impact Machon programs and
activities have had on their lives.
"I was overwhelmed by Rabbi J's
warmth and love for everyone," said
Sharg.
"The programs are inspiring, the
atmosphere non-judgmental,"
Schreiber said.
Said Kessler: "Every time you walk
through the doors, it's an opportunity
to grow."
"Tonight's honorees are the bearers
of the torch in the spiritual
Olympics," said . Rabbi Jacobovitz.
"They are role models who represent
the continuity of the Jewish legacy of
the past to our destiny ahead."
❑
Beth Shalom
Installs Officers
Rabbi David Nelson of Congregation
Beth Shalom recently installed the
new Officers and board of directors for
the synagogue's 2002-2003 year.
Continuing in her second year as
president is Gail Langer. Also installed
were Nancy Glen, executive vice presi-
dent; David Kirsch, first vice presi-
dent; Randy Davidson, second vice
president; Zieva Konvisser, third vice
president; Elliott Baum, treasurer;
Richard Emmer, secretary.
Elected as trustees were Michelle
Friedman-Appel, Rosalie Gold, Seth
Korelitz, Susan Lichterman, Leonard
Newman, David Rabens, Michelle
Sider and Ian Zitron.
Past presidents who also serve on
the board are Sharon Alterman,
Michael Aronow, Richard Berg, Gloria
Ellis, Sy Finkelstein, Mark Goldsmith,
Barbara Goodman, Harry Granader,
Arthur Langer, Martin Lederman,
Frank Nelson, Albert Rosenblum and
Mark Voight.
Affiliate presidents are Ellen
Racusin, sisterhood, and Don Berlin,
men's club.
Sharon Alterman, immediate past
president, chaired the nominating
committee. Committee members
included Arlene Gorelick, Sander
Lipman, Ruth Marcus, Alissa Pianin,
Mark Voight and Tom Wexelberg-
Clauser.
Israeli Shopping
Coming To Area
The Ben Yehudah Israeli Shopping
Expo will be held Sunday through
Tuesday, Aug. 11-13, at the Jewish
Community Center in Oak Park.
Co-chairs for the expo are Susan
and Robert Rollinger, aided by
Sharona Shapiro of the American
Jewish Committee and Andy Roisman
of the Oak Park JCC.
Local Jewish organizations are spon-
soring the event, bringing Israeli items
to metro Detroiters at a time when
fewer Jews are traveling to Israel.
Those interested in volunteering are
asked to attend a coordinating meet-
ing 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, at
the Max M. Fisher Federation
Building in Bloomfield Township.
For information, call AJC, (248)
646-7686.
.
7/ 5
2002
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