EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

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ELTON JOHN
& TIM RICE'S

The Sounds Of Sustenance

That's why the 27 ambulances the Charaches have
S brill as it is, the wail of a yellow and white
donated
to MDA not only point up their generosity, but
ambulance of Magen David Adorn is one of the
also
illustrate
their commitment to the Jewish ideal of
sweetest sounds an Israeli can hear.
tikkun
olam,
of
repairing the world. These kind souls also
It may mean the difference between life and
have
endowed
the
Natalie and Manny Charach Treatment
death — even more so since the latest Palestinian upris-
Center,
affiliated
with
the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer
ing began 23 months ago.
Institute,
which
opened
recently at Huron Valley-Sinai
Consider:
Hospital
in
Commerce
Township.
In memory of their
MDA supplies all of the blood required by the Israeli
daughter,
they
also
are
the
benefactors
of the Janice
army and nearly all of the blood needed by Israeli hospi-
Charach
Epstein
Gallery
at
the
Jewish
Community
tals. Its 550 ambulances are on call around the clock and
Center
in
West
Bloomfield.
often are the first response to any serious injury, illness or
"By your loving actions, you are making the world a
mass disaster. Contributions cover costs.
better
place for all us," Granader told the Charaches as
In the past year alone, MDA has
they
were
about to receive MDA's Distinguished
answered 400,000 emergency calls and
Humanitarian
Service Award. Fittingly, they received
has secured 250,000 blood donations.
Steuben
glassware
entitled "Shining Star."
Detroit Jewry is among MDA's more
As
I
listened
to
Granader,
a 22-year MDA volunteer, I
active supporters.
was
touched
by
her
devotion
to Israel as well. Even her
The annual dinner of the Dr. John J.
business,
Wig
Works,
is
tied
in.
It sells natural-looking
Mames Chapter of the American Red
wigs
imported
from
Israel
to
women
undergoing
Magen David for Israel-Michigan Region,
chemotherapy.
ROBERT A. held Aug. 25 in Farmington Hills, drew
In her dinner remarks, Granader described why she vis-
SKLAR
425 people who paid
ited Israel this summer with
Editor
$90 each, raising more
her
19-year-old daughter,
than $38,000. The din-
Yael.
She got to show Israelis
ner also honored philanthropists Natalie
"we
stand
not just behind
and Manny Charach of Bloomfield Hills
them,
but
also
beside them"
for their longtime humanitarianism,
and
terror
victims
that "our
including 25 years of service to MDA.
thoughts
and
prayers
are
"How proud I am to be part of this
with
them."
enormously important organization,"
She also got to visit the
said dinner co-chair Judith Grant
site
of the planned Natalie
Granader of Bloomfield Hills.
and
Manny Charach
MDA has taken on even greater
Medical
Center in Ashdod, a
importance during the Palestinian vio-
southern
coastal city of
lence and terrorism, which have claimed
210,000
that
lacks a hospital
at least 610 lives since September 2000.
of
its
own,
but
where MDA
It deserves a special prayer during the
has
operated
a
first-aid
sta-
High Holidays.
tion
since
1973.
Israelis bravely have refused to give in
The center is a gift of the
to the terror sanctioned by Yasser Arafat
Dr.
John J. Mames Chapter,
and other Islamic militants. So have the
named
after the late hus-
relatively few tourists who have jour-
Natalie and Manny Charach
band
of
chapter president
neyed there; virtually all report having
Eva
Mames
of Bloomfield
an emotionally uplifting experience.
Hills,
whose
fund-raising
on
MDA's
behalf
is an inspira-
But the effects of the suicide bombings, sniper attacks
tion
to
all
who
meet
her.
Mames'
success
has
brought
and planted bombs are readily apparent. Families who
paramedic
scholarships,
bulletprod
vests
and
other
med-
have lost loved ones, or seen them maimed, are scarred
ical
equipment,
in
addition
to
ambulances.
Her
efficiency
forever. And the falloff in tourism has devastated the
has meant operating costs of just 2-3 percent.
hotel industry; in turn, many shops and restaurants have
"During these critical days in Israel," Granader said,
folded. Extreme caution whenever venturing from home
undoubtedly
speaking for everyone at the dinner, "we all
is now a way of life.
yearn
for
peace:
And we will always stand united behind
Through it all, the paramedics of MDA have sought to
the
people
of
Israel
and continue to support MDA and its
furnish care, ease pain and save lives as well as do search
lifesaving
efforts."
and rescue. The smallpox vaccine being produced at the
MDA National Blood Bank Center in Ramat Gan near
Humble Heroes
Tel Aviv, in the event of a biological attack, is a byprod-
The
other dinner co-chair, West Bloomfield resident
uct of MDA's research. prowess. Along with Hadassah
Shari
Ferber Kaufman, and her husband, Alon, have
Hospital in Jerusalem, MDA also provides an emergency
given
a mobile intensive care unit to MDA in honor of
premature and high-risk infant ambulance service.
her parents, Miriam and Fred Ferber of Orchard Lake.
Kaufman eloquently summed up the impact of the
Acts Of Lovingkindness
Charaches'
generosity: "They have reached through the
For 72 years, since it began as the medical service arm of
glass
surface
of the television and helped save so very
the defense agency Haganah, MDA has been a source of
many
lives
in
our dear state of Israel during this heart-
strength and a beacon of hope in the Jewish homeland.
SOUNDS OF SUSTENANCE on page 6

Al DA

THE TIMELESS LOVE STORY

JARC'S 2002
Spectacular Fall
Fundraiser!

"One of the most
spectacular pieces of
musical theatre"

2001 Grammy Award
Best Musical Show Album!

Tony Award
Best Score!

September 30th

October 1st

Fisher Theatre

FOR TICKET INFORMATION:
Call 248-538-6610 ext. 418
or visit
www.jarc.org

30301 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
jarc@jarc.org • www.jarc.org

9/ 6

2002

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