For Openers A Good Citizen RONELLE GRIER Special to the Jewish News 2002 oting may be a commonplace event for many people, but for Micah Fialka-Feldman of Huntington Woods, his first election was a milestone he'll never forget. Fialka-Feldman, a senior at Berkley High School, has a developmental disability that affects his ability to read and write, but that hasn't deterred him from learning about and becoming involved in politics, both local and national. His knowledge about the candidates and the issues surpasses that of many more experienced voters. He has spent hours perusing various political Web sites, read- ing newspapers and watching relevant television pro- grams. "Micah's a political junkie," said his sister Emma, 14. "Who else would bring the results of the last six exit polls to the dinner table and expect us to discuss them?" Fialka-Feldman's parents, Rich Feldman and Janice Fialka, helped Micah celebrate this landmark with a "First-Time Voting Party" Nov. 3. Approximately 50 - friends and family members came to eat bagels and share their own first-time voting stories. "My dad talked about voting for [Harry] Truman in 1948," said Janice Fialka. Her father, Albert Fialka, came in from Flint to help commemorate the occasion. Fialka-Feldman, who declares himself a Democrat, said he was voting for Jennifer Granholm for governor 'because he feels that Michigan needs a change. He especially likes Granholm's plans to improve the public education system. At the Democratic election night party at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, which he attended with his father and sister, Fialka-Feldman said he cheered when Granholm's victory was announced. "I'm very excited that we have our first woman gov- ernor," he said. "She really wants to help the people." Fialka-Feldman's involvement in politics began long before the recent election. For the past two years, he has been a board member of KASA (Kids As Self he Hebrew names for adherents to different faiths — a Jew Yehudi, a Christian Notzri and a Samaritan Shomroni — refer to geographical places in Israel. Can you identify them? •iaBures o: Snjal III0111104S :T.parezEN Snjal TIZION :"Eprif Oa Sn.p.i!pmiaA :iamsuy Rich Feldman accompanies his son, Micah Fialka-Feldman, who voted Nov. 5 in his first election. Advocates), a national advocacy organization comprised of young people with disabilities who want to make life better through political activism. Improving and expanding public transportation, both locally and throughout the country, is an important issue to Fialka-Feldman, because many people with disabilities - are unable to drive. He also speaks at various conferences and before classes of future special-education teachers about school inclu- sion and other issues affecting people with special needs. "When you have a child with a disability, you learn to rebuild your dreams, to nurture their strengths," said Fialka, who is a nationally recognized author and lecturer on the topic of children with special needs. "Micah has revived our sense of awe about the whole voting process," she said. "We've heard this from many of our friends, too. He takes this so seriously. He asks questions and he really wants to pick people that are moral." Rich Feldman echoes his wife's sentiments: "We're very proud of Micah because he really understands what citizenship and involvement are all about. He understands the issues, he studies the candidates. He's a good citizen." ❑ Shabbat Candlelighting "I feel protected and happy and surrounded by love, and like my ancestors are looking down at me, happy that I am doing a mitzvah." Manly Zack, 8, West Bloomfield Sponsored by Lubavitch Women's Organization. To submit a candlelighting message or to receive complimentary candlesticks and information on Shabbat candlelighting, call Miriam Amzalak of Oak Park at (248) 967-5056 or e-mail amzalak@juno. corn Quotables "Life goes on. We have to make sure it goes on. I won't stop sitting in cafes. We can't let terror win." — Itzhik Elbaz, an employee at Rif Raf Cali; in the wake of Palestinian terror bombings that have prompted Jerusalem cafes to tighten security, as quoted in the November issue of Hadassah magazine. "We tried to make this music easily accessible to the congregation. They already knew many of the words, so the comfort level was there. We used melodies that were familiar -- but now some of the melodies have a reggae beat, some have a contemporary beat and others are pure Borscht Belt." — Cantor Regina Heit of Congregation Emanuel in Denver, Colo., about "Shabbat Unplugged" a monthly Friday-night service that draws 500 700 worshippers, as quoted in the winter issue of Reform Judaism magazine. - "There is no richer language in all the world." —Alexander Brenner, head of the Jewish commu- nity in Berlin, Germany, and a native speaker of Yiddish. He was reacting to Leo Rosten "The Joys of Yiddish" hitting German bookstands as "Yiddish, A Small Encyclopedia," 35 years after it first appeared in English and five years after the author's death, as quoted by JTA. Yiddish Limericks "Our daughter's too shy and reserved, Nonplussed," said a mom "and unnerved." "I think you've forgotten, Es vet gornisht shatten Ti um shiddach* her husband observed. — Martha Jo Fleischmann Candlelighting Candlelighting Friday, Nov. 8: 4:59 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15: 4:52 p.m. Shabbat Ends Shabbat Ends. Saturday, Nov. 9: 6:02 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16: 5:56 p.m. * It won't hurt her any in making a nuptial match. Yiddish-isms shlep To drag or pull or lag behind. (Source:The Joys of Yiddish by Leo Rosten, McGraw-Hill)