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Contents

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JEW= MEWS

A 2002 Michigan Press Association

I li General Excellence winner

•TN

www.detroitjevvishnews.com

FRIDAY, JAN. 17, 2003
SHEVAT 14, 5763
VOL. CXXII, NO. 23

Israeli
teachers
Rachel
Duchan and
Ruth Iatlan
welcome
Cherie Selis
of West
Bloomfield to
the Chabad
High School
Arteres Rivka
in Jerusalem.
Related
commentary:
page 34

This Week

16 Bridge Building

WSU teams with Damascus
University despite Syria's
links to terrorism.

Opinion

33 A Vote For Israel

Arafat and U.S. Jews
need to let Israelis vote.

Community

37 Game Fever

Akiva hosts JAMD at
the new Meer Gymnasium.

Destined To Meet

Spirituality
53 Prayers For Peace

t was a brisk January afternoon, but I was warmed by the noon-
di time sun. I had been editor of the Jewish News just a few weeks
this day in 1998 and was visiting the Yeshiva Beth Yehudah at the
invitation of the day school's executive director, Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld.
He took me on a tour of the Southfield school and at the end, we
stopped in a large room near the sanctuary. At a table sat a slight
man with a black hat and a long beard. He looked devoutly obser-
Rabbi
vant. His face was pressed against the pages of a sacred book as he
Freedman
strived to read it despite failing eyesight.
"Meet Rabbi Freedman," said Rabbi Mayerfeld. "He's part of the
Yeshiva family and he's here to study."
I quickly felt in awe. Avrohom Abba Freedman looked up with an outstretched
hand and greeted me. I asked how he was and he responded, "Energized to the
soul." The response seemed odd.
Later, Rabbi Mayerfeld explained
that Rabbi Freedman was a morning
regular at the Yeshiva, where the soli-
tude of study seemed to enrich his spir-
itual vigor.
I walked into the Yeshiva that day
ria,g
:5tlittyty 350 Detroiteiii-,:or.or s the memory
warmed by the sun, but I left warmed
by the radiant energy from Rabbi
Freedman. I've always felt God planned
for us to meet. Rabbi Freedman's sim-
ple response resonates whenever I need
a spiritual elixir.
Beginning on page 58, Staff Writer
Shelli Liebman Dorfman, working with
Story Development Editor Keri Guten
Cohen, tells a beautiful story of year-
long learning in memory of Rabbi
Freedman, who died last February at
age 81.
May each of us be blessed with
sparks from the spiritual energy that
lives today in Rabbi Freedman's endear-
ing soul.
page 58

Interfaith service brings Jews,

non Jews together with hope.

AppleTree

63 Tree Of Life

The wonderful story
of Tu b'Shevat.

Arts &
Entertainment

67 Famous Fragment

Grand Rapids: sole venue
for Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit.

Food

3

GAI dY efLEARNING
LEGACY

SPECIAL REPORT

.'/K ‘; ' ., •

Cover Story

Shabbat shalom!

Legacy of Learning

414- 114,

Yearlong Torah study by 350 Detroiters
honors the memory of beloved Rabbi
Avrohom Abba Freedman.

Robert A. Sklar, editor

8 5 First Fruits

Plant a tree, cook
a meal for Tu b'Shevat.

DEPARTMENTS
Alefbet'cha
. 11
Anniversaries
52
AppleTree
63
B'nai Mitzvah .. 45
Business
87
Calendar
43
Candlelighting . . . 11
Crossword
101
Cyberspot
88
Danny Raskin . . . 82
Editor's Notebook .. 5
Engagements
49
For Openers
11
Insight
31
Letters
6
Marketplace
89
New Arrivals
45
Obituaries
110
Out 8C About . .68
Staff Notebook . .14
Synagogues
55
Torah Portion . . . . 57
Weddings
51

Cover:
Photography, Krista Husa
Page design, Alex Lumelsky

How To Reach Us
Through Jan. 17:

30301 Northwestern Highway,

Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI
48334, south side of
Northwestern Highway, west of
Inkster Road. Call (248) 539-
3001 or send a facsimile to (248)
539-3075. Office hours: 8:30
a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

•

We're On The Move!

Effective Monday, Jan. 20, the
Jewish News will be located in the
former FTD World Headquarters
at 29200 Northwestern Highway
at Franklin Road, Suite 110, in
Southfield. The main phone
number will be (248) 354-6060.
The new fax numbers will be
Editorial, (248) 304 8885;
Display Advertising, (248) 304-
0032; Classified Advertising,
(248) 304-0049. E-mail addresses
will remain the same. Office
hours will continue to be 8:30
a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. .

-

@COPYRIGHT 2003
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

The Detroit Jewish News
(USPS 275-520) is published
every Friday with additional
supplements in January, March,
May August, September,
November and December at
27676 Franklin Road,
Southfield, Michigan.
Periodical Postage Paid at
Southfield, Michigan and
additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: send changes to:
Detroit Jewish News,
27676 Franklin Road,
•
Southfield, Michigan 48034.

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2003