From Michigan, With Love
A local drive helps collect 2,000 bears — and a great deal
of heartfelt support
or Israel.
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
AppleTree Editor
I
t only took a handful of change and
a kind neighbor to help a little girl
named Nancy establish a lifelong
commitment to the State of Israel.
"I was a child during the Yom Kippur
War," Nancy Adler recalls. "[To help with
the war effort], I would collect money.
Then every day after school, my family
and I would go to the home of Dr. John
[of blessed memory] and Eva Mames and
count the money collected in the many
pushkes [donation boxes] that arrived
daily."
Dr. Mames was inarguably Detroit's
biggest supporter, as well as founder (with
his wife) of the Michigan chapter of
American Red Magen David for Israel
(ARMDI). And he appreciated every bit
of support — whether it was a donation
in the thousands or just a few cents from
a child — that helped the organization
fund desperately needed ambulances and
other medical supplies for Israel.
"He made me feel so good about what I
had done," Adler says. "It was a feeling
Counter-clockwise from upper right:
Teens at the BBYO regional convention, Brian
Rosenbaum, 17, of Farmington Hills, Corby
Winer, 15, of West Bloomfield (standing) and
Ariella Lis, 16, of Farmington Hills, show off their
bears bound for ambulances in Israel.
Alex Sherman, 6, of Birmingham plays doctor with
her bear at an event for Tamarack Camps at the
Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield.
Jeff and Tammy Kahan of Bloomfield Hills with
their children Seth, 2, Jeremy 9 months, and
Rachel, 5, are finished making their bears at
Congregation Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield.
Ellen Starr of Farmington Hills helps her daughter
Shira put the finishing touches on her bear at the
Tamarack Camps event. Brothers Zachary and
Evan also were at hand.
Nancy Adler of Farmington Hills and Meryl
Lopatin, 12, of West Bloomfield gather teddy bears
to be sent to Israel in an ambulance donated by the
American Red Magen David of Israel.