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.