Staff Notebook
Video Wins Award
SZ: No Beth Ahm Merger
he Dorthy and Peter Brown Jewish
Community Adult Day Care pro-
gram, which serves older adults with
dementia disorders, received a media award
from the National. Adult Day Services
Association.
The video, Adult Day Services: Enriching
the Lives of Senior Adults, documents the
many life-enhancing services, such as mean-
ingful activities for participants and support
services for caregivers, provided by the
Brown program at sites in Southfield and
West Bloomfield.
"Through vignettes and personal anecdotes
Steve Rosenthal of Franklin, Steve Cicurel of West
by participants and their families, the video
Bloomfield and Geoff Kretchmer of Huntington Woods are
demonstrates how adult day care programs
spearheading JARC's SpringElation.
extend the quality of life of people with
Alzheimer's disease and other memory disor-
ders," said Peter Ostrow, Brown program director.
little-seen but famous documentary film
"The video is being used by adult day care facili-
showing the struggle of the establishment of
ties throughout Michigan to educate people about
ust in case the challenges of running their
the State of Israel will be screened in
the benefits of adult day care and the type of serv-
companies and raising their young families
Farmington Hills on April 14.
ices available."
are not enough, three local entrepreneurs
"Let My People Go-From Oppression to Freedom: are putting their business acumen to work in
Since receiving the award, the Brown program
The Story of Israel," nominated for an Academy
has received requests for the video from all over
another area — helping children with special
Award in 1965, will be shown at 7:15 p.m. April 14
the United States, he said.
needs and their families.
at the Farmington Community Library on 12 Mile
For more information on the Brown program, or
It's a labor of love for Steve Cicurel of West
Road, west of Orchard Lake Road.
to buy the video, contact Peter Ostrow at (248)
Bloomfield, a partner in Camelot Ventures; Geoff
The film, narrated by Richard Basehart and pro-
559-5000 or postrow@jvsdet.org .
Kretchmer of Huntington Woods, president,
duced by David Wolper, is comprised of original
Social Division of Star Trax Event Productions;
— Harry Kirsbaum
footage of the early Zionist pioneers, the Holocaust,
and Steve Rosenthal of Franklin, executive vice
Jewish refugees and the establishment of the Jewish
president of Rock Homes Construction.
state. Parental discretion is advised because of the
They volunteered to spearhead SpringElation, the
intense Holocaust footage.
annual fUnd-raising event that will be held Sunday,
In addition to being a tribute to Passover, the holi-
April 13, to benefit JARC's Merle and Shirley Harris
day of freedom, the evening also will recall the
eaching kids about Passover the technolog-
Children and Family Division, which provides sup-
anniversary of the "Netanya Massacre," when 29 per-
ical way is as easy as inserting the
port and services to more than 300 local families
sons were killed and 140 wounded by a Hamas sui-
Interactive Haggadah CD-ROM into the
who have children with special needs.
cide bomber at a Passover seder in the Park Hotel.
computer.
They're also approaching the task with good
There is no charge for the event, which is spon-
The Jewish Continuity Foundation has made
humor and a friendly rivalry, even sending each
sored by the local Israeli advocacy group, OASIS
available
a free (with a $7.95 shipping and han-
other "trash-talking" e-mails to keep the momen-
(Optimizing American Support for the Israeli State).
dling
charge)
CD-ROM star-
tum going.
For more information, call (248) 505-5189, or
ring
the
colorful,
clay, ani-
"The team competition has been a great way to
visit www.ayc4israel.org .
mated Haggadah characters
get more people involved in this fabulous cause,"
— Harry Kirsbaum
seen on TV's Disney
said Kretchmer.
Channel.
Cicurel stressed that JARC's children's services
Geared toward
rely almost exclusively on donations from the
children
ages
community. "These children and their families
3-12,
the
CD
1 ewish Apartments and Services announced the really need us, and it's our responsibility to take
includes
care of our own," he said
recipients of the 10th annual Eight Over 80
games, songs
This year's goal is $400,000. Since the first
43 program.
and the •
SpringElation four years ago, the event has raised
To be inducted into the Senior Adult Jewish Hall
Hebrew text of
a total of $650,000. More than 70 volunteers are
of Fame are: Leonard P Baruch, Lester Burton, Frita
the Haggadah
working to secure sponsorships.
Roth Drapkin, Alan Kandel, Bea Kreichman, Leah
and
commentary
The 2003 event will take place noon to 4 p.m. .
Snider, Walter Stark and Lenore Dunsky Weiss.
translated
into English or Russian, along with his-
Sunday, April 13, at GameWorks in Great Lakes
The money raised from this event goes directly to
torical
background
and explanations. The charac-
Crossing in Auburn Hills. It will offer an after-
the JAS food subsidy program, ensuring that every
ters
are
seen
in
such
situations as baking matzot,
noon of video and arcade games, refreshments
resident in need receives a daily kosher meal.
crossing
the
Red
Sea
and witnessing the Ten
Tickets for the event are $65 per person, which
and fun.
Plagues.
Admission is $40 for adults 16 and older, $20
includes a catered brunch. The event will take place 11
The CD-ROM is compatible with Windows
for children age 4-15. Children under age 4 are
a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at the Norma Jean and
98/2000/ME/NT/XP,
Mac OS. To order, call
admitted free. All children younger than 16 must
Edward Meer Jewish Apartments in West Bloomfield.
(800)
925-6853,
or
access
the Web site at:
be accompanied by a paying adult. Price includes
For reservations, contact Pete Wurdock, (248)
www.jewishsoftware.com/hagfree.htm
unlimited play, food and drinks.
592-1101.
— Ronelle Grier
— Keri Guten Cohen
— Shelli Liebman Dorfinan
T
here will be no merger between
Congregation Shaarey Zedek and
Congregation Beth Ahm, according to
Shaarey Zedek President James Safran.
Although talks have gone on for the last several
months, the synagogue s executive committee decid-
ed at a March 25 special meeting that "it was not in
the best interest of our synagogue," wrote Safran in
a letter to his membership.
To dispel concerns, Safran assured congregants
that the Shaarey Zedek West Bloomfield B'nai Israel
Center and the West Bloomfield Beth Hayeled
Nursery School and Kindergarten will continue to
operate in their present location.
— Shelli Liebman Dorfman
'
Israel Film Screening
A
SpringElation on Target
jr
Free Passover CD-ROM
8 Over 80 Honorees Named
4/ 4
2003
12