This Week
Something Extra
rent factor," Neistein said.
The many community members who worked with
the Alliance and who formed the AJE board are in
the process of being realigned as well, Rabbi Isaacs
said. Details on their new positions will be
announced soon, he said.
The new Alliance has 14 employees under the
leadership of former Alliance director Harlene
Appelman, whose new title is chief Jewish education
officer.
As the new Alliance director, Rabbi Isaacs works
with Anita Naftaly, associate director for special edu-
cation; Aviva Panush, associate director for profession-
al development; Lisa Soble Siegmann, associate direc-
tor of Jewish Experiences for Families (JEFF) and
Informal Education; Wendy Sadler, special projects
manager; and eight other associates and specialists.
Humanists Fete
Rabbi Wine
Celebrating Survivorship
M
att Lash, 22, of Lansing hopes to gradu-
ate from Michigan State University next
highlight of this year's American Humanist
June. Over three years ago, he was diag-
Association conference in Washington,
nosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a form of bone can-
D.C., was the presentation of Humanist of
cer usually found in children and young adults.
the Year award to Rabbi Sherwin
And thanks to new drugs. and treatments he's
Wine of Birmingham.
optimistic about his chances.
At the May 9 event, the Birmingham
A team of friends and family will be running
Temple rabbi, founder and president of
for Matt in the fifth American Cancer Society
the Society for Humanistic Judaism,
Relay for Life held from 10 a.m. Saturday to 10
called on Humanists to practice
a.m. Sunday, June 14-15, at West Bloomfield
Humanism, infusing their philosophy
High School.
into their lives.
The overnight event, which takes place around
"People are not their mouths or their Wine
the country, raises money and awareness for the
intentions, but their behavior," Rabbi
disease. Each team will have someone walking or
— Diana Lieberman running laps in the 24-hour period.
Wine said. "If we don't have the behavior, then all the
language doesn't matter."
"Last year, there were 20 teams, while this year
Other awardees of the conference included Gloria
there are over 45," says Marc Manson of
Feldt of Planned Parenthood, Kate Michelman of
Farmington Hills, who, along with his wife,
the NARAL: Pro-Choice America and Hearst
Marcia, are part of Matt's team.
Newspapers columnist Helen Thomas.
Their group has already raised $1,000, he says.
— Shelli Liebman Dorfman
But the race is more than a way to raise money
to
fight cancer, says Roberta Lash of Novi, Matt's
anada's Magen David Adorn Association,
which raises money and procures ambulances mother. "For us personally, the relay is an inspira-
tion we draw strength from to continue the battle
for Israel's emergency medical service, settled
))
for
our son.
its 2-year-old battle with the Canada Customs and
There are also many resources at the race, she
Revenue Agency last month.
adds,
that include a tent of oncologists who will
The tax unit had accused CMDA of vio-
answer questions about cancer.
ny confusion between the
"It's not depressing, but really fun, espe-
Agency for Jewish Education
cially for the children," says Lash. There's
(AJE) and the Alliance for
lots of food, and a carnival-type atmos-
Jewish Education, a department of the
phere
with everything from music and a
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
silent
auction, to face painting, clowns
Detroit, ended for good on June 1.
and a putting green.
That's because there is no more AJE
"The most moving part of the
— its duties and most of its personnel
wee
relay," says Marc Manson, is on
have been realigned into the Alliance.
Saturday night at 9:30, when a
nlr Yasser Arafat will allow
And, although Federation leaders
ceremony begins with luminaria
have repeatedly said the realignment
ere'ro the-croad map'
candles
honoring cancer survivors and
was done for educational reasons and
respondents, 22 (10.14 percent) voted
remembering those who have died of can-
not as a money-saving move, the new
ercent) voted no.
cer. The candles light up the track and the
department has a smaller budget and
uestron:CCDo you think Ariel Sharon is a target for
bleachers,
forming the word hope."
fewer employees than the two agencies
sassination and needs additional security?" To vote, scroll down the
The
past
four years the relay has raised
it replaces.
.je
e h me page at www.jewish.com
$520,000.
The new Alliance for Jewish
— Illana Greenberg
"The American Cancer Society gives us
Education now includes not only the
hope and somebody to talk to," says Matt
planning functions that were its for-
11111111111 111111111111i11111 Lash. "They make cancer survivors and
mer responsibility, but also the imple-
their family feel very human and not vic-
mentation duties that had been the
tims."
lating Canadian law by: not retaining ownership of
province of the AJE. It's the first time the Detroit
For more information, call the American
ambulances donated to Israel's Magen David Adorn
Federation has both absorbed an independent
Cancer Society at (248) 557-5353.
(Red Shield of David), that the ambulances were
agency and become a direct provider of services.
—Sharon Luckerman
According to Rabbi Judah Isaacs, who was named
being used in the Palestinian territories and east
Jerusalem, that the ambulance crews were wearing
director of the newly reconstituted Alliance, the
bullet-proof vests, and one ambulance had been
equivalent of five full-time jobs were lost in the
turned over to the Israeli military.
realignment. If the budgets of the two groups had
been added together, it would have totaled more
The government unit threatened to revoke
than $2 million, Rabbi Isaacs said.
CMIDNs charitable status.
After two years of court rulings and negotiations,
"This is a little deceptive," said Rabbi Isaacs, the
CMDA agreed to retain legal ownership of the
AJE's former executive director, "because when the
In the story "Front and Center" (June 6, page
donated ambulances. Canadian tax experts said the
AJE was an independent Federation-supported
14), Milt Zussman was incorrectly identified as
agency, part of the budget was for rent to Federation." charges against CMDA were politically motivated,
2nd Lt. Ray Zussman's uncle. Milt Zussman
Howard Neistein, Federation's chief planning offi-
and unwritten tax policies were used against the
was Ray's nephew.
cer, said the Alliance's new budget is $1.8 million.
organization.
"That's down from $2.2 million, taking away the
— Alan Hitsky
A
Canadian MDA,
Tax Unit Settle
C
Jewish Education
Reorganized
A
TO.
Correction
6/13
2003