Something Extra
Learning To Lead
T
wo Hillel Day School seventh-graders took
part in the Junior National Young Leaders
Conference in Washington, D.C. The two
are Brooke Selik of Bloomfield Hills and Lori
Goldman of Beverly Hills.
The Oct. 25-30 conference introduced young
people to the tradition of leader-
ship throughout American histo-
ry while helping them develop
leadership skills. Participants vis-
ited historic national landmarks,
including Colonial
Williamsburg. Conference spon-
sor was the Congressional Youth
Leadership Council, a non-prof-
it, non-partisan educational
organization.
Brooke Selik
"The most significant thing I
learned was the eight main traits
of a leader," Selik said. "By
deeply discussing these traits in
my Leadership Focus group
meetings, I was able to under-
stand what each one meant, and
how each one is both helpful
and important when it comes to
being a leader."
Goldman told her non-Jewish
roommates from the South that
she wasn't Christian and didn't
celebrate Christmas. "For all I
knew," she said, "their fathers were a part of the
KKK. It took courage for me to tell them that I did
not have the same beliefs as they did, I didn't cele-
brate the same holidays and I was different."
The girls showed a keen interest in her Judaism.
"They asked about my beliefs, asked if any of my
relatives were in the Holocaust, and asked about
how and why I kept kosher," Goldman said. "We
became closer and I believe that they respected me
as a result of my being open.
"This experience showed me in real life what we
learned at the conference: how leadership comes
from courage, communication and character."
— Robert A. Sklar
Iraqi Duty
y
eshivat Akiva students are taking part in a
school project to write letters to an Israeli
rabbi stationed in Iraq as a U.S. Army chap-
lain. Mordechai Schwab, 37, was deployed Nov. 4
and is settling in after temporarily sleeping in a tent.
"He is getting his license to drive a Humvee,
which he has, with his name on it," said Yoni
Sherizen, 25, a former classmate of Rabbi Schwab's
and now a rabbinic intern at Oxford University in
England.
"I have spoken to Mordechai a number of times,
sand he is receiving all the packages and mail I am
sending."
The two met at Yeshiva University in Jerusalem.
Yoni is the son of Esther and Bruce Sherizen of Oak
Park. He and wife Dalia, have a son, Zev Nesanel,
13 months.
Rabbi Schwab will remain in Iraq til August. He is
a chaplain with the 1st Military Intelligence
Battalion, stationed in Weisbaden, Germany.
Akiva students and others can write him in care
of: HHSC, 1st MI Bn, V Corps, LSA Anaconda,
APO AE 09391. Mail delivery takes at least a week.
You are mailing to an American address, so letters
and packages receive normal postage. Send e-mail to
mmzschwab@yahoo.corn
"Thanks to everyone for your support," said
Rabbi Schwab's wife, Miriam, who will stay in Boca
Raton, Fla., until the end of her husband's deploy-
ment. "We have gotten some amazing e-mails that
have really touched us with the depth of feeling and
friendship. Mordechai really appreciates it. We hope
all of you are well and will keep in touch!"
— Robert A. Sklar
Jolly Gould Fellow
R
obbie Sherman of Farmington Hills recent-
ly participated in the Women's American
ORT/World ORT Mission to London and
Israel as a Nathan Gould Fellow. She was one of two
young leaders in the country chosen for the fellow-
ship, which fosters the growth of young women
charged with leading the WAO into the future.
"This mission was my first experience in Israel
and it was just wonderful," says Sherman, a lifetime
ORT member. "Seeing the projects that we support,
meeting the students and teachers, was an amazing
experience. It only strengthened my commitment to
Women's American ORT and what we do."
Sherman also participated in the United Jewish
Communities General Assembly in Jerusalem, but
only after visiting several ORT sites, including
schools in Holon and near Tel Aviv.
Sherman currently is board treasurer of WAO
Michigan Region. She and husband Scott Sherman
have three young children.
— Keri Guten Cohen
Rabbinic Chaplain Mordechai Schwab the day he was
deployed to Iraq.
Octogenarians Needed
lc
now any outstanding seniors over age 80?
Jewish Apartments & Services is calling for
nominations for its 2004 Eight Over
Eighty, an annual event honoring eight seniors who
have made a positive impact on the local Jewish
community through their volunteerism and commu-
nity involvement. These seniors will be inducted
into the JAS Senior Adult Jewish Hall of Fame.
Nomination forms must be completed in full and
be received by Jan. 31. Nominations will be judged
by community leaders unrelated to the nominees
and will be announced in early spring in the Jewish
News.
The event will be held Sunday, May 2. All pro-
ceeds from the event help the JAS meal subsidy fund
that ensures low-income elderly residents a quality
kosher meal.
For information or a nominating form, contact
JAS Marketing Director Pete Wurdock, (248) 592-
11 01 or Pwurdock@Jasmi.org
— Keri Guten Cohen
Robbie Sherman of Farmington Hills with Rana
Danzigen principal of an ORT school in Holon.
Deadline For Artists
T
he Detroit Jewish News Chanukah Art
Contest deadline is noon Tuesday, Dec. 9.
The newspaper has received approxi-
mately 100 entries for the contest to
design the Chanukah cover of the Jewish News for
.Dec. 19. Past experience says that 200-400 more
entries will be received at the newspaper on Monday
and Tuesday.
Children through age 12 can enter the contest.
For complete information and an entry form, see
page 68 in this issue.
And good luck!
— Alan Hitsky
.
SOMETHING EXTRA on page 18
12/5
2003
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