Cross Section
Jewish students join with black students at U-M in a new organization.
SHOSHANNA COHEN
Special to the Jewish News
Ann Arbor
atkes and Christmas cookies
lined the table, and the music
included songs from the Outkast
hip-hop group and the Subliminal band
from Israel. Unity was the theme at
University of Michigan Ahmoja's first
annual holiday party on Dec. 11.
The name "Ahmoja" was created from
the Hebrew word for unity, achdut, and
the Swahili word for unity, urnoja.
Ahmoja was founded this year by Adam
Soclof, a sophomore from Ann Arbor
active with U-M Hillel. He and Katlyn
Wilson of Detroit, a friend from East
Quad residential hall last year who is a
member of the NAACP, founded
Ahmoja in order "to improve black-
Jewish relations on campus."
The holiday party was planned to
bring together people from different
backgrounds and get them talking.
"We're promoting unity between black
and Jewish communities on campus and
increasing knowledge of historical simi-
larities," said Nick Israel of Farmington
Hills, co-chair of the Ahmoja holiday
Pte'.
Due to the approaching final exams,
expected attendance was small, but
throughout the evening upwards of 30
students rotated in and out of the
William Monroe Trotter Multicultural
Center.
J.R. Rothstein of New Hempstead,
N.Y., had personal reasons for his
involvement in Ahmoja and attending
this event. "I'm biracial," said
Rothstein. "My mother is black and
converted, and my father was born
Jewish — so this is the coming together
of two communities I'm part of I
wanted to be here to facilitate dialogue
between two groups." Li
L
From top:
Barrett Anderson, 22, of Bloomfield Hills,
J.R. Rothstein, 21, of New Hempstead,
NY, and Nick Israel, 20, of Farmington
Hills- watch the happening.
U-M students enjoy Ahmojas food and the
company.
Keshet Shenkaz; 19, of Columbus, Ohio,
and Judith Hammerschlag, 19, ofSydng,
Australia, talk over latkes.
271 WEST MAPLE
DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM
248.258.0212
SUNDAY 12-5
MONDAY-SATURDAY 10-6
THURSDAY EVENINGS 'TIL 9
12/24
2004
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