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* An Extraordinary Family
Event to Help Children
with Disabilities and
Their Families
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Double Play
Troy slates both Christian and interfaith Day of Prayer events.
Troy, said Rabbi Aaron Starr . of Troy's
Congregation Shir Tikvah.
StaffWriter
Rabbi Starr said that in previous
ontroversy over a National Day years no one other than local task-
of Prayer (NDP) event has led
force members were involved in plan-
the city of Troy to schedule
ning the event and, until this year,
back-to-back services — one interfaith
Shir Tikvah was invited to attend but
and one Christian.
not participate — which-it
The city council voted 7-0
declined. This year's multicul-
in a special session on March
tural service will be the congre-
28 to allow the two NDP
gation's first appearance at the
services to be held on city
Troy event.
property on May 5.
The controversy began last
The interfaith service,
year when a Hindu group was
including Jewish participa-
denied permission to pray dur-
tion, will take place 11 a.m.- Rabbi S tarn
ing the public portion of the
noon May 5. The hour-long
service by event organizers.
Christian service follows.
When they complained to Troy
The modern-day National Day of
Mayor Louise Schilling, she gave up
Prayer — originally proclaimed by
her allotted time at the event to the
Hindu group.
President George Washington in 1795
— was enacted by Congress in 1952
The Hindu group appeared during a
as a way for people to give thanks in
city council meeting on March 7 with
public.
representatives of other faiths to com-
The National Day of Prayer Task
plain of exclusion from this year's
event.
Force, a Christian group which shares
offices with Christian-based Focus on
The council voted 3-2 to deny a
the Family led by Charles Dobson of
permit to hold the NDP event on city
Colorado Springs, Colo., has organ-
property at that meeting, which led to
ized the event for about 10 years in
the special session this week.
Rabbi Starr said he is uncomfortable
with any prayer gathering happening
on the front steps of city hall — inter-
faith or otherwise.
"That being said, I would prefer an
interfaith gathering to a Christian-
only gathering," he said.
The NDP Task Force national
chairperson is Shirley Dobson, wife
of the Focus on the Family founder.
Charles Dobson once said that the
cartoon character SpongeBob
SquarePants' appearance in a video
distributed nationally to elementary
schools promoted gay-lesbian
lifestyles.
According to the National Day of
Prayer Web site, the task force office is
housed in the Focus on the Family
headquarters "for convenience," but its
business affairs are separate.
The national event "is not spon-
sored or owned by any one group.
Every American can observe the NDP
in his or her own way," the Web site
stated. "However, the efforts of the
NDP Task Force are executed specifi-
cally in accordance with its Judeo-
Christian beliefs."
Camp Retreat Planned
Teens Aid Seniors
BBYO To Tour HMC
Targeting single dads with children 15
years and younger, the Single Jewish
Parents Network will host its second
annual Dads' Family Camp Retreat
April 15-17 at the Butzel Conference
Center in Ortonville.
Activities will include rock climbing,
hiking, family sports, arts and crafts, a
campfire and a Shabbat experience.
For information about program-
ming for single Jewish dads, or to be
added to the Single Jewish Parent
Network mailing list, contact Debbie
Rosenberg, (248) 205-2537 or at
rosenberg@jfmd.org.
Federation's Alliance for Jewish
Education will convene a day of serv-
ice and learning, targeting senior serv-
ice organizations and teens, on Sunday,
April 17.
Sponsored by J-Serve2005, the
Detroit program represents one of 10
U.S. projects awarded grants for Youth
Service America's National Youth
Service Day.
The Alliance will recruit teens to
provide companionship and other
needed services in a variety of senior
agencies, long-term residences and pri-
vate home settings. Program coordina-
tor is Judy Lewis.
Following the service component,
participants will meet in the after-
noon for group learning on elder
care issues.
Federation's National Day of Service
for Jewish Teens may be applied to
high school volunteer requirements.
Pre-registration is requested. For infor-
mation, contact Judy Lewis,
(248) 642-4260.
Michigan Region B'nai B'rith Youth
Organization members will visit the
Holocaust Memorial Center in
Farmington Hills on Sunday, April 10.
BBYO members will go on a guided
tour and hear a Holocaust survivor
from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
To RSVP, contact Susan Beals at
BBYO, (248) 788-0700 or
Susan@mibbyo.org .
HARRY KIRS BAUM
C
Healing Lecture Offered
The Dr. Fred Benderoff Memorial
Lecture on Healing will take place
7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at Adat
Shalom Synagogue.
The evening of healing music and
conversation will be presented by
Susan Mazer, Dallas Smith and
Rachel Mazer
❑
Baby Signs Program
"Baby Signs, How to Talk With Your
Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk,"
will debut at Temple Beth El on
Wednesday, April 6.
Especially for babies ages six to 12
months, the classes will be taught by
Ericka Lipman, a speech and language
specialist.
Participants will meet in the temple
nursery April 6, 13 and 20 and May
4, 11 and 18 from 9:15 a.m.-10 a.m.
Cost of the program is $125. Contact
Marlene Thav, (248) 865-0611.
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* Catering by Matt Prentice's
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— Dietary Laws Observed —
TICKETS $20
Age 4 and Under FREE!
(248) 538-6610 X418
Buy Online!
wwwjarg.org
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EVENT SPONSOR INFO
(248) 538-6610 X314
3/31
2005
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