LETTERS
GIANT
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THE WORLD OF INSECTS
Through May 1, 2005
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Discover the world in your backyard!
Meet giant robotic insects including a 12-foot
praying mantis, fighting carpenter ants and a
scorpion! Step into an insect head to get a bug's eye
view of the world. Take a mechanical insect with six
moving legs for a walk! Identify insect
sounds. See an exotic insect collection.
Free with museum admission.
Backyard Monsters was produced by Adventure Edurainment.
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Backyard Monsters at Cranbrook Institute of Science is proudly sponsored by
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Michigan Education Savings Program
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DAN I. BARISH
248-851-2902
4/14
2005
6
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Farmington Hills, MI 48334
A Positive Experience
I read with great pleasure the article
"Building A Better Jewish Life" by local
Otzma participant Brian Blondy on
March 3 (page 28). The reason it
brought a smile to my face is because
my son Adam is participating in
Otzma, the only representative from
Detroit this year ,and I could not be
more proud of him.
When Adam was a little boy, he was
drawn to Israel, loving it before ever
having been there. I think it is because
Israel is our other home. For Adam, the
history of our people is in Israel, and he
always felt a need to be there.
This need resulted in his having spent
a semester of 11th grade in Israel on
Project Discovery. Now at 25, he is
back there and is experiencing a meta-
morphosis that I don't think would be
as obvious or tangible as it is if he were
anywhere else in the world.
This growth was so obvious to me
when I visited him in Israel in
December with one of my daughters,
Dena. He was so comfortable, so at
home. Hearing him speak Hebrew,
which he learned in ulpan where he
spent four hours a day learning the lan-
guage for conversation for the first three
months of his adventure, made him so
much more a part of the fabric of the
people.
We talk at length about what he has
done at work; what his social plans
might be with his many friends and his
host families and how wonderful they
have been to and for him; who he has
affected when teaching or who or what
has affected him while working in the
Kineret with graduate students doing
pollution studies, political activities, ter-
rorist studies and volunteer opportuni-
ties.
Adam decided to go into Sar-El, the
volunteer army, and is now working on
an air force base near Mitzpeh Ramon.
He said he is working with others
painting a huge warehouse used for
housing emergency vehicles. He wrote,
"It's just a great atmosphere being
around all the soldiers and I never real-
ized how peaceful it could be to be
painting outside in the desert." He said
he's up at 6 a.m. every morning and
works until late at night but he finds it
relaxing.
My son has found what so many of
us look for, something that brings one-
self peace, relaxation and purpose.
There aren't enough words to say
thank you to Otzma, the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit,
Terri Farber Roth, president which sponsors it locally, or to wonder-
Liz Schubiner, director of operations ful Israel.
Ellen Bouchard
Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit
Your Cover Story "The Cost of Jewish
Living" (April 7, page 29) only touched
on the importance of the gift of a Jewish
day school experience. As parents of
Hillel graduates, our expectations for the
academic and social successes for our
children have been surpassed by witness-
ing the achievements of our children in
high school, college and in the work
place.
Hillel Day School gave our children
the tools to excel not only in their aca-
demic studies, but also as leaders in their
"after-Hillel" life. Our children graduat-
ed from Hillel with a strong sense of
who they are as Jews and how to behave
in the world within a Jewish context.
They were provided with a road map.
They made life lasting friendships that
continue to thrive with bonds that are
unique. The gift of a day school educa-
tion may be a sacrifice and a commit-
ment for families, but undoubtedly a
rewarding experience for parents who
have watched their sons and daughters
blossom because of Hillel.
As president of the board and as direc-
tor of operations at Hillel Day School,
each day we strive, in our respective
positions, to ensure that Hillel has the
tools to provide an outstanding educa-
tion and the funds for families wishing a
day school education for their children.
While it is true that more than 30
percent of Hillel's student body receive
scholarship assistance, not every student
is on scholarship as reported in the arti-
cle. The board of directors of Hillel Day
School sets tuition to equal the cost of
education. If, however, enrollment falls
below expectations, the cost of educa-
tion can exceed the cost of tuition and it
is as if every student were being partially
subsidized.
The cost of a Hillel education is
reflective of the high academic standards
and programs offered. Further, over 83
percent of Hillel's budget is allocated to
salary and benefits. The board of direc-
tors prides itself in the competitive com-
pensation package it offers its faculty.
This combination of excellence in facul-
ty and programming contributes to the
outstanding education our children
receive.
To know what Hillel really offers,
speak to a Hillel graduate. They are
everywhere in our community serving as
leaders. The benefits of a Jewish day
school education will outweigh the sacri-
fices and will ensure a future of young,
knowledgeable and committed Jews.
Farmington Hills
West Bloomfield