and compared between faiths, rather than the bland, exclusive and hardly nourishing face of homogeneity. Lucy Gellman Grosse Pointe Impact Of Joblessness Kudos to the JNfor bringing to the forefront the realities of Michigan's high unemployment rate, not only in the community at large but in the Jewish community as well (Need Work!" Aug. 4, page 19). With the shrinkage of many relatively well paying "white collar" jobs, many people — Jews and non Jews alike — find themselves in situations where the only job they can find pays $8 or $10 an hour and they do not know how they will put food on the table, let alone cover life's many other expenses. For members of our Jewish communi- ty, where obligations also include syna- gogue dues and Jewish education for their children, it does not take long for a situation to become dire. The David B. Hermelin ORT Resource Center works everyday with unemployed and under- , employed members of our Jewish coin- munity and, in fact ,anyone in the Detroit area in need of our services to help people upgrade their technology skills to compete in today's market. There is not a day the phone does not ring with someone who has lost their job and is looking for any advantage they can to get back into the workplace. A skilled, highly trained and technical- ly savvy job applicant is critical not only for the job seeker but also to the invest- ment of business that we must bring to this area if we are to turn Michigan's economy around. We hear this message over and over again as our governor tours the globe looking to attract new businesses to our state. It will take everyone working together to really make a difference and bring Michigan back to its full potential, but making this story real and relevant is half the battle and you have already done that. Shaindle Braunstein, director; David B. Hermelin ORT Resource Center,West Bloomfield TAX FREE SHOPPING Blue Water Bridge Duty Free Shop A Learning Mission' For 11 days at the end of June, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and the Hermelin-Davidson Center for Congregational Excellence sponsored the TEAM trip for 100 Jewish educators from the Detroit com- munity: religious school teachers, artists, family educators and directors of educa- tion from the various synagogues to par- ticipate in a community mission to Israel. This trip represented the culmination of two years of professional development on behalf of teachers in grades K-5. From the heights of Safed to the depths of the Dead Sea, those of us who participated in this incredible opportunity will be forever enriched. Moreover, we know that the synagogue religious school programs to which we return will be enhanced greatly because of this experience. The Metropolitan Detroit Board of Jewish Educators wishes to thank the many people involved in bringing this awesome endeavor to fruition and who accompanied us on this trip: Rabbi Judah Isaacs, Harlene Appelman (in absentia), Rebecca Starr, Lisa Soble Siegmann and Dale Rubin at the Alliance for Jewish Education; Federa- tion's Susan Kamin; Paula Glazier from the AJE lay leadership; and Doreen Hermelin and Rabbi Joseph Krakoff of the Hermelin-Davidson Center for Congregational Excellence. Many thanks to you — and to the 100 educators from our community who continually devote so much time and energy to securing the future of the Jewish people — for making sure that the Detroit Jewish community is num- ber one in raising educated Jews. Marcia Leibson, president Amy Seidman, vice president Daniella HarPaz Mechnikov, treasurer SI (On the Canadian Bridge Plaza in Sarnia, Ontario) [1:0 1)Cit mfr CROWN ROYAL 39 1 liter bottle ABSOLUT VODKA 00 die I liter bottle '.• Danny Kochavi, Rabbi Aaron Starr, co secretary Elissa Berg, Andee Liberman, firmer president Jennie Allan, Keren Alpert, Christine Dubov, Julie Kochavi, Marilyn Wolfe APPLETON VA RUM - 1 liter bottle Bloomfield Hills 'prices as at August 190,2005. Prices subject to change without notice How To Send Letters: Last Week's Results Did Israel's withdrawal from Gaza go as you expected? 73% said yes 27% said no We prefer letters relating to JNarticles. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Brevity is encouraged. Letter writers are limited in frequen- cy of publication. Letters must be received by 9 a.m. Monday for consideration that week. Letters must be original and contain the name, address and title of the writer and a day phone number. Non-electronic copies must be hand signed. Send letters to the IN: 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax (248) 304-8885; e-mail, letters@thejewishnews.com . We prefer e-mail. For Information: (800) 395-7672 www.bridgedutyfree.com Stop and save on purchases of Liquor, Fragrances, Skincare, Jewelry, Giftware, Confectionery, Clothing and Souvenirs with this coupon sany, Coupon expires September 30, 2005. One coupon per le o l )14. r r r f,4 8/25 2005 9