Editor's Letter
Candles For A Cause
our people in hopes of dispelling the allures of a
here we sat, 500 strong, in a ballroom at a
largely Christian society. He hopes students live good
Southfield hotel, hanging on every word from
Jewish lives, but leaves the definition of that up to
Rabbi J, as he's affectionately known. He warns
each student. Rabbi J's commitment is to spread the
us that the future of American Jewry hinges on the
gifts of Torah while understanding that force-feeding
resonance of Jewish life on our college campuses. It is
will
only harm our dangerously dwindling numbers. I
there, he said, that well stake our claim against the
know
that he believes it's better to have young adults
triple threats of ignorance, cults
discover
the relevance of Judaism to their lives than
and apathy — or yield to the gale-
be
told
they
somehow are lesser Jews.
force winds of assimilation.
Pointing
to
a video map of the U.S. on a large wall
And he's not kidding.
screen,
Rabbi
J noted the 20-plus candles, each repre-
Rabbi Avraham Jacobovitz is one
senting
a
JAAM-Maimonides
program on a college
of the Detroit Jewish community's
campus.
"Twenty
candles
for
400,000
unaffiliated
most beloved spiritual leaders. The
Jewish
students,"
he
declared.
"Is
that
enough?
What
Tel Aviv native is founder and
about
the
candles
at
hundreds
of
other
universities
Robert A. Sklar leader of Machon L'Torah, the Oak
that should be lit?"
Park-based Jewish Learning
Editor
He pleaded for more funding to spread the
Network of Michigan, which also
Maimonides
program — to "give over to the next
runs the Jewish Resource Center (JRC) in Ann Arbor
generation
the
precious legacy of the Jewish people'
for students at the University of Michigan and Eastern
Rabbi
J
told
us that Jews in their forties today tell
Michigan University.
him their lives would have
The JRC is the birthplace of the
been different had they met
JAAM-Maimonides Leadership
him 25 years agont breaks
Program, which now spans about
my heart:' he said.
20 campuse& The 3-year-old pro-
You could have heard a pin
gram, dubbed Jewish Awareness
drop.
AMerica, gives Jewish college stu-
Alyssa Koloff of
dents in North America an infor-
Farmington
Hills, one of 26
mal opportunity to embrace
U-M
Maimonides
Leaders
Judaism at their comfort level.
Fellows
for
winter
2005,
Maimonides fellowships honor
describes the program as "an
leadership ability, Jewish involve-
experience that has helped
ment and abiding care for others.
open the doors to a lifetime of
Rabbi J was the keynoter at the
Jewish growth and pride."
25th annual Machon dinner on
Quoting the JRC's Rabbi
Sept. 26. He and his wife, Bayla,
Aaron
Eisenmann, Koloff
one of Machon's essential teach-
Rabbi Avraham and Bayla Jacobovitz
said
her
favorite Jewish quote
ers, were the dinner honorees for
is:
"Let's
hear it for Jews!"
keeping the lamp of Torah and
Too
many
of
us
are
so
caught
up
in our secular lives
faith in God burning in so many souls for so long.
or
social
standing,
we
forget
to,
or
won't,
shout out our
This humble couple donated $500 to the cause in
pride
in
being
Jewish
and
our
support
in
standing
hopes of stirring others.
with
Israel.
Setting the stage, Rabbi J said: "College campuses
Gary Torgow, a Machon benefactor from Oak Park,
could be either the burial site of the Jewish future or
is
right:
Rabbi J and Bayla "have mastered the art of
the cornerstone for a very wonderful life and Jewish
seeing
the
potential in every Jew they encounter."
future'
And
because
of that, they accept the sacred task of
With that, he had our attention.
lighting
candles
one by one across the country to illu-
This isn't about observing Shabbat or keeping
minate the beauty and bounty of Judaism for spiritu-
kosher, important as each is. It's more fundamental.
ally thirsty collegians, who are keyholders to our
Its having a love of being Jewish.
Jewish future. ❑
For every Jewish college student touched by Hillel
or Chabad on campus, dozens of others thirst for spir-
itual quenching because they don't know what it
means to be Jewish. They have no answers for why
What role must the Jewish com-
Israel should matter to them. Some give in to groups
munal world play to help college
like Jews for Jesus or other Christian proselytizers.
students find relevant meaning
Rabbi J is Orthodox and teaches Torah Judaism, but
in their Jewish identity?
he treats all students, whatever their background or
belief, with utmost respect. Machon welcomes all
Do you know Jewish students
Jews. It tries to reach them at their comfort level. It's
whose lives have been enriched
up to them what they take away.
by campus organizations like
Rabbi J yearns to keep even the most secular Jewish
Hillel, Chabad or Machon?
college student dialed into the history and heritage of
T
.
PO I NTS TO PONDER
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7 October 6 , 2005
271 WEST MAPLE
DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM
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