Something Extra

NOTEBOOK

Concert Benefits Synagogues

A "Save Our Synagogues" concert will be held on behalf of hurricane-damaged
synagogues in the South at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at Shaarey Zedek
Synagogue Southfield.
The concert, "Klezmer for Katrina," will feature the New Orleans Klezmer All
Stars and the Kidz Klez Band of Michigan. In addition to the concert, the New
Orleans Klezmer Band will lead a series of "Klezmer Klinic" workshops from
1-5 p.m. for student musicians in the community.
Tickets for the concert only are $18 per person. Patron tickets for the con-
cert and afterglow are $180 per couple. All proceeds will go toward synagogues
in the South. It is hoped that other "SOS" concerts will be developed through-
out the United States.
Sponsors include B'nai B'rith Great Lakes Region Cultural Arts Commission,
B'nai B'rith International's Disaster Relief Program and Detroit-area syna-
gogues.
For more information, contact John or Marsha Rofel at (248) 855-5729 or
Cantor Stephen or Christine Dubov at (248) 752-6668. For reservations, call
the B'nai B'rith office at (248) 646-3100.

— Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor

Chayala Levitz of Southfield, Rachel and Rabbi Steven Burg, former

NCSY National Director Rabbi David Kaminetsky and NCSY Central

East Region Director Rabbi Tzali Freedman of Oak Park

Influencing Detroiters First

For The Boys

Joy and Lou Landau of Oak Park once again are out to ensure that the
more than 200 boys at the W.J. Maxey Boys Training School in
Whitmore Lake have a happy holiday. For the past 45 years, they have
helped fill gaps for these troubled boys by collecting candy for them at
Halloween and gifts at Christmas.
Through generous donations from our community, they have been
able to provide each boy with at least one gift over the years.
They are collecting new unwrapped gifts for teenage boys —
scarves, puzzles, large and extra-large gloves, books, art supplies, sta-
tionery and postage, white socks, sports magazines — and cash dona-
tions.
Direct donations to Joy and Lou Landau, 24231 Gardner, Oak Park,
MI 48237 or call (248) 541-6884. Checks cannot be accepted.

— Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor

10 Commandments Display

On Nov. 29, the Capitol Committee of the State of Michigan will consider
erecting a public monument to the 10 Commandments on the Capitol
grounds in Lansing.
The Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit opposes govern-
ment-sponsored displays of the 10 Commandments. The JCCouncil urges
members of the Jewish community to urge state legislators to oppose any
government-sponsored display of the 10 Commandments, which Council
contends violates the First Amendment by showing preference to one reli-
gion over another. Also, the Commandments are a sacred text; a secular
purpose demeans them, Council claims. Individuals also can attend the
Capitol Committee's hearing at 3 p.m. Nov. 29 in Lansing.
For those wishing to express an opinion, pro or con, on the issue, contact
information for legislators can be found at www.jewishcommunitycoun-
cilorg. Click on "What We Do," then "Government Relations:' then scroll
down to "State Legislators."

— Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor

7:1 PA

November z4 9t, r)r

"It's all about passion:' said Rabbi Steven Burg, new national director of the
Orthodox Union's National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY). "We're
teaching Jewish teenagers that they can feel excited about being Jewish.
NCSY provides an environment where it is cool for a Jewish teen."
Rabbi Burg, who was based in Detroit for four years in the late 1990s as
NCSY's associate regional director, said he plans to drive that passion
across the country, cranking up the program's efforts to inspire more and
more teenagers from both observant homes and unaffiliated families by
sparking the love of Judaism through informal education and fun.
"Already in the less than a year that he's been at the helm he has accom-
plished some remarkable things:' said Rabbi Tzali Freedman of Oak Park,
NCSY Central East region director. "He has done some restructuring in the
national office and streamlined the operation. Four regions have been
restructured as well and there has been a renewal of spirit and optimism
that can be felt throughout the organization."
The Latte and Learning program he began while in Detroit continues to
gather local teens who learn Torah in area coffeehouses.
"We have to understand exactly where teenagers are and appeal to
them," Rabbi Burg said. "Torah doesn't change but the marketing does. We .
have to ask, where does our youth want to be; what do they want to do?"
The Jewish Student Union clubs he founded bring thousands of Jewish
public high schools in social settings. There are now 150 JSU clubs nation-
wide, with thousands of teens participating weekly.
Until now, Rabbi Burg said NCSY "has been very region-specific. My goal
is to create one bold organization." We have to take advantage of the Web.
We have to be available to [teens] because if they are not coming to us,
they're going elsewhere!'

— Shelli Liebman Dorfman, staff writer

LEF

cha Don't KnoW

Detroit may have the world's largest tire — a Uniroyal
along I 94 — and the largest stove — situated along
Woodward at the Michigan State Fair — but where do you
suppose is the world's largest awn hakodesh (Torah ark)?

Goldfein

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st_litam pue 42111 s.za auizi si -LuDresnial uz 3 n20SPIJAS
Zpq aLp uT punoj 3q 112D >pe lsaatui

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