Letters
The Real World
these friends and talk whenever
they want to.
Going to a Jewish day school
such as JAMD gives me the best
of both worlds — a great edu-
cation in school and a busy life
outside of school. I go to JAMD
and I live in the real world.
I would like to expand upon
Rabbi Lee Buckman's
Community Perspective about
the "real world" because many
people think that the ideal high
school is one where there are a
lot of students, all from differ-
ent backgrounds ("Courage To
Be Counter-Cultural:' Dec. 1,
page 56).
They think that because the •
Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit is small,
there are no social opportuni-
ties and it is isolating. Although
JAMD is a Jewish school, it still
offers many ways to interact
with other people, in the "real
world."
One way that students at
JAMD interact with people in
the "real world" is by offering a
tremendous number of sports,
which all compete in the
Catholic League. Students come
into contact with people outside
of school who are not Jewish.
Also, there are many different
clubs offered at JAMD, which is
a way to meet people based on
common interests.
A second way that students
expand their network of friends
is by participating in activities
outside of school. For example, I
have been taking dance lessons
for 12 years.
In addition, there are many
community wide programs
such as BBYO and synagogue
youth groups that are not relat-
ed to school.
Lastly, many students go to
camp, which is a great way to
meet new kids that may not
necessarily live around you.
Furthermore, because of the
Internet and cell phones, kids
can still keep in touch with
Read about it on Jewish.com.
West Bloomfield
Bloomfield Township
More To Story
We were pleased to see the
photo and caption in last week's
JN of the new Israeli Consul
General Baruch Binah updating
local news organizations ("New
Consul In Town," Dec. 1, page
16).
However, the picture tells only
a very small part of the Jewish
Community Council-sponsored
first visit of the consul general
to our community.
The photo was taken at a
luncheon, where council intro-
duced Mr. Binah to key mem-
bers of Detroit's news media
community. Council's itinerary
for Mr. Binah included appear-
ances on WJR's Paul W. Smith
and Mitch Albom radio pro-
grams and WXYZ-TV's
"Spotlight on News."
Mr. Binah also provided a
briefing for the Detroit Free
Press editorial board as well as
faculty and students at Wayne
State University in Detroit. He
met with U. S. Rep. Joe
Knollenherg, R-Bloomfield
Hills, to discuss U.S. aid to
Israel, with local Christian
leader Dave Blewett, executive
director of the Dove Institute in
Southfield, and was introduced
to the Federation Board of
•
Governors.
As the, key community liaison
dotCOM SURVEY
A Rare Mixture
Your cover story about the three
Detroiters on the 55th Habonim
Dror workshop program in
Israel ("Experiencing Israel:
Nov. 24, page 35) was a welcome
example of the positive, life-
shaping experiences available in
Israel.
When most of the news about
Israel focuses on the conflict
with the Palestinians, and when
many young people are focused
on careers and material success,
it is refreshing to see an article
on the rare mixture of idealism
and pragmatism expressed by
these future madrichim (lead-
ers). They deserve our attention
and support.
Habonim Dror in Detroit and
Ann Arbor has many wonderful
programs for young people
from 8 years old through college
age. These include monthly
activities during the school year
and a summer program (for
two, three, four or seven weeks)
at Camp Tavor in Three Rivers,
Mich.
Israel programs include: the
yearlong workshop for recent
high school graduates; a sum-
mer program for after 10th
grade called Machaneh Bonim
in Israel (MBI.); and study at
Habo University, a college level,
Last Week's Results
Should Israel retaliate after the
Dec. 5 terrorist attack in
Netanya?
Does the December dilemma
increase this year because of
Chanukah and Christmas
coinciding?
To vote, click on
JNOnline.com/Opinion
Yes 35%
No 65%
•
6 December 8 • 2005
Robert Cohen
executive director
Jewish Community Council
of Metropolitan Detroit
Rachel Goodman
Jewish.com
JDate Opens To Gays
The popular Jewish online dat-
ing site has expanded its search
capabilities to allow gays and
lesbians to seek matches.
to Israel's consulate, the council
looks forward to continuing to
help Mr. Binah cultivate news
media, government and inter-
faith relationships here in Metro
Detroit.
•
study-in-Israel program.
The Labor Zionist Institute
and Ameinu Detroit provide
financial support to members of
Habonim Dror for the various
camp and Israel programs. We
supported all three of this year's
workshop participants as well
as four local MBI participants.
Our shlichah (Israel emissary)
is Moran Lencer [(248) 355-
4939].
Jeremy Salinger
Southfield
Rabbi's Impact
I was privileged to hear Rabbi
Miri Gold speak at
Congregation Shir Tikvah and
was struck by her modest sin-
cerity, her balance and what my
grandmother would have called
her saychel (common sense)
("Balancing The Scales," Nov.
10, page 33).
I feel that a simple awareness
of goodness like hers is the
same as respect for nefesh
(soul) and something that
today's journalism badly needs.
Edna Garte
Gifts Proper
A recent article about Jewish .
issues related to childbirth ("A
Precious Goal," Nov..17, page
19), quoted a local Orthodox
rabbi as saying that Orthodoxy
does not allow the use of donor
eggs and sperm.
As in many areas of Halachah
[Jewish law], there is more than
one opinion. Last year, I attend-
ed a lecture by Dr. Susan Kahn
of Harvard University. She has
done extensive research on the
topic of assisted reproduction in
the Orthodox community. This
includes the haredi (fervently
Orthodox) communities in both
the U.S. and Israel.
Dr. Kahn has found that with-
in certain halachic guidelines,
the use of donor eggs or sperm
has been allowed. Since the
mitzvah of "be fruitful and mul-
tiply" is of such great impor-
tance, many Orthodox rabbis
are finding new ways within
Halachah to assist infertile cou-
ples.
Marlene Gitelman
Ann Arbor
Waterford
Memory Lane
Regarding George Cantor's col-
umn "Sharing Memories" (Nov.
10, page 40), he mentioned B &
C Market that his dad took him
to (owned by Bachman and
Choderoff) in Detroit.
Bessie Kay, who is 93 years
old, and Julia Shear, 95, worked
at B & C Market as teens and
both are now living at the
Fountains at Franklin in
Southfield.
Phyllis Grossman
Farmington Hills
Correction
• Due to an editing error, a
paragraph from "Politically
Speaking" (Dec. 1, page 24) was
incorrect. It should have read:
"AIPAC historiCally has been and
continues to be the central vehi-
cle for pro-Israel advocacy," said
Carey Kalmowitz of West Bloom-
field. He moderated the discus-
sion.
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