To Life!

AROUND TOWN

Israel Activist

Famed Zionist keynotes Washtenaw
County Federation's major fund-raiser.

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Above left: Steve Gerber and Trudy

Crandall, both of Ann Arbor, have a
chat while the room fills to capacity.

Above: Amy Zwas of Ann Arbor
applauds the speech of a Katrina sur-
vivor aided by Federation donations.

Left: William Martel pours a cup for

Helen Bromberg. Both are of Ann
Arbor.

Joseph Mirsky, 11, of Canton and Jodie
Friedman, 11 of Ann Arbor join the rest of the
Temple BethEmeth band members in playing
the Star Spangled Banner to open the show.

26

December 15 • 2005

Ann Arbor
here's a reason they call it the
Main Event. Aside from High
Holiday services, the annual
fund-raiser is the single largest gather-
ing of Jewish
adults in
Washtenaw
County. More than
700 people came
together at the
Ypsilanti Marriott
at Eagle Crest on
Dec. 1 for the fifth
annual Main
Robin Schwartz Event. They raised
Columnist
more than
$950,000 for
Federation's Annual Campaign and
heard from one of America's premier
legal scholars, Alan Dershowitz.
"This event casts the widest possible
tent in the community:' said Jeff Levin
of Ann Arbor, executive director of the
Jewish Federation of Washtenaw
County.
"It cuts across age, gender, religious
observance, and political affiliation.
Every sector of the community is repre-
sented — it's really a magical evening!"
Participants enjoyed a dessert recep-
tion and then got some food for
thought from Dershowitz. He delivered
the keynote address. The renowned
defense attorney, best-selling author
and Harvard law professor talked about

his staunch support of Israel.
. "I support Israel precisely because I
am a civil libertarian. Precisely because
I've devoted my life to human rights
and precisely because I've always
defended the underdog when they've
been wrongly accused:' he said.
During his speech, a small group of
protestors demonstrated outside calling
Dershowitz a shill for Israel. He in turn
called the protestors a hindrance to
peace.
The crowd also heard from Heidi
Vizelberg of Ann Arbor, a wife and
mother who recently moved to
Michigan from New Orleans after her
family lost everything in Hurricane
Katrina.
"This Jewish community took me
under its wing immediately;' Vizelberg
said.
She has a sister who lives in the area.
"You literally put clothes on our backs
and food on our table she said.
In spite of all her family has been
through, Vizelberg ended her speech by
making a $100 contribution to
Federation. Leaders project. This year
Washtenaw County's campaign will top
$1.6 million — an increase of more
than 60 percent since 2000.
•
The fund-raiser was sponsored by
the Ford Motor Company Fund. Event
chairs were Mona and Ed Goldman
and Eileen and Gary Freed, all of Ann
Arbor. ❑

Rabbi Aharon*Goldstein and Vadim Ketslakh and his wife,

Book lights donated by the Ford Motor Company were a •

Lyudmilla, all of Ann Arbor, gather.

big hit for Robin Axelrod and Louise and Alan Fligiel, all

of Ann Arbor.

