DIGEST
Know An Activist?
Charlie Frank of Bloomfield Hills chose
board games for his bar mitzvah cen-
terpieces and then donated them to
JFS.
JFS Touches Lives
The West Bloomfield-based Jewish
Family Service clients of all ages cele-
brated an extra special holiday this year
thanks to the generosity of those locally
who donated children's toys, clothing for
kids and older adults, holiday gift cards
and more.
• Congregation Shir Tikvah's 13th
annual Light One Candle project provid-
King Holiday Panel
Local personalities Betty DeRamus,
Luther Keith and Robert Sedler will par-
ticipate in a panel discussion on civil
rights at the American Jewish Committee
annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "All
Peoples Breakfast" 8 a.m., Monday, Jan. 16,
at the Detroit Urban League, 208 Mack at
John R in Detroit.
Cosponsored for the 11th year with the
Detroit Urban League, the breakfast is
open to the community and there is no
charge. This year's AJC co-chairs are James
Rosenfeld, Marc Bakst and Martin Baum.
Reservations are required; call (248) 646-
7686 or (313) 832-4660.
Israel Advocate Series
The local regions of the American Jewish
Committee and Anti-Defamation League
as well as the Jewish Community Council
of Metropolitan Detroit will conclude the
Advocates for Israel seminar series 7:45
a.m., Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Max M.
Fisher Federation Building in Bloomfield
Township. This final session, "It's a Wrap,"
will feature Detroit News Editorial Page
Editor Nolan Finley and Rob Davidek,
news director at WWJ News Radio 950.
The series was organized to prepare
advocates of Israel to communicate with
ed gifts for 125 families and children of
all ages, served by JFS.
• Charlie Frank of Bloomfield Hills
donated children's board games, which
were centerpieces at his bar mitzvah.
• Jewish Women International
Morganthau-Detroit Chapter
donated cash and gifts.
• Jewish Women International
Mitzvah Knitters donated knit hats,
scarves and blankets
• Jewish Women International
Galilee Chapter donated toys for
children and gifts for older adults.
• Congregation Shaarey Zedek
donated gifts for client families
• David L. Bittker Unit #5588 of
B'nai B'rith donated gifts for client
families.
• Livingston County Woodcrafters
Guild donated wooden toys.
• Congregation Shir Tikvah
Gimmel-Hay Club donated blankets.
• Countless community members
donated wrapped toys and store gift
cards for JFS client children and families.
Do you know someone who has made a
real difference in the community? The
Jewish Community Council of
Metropolitan Detroit would like you to
nominate them for the 2006 Activist of the
Year Award.
The award is given to a volunteer who is
passionate about the Detroit Jewish corn-
munity and works to secure the Jewish
future by championing Israel's cause,
reaching out to diverse neighbors or advo-
cating Jewish interests. Nominees do not
need to have a past or current affiliation
with Council. Past Council presidents, cur-
rent officers and members of congrega-
tional clergy are not eligible. The award
will be presented at in late spring.
Nominations must be received by
Friday, Jan. 20. To nominate a candidate,
call Council at (248) 642-5393, ext. 0, or e-
mail council@jfmd.org .
Past honorees include Nate Shapiro
(2001), Elaine Driker (2002), David
Techner (2003), Dulcie Rosenfled (2004)
and Dennis Bernard (2005).
Steven Behrman of Huntington
Woods delivered gifts donated
Shabbat Retreat
by Shir Tikvah families.
media experts and to speak about Israel to
groups and elected officials. Participants
will be encouraged to respond to talk
shows, to write letters to the editors and to
speak to rotary clubs, schools and other
community groups. The briefing will last
for an hour and will include a light break-
fast.
Reservations are required. For infor-
mation, call (248) 646-7686.
United We Walk
On Sunday and Monday, Jan. 15-16, at
West Bloomfield High School, B'nai B'rith
will participate in the two-day annual pro-
gram "United We Walk."
This year's event will be a partnership
between organizers of an open-air envi-
ronment in Detroit and planners of a
multi-community diversity celebration
based in West Bloomfield, bringing stu-
dents and adults from the city and sub-
urbs together for a mile-and-a-half out-
door march along Orchard Lake Road, two
music and oratory programs and the con-
struction of a "shoe art" installation sym-
bolizing Dr. King's marches.
The shoe project is made possible
through the support of B'nai B'rith Great
Lakes Region.
Guests from the public and from organ-
izations as well as students from other
public or private schools are welcome to
attend and participate.
B'nai B'rith Board
On Saturday evening, Jan. 14, at a dessert
reception at the home of Sandy and Alan
Bittker in Franklin, the executive board of
the new David L. Bittker Unit of B'nai
B'rith will be installed by Bobbie Levine,
B'nai B'rith International Central Service
Center program coordinator.
Officers who will serve the unit for
2006-2008 are: Steve Rotenberg, president;
Kevin Elbinger, fund-raising vice presi-
dent and treasurer; Marci Rotenberg and
Laurie Zeidman, programming vice presi-
dents; Sam Zeidman, membership vice
president; Lisa Fisher, communications
vice president; Matt Katz, community
service vice president; Terri Stearn,
recording secretary.
B'nai B'rith International Executive Vice
President Dan Mariaschin will attend.
B'nai B'rith International President Joel
Kaplan will be keynote speaker. Arline
Bittker will present the Unit with the offi-
cial charter.
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit's Alliance for Jewish Education and
the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School
Metropolitan Detroit will host a Shabbat
retreat weekend in Ann Arbor, March 24-
26.
Locations will include the Mandell L.
Berman Center of University of Michigan
Hillel, Vitosha Guest Haus Inn and the
Ann Arbor Bed and Breakfast. All venues
are within walking distance. Lodging will
be at Vitosha Guest Haus Inn and Ann
Arbor Bed and Breakfast.
A full weekend of Jewish study, prayer
and conversation, including faculty from
U-M and Michigan State University, is
planned.
Scholars leading the sessions include
Marc Bernstein, assistant professor of lin-
guistics and language, MSU; Elliot
Ginsburg, associate professor in Jewish
thought, U-M; Julian Levinson, professor
of Jewish American studies, U-M; Mitchell
S. Parker, child psychologist and director
of the Parent Education Program of the
Florence Melton Adult Mini-School;
Michael Weiss, doctoral candidate, U-M
School of Education.
Register by Jan. 26. The cost of the
retreat is $300 per person for double occu-
pancy and includes kosher meals, lodging,
activities and study materials. An addi-
tional $150 will be charged for single
occupancy.
For information or to register, contact
Marion Bronstein, (248) 642-4260, ext.
372, or bronstein@jfmd.org .
January 5 • 2006
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