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 37