Cycling The Negev
Detroiters taking part in benefit ride
that spotlights one of Israel's
unspoiled treasures.
I Robin Schwartz
tions, the Arava Institute of
Special to the Jewish News
Environmental Studies and Hazon.
tepping foot on Eretz Yisrael,
The Arava Institute encourages
the land of Israel, is an awe-
peace and environmental coopera-
inspiring experience. Riding
tion. Israeli and Arabic students
a bicycle over the country's hills and
study there together.
through its valleys is breathtaking.
Hazon, which means vision, deals
"It's special because you're seeing
with programs focused on Jewish
Israel from a total-
outdoor and environmental
ly different. per-
education. Both groups sup-
spective," said
port the idea of developing
Warren Robinson
the Negev into a habitable
of Franklin. "You're
and profitable part of Israel
seeing contempo-
while preserving its natural
rary life in Israel
resources.
and you're seeing it
"This is a project that has
inch by inch."
tremendous unique things
Added Alan
about it," said Hannan Lis
Lovinger of
of Farmington Hills, presi-
Farmington Hills,
dent of the Jewish National
Dany Saar
"The people are
Fund Michigan Chapter.
urging you on. You
The JNF is behind an ini-
become part of the
tiative they hope will allow
country and it's a wonderful experi-
the Negev to some day become home
ence."
to 250,000 people. "It's about co-
Both men are part -of a group of
existing, it's about protecting the
avid cyclists who
environment, it's
have partici-
about responsible
pated in chari-
"I know the Negev
development," Lis
ty rides in
almost like the palm of said.
Israel. They're
Saar added, "The
my hand," said Saar,
also part of a
Negev is one of the
who was born and
group that
unspoiled and
recently gath-
raised in Israel. "It's
underestimated
ered at the
treasures of our
probably the piece of
West
country and it's
earth in Israel I like
Bloomfield
about 62 percent of
the most."
home of Dany
the entire country, I
Saar to learn
believe we have yet
about an upcoming ride from
to discover the huge hidden poten-
Jerusalem to Eilat through the
tial of the Negev."
Negev. The five-day journey takes
Each participant in the ride must
place May 9-16.
raise a minimum of $3,600 for the
"I know the Negev almost like the
two environmental protection
palm of my hand," said Saar, who
groups. The trip is limited to 150
was born and raised in Israel. "It's
riders. Saar hopes to get a group of
probably the piece of earth in Israel I 10-15 people together to represent
like the most."
Detroit's Jewish community. ❑
Saar has committed to taking part
in the ride, but he's looking for other
Metro Detroiters to join him. The
theme of the 300-mile trip is "cycling
For information on the ride, go to
for peace, partnership and environ-
www.israelride.org. To sign up with
mental protection."
the local group, contact Dany Saar at
Money raised by participants will
dany@comcast.net .
go to two environmental organiza-
S
26
January 12 2006
IT '1'4
Dr. King Remembered
Ave. at John R in Detroit.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be com-
"You Can't Bury Their Dream: Martin
memorated with several events in West
Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks" is the
Bloomfield next week.
program's title. Co-sponsored with the
United We Walk, the 12-year-old two-
Detroit Urban League, the breakfast is
day annual program, has teamed with
open to the community; there is no
the Heidelberg Project, the 20-year-old
charge. AJCommittee breakfast co-
art community on Detroit's east side.
chairs are James Rosenfeld, Marc Bakst
Project founder Tyree Guyton will be
and Martin Baum. For required reserva-
keynote presenter at a 9 a.m. Monday,
tions, call (248) 646-7686 or (313) 832-
Jan. 16, public program at West
4660.
Bloomfield High School.
Participating schools will create indi-
vidualized shoe/boot decorations with
brief written and audiotaped messages
Southfield Peace Walk
on the theme, "Hold Fast to His Dream:' The city of Southfield and the Dr.
The shoes will be a major art installa-
Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force will
tion, portions of which will be displayed host the annual Dr. Martin Luther King
at the January events, as well as at vari-
Jr. Holiday Peace Walk Celebration on
ous schools, West Bloomfield Town Hall
Jan. 16 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Hope
and sites across Metro Detroit. The shoe United Methodist Church, 26275
project is sponsored by B'nai B'rith
Northwestern Hwy.
Great Lakes Region.
The Peace Walk will depart from
United We Walk XII will begin with a
Hope United at 10:15 a.m., followed by
Sunday evening,
an 11:30 a.m. program at
Jan. 15, candlelight
the Southfield Pavilion,
vigil co-sponsored
located at the Municipal
by the West
Complex, 26000 Evergreen
Bloomfield Clergy
Road.
Association and
The program will feature
Community
remarks from Southfield
Forum. On-
Mayor Brenda Lawrence
Monday, Jan. 16,
and MLK Committee
there will be an
President Arm Dillion; the
8:30 a.m. breakfast,
highlight presentation,
9 a.m. auditorium
"Everyday Peace Making"
program, 10:15
by Rudy Simons, co-chair of
a.m. 112-mile out-
the Michigan Coalition for
door march along
Human Rights; musical
Dr. Martin Luthe r King Jr.
Orchard Lake
presentations from the
Road, 11 a.m. lunch-
Eisenhower Elementary
eon and 11:30 a.m. dialogue sessions.
School Ambassadors; and presentation
The public is invited to leave mes-
of the MLK essay contest and service
sages on an online wall at www.united-
award winners. For information, call
wewalk.org/board/index.php?pt=1
Ann Dillon, (248) 569-4304, or visit
Online wall participants are asked to
www.mlktaskforcemi.org .
leave identification and encouraged to
reflect on the just-observed 50th
Farmington Events
anniversary of the late Rosa Parks'
The Multicultural Multiracial
efforts leading to the Montgomery Bus
Community Council of -
Boycott.
Farmington/Farmington Hills is
Information on all United We Walk
sponsoring free Dr. King program-
events is available at (248) 865-6450 or
ming at the Farmington Community
www.unitedwewalk.org.
Library, 32737 W. 12 Mile Road in
Farmington Hills, Jan. 15-16.
Highlights include a "Walk for
King Breakfast
Justice" that begins at 9 a.m. Monday
Detroit News columnist Betty DeRamus, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church,
Detroit News Public Editor Luther Keith
28000 N. Market, off of 12 Mile
and Wayne State University Law
Road, west of Dunckel Middle
Professor Robert Sedler will participate
School; theatrical and dance per-
in a panel discussion on civil rights at
formances; student tributes; interac-
the American Jewish Committee's annu- tive exhibits; and children's activi-
al Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. All Peoples ties. For more information, call (248)
Breakfast at 8 a.m., Monday, Jan. 16, at
553-0300 (Farmington Community
the Detroit Urban League, 208 Mack
Library).