Letters
Digest
Stand With Israel
The auditorium was filled to capacity for
the kickoff event of
StandWithUs/Michigan on Jan. 29 at the
Holocaust Memorial Center in
Farmington Hills and I was privileged to
be in attendance.
The keynote speaker, Michael Wissot,
and three local university students told
us of the onslaught against Israel and
the Jewish people on our campuses, the
apathy in our communities and the
necessity to learn how to combat this
war against our people.
If you are looking for a way to con-
tribute your expertise, time and
resources in this noble effort, I suggest
contact StandWithUs/Michigan
(www.standWithUs.com ).
My compliments go to Linda and Bob
Stulberg and their team for bringing
StandWithUs/Michigan to our commu-
nity and I intend to be on their team as
well.
Ed Kohl
West Bloomfield
David Bittker's Legacy
I was thrilled to see the impact David
Bittker is having on the young Jewish
married couples in Detroit (Editor's
Notebook,
Jan. 26,
page 5).
The for-
mation of
this new
unit will
have a
positive
impact on
our com-
munity.
David
David Bittker
Bittker was
both a mentor as well as a very positive
force for the Michigan Region B'nai
B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO), origi-
Jewish.com
nally formed and supported by B'nai
B'rith.
BBYO is the largest Jewish teen pro-
gram in the Detroit area, and it
embraces the entire spectrum of our
Jewish community. BBYO's mission is to
develop leadership skills, teach Jewish
heritage and involvement in community
service. It's a place where teens can fur-
ther develop and maintain their Jewish
identities while having a great social
experience that often leads to lifetime
friendships and community involve-
ment.
David took great pride in BBYO's mis-
sion and how BBYO delivers on it. BBYO
can only continue to be successful with
the support of the community. Parents
are the ones most responsible for
encouraging teens to be involved in a
religious-based organization such as
BBYO, yet with the hectic pace of our
teens' lives, often filled not only with
school but extracurricular activities and
sports, there is very little time left for
other commitments.
As parents, it is our responsibility to
assure that teens continue to treasure
their religious heritage and make it a
priority that our children continue their
Jewish involvement beyond their bar or
bat mitzvah.
I hope more of us will lead our chil-
dren to a Jewish youth organization that
embraces and teaches our heritage, val-
ues, leadership skills, facilitates healthy
social activities and leads to life-long
friendships and Jewish community
involvement.
David Bittker gave us a role model
who, by example, taught our community
the value of taking the time to teach
tomorrow's leaders what they need to
know to be successful and contributing
members of our community.
I hope we all take a moment to reflect
on the value to our children of following
David's lead.
Sherry G. Kanter
Huntington Woods
dotCOM SURVEY
Hosting Israeli Visitors
The Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah
Center's Judaica Art Fair will run from
Saturday evening, Feb. 11, through Monday,
Feb.13, at the Jewish Community Center in
West Bloomfield.
Of this year's 50 artists, 39 will come
from Israel and need a place to stay from
Thursday, Feb. 9, until Monday, Feb. 13.
"Our community is known for its
warmth and hospitality," said Bais Chabad
member Natalie Lipnik of West Bloomfield.
Tamar Katz of West Bloomfield, who is in
charge of the housing component of the
show, said, "We are looking for people who
can host one or two people. We would pre-
fer the artists be in homes that are some-
where near the JCC in West Bloomfield so it
will be easier for them to get to the art fair."
Katz said transportation for the guests
will be arranged by other volunteers and
will not be responsibility of the host fami-
lies, unless they offer. To host Israeli artists,
call Tamar Katz, (248) 737-0865.
Ganeinu Preschool Event
Ganeinu preschool in West Bloomfield
will host an open house for prospective
families 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12. The
school is located at 4230 Middlebelt,
between Lone Pine and Long Lake roads.
Participants can visit classrooms and
speak to teachers about the developmen-
tal approach of the Ganeinu program.
There will be special Tu b'Shevat treats
and activities for children. Early bird reg-
istration with a discount for fall 2006 will
be available.
Children ages 2'2-5 years participate in
licensed pre-nursery and nursery classes.
For information, call Chaya Devorah
Bergstein, (248) 932-8584.
JWI Seeks Nominees
Jewish Women International is accepting
nominations for the ninth annual Women
to Watch Awards, celebrating the excep-
tional contributions of Jewish women in
contemporary society.. Each fall, JWI's
Jewish Woman magazine features the 10
women selected.
Last Week's Results
Tolerance center teaches pupils
that Google isn't gospel.
Should the U.S. and Europe halt
aid to the Palestinians until
Hamas renounces terrorism?
Were your views of Judge
Samuel Alito changed by the
U.S. Senate confirmation
hearings?
Read about it on Jewish.com .
To vote, click on
JNonline.us/Opinion
19 percent said yes
81 percent said no
6
February 2 • 2006
Nominations are open to Jewish women
who make a significant contribution to
professional, communal or religious life;
do work that has an important impact in
their field and/or is making a difference in
the world; exhibit vision, capacity for inno-
vation and a desire to make a difference;
and are deemed rising stars in their fields
and show potential for future achievement.
To nominate a candidate, include her
brief biography, resume, articles or news
clippings highlighting her achievements,
her photograph and contact information.
Deadline for submissions is March 1.
Nomination forms are available at
www.jwi.org,/programs/women_watch_
form.htm.
Israeli Consul Speaks
The American Jewish Committee Metro-
politan Detroit Chapter will host Israeli
Consul General Barukh Binah at a break-
fast briefing scheduled for 8 a.m. Friday,
Feb. 10, at the Max M. Fisher Federation
Building in Bloomfield Township. The
regularly scheduled board meeting will
begin at 7:30 a.m.
Two recent visitors to Israel who partic-
ipated in AJC's Project Interchange trip
for public policy leaders will also speak.
They are the Rev. Ben Baldus of Lutheran
Social Services of Michigan and Steve
Vogel, University of Detroit Mercy.
To RSVP, call the AJC, (248) 646-7686.
Wrap And Lecture
The annual World Wide Wrap will be held
at 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, in the Cantor
Klein Chapel at Congregation B'nai
Moshe, 6800 Drake Road, West Bloom-
field. Participants will put on tefillin at
minyan. A free buffet breakfast sponsored
by the Men's Club will follow.
After breakfast, Dr. Wilbert Simkovitz
will speak about "The Security of Israel."
Dr. Simkovitz is a national security man-
agement consultant, professional engi-
neer, and an attorney.
For information, contact Joel Shayne,
(248) 723-1831.
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