Front. Lines SUPPORTING ISRAEL A Chocolate-Filled Message W ith just a click of the computer mouse, a personal message and a chocolate candy bar can be transmitted across the world to an Israeli soldier — and at no charge to the clicker. Through the "Send a Hug" campaign — co-sponsored by Heritage Affinity Services and Strauss Elite — more than 68,000 full-size, kosher candy bars have been ordered in the first five days of the project. "So many people want to do something:' said Yair Rosenrauch, vice president, nonprofit relations for Heritage Affinity Services. "But we had no idea how popular this would be." With so many e-mailers forwarding the information on the project to so many others, Rosenrauch expects to hit the goal of 100,000 candy bars and messages way sooner than projected. "People see there is no cost at all to the sender:' he said. "So it's an easy way to make a very impactful difference." - Heritage Affinity Services also owns Keeping In Touch P2K-Style Volunteers in Detroit's Partnership 2000 region of the Central Galilee have cre- ated a Web site under the Jewish Agency umbrella that includes reports and photos of activities and news in the region, which has been under attack by Hezbollah rock- ets. The Web site is updated daily. Locally, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit will send photos and stories about Michigan activities. Currently, there are stories about how the Detroit community has helped move 1,800 children from Nazareth Illit to safety at camps near Tel Aviv, about the United Jewish Communities Solidarity Mission, headed by Jane Sherman of Franklin, and a link to a Jewish News story about the Teen Mission. Here is the link to the Web site: www. jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/ Israel/Partnerships/Regions/Centralgalilee To give money to Federation's Israel Emergency Fund, you can do so online at www.thisisfederation.org, call the hotline at (248) 205-2550 or mail checks payable 10 August 3 • 2006 HAS Advantage, a credit card company — working with US Bank and VISA — that was founded three and a half years ago with the purpose of support- ing Israel. A percentage of purchases made on the cards is donated, by HAS and US Bank, to an Israel-related charity, with card members choosing five charities from a network of dozens. "It is a seamless process, with the donation coming completely from HAS Advantage," Rosenrauch said. In addition, cardholders receive points toward items like made-in-Israel products and Israeli airfare, hotels and rental cars. HAS was co-founded by Zev Dobuler and Menachem Landau, two North Americans who made aliyah in their teens, were educated in Israel and served in elite IDF units. The team that developed the "Send a Hug" campaign included former Oak Parker, Kayla Adlerstein, the company's senior marketing coordinator. The "hugs:' coming in the form of heartfelt messages have been arriving — via e-mail — from around the world. "And they are not all from Jewish people Rosenrauch said. "When we started going through the messages, we were taken aback because many of them are very emotional." A significant number come from Israelis, he said, who include their phone numbers and write that when the soldiers are done at the front they should call them and they will invite them for a Shabbat meal. "They ask if they need anything, if they can take them out. Quite a few of the messages came from people who will be making aliyah, asking if they can help the soldiers when they get there." 'The hug-messages are continuously posted online, but will also be delivered to the soldiers. "With everything that is going on, we, as a company, want to support Israel," Rosenrauch said. "We knew we needed to develop a program that would facili- tate people to act on how they feel right now Those who feel powerless to effect a change can make a difference and show support." To send a message and a candy bar to an Israeli solider, access the Web site at HASadvantage.com and click on "Send a Hug Now" at the top of the page. For infor- mation, call (866) 647-7235. to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, P.O. Box 2030, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303. on the .Jewish state. Kenneth Waltzer, MSU's Jewish Studies director, led this summer's MSU delegation at the Rothberg International School at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The MSU Risk Committee terminated the program on July 16 even though most of the students preferred to stay, Serling said. A'letter sent to Hebrew University by MSU Provost Kim Wilcox said: "We know that Hebrew University has extensive security precautions in place, which is why we reinstated our study abroad program to Israel in the first place. We recognize, however, that Israel is under attack; and it is impossible to predict how this situ- ation may change in the next two weeks. Therefore, we believe it is prudent to remove our students now, given this vola- tile and unpredictable environment." . Serling isn't deterred. "MSU students will return to study in Israel," he wrote. - Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor Volatility Spurred Evacuation East Lansing It was all a matter of safety when Michigan State University decided to bring home nine students studying abroad in Israel this summer, Michael Serling, chair- man of the MSU Jewish Studies Advisory Board, affirmed this week. "It is sad to see the program aborted after waiting so many years to return:' Serling, a Birmingham attorrney, wrote in a letter to the Jewish Studies aboard and faculty. "We can only hope that these dark days will pass and that the sacrifices made by the Israeli fighting men and women will make Israel a much safer place for genera- tions to come The Israel study program was instated in November after a six-year hiatus wrought by Palestinian terror attacks - Shelli Liebman Dorfman, staff writer - Robert A. Sklar, editor In Time Of War Columnist Brian Blum provides analysis and essays three times a week from Jerusalem, exclusively for Jewish Renaissance Media. Also look for stories that bring the story home to Detroit. Just visit JNonline.us and look at the features in the center column. Latest From Israel Want the most current news from Israel? Check our streaming news from ynetnews.com . Just visit JNonline.us and click on a scrolling story on the left. JBlog Laurie Freeman writes about raising a daughter adopted from China. Her "China Punini" now has a Jewish Chinese doll to play with courtesy of Gali Girls. Only at JNonline.us. Just click on JBlog on the menu on the left. Out & About Arts & Entertainment Editor Gail Zimmerman knows what's hot this sizzling summer. Be sure to check out her Out & About col- umn for suggestions. Just visit JNonline.us and click on Arts & Entertainment on the left. You Voted Has the Israeli use of force in - Lebanon been: Too little 28% Too much 58% Just right 14% This week's question: Should Israel accede to interna- tional demands for a ceasefire? Visit the JNonline.us homepage to cast your vote.