Give us 2 hours
a week...
we'll give you
5,000 years.
Sweet Smell Of Support
Hiller's brings roses from Israeli
greenhouses to Detroit shoppers.
Roses In The Desert
M&M Roses has been selling their flow-
ers in the United States for the past five
s if Hiller's Markets were
• years, when competition from African
and South American flower growers cut
not carrying enough Israeli
into their primary business of export-
products, now they are fea-
ing to Dutch flower auctions.
turing roses grown, picked and packed
"We were on the brink of going out
on l'vloshav Sde Nitzan in the northern
of the rose business," said Sofer, a plant
Negev of Israel.
"We wanted to be able to support the pathologist who made aliyah from
Chicago. He runs the business with his
Israeli rose growers and the people of
wife Miriam, a sociologist and psy-
Israel," said Fabrizio Casini, director of
chologist from Australia.
"We are the only growers in Israel
who send roses 'door to door' to any
address in the U.S.A.," he said.
"We have been selling to Hiller's for
about 18 months," Sofer said. "Through
this contact, we learned a bit about
(Hiller's owner) Jim Hiller who seems
to be quite a supporter of Israeli busi-
ness."
In addition to being connected by
roses, Casini and Sofer's relationship
includes correspondence about life in
Israel. "He tells me how things are going
over there — in good times and in bad
times, like now),' Casini said.
The M&M Web site also includes
Sofer's blog, written as an eye-witness
Fabrizio Casini of Hiller's Markets
account of the situation in Israel.
"His greenhouses are nine kilometers
from the border of Gaza (near Egypt),"
produce and floral operations for all of
Casini said. "We know it can be very
Hiller's Markets. "The more roses we
tough for him and we want to support
sell, the more money goes to Israel:'
him and the people of Israel."
All the Hillers stores are carrying the
Adds Sofer,"Over the course of the
flowers, with Casini ordering a case of
50 dozen roses each week for each store. past few years, Israel has gone through
a long period of economic and secu-
The roses are sold for $12.99 a dozen.
rity hardships. The partnership of the
Casini is very pleased with the sales,
American
Jewish community sup-
happy that most weeks they sell out of
porting
Israel
and Israeli businesses
roses. And his happiness is not related
during
this
time
has been crucial to
to profits. "It probably costs us more
many
small
businesses.
The feeling of
than we get for them, but we do this to
identification
between
the
communities
support Israel;' he said.
is
as
important
as
the
actual
economic
Casirahas been ordering Israeli
support."
1-1
produce — like palmellos, colored pep-
pers and tomatoes — for some time
through a New York broker. "He put me .
• •
s daily blog
in contact with Myron Sofer, the Israeli
and
for
information
on
selling
rose grower from M&M Roses, who we
roses
as
a
group
fundraiser
or
now order from," Casini said.
sending
roses
from
M&M
Roses
While it is too hot in Israel for fruit
to locations in the U.S. or Israel,
and vegetable crops in to grow in the
go to www.israelrose.com , send
summer, the roses are grown in green-
an e-mail to roses@israelrose.
houses, so Hiller's can get them year-
corn or call (877) 356-7673.
round.
Shelli Liebman Dorfman
Staff Writer
A
r t a n de urt orerics
m n e c mo elton
o
jot
h
j j-
I I
of metro detroit
A Project of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
In-depth adult Jewish learning
in a user-friendly format
"Taste of Melton" Informational Session
Sample the program everyone is talking about!
Tuesday, August 8: 7:00-8:30 P.M.
Max M. Fisher Federation Building
6735 Telegraph Road
Bloomfield Hills or
Wednesday, August 9: 9:30-11:00 A.M.
Jewish Community Center, Kahn Building
6600 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield
Year 1 classes available at the following locations starting in September:
Tuesday Evenings — Max M. Fisher Federation Building, Bloomfield Hills
Wednesday Mornings— Jewish Community Center, Kahn Building, W. Bloomfield
Thursday Evenings — Jewish Community Center, JPM Building, Oak Park
Also available for parents of young children — toddler through elementary school
Melton Parent Education Program (PEP)
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For further information or to RSVP for the "Taste of Melton" call
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ElParfizio3
THE OcNIER
6 . ;Alliance
Federation's
This is Federation
www.thisisfederation.org
1114970
JESNA IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE
THE RECIPIENTS OF THE SEVENTH ANNUAL NATIONAL
Grinspoon-Steinhardt Awards for Excellence
in Jewish Education
„ft,
"gee in set&'
Faye Ellen Friedman
MAZAL TOV TO
of the
Miriam Araf
MONTREAL, QC
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BALTIMORE, MD
Nurit Barnard
CLEVELAND, OH
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BROWARD COUNTY, FL
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GREATER PHOENIX, AZ
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ATLANTIC COUNTY, NJ
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DETROIT METROPOLITAN AREA
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LOS ANGELES, CA
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Todah to the Federation's Aliiance for Jewish Education for its vision and support.
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August 3 • 2006
19