Metro

Grafitti Incident

Podiatrist amazed by support after vandalism.

Harry Kirsbaum
Staff Writer

D

r. Jeffrey Klein has had a
thriving podiatry practice
in Waterford Township
since 1988.
"Waterford is a wonderful com-
munity;' he said Aug. 18, a day after
he discovered a swastika, a hammer
and sickle, an upside-down cross
and other hateful symbols and
words spray-painted on the back
walls and window of his office.
"In talking to the Waterford Police,
they do think that it's just kids," said
Dr. Klein of Oak Park, who attends
Young Israel of Oak Park. "It's ter-
rible. Kids have to learn this from
somebody or someplace, and they
need to teach tolerance to these kids.

"These kids have to be able to
express themselves but be able
to express themselves verbally
and without hatred, and not with
destruction of property," he said.
Dr. Klein said he had problems
with skateboarders in the back of
the property who were asked to
leave, and his car had been scratched
a while ago.
Waterford Police, the FBI and the
Department of Justice are investigat-
ing the incident as a hate crime.
Dr. Klein says he's amazed by the
response to the incident after a story
appeared on the front page of the
Oakland Press.
Upset patients have been call-
ing his office to show support. The
NAACP called to offer assistance,
and a woman whom Dr. Klein had

New JVS Board

Robert S. Hertzberg of
Bloomfield Hills was
recently elected to a
one-year term as pres-
ident of the JVS Board
of Trustees. Hertzberg,
an attorney with
Hertzberg
Pepper Hamilton, LLP,
has held a variety of
JVS board leadership roles including trea-
surer and vice president. Most recently
he co-chaired the Endowment Committee
and served on the executive and retire-
ment plan committees.
Other community leaders were elected
or re-elected as officers of the board. Vice
chairs are Elaine Fieldman, Brian Meer and
Judge Helene White. The secretary is Jeffrey
Levine. Lee Hurwitz is treasurer.
Re-elected to three-year terms as trust-
ees were Harriet Cooper, Julie A. Nelson-
Klein, Robert S. Hertzberg, Diane Siriani,
David B. Jaffe, Barbara Tukel and Jerold
Levine.
New trustees that were elected include
Jeff Budaj, Russell S. Linden, Greg
A. Hirsch, Dana Loewenstein, Frank
Hoffman, Anna Mandelbaum-Mann,
Sherry Kanter, Jonathan Leibman and
Andrew Shapack.

Loan Applications Due
College students may apply for interest-
free loans for the 2006/2007 school year

never met drove from Shelby
Township with cleaning supplies
to erase the hateful messages.
Luke Lang, whose name
was spray-painted on the wall
next to a swastika, appeared at
Dr.Klein's office to say he was
sorry about the incident but
wasn't involved.
Betsy Kellman, executive
director of the Anti-Defamation
League Michigan Region, con-
demned the act, but said there
has been no increase in anti-
Semitic incidents in the area.
"We're getting a fair amount
of calls, but I wouldn't say it's
on an increase,' she said. "We're
getting a lot more questions
about security, but not more
complaints."

through the Jewish Educational Loan
Service Program (JELS). Administered by
JVS, Hebrew Free Loan Association and
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit, the program is available to Metro
Detroit Jewish residents.
To be considered, applicants must be
full-time students pursuing an under-
graduate, graduate or professional educa-
tion degree; be able to document financial
need; attend a Michigan educational
institution (unless a comparable educa-
tion is not available in Michigan); and
demonstrate academic progress toward a
career objective.
JELS is funded through a partnership
of more than 70 private funds and philan-
thropic service organizations. In addition
to loans, JVS also provides counseling to
parents and students interested in other
financial aid options available through
state, federal and private sources. The
deadline for applying is Nov. 17.
For information and application
requests, contact Marvin Berman, (248)
233-4209 or mberman@jvsdet.org .

Polish Rabbi To Speak
The American Jewish Committee
Metropolitan Detroit Chapter will host
Rabbi Michael Shudrich, chief rabbi
of Poland, 7:45 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 29,
at a breakfast briefing at the Max M.
Fisher Federation Building in Bloomfield
Township.

❑

Dr. Jeffrey Klein and the graffiti at his Waterford office

The subject of his presentation will be
Jews of Poland today.
Rabbi Shudrich has been one of the
major actors in the revival of Jewish life
in Poland. After serving as a rabbi in
Tokyo, he moved to Poland with his fam-
ily in 1992, where he was employed by the
Ronald Lauder Foundation and served as
rabbi of the Jewish community in Warsaw.
He was appointed chief rabbi of Warsaw
and Lodz in 2000 and chief rabbi of
Poland in 2004.
This program is open to the commu-
nity and there is no charge. Reservations
are required. Call the AJC office, (248)
646-7686, or e-mail Detroit@ajc.org for
information about the AJC and to reserve
a seat.

Bereavement Support Set
The National Council of Jewish Women
Greater Detroit Section/ SPACE for
Changing Families will offer a six-week
bereavement support group for adults
grieving the death of a parent. The group
will meet once a week on Thursdays from
Sept. 7-Oct. 19 from 7-8:30 p.m.
A trained facilitator will lead the group.
This is not a drop-in group; attendance is
mandatory for all six sessions. There is no
charge; donations are appreciated.
The group will meet at the Birmingham
Temple, 28611 W. 12 Mile in Farmington
Hills. Preregistration is required. Call
(248) 355-9936.

JFS Hosts Seminar

Alliance for Adoption, a division of Jewish
Family Service, will host a community-
wide gathering for people interested in
international adoption Sunday, Sept.
10, 1:30-4 p.m. at the JFS Graham &
Sally Orley and Joseph & Suzanne Orley
Building in West Bloomfield, 6555 W.
Maple Road.
Michalina Miller, executive director at
Frank Adoption Center, North Carolina,
will join Alliance for Adoption's Diane St.
Peter, for an exploration of adoption issues
and options.
Frank Adoption is a private, non-profit
licensed child placement agency, placing
children from the countries of Russia,
Kazakhstan and the Republic of Georgia.
There is no charge for the seminar.
Reservations are requested.
Alliance for Adoption also conducts
monthly "Options for Adoption" meetings
on the third Thursday of each month, 7-9
p.m. at the JFS Orley Family Building. The
meetings give families who are interested
in domestic or international adoption an
opportunity to ask questions in a small
group setting. Future meetings will take
place Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, and Dec.
21.
For information, contact Diane St. Peter,
(248) 592-2345.

Digest on page 23

August 24 - 2006

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