In Katrina's Wake from page 31
Public Forum Scheduled
they had gone through the same thing.
"Many people were so used to giv-
ing to others that they were embar-
rassed about accepting aid. I would
tell them that the sooner they were
made whole, the sooner they could be
back to their traditional role of help-
ing others:'
The traditional counseling role of
JFS has changed as well. With many
families now living with several gen-
erations while their homes are being
repaired, more clients are coming in
for family counseling. In Baton Rouge,
which received many older evacuees,
JFS plans social events that bring iso-
lated older adults together; the JCC in
New Orleans puts on similar activities.
The agency's suicide prevention and
education program, Teen Life Counts,
is needed more than ever. One volun-
teer reported that pre-Katrina, when
she would ask high-schoolers what
they thought of teens who committed
suicide, they would characterize them
as selfish and foolish.
This past year, the responses were
much more sympathetic. She heard
students say, for example, that peers
who committed suicide "must be real
sad because their parents were crying
all the time."
Yet, even against the backdrop of
government incompetence and uncer-
tain levees, many residents are buoyed
by optimism.
Two Sundays ago, community mem-
bers gathered for a chanukkat habayit,
a home dedication ceremony in which
a mezuzah is hung, for Georgette
Somjen, a physician moving to town.
Later, a brit milah (circumcision) was
celebrated for the son of Gary and
Susan Lazarus, who are committed to
remaining in New Orleans.
Dan Alexander, a fourth-generation
New Orleanian, and his wife, Lazelle,
also a native, attended both celebra-
tions. Katrina destroyed their home
and surrounding neighborhood,
where they had lived for 43 years. The
house was bulldozed a few weeks ago.
An 81-year-old retired public
schoolteacher, Dan Alexander said,
"When you lose your home, it is like
losing a relative."
Buying and moving into a new
house was "the farthest thing from my
mind': he said. "But what's the alterna-
tive? You have to move on and estab-
lish a whole new type of existence!'
For more on Katrina, go to
www.JNonline.us
Gerald Greenwald, former vice chairman
of Chrysler Corp. and former chairman
and chief executive officer of United
Airlines, will speak about the "War on
Science" at a free, public forum at 8 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 7, at the Birmingham
Temple.
Greenwald will discuss how religious
conservatives and fundamentalists
are waging a war on science and its
potentially negative implications for
the American economy and people. His
address will be followed by remarks from
State Rep. Andy Meisner, who recently
introduced legislation to liberalize
Michigan's restrictions on the use of stem
cells in medical research.
The forum will be the opening rally for
a new advocacy organization,"Scientists
and Citizens United." There is no charge
for this event.
A second forum in the series
"Confronting the Religious Right;' will be
presented by Rabbi Sherwin Wine, the
Birmingham Temple's founding rabbi, at
8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11. Rabbi Wine will
discuss the growing power of conserva-
tive and fundamentalist religions, their
attacks on Darwinian evolution and
the implications for science and human
welfare. There is an $8 charge for this
forum for individuals who are not temple
members.
For information about the Forum
series, call (248) 477-1410 or a www.bir-
minghamtemple.org.
SUNDAY
es Poppelreiter
Distinguished Walker List 2006
Chief, West Bloomfield
Ronald D. Cronin
Police Chief, West Bloomfield
The American media downplays
Palestinian suffering, and takes
Israel's side in the Middle East con-
flict.
The Answer:
Recent examples of Arab manipula-
tion of the media — inflated death
counts in Qana, Lebanon; a doctored
photo by Reuters; and the kidnap-
ping of Fox News Channel's Steve
Centanni — reveal that accurate
media coverage from the Arab side is
difficult, if not impossible. Complete
freedom of the press and freedom
of movement encourages fair cover-
age while reporters are on Israeli
soil; however press restrictions and
intimidation are the rule in Israel's
neighboring countries.
- Allan Gale, Jewish Community
Council of Metropolitan Detroit
Honorable Susan Moiseev
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WJBK FOX 2
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WJBK FOX 2
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WJR
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104.3 FM
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