AROUND TOWN
A Brighter
Tomorrow
IDF luncheon speaker
a role model for women.
Pearl Rissman of Bloomfield Hills, Elaine Kaufman of West
Bloomfield and Elaine Perlman of Bloomfield Hills
Pam Smith of Farmington Hills with Cindy Stone and Kathy
Lowenthal, both of West Bloomfield
Lynne Obron of Bloomfield Hills with Lori Fullett and Debbie
Gordon, both of West Bloomfield
Sherri Wolf and Gail Smoler, both of
West Bloomfield
H
is name means "my light"
in Hebrew and Rosie
Binamo says her son
Uri, 21, was truly the light of her life.
The Israel Defense Forces soldier
was killed by a suicide bomber last
December, but his mother is keep-
ing his spirit alive, carrying on his
mission to support Israel's soldiers.
Only eight months after Uri's tragic
death, Binamo put aside her grief
to share her moving story with 330
women at the Tam-O-Shanter Country Club in West
Bloomfield.
The sold-out crowd gathered Sept. 20 for the
third annual Women's Luncheon to support the
Michigan Friends of the IDF.
"He was a gift to the people of Israel," said
Binamo, describing Uri, who was a platoon corn-
mander in the Nahshon Battalion.
He and his soldiers set up an army roadblock
near the West Bank village of Tulkarm to protect
Chanukah festivities that were under way. Uri spot-
ted a suspicious-looking man in a taxi and ordered
him to get out. The man turned out to be a suicide
bomber who blew himself up, killing Uri instantly.
The actions of the brave young soldier helped avert
a disaster and saved countless lives.
"I'm a patriotic mother, and I'm proud of my son
for defending the people of Israel and democracy,"
Binamo said, choking back tears. "Coming to talk
to you is not easy for me, but I think it's what he'd
want me to do."
Cathy Slavik and Nancy Kantor,
both of Bloomfield Hills
"She is incredible; a true role model for
all of us," said Karen Ring Weiss of West
Bloomfield, who co-chaired the luncheon
along with Brenda Wayne Berris, also of
West Bloomfield.
So many people wanted to participate,
some had to be turned away. The event,
which included a live and silent auction
and a raffle, raised $77,205. The money will
benefit Israel's widows and orphans pro-
gram, which sends the families of fallen IDF
soldiers to summer camps to relax, unwind
and heal.
"The loss that these families have endured is
heartbreaking and unimaginable," said Berris.
"These kids who serve in the IDF give their heart,
body and soul for the protection of the Jewish
state."
Spotted in the crowd at the women's luncheon
were: Michele Sushin, Terri Friedman, Shari
Kaufman, Sigal Levine, Reva Kogan and
Norma Dorman, all of West Bloomfield; Nancy
Katzman of Franklin; Michele Rosenblum
of Birmingham; Beverly Baker and Marilyn
Weiss, both of Bloomfield Hills; and Terri Farber
Roth and Lisa Lis, both of Farmington Hills.
The 10th annual gala dinner to benefit the
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces will
take place 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek Southfield. For
tickets or more information, call the Michigan
Friends of the IDF (248) 926-4111.
Becky Cole and Cheryl Kirsch, both of
West Bloomfield
Debbie Stern and Ellen DeMarrais,
both of West Bloomfield
October 12 2006
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