NOTEBOOK
Am Yisroel Ties!
When frustration built up during Israel's War in Lebanon last summer, Mickey Levin
and his friend Steven Zinderman, both of Farmington Hills, came up with an idea to
show solidarity and support for Israel.
"We were at the rally for Israel at Shaarey Zedek, and Mickey said, `I have an idea
— we can put our message on a tie," Zinderman said.
The West Bloomfield-based Am Yisroel Tie Company sells ties in three styles, "for Jews
and Christians alike," said Levin. "They're good for anyone who supports Israel."
Levin, a manufacturer's rep for a furniture company, and Zinderman, a Highland-
based veterinarian, didn't let their inexperience in retail or fashion get in their way.
The ties were designed by a friend of a friend, said Levin, and Zinderman developed
the www.tiesforisrael.com Web site himself.
Three styles are available for $24.99 each. Part of the sale of each tie goes to the Jewish
National Fund, said Levin. "The rest will cover the costs and a few bucks of profit. It's an
entrepreneurial thing, too. The more ties we sell, the more money goes to Israel," Levin
said.
The ties are available at Esther's Judaica in West Bloomfield, Borenstein's Books and
Music in Oak Park, Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills (where both men are
members) and Yossi's Israeli Cuisine in West Bloomfield.
- Harry Kirsbaum, staff writer
Stolen Charity
In another sign of the apocalypse, four tzedakah boxes hold-
ing coins donated by customers were stolen from the counter
at Esther's Judaica in West Bloomfield last week, said Coby
Goutkovitch, store owner.
"I couldn't believe it could happen to me," he said. The boxes
— from the Shul, Yeshivat Akiva, Frankel Jewish Academy and
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces — were swiped from in
front of the register during business hours Dec.10 or 11, prob-
ably while Goutkovitch was working alone and went into the
backroom while customers were in the store, he said.
The police were not contacted. "What are they going to do?"
he said. "I want to sell Judaica; I don't want to be on guard."
The tzedakah boxes will be replaced and the collections will
continue, said Coby. "Life goes on."
- Harry Kirsbaum, staff writer
Hoops For A Cause
How tough does 10,000 basketball layups in a day sound? Well,
it sounds a little bit easier with help from your friends.
That's what Daniel Relle, an eighth-grader at Hillel Day
School in Farmington Hills, is anticipating as part of his mitz-
vah project to benefit Gift of Life, a charity that aids bone mar-
row, blood stem cell and umbilical cord blood transplants to
children and adults with life-threatening illnesses.
From 2-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 21, at Franklin Athletic Club
in Southfield, he and others who donate $18 to his basketball
fundraiser will shoot baskets in pursuit of the 10,000 layup
goal. Daniel also encourages donors willing to count baskets. Of
course, you may simply donate as well.
"Since tissue type is inherited," Daniel said, "a patient's best
chance of finding a genetic match lies with donors of similar
ethnicity. Gift of Life strives to increase the representation of
Jewish donors in the registry in order to overcome the devastat-
ing effects of the Holocaust, which severed blood lines."
Daniel, 13, will celebrate his bar mitzvah March 31 at
Congregation Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield.
To make a donation or volunteer for his mitzvah project, call
(248) 933-8984.
- Robert A. Sklar, editor
This Week
Web Extras
Steven Zinderman and Mickey Levin
display their ties.
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JBlog
What's More Important?
When Eric Glanz asked his dad, Harry, if he should go to basketball
practice or to Harry's tribute dinner, the answer was predictable: "Go to
practice!"
Eric finished junior varsity practice at Walled Lake Central High
School at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and rushed downtown to Comerica Park
to have something to
eat and hear his father
get roasted by friends
and celebrities at B'nai
B'rith's Great American
Traditions dinner. Harry
Glanz, co-founder and
managing partner
of Capital Mortgage
Funding in Southfield,
was having the time
of his life with family
and friends and raising
money for B'nai B'rith
Youth Organization.
The annual dinner
program was more
informal than most,
with the roast and a live
auction of some sports
Harry Glanz with Paws
memorabilia and tickets.
More than 100 of the
260 attendees came early to join a guided tour of Comerica Park's Ernie
Harwell Media Center, visiting team clubhouse, indoor batting cages
and visitors' dugout.
Many were greeted at the door by Harry, welcoming them to
Comerica Park, "home of the 2006 American League champion Detroit
Tigers!"
Dinner was held in the Tiger Club restaurant overlooking the field,
and the stadium lights were on during the reception and part of the
dinner.
Glanz, a lifelong athlete, is a board member of the Michigan Jewish
Sports Foundation, was the 2006 JCC Detroit Maccabi baseball coach
and is a co-founder of a foundation honoring his late brother-in-law,
Michael Yendick, which has sent 350 children suffering from Crohn's
disease or ulcerative colitis to summer camp.
Jeff Klein offers his
Perspectives on everything
from dating to friendship.
Always thoughtful, often pro-
vocative. Or perhaps you'd
rather read about the adven-
tures of Laurie Freeman's
China Punim, 4-year-old
Amanda? Only at JNonline.
us. Just click on JBlog on
the menu on the left.
Latest From Israel
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news from Israel? Check
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Ynetnews.com for con-
tinuous updates and longer
news, opinion and feature
stories.
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click on a scrolling story on
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Last week's poll results:
Has Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert made a blunder
with his admission of Israel's
nuclear capabilities?
Yes 48%
No 52%
This week's poll question:
Just for fun – will you eat
Chinese food on Christmas?
Yes
No
Visit the JNonline.us
homepage to cast your vote.
- Alan Hitsky, associate editor
December 21. 2:006 11