Main Event

Rabbi Telushkin headlines, with
support from Ann Arbor teens.

Pamela Waxman
Special to the Jewish News

Ann Arbor.
They easily met their first three
goals when more than 20 teens
attended the event, all pledging to the
Ann Arbor
campaign.
"The video exceeded everyone's
bout 600 people packed
expectations and wowed
the Ypsilanti
the event attendees:'
Marriott's ball-
Axelrod said. "The plan-
room Dec. 6 for the Jewish
ning committee had previ-
Federation of Washtenaw -
ously said that if the video
County's annual Main
E 7 6 _
wasn't of high enough cal-
Event to hear Rabbi
iber it could be shown as
Joseph Telushkin speak
a loop in the lobby. They
about the values that con-
iew ish
were blown away when I
Fe
deration
nect us as Jews.
w4,,
mint,
screened it for them. They
Jews, he noted, tend to
wjewisha rmarborm,c,
decided to feature it right
complain. As an example, Ben Freed
before the evening's pledge
he said that given a choice
pitch."
between a 24-hour com-
She said the teens
plaining fast or a 24-hour
already are talking about
food fast, we'll gladly not
getting to work on a new
eat. Rabbi Telushkin gen-
video for next year. They
tly challenged us to imag-
will have the help of sev-
ine how our loved ones
eral teens who saw it that
would feel, for example,
night, then asked if they
if we didn't criticize them
could help on the new one.
for a whole day. Sure, we
One teen, Ben Freed,
do it because we love
Rabbi Telus hkin
introduced the video and
them, we say; but does it
assured those in the crowd that when
feel loving?
they were "ready to pass the baton, they
Rabbi Telushkin, known for his
would be right there behind them ready
books that make Jewish theology, phi-
to grab it"
losophy, ethics and history accessible
When Rabbi Telushkin took the
to the public, such as Jewish Literacy
stage, he commented on what an honor
and Words That Hurt, Words That
it was to share the state with Freed.
Heal, also shared stories of Orthodox
Following the event, the teens met
rabbis and praised their acts of moral
with Rabbi Telushkin and his daughter,
imagination in finding creative solu-
Naomi, who was visiting U-M as a pro-
tions to life's everyday intractable
spective student. "What was supposed
problems. He also told personal tales
to have been a brief afterglow, turned
of his own failings and realizations.
into a lively, meaningful conversa-
He was such a good storyteller,
tion between the rabbi and the teens,"
that as he invited all under the Jewish
Axelrod said. "When I announced it
umbrella he was unfurling, a palpable
was late and parents were waiting to
good feeling enveloped the audience.
take their kids home, Rabbi Telushkin
Another highlight of this year's
said he wanted to keep talking for a bit.
Main Event was spotlighting the work
No one wanted the dialogue to end."
of a core group of teens who met for
Teens who produced the video
months before the program to outline
are Robert Axelrod, executive pro-
goals they have for their involvement
ducer and editor; Emily Bernstein, Ben
in the Ann Arbor Jewish community.
Freed, Michelle Freed, Sarah Juster,
Working with volunteer Robin
Axelrod of Ann Arbor, the teens identi- Jonathan Sherman, Paula Silverman,
Leor Shtull-Leber, Noah Tobes and
fied goals that included getting teens
to the event, getting teens to contribute Max Vizelberg, all of Ann Arbor.
to Federation's annual campaign, help-
Story Development Editor Keri Guten
ing with registration at the event and
Cohen contributed to this story.
creating a video highlighting Jewish

A

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THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS

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Additional support provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural
Affairs and the City of Detroit.

Mary J. Bilge, New York City, 1999. Copyright © 1999 by Annie Leibovitz.

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December 21 2006

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