I
Front Lines
NOTEBOOK
Tracking Aliyah
A new book written by an Israeli with Metro Detroit roots offers a
peek into life in the Jewish homeland following aliyah. It goes beyond
what is seen on CNN. It is funny, poignant and richly anecdotal.
Moving Up: An Aliyah Journal (Mazo, $16.95) written by Laura
Ben-David, whose family moved from Boca Raton to Neve Daniel in
Gush Etzion, highlights the good, not so good and crazy about making
aliyah. The story begins when Ben-David, with reporters, photojour-
nalists and TV newscasters in tow, packed up her bags, family and life
in Florida to board the first Nefesh B'Nefesh
plane for new olim (immigrants) to Israel.
Many of her relatives live in Metro Detroit.
Ben-David began to chronicle the aliyah
adventure in daily, humorous blogs. The
new book tracks the first year, complete
with photographs and a forward by Rabbi
Yehoshua Fass, Nefesh B'Nefesh executive
director. It's a treat for Israelis intrigued by
what it's like to immigrate, by new immi-
Laura Ben-David
grants wanting to relive and reminisce
about their own experiences
and by prospective immigrants
eager for a glimpse into their
potential new life.
The book is a compilation
of her first-year narrative of
e-mail, Web articles, anecdotes
and blogs. "Laura's writing
inspires others to make Israel
their home. I truly admire her
passion!" said Shaul Goldstein,
Gush Etzion mayor.
Ben-David's readership
grew from select family and
friends to thousands in North
America, Israel and Europe.
Her e-mail address is benda-
vid.laura@gmail.com. Her Web site is www.aliyahbook.com . She will
be appearing 3-6 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 18, at Esther's Judaica and Gift
World in West Bloomfield.
- Robert A. Sklar, editor
Jewish 50-Yard Line
CNN Honors Bernstein
Dr. Barry Zisholtz of Atlanta and his brother, attorney Stu Zisholtz of
New York, went to a lot of time and
expense to attend the Michigan-Ohio
State football game in Columbus in
November. And for them, the game
isn't over.
The brothers found student tick-
ets on a Web site for $600 apiece,
arranged for housing at OSU's Chabad
House and spent the Friday night
before the game at Shabbat dinner,
briefly meeting OSU's Heisman Trophy
quarterback Troy Smith.
Barry Zisholtz and OSU QB
Finding themselves near Ohio
Troy Smith
Stadium on Friday afternoon, the two
saw buses pull up to the hotel across the street. It was the Ohio State
team, who would stay at the hotel that night. The Zisholtzes watched
incredulously from the lobby as a Chabad rabbi blessed OSU coach Jim
Tressel and the team.
The rabbi's friend Jay Schottenstein turned out to be their host and
the brothers, coats covering their U-M shirts, were invited to a private
Shabbat dinner at the hotel."Schottenstein looked at us and said,`Guys,
you are landsmen before you are Michigan fans and you will be our
guests.'
Quarterback Smith appeared briefly at the dinner and received a
separate blessing from the rabbi.
But the brothers' luck ran out before the game the next day. A scanner
showed their tickets had been reported stolen by an OSU student and
the Zisholtzes had to watch the game on TV outside the stadium.
Meanwhile, Stu Zisholtz has tracked down the scalper in New York
and has filed suit to get their money back.
Richard Bernstein, 33, a Farmington Hills attorney and member
of the Wayne State University Board of
Governors, recently was honored by Cable
News Network after he won an online
poll as top watchdog for host Anderson
Cooper's "Keeping Them Honest" TV show.
Bernstein was nominated by his childhood
friend Matt Friedman.
Friedman cited Bernstein's work in rep-
resenting Detroiters with disabilities who
sued the city over faulty wheelchair lifts on
city buses. Bernstein, who was born blind,
saw the case through to a settlement that
now has the federal Department of Justice
monitoring wheelchair access on buses.
Attorney Richard
"The essence of the whole thing, I've
Bernstein runs in
come
to believe, is that with awareness
Lansing with Secretary
comes
understanding; that's how you create
of State Terri Lynn
change,'
Bernstein said. "Once people rec-
Land.
ognize this, it makes my job as an advocate
a little bit easier. You have to shine a light on these things. Then you
can do something that leads to lasting, fundamental change.
"The way I look at everything — it's that old religious thing — to
whom much is given, much is expected;' he said. "With the kinds of
blessings I've been given, the more I try to translate those resources
and opportunities to do something with an impact. One gift that
comes with having to face adversity — the best gift ever bestowed
— is to have a true purpose ..."
- Alan Hitsky, associate editor
Daniel Relle, an eighth-grader at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan
Detroit, wants to help save a life — one lay-up at a time. For his mitz-
vah project for his upcoming bar mitzvah at Congregation Beth Ahm
on March 31, Daniel will be shooting lay-ups at Franklin Athletic Club,
29350 Northwestern Hwy. in Southfield. Daniel is a member of the
Hillel varsity basketball team. He also plays travel baseball. He is the
son of Jim Relle and Lisa Katzman.
Every lay-up on the basketball court means more money to send
to the Gift of Life Foundation, which educates the public about the
urgent needs for organ and tissue donors.
To help Daniel reach his goal of 10,000 lay-ups, you can join him
from 2-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, by making an $18 donation.
Auto Show Winner
Jacalyn Gendloff, 17, of Novi won
first place for 11th-graders in the
Detroit Auto Show poster contest.
Jacalyn attends Novi High School
and the Oakland Technical Center,
where she studies computer graph-
ics. She is the daughter of Mitch and
Celia Gendloff. For her efforts, her
poster will be hanging throughout
the auto show and she received $500 and a framed certificate.
h;!iik
- Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor
10,000 Lay-Ups For Life
- Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor
Menline
This Week
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JBlog
Arnie Goldman, 50 years
young, brings back memories
with his nostalgic musings
about Detroit Jewish life
- and life in general. Jeff
Klein offers his Perspectives
on everything from dating to
friendship. Always thoughtful,
often provocative. Or per-
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Freeman's China Punim, 4-
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January 18 • 2007
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