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 Web Extras Looking for breaking news in our local Jewish community? Or maybe hoping to get a head start on stories you'll find in the coming week's JN? Visit JNonline.us and click on Web Extras on the left. Latest From Israel Want the most current news from Israel? Check our streaming news from Ynetnews.com for continu- ous updates and longer news, opinion and feature stories. Just visit JNonline.us and click on a scrolling story on the left. 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- haps you'd rather read about the adventures of Laurie Freeman's China Punim, 4- year-old Amanda? Only at JNonline.us. Just click on JBlog on the menu on the left. E-Newsletter Want to be notified when stories that interest you in particular are posted on JNonline? It's easy to desig- nate the kinds of stories you like when you sign up for your personalized e-newsletter. Only at JNonline.us . Click on Newsletter on the menu near the top of the page. This week's poll question: Will concern about global warming spur you to change your own actions to be more environmentally friendly? Visit the JNonfine.us homepage to cast your vote. January 18 • 2007 9