Metro Jewish Beginnings Dedication of historic marker celebrates early Michigan Jews. I n celebration of the first Jews to settle in Detroit, the state of Michigan and the Detroit Jewish commu- nity will dedicate a Michigan Historical Marker at the Michigan TriCentennial Park on the Detroit RiverWalk, 1900 Atwater Ave. in downtown Hannan Lis Detroit from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 29. Co-sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan and the American Jewish Committee in collaboration with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, the afternoon's program is free and open to the public and will include welcoming remarks by U.S. Sen. Carl Levin. The marker is distinctive, highlight- ing two significant periods of time in Michigan's Jewish history. On one side it tells the story of the arrival in 1762 of fur In Unity Desecrated church gets Jewish support. T he leader of the Detroit Jewish community's public affairs council spoke out against the graffiti steeped in ethnic bigotry that targeted a Christian church in Warren. The Passover story, said Robert Cohen, executive direc- tor of the Jewish Community Relations Council, "teaches us to respond when David Nelson other peoples are vic- timized by those who hate them because of their faith." Cohen, joined by David Nelson, rabbi emeritus at Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park, said that during Passover, Jews are commanded to zahor, remember, how the experience of slavery shaped them as a people. "We cannot stand idly by in the face of the desecration of this house of God," 14 Apr 2007 aN trader Chapman Abraham, the first Jewish settler in Detroit. The other side depicts the 181 Michigan Jews from a population of 150 families in the state who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. The marker was awarded by the Michigan Historical Commission's Department of History, Arts and Libraries, which examined the exten- sive archival documentation. It is the legacy project of the statewide coalition that spearheaded "Celebrate 350 — Jewish Life in America: 1654-2004,"the commem- oration of 350 years of Jewish settlement in America. Commenting on the significance of the marker placement in the first and only urban state park in Michigan, Hannan Lis, chair of the dedication committee, said, "We are thrilled to showcase these special moments in Michigan's Jewish history as we unveil the marker on our city's new Cohen said about the black and blue graffiti discovered on the walls of St. Mary's Assyrian Catholic Church. "We must stand alongside our friends and neighbors in this community — together with our interfaith partners:' Cohen said. "We pray that this congrega- tion heals quickly, and that those who perpetrated this act of hatred and igno- rance ask themselves how God looks upon their actions." Cohen and Rabbi Nelson were among 19 members of the Interfaith Partners along with 30 others who stood in solidarity with rep- resentatives from the church on April 5. The Interfaith Partners, sponsored by the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, released a Robert Cohen statement in support of the church. The statement defended the sanctity of all houses of worship, sacred texts and reli- gious practices:. "The vulgar references ironically appear to speak against Arab Americans and non-Christians — despite the fact that many of the parishioners of the Apostolic Catholic Assyrian church are not Arabs and all are Christians! But The historic marker will be placed in Michigan's TriCentennial Park on the Detroit RiverWalk. and vibrant RiverWalk, a place of promi- nence now and for generations to come." The afternoon program will feature music by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Civic Jazz Ensemble and a Jewish Boy Scout color guard. Young volunteers from Camp Tamarack will re-enact Chapman Abraham's arrival by voyageur canoe. Light refreshments will be served riverside with kosher laws observed. Samuel Logan Jr., publisher of the Michigan Chronicle, will represent the Michigan Historical Commission. The Michigan TriCentennial Park is located adjacent to the Detroit River at the corner of Atwater and St. Aubin streets, three blocks east of Rivard. The area is handicapped accessible and valet parking will be provided. Shuttle transportation will be avail- able at 2:30 p.m. from the Max M. Fisher Federation Building, 6735 Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Township. The shuttle is $10 per person, with reservations required in advance by calling (248) 432-5517 or (248) 661-1000. Judge Avern L. Cohn and Judy Levin Cantor have served as co-chairs of the committee for the historical marker and "Celebrate 350 Jewish Life in America." Karen Alpiner is the associate chair of the dedication committee. this is really beside the point. An attack on any house of worship, on any ethnic populations or on any faith is wrong, whether its factual premises are correct or not." Interfaith Partners, which represents all faiths in the diverse metropolitan area, stands in solidarity "against this bigoted, ignorant action, because an assault on one faith is an assault on all: according to the statement. I I Book Discussion Slated The Sholem Aleichem Institute will host a book review and discussion 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at the Jewish Community Center in Oak Park. Margaret Winters and Geoffrey Nathan, professors at Wayne State University in Detroit, will review selected sections of The History of the Jews by Paul Johnson. The sections to be covered are pages 338-366 and 369-375. To have those pages mailed to you, for a $5 charge, call (248) 557-8599. The book is available at local libraries. There is no charge for the event. JTS Gala Set Professor Arnold Eisen, chancellor-elect of the Jewish Theological Seminary, will speak at the Detroit JTS Gala Thursday, April 26, at Adat Shalom Synagogue, Farmington Hills. This year's Shin Award honorees are Dr. Eli and Joanna Berger from Beth Shalom, Sidney Blackman and Dr. Linda Bolton Blackman from Beth Ahm, Dina Brodsky and the late Herman Brodsky from Shaarey Zedek, Lois Shiffman and the late Dr. Milton Shiffman from Adat Shalom, Seymour and Sharlene Ungar from B'nai Moshe. Cantor Samuel Greenbaum from Beth Shalom will be presented with an honor- ary doctorate of music. Cost is $180 per person. Reservations by April 23: Tom Wexelberg-Clouser, toclouser@jtsa.edu , (248) 258-0055. - Speech Focus: Immigration The law form of Miller Canfield will present an international business brief- ing 7:30-9 a.m. Thursday, April 26, at the Automation Alley International Business Center, 2675 Bellingham in Tory. The speaker will be Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He will discuss customs enforcement, immigration and worksite enforcement, money laundering and fraud. There will be a question and answer session. There is no charge, but reservations are necessary. Call Sandy Bera, (248) 267- 3345.