Front Lines N U 0 JNenline This Week A Potent Bond www.JNOnline.us T "I don't think the American Jewish community could really he partnership between Israel and American prosper mentally or psychologically without a special link to Jewry is stronger than ever and more important the State of Israel," Binah said, "without that center of orienta- than ever, says the Chicago-based Israeli counsel tion. And I don't think the State of Israel could have done so general to the Midwest, Barukh Binah. well without the support, originally financial but now also Together, he says, "we are 80 percent of the Jewish peo- political, of the American Jewish community." ple. We have to look after, and take care of, the remaining Binah says this partnership is still budding. 20 percent because we are strong and you are strong:' "We need to think more about where do we go religiously There are about 13 million Jews among the world's 6 bil- and what do we do about Jewish continuity, about the Jews lion people. Barukh Binah from Ethiopia, Russia and Argentina, all of whom need to be In a March visit to Metro Detroit hosted by the Jewish helped and assisted. We need to figure out how do we do this Community Relations Council, Binah talked about the together — Israel and the American Jewish community." powerful, unique ties between the Jewish communities of Israel and - Robert A. Sklar, editor America. 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. E-Newsletter A tdi;if?.?_frrrn Land Marks Prof b7 ,7 4 reaa "By A Thread" by Lynne Avadenka Past Provides Commonality Huntington Woods book artist Lynne Avadenka's newest work, By A Thread, was part of the 2007 National Juried Exhibition of the Jewish Women's Artist Network that recently closed at the Kraft Center for Jewish Life at Columbia/Barnard University in New York. Avadenka is considered "at the top of her field" by Sharon Liberman Mintz, curator of Jewish art at the Jewish Theological Seminary, who goes on in a New York Jewish Week story to describe the artist as "one of very few artists producing fine art Hebrew printed books today." By A Thread reflects Avadenka's desire to find those common threads between cultures and to think that "coexistence is possible." Her women from past history — Queen Esther and Scheherazade — help bridge the gap though they lived a thousand years apart. Esther is the heroine of the Purim story, while Scheherazade is the Muslim storyteller for 1,001 Nights. While their lives hung by a thread, each chose to saves lives by being true to themselves and taking a stand. Working from her home studio, Avadenka created the text and images for her three-dimensional book as well as its design that includes flaps to be lifted and images to turned on their heads — all with elements reminiscent of Persia and the Middle East. • By A Thread will be discussed by Avadenka, artist Susan Goethel Campbell, collector Joan Ortiz and Nancy Sojka, curator of graphic arts for the Detroit Institute of Arts at 7 p.m. Monday, April 23. The discus- sion will be at the Lemberg Gallery, 23241 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. • At 9 p.m. Friday, April 20, Avadenka will speak after the 7:15 Shabbat Limud dinner at Congregation Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield. There is a charge for the dinner only. Call Tessa Goldberg at (248) 851-6880. • To view Avadenka's fine art books, go to www.landmarkspress.com. - Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor Running For A Cure Jarred Bratley, Zack Neff and Jacob Ruby are planning more than a big celebration for their b'nai mitzah at Temple Israel. They will hold a 5K Fun Run/Walk April 29 to raise funds and awareness for cystinosis, a rare metabolic disease. The boys organized the race to help their friend, Kacy Wyman, 4, of Bloomfield Township, who was diagnosed last fall with the disease that causes the amino acid cystine to accumulate in various organs of the body. Kacy is doing well on mediation, but a cure is needed. The race starts at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, April 29, with participants going around Wing Lake in Bloomfield Township. There is a $10 registration fee, with all proceeds going to the Cystinosis Research Network. For more information, contact Leslie Ruby at (248) 855-1135 or e-mail her at ljjlruby@yahoo.com . Desire notification when stories that interest you in particular are posted on JNonline? It's easy to des- ignate the kinds of stories you like when you sign up for your personalized e-newslet- ter. Only at JNonline.us. Just click on Newsletter on the menu near the top of the page. JBlog - Ken Guten Cohen, story development editor Sling King Faces Feds A celebrity Jewish jeweler from Manhattan will be among the defen- dants in a drug trial in U.S. District Court in downtown Detroit. Nicknamed the King of BEng, Jacob "the Jeweler" Arabo, 41, plied his diamond-encrusted creations to the likes of Madonna, Elton John and hip-hop music personali- ties. He has been charged with laundering drug money by allegedly selling high-priced jewelry to cocaine dealers and not reporting the cash transac- tions to the IRS. He faces up to 20 years in prison. Judge Avern Cohn denied Arabo's motion to face charges alone in New York. Arabo argued it's preju- dicial to be tried along with the accused drug ring. Jacob Arabo His 40 co-defendants in Detroit include members of the Detroit-based "Black Mafia Family," which promotes rap art- ists under that name. Arabo's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, denied the charges, saying all laws were complied with and Arabo had no knowl- edge customers may have engaged in unlawful activity. - David Sachs, senior copy editor May 1 Deadline! The deadline for Cap & Gown edito- rial submissions is May 1. Any Jewish high school senior in Michigan with a 3.50 or higher grade point average can receive a free listing in the May 24 Cap & Gown section, For information, go to JNonline.us and click on the Cap & Gown 7 button at the top of the right-hand column of the home page. f Arnie Goldman shares his thoughts about Borat, the Iraq war, little mitzvahs and more. Jeff Klein offers his Metro Perspectives on everything from dating to friendship. Follow the amus- ing 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. Results from last week's poll: Is Israel wise to negotiate prisoner swaps - few for many? Yes 24% No 76% This week's poll question: Should Israel negotiate with the Arab League about the Saudi Peace Plan? Visit the JNonline.us homepage to cast your vote. April 19 • 2007 9