Editor's Letter
Migration: Striking Back Hard
Second of two parts
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housing prices and day school tuition all are competitive.
Morris is as good as it gets in wearing an ambassador's kip-
pah for Detroit: "Factor all that in with the local restaurants,
kosher food, mikvahs, eruvim, JCC buildings, Federation,
social services, amenities, a myriad of other services and,
most importantly, a true sense of friendship, brotherhood,
warmth and closeness that defines Detroit Jewry. And it
should be clear to anyone that this is a great place to live."
He's right.
Still, we don't have many kosher restaurants, Federation
must continually tweak agency allocations against increased
across-the-board needs and the JCC must reach deeper to
reinvent itself in its quest to secure its status as the central
address for Detroit Jewry.
But Morris is on to something.
"We need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and desist from
blaming the economy," he said, "and instead be positive and
proactive in highlighting to our youth, and to Jews throughout
our country, the wonderful qualities and benefits of our com-
munity."
That's a message worth transmitting. We'll see how well it
resonates.
alk about thinking outside the margins. Young
Israel of Southfield stitched together an imaginative
Shabbaton to spotlight the shul and surrounding
area to 12 young families in hopes of attracting them as con-
gregants.
Three of the families were from
New York. The others came from
various parts of Metro Detroit. Each
family received a booklet showcasing
the shul, day schools, career options,
things to do in the area and a list of
available nearby homes. All of the
guests were exposed to the warmth
and hospitality of the synagogue fam-
ily through lectures, programs and
services. They also got to experience
the richness of the neighborhood.
Some may join Young Israel as soon as this summer.
The energy, excitement and commitment of the organizers
propelled the June 2 event.
"Throughout the Shabbaton," Rabbi Yechiel Morris told me
Testing Our Resolve
last week, "we shared our vision:'
For its part, Federation's migration task force is taking direct
In the wake of our young adult flight to more-appealing
aim at reversing the flight of our best and brightest. Building
urban centers where jobs, dating and nightlife seem more
on that, envision 50 start-up businesses each
plentiful, that Young Israel vision exudes a sud-
employing 5-10 young people. Imagine 10 of
den urgency.
those businesses eventually employing 150 each
Most intriguing are plans to offer interest-free
and three employing more than 1,000.
loans to assist younger families in buying or
Local young entrepreneurs like Dan Gilbert of
renovating a home.
Quicken Loans and Josh Linker of ePrize both
At a cost of $450,000, Young Israel also plans
started from scratch. Under Federation's leader-
to adorn the synagogue with a new youth wing,
ship, we ought to tap into all of our community's
playground, mikvah, library and social hall.
resources and spirit to set such a stage. The spur
An uplifting Shabbaton doesn't guarantee suc-
could be a revolving loan fund administered by
cess in winning new members. But it certainly
Hebrew Free Loan to assist young entrepreneurs
can help. That's because it underscores the power
in creating and incubating businesses.
of networking to counter Michigan's economic
111.
If that scenario gained traction, there's a good
storm clouds.
Rabbi Morri s: unbowed, chance our major business leaders would step up
Says Morris, who is 31 and undeterred: "We
thought-pro yoking
with angel funding (and significant investment)
believe that by working with each family, and
to help the new businesses with the best poten-
assisting them with their individual needs — be
tial really take off.
it employment, housing or schools — we'll be able to make
Living in Chicago may be a boon if you are single and in
this Young Israel community a viable long-term option."
your 20s. But, like Rabbi Morris says, it would be hard to find
a more desirable and nurturing Jewish community in which
Building Community
to raise a family and build a business than Detroit. We need to
Ask many recent college graduates what prompted them to
leave Detroit for New York, Chicago or Los Angeles and the top market Detroit as the best Jewish community in America and
not slight its impressive infrastructure.
response is the dearth of jobs. Any retention plan that lacks
If those of us who live here truly want to reinforce Detroit's
career-quality jobs is fool's gold.
Jewish future, we need to lead the cheering, innovating and
Morris isn't blind to the challenge. But instead of giving in
recruiting. Let's respond to the drum roll of the rabbi and
to the wail of our state's plight, he's playing up Young Israel's
vibrancy, thereby, as he says, "showing potential new members Young Israel of Southfield — and a host of other caring souls
who don't shy away from calculated risks.
that we want you and that we will work to make your move
Bold thinking that inspires new jobs — a vital initiative
and settling into this neighborhood a reality:'
that must involve Federation, philanthropy and angel capital
We do live in a remarkable Jewish community despite a
— will make Detroit attractive for 20- to 40-somethings who
shrinking population and tough times. Our Federation still
have already left, give those already here another reason to
generates one of the highest Annual Campaigns in the coun-
stay and perhaps draw in a totally different group of people
try. It also is a national model for its educational, eldercare
who value the kind of unique Jewish community that we have.
and Israel support services. Jewish Family Service and the
The promise is here.
Jewish Community Center provide a solid foundation from
And we must succeed.
which to bolster our communal network. Our cost of living,
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June 21 • 2007 5