Front Lines NOTEBOOK Menthe This Week This Run's For Life www.JNOnline.us Robert A. Sklar ning. I'm excited to now use running to fuel more water sources." That excitement will be tested as she and the 19 other runners, Editor including Rudy van Prooyen, 58, of West Bloomfield, take on the Gobi and Mohave deserts in the summer heat as well as later going he's running so others can drink clean water. from sea level to the Rocky Mountain elevations over one week. Dow Shiri Leventhal, 23, of Canton took time off from helping Chemical of Midland is covering all of the run's expenses. develop small businesses through micro-financed Leventhal is the youngest runner. projects in Sri Lanka to take part in a 95-day run sponsored Leventhal went to Sri Lanka, despite its civil unrest, in by the Blue Planet Foundation; the nonprofit was created to January. She found the people bright and eager to learn help assure safe drinking water worldwide. The crisis affects and work. While there, she has seen the bountiful results 1.2 billion people. Water-borne disease kills at least 10,000 of community-based water and sanitation projects. people a day. "The Blue Planet Run:' she says, "is an incredible oppor- The first-ever, around-the-world Blue Planet relay began tunity for me to push the idea that everyone should be June 1 and ends in New York City on Sept. 4. It will cover able to drink safe water to the global agenda, an issue I 15,200 miles in 16 countries. On the Fourth of Jul}, she'll run hold close to heart." through Ekaterinburg in Russia where her father, Leon, of Helping others is integral for Leventhal. While at NYU, Canton, was born. Shiri Le venthal she tutored disadvantaged kids in Chinatown. After her Water is the one natural resource we can't live without; work in Sri Lanka is complete, Leventhal may spend time yet millions of people do not have clean water. They've been in Israel or pursue a MBA. forced to put their lives on the line every time they drink the polluted Shiri, the middle of three Leventhal children, has had the runner's and toxic water, says Leventhal. itch since grade school. "It's my passion and what I do every day, Leventhal earned a master's degree in sports management regardless:' she says. "To combine that with traveling around the and tourism administration at George Washington University in world and promoting such an important and powerful cause is just an Washington, D.C., and a bachelor's degree in business and actuarial amazing opportunity and a dream come true." I science from New York University. Her summer internships included work at Adidas in Portland and Deloitte & Touche in Detroit. The Canton High School graduate ran competitively on both college To donate $30 to provide fresh water for life for one person, call the Blue Planet Foundation (415) 762-4340 or visit info®blueplanetrun.org . campuses. "As a runner," she says, "water has always fueled my run- S 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. And look at the center of our Homepage for an Israel story that changes twice daily. Just visit JNonline.us and click on a scrolling story on the left. JBlog Arnie Goldman shares his thoughts about the Iraq war, little mitzvahs and more. Jeff Klein offers his Metro Perspectives on everything from dating to friendship. Only at JNonline.us . Just click on JBlog on the menu on the left. Celebrations! Now Israelis View Us Willa Wilson of Wolverine Lake helps granddaughter Emerson Weinman, 2 1 /2, of Commerce Township, down a slide. Everybody Play! The National Council of Jewish Women Greater Detroit Section opened a barrier-free maze at the award-winning All Kids Playground at Hess-Hathaway Park in Waterford with a community event June 10 featuring hayrides, face painting, farm animals and the playground for children of all abilities. The playground includes transfer platforms, ramps, a poured rub- ber surface and other safety devices, all designed to make the park a fun, safe place to play. The new maze was built with funds from NCJW-GDS and the Hess- Hathaway Park Board. — Ken Guten Cohen, story development editor 8 June 28 • 2007 The results of the second annual survey of Israeli attitudes toward diaspora Jews, commissioned by the B'nai B'rith World Center in Jerusalem, shows that 54 percent of the 500 respondents believe dias- pora Jews have no right to publicly criticize the government of Israel because they don't live in Israel. This compares with 40 percent who believe that Jews who live outside Israel can publicly criticize the government of Israel because every Jew is a partner in Israel no matter where he lives. Of those surveyed, 77 percent are satisfied with diaspora assistance for northern Israel and for Sderot following last summer's war with Hezbollah. A vast majority of those polled — 88 percent — support the allocation of Israeli tax revenue to fund Israeli experience pro- grams such as "Masa" and "Birthright." "It is significant that so many Israelis are ready for their tax money to be allocated for Israel experience programs for diaspora youth — activities they view as the first order of priority in fortifying Israel-diaspora relations:' said B'nai B'rith World Center Chairman Dr. Haim V. Katz. The telephone survey also indicated that 55 percent give the high- est rating to the importance of Israel-diaspora relations; 78 percent of those polled are interested in media reports concerning diaspora Jewish communities or issues pertaining to Israel-diaspora relations; and 25 percent believe that increased media coverage of diaspora communities in the Israeli media will be most effective in strengthen- ing their personal connection to diaspora Jewry. — Ken Guten Cohen, story development editor Find weekly listings of births, b'nai mitzvah, engagements, weddings and anniversaries online as well as past sim- chahs all online. They are all bundled under each week's publication date. Just visit JNonline.us and click on Lifecycles on the left. Results from last week's poll: With the Hamas/jihadist take- over of Gaza, has the Israeli withdrawal policy been a total failure? Yes 55% No 45% This week's poll question: Do you think Israel is doing all it can to secure the release of the kidnapped soldiers? Visit the JNonline.us homepage to cast your vote.