Letters

What A Gift!

In June, 16 teachers from Congregation
Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County received
an incredible gift from Doreen Hermelin
of Bingham Farms and the Hermelin-
Davidson Center for Congregational
Excellence.
As her guest, we spent 10 days learning,
living and traveling together, first in Prague
and then in Israel. Our 10 days of travel
were ripe with visual sensations, physi-
cal challenges, aromatic smells, emotional
experiences and, by far, the best hands-on,
interactive learning opportunities available.
Our mission was to bring Israel back to our
classrooms and teach with the same energy,
love and vitality we had the opportunity to
experience.
Some of us had never been to Israel
before; others had visited too many times to
count. What was new, different and magical
this time was the experience of seeing Israel
through the eyes of a student. Being a group
participant and not a facilitator allowed us
to gain a better understanding of the cur-
rent political situation inside Israel while
closely examining our teaching and learning
styles.
This travel experience challenged every
assumption I held about Israel. Spending
10 days exploring my personal and profes-
sional values through a Jewish lens brought
clarity to my beliefs while encouraging self-
indulgence and professional development.
I returned relaxed and refreshed, equipped
with a multitude of academic resources to
enhance the Jewish learning experience for
my students. Most importantly, my time in
Israel prepared me to teach my students
the value of pursuing a strong relationship
with Israel as part of their personal Jewish
identity.
My job is to get back in the classroom and
inspire, enrich and encourage my students
to pursue the dream of Jews around the
world. Thanks to the support and commit-
ment to Jewish education in our community,
I am ready: Mission accomplished!
To Doreen Hermelin and the Hermelin-
Davidson Foundation for Congregational
Excellence, Rabbi Judah Isaacs, Dale Rubin,
Susan Kamin and the T.E.A.M (Teacher
Education Advancement Model) staff from

the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit, I thank you for this incredible
opportunity.

Barbara J. Dworin

Bloomfield Hills

Providence's Values

Thank you for the article "Shalom
Providence" (July 26, page 31) describing
how Southfield's Providence Hospital is
addressing the needs of the Jewish com-
munity in its service area with the extension
of the eruv.
In addition to many more Jewish patients,
Providence also has a significant number of
Jewish doctors on staff. With the closing of
Sinai Hospital, the number of Jewish doc-
tors affiliated with Providence dramatically
increased. While you profiled Dr. Jeffrey
Zaks, other Jewish physicians have also been
prominent members of Providence's medi-
cal staff, with several serving in leadership
positions such as medical staff president.
It has been my privilege to be involved
with Providence's governance since 1979.
I currently serve as secretary/treasurer of
the board of trustees and chair the finance
committee.
Why would a Jew choose to affiliate with
a Catholic institution? The answer is simple:
Providence's values transcend any religion.
The concern for service to the poor and
needy and the respect and compassion for
patients say it all.
The Daughters of Charity, as the sponsors
of Providence, imbued these values in the
day-to-day work of the hospital. Yes, adher-
ence to the Ethical and Religious Directives
for Catholic Health Services can pose some
problems for Jewish physicians in a Catholic
hospital, but another of the hospital's values,
"creativity' has permitted Jewish physicians
to feel comfortable on Providence's staff
In the summer of 2008, when the new
St. John Hospital in Novi's Providence Park
facility opens, I'll be moving over to its
board. I can assure the members of the
Jewish community of that area that plans
are already in place to extend the same level
of service and compassion to them.

Ronald M. Horwitz

Farmington Hills

Rabbi Wine's Legacy

I am one of countless people whose expe-
riences with Rabbi Sherwin Wine was
life altering ("Visionary Trailblazer," July
26, page 11). Twenty-seven years ago, I
attended a Voice of Reason meeting at the
Birmingham Temple in Farmington Hills
to combat creationism and found my phil-
osophical voice instead. I had always felt a
strong attachment to my Jewish roots and
culture, but I had little use for rituals.
It was truly a revelation that I could
celebrate my identity and culture as a Jew
without keeping kosher or suspending my
sense of reason. I had found my home.
Over the years, I had the privilege of
working with and studying under Rabbi
Wine. He encouraged me to attend the
Humanist Institute in New York City and
later to become a madrichah (a certified
leader within the movement).
He taught me to define myself by what I
am, not by what I'm not.
Many times, over the years, I found
myself defending him and the movement
against accusations of being a cult with
Rabbi Wine as our cult leader. What was
true, however, was that he had an amaz-
ingly charismatic personality. Many people
would have followed him to the moon. He
would not permit it. He could have taken
advantage of this mentality as had so
many others. He would not do it.
What I have always respected the most
about Rabbi Wine is that Humanistic
Judaism was never about him. It was
about empowering people like me to go
forth and create a Jewish community
where we could belong.
He did this by founding groups and
organizations worldwide and encouraged
them to establish their own leadership.
They do not depend on him for their
continued existence. By doing this, he
ensured that Humanistic Judaism would
transcend his death and continue to grow.
This is how he shall live on, after death.

Janis Levin-Gorelick

Waterford

Gift Of Camping

Those buses rolled in at 8:40 a.m. today at
camp, Tamarack second session. And the
tears rolled down my face. "What deja vu!"

Can you name the five Israeli cities with more than 200,000 residents?

—Goldfein

uo!ziai ucaisN ipopysy 'pm 'Avty

6 August 2 0 2007

Lela Henkin

West Bloomfield

Correction
The July 26 cover story on Rabbi
Sherwin Wine (page 11) should have stat-
ed that after earning two degrees in phi-
losophy from the University of Michigan
he went to Hebrew Union College in
Cincinnati and was ordained a Reform
rabbi in 1956.

How to Send Letters
We prefer letters relating to IN articles. We reserve the right to edit or

FILEFIET 'cha Don't Know

Ctopyright 2007, Jewish Renaissance Media

Those same buses rolled into camp in
1950 when I was the nurse at Brighton.
Fifty-seven years may have elapsed, but
the scene was the same. Waiting, cheering
counselors greeted the many kids with
their backpacks, raring to go,
Roberta Bloomberg, the nurse at camp
this year (her 13th season) asked me to
come up and help out for several days
to organize and assign medication from
campers.
What greeted me when I arrived in
the clinic bowled me over. Everyone was
working in tandem, like a well-oiled
machine: two doctors, three RNs and six
clinic assistants.
The shelves stocked with medication
and equipment were the best I have ever
seen in a camp setting. All stocked by the
Sinai Women's Guild.
One-third of the campers coming are
scholarship Israeli campers, Russian and
Ethiopian, all ready to enjoy wonderful
activities.
I was one of the scholarship kids in the
1930s. My brother and I enjoyed those
wonderful camp days, some of the happi-
est days of my life. I vowed that one day I
would give back to camp what was a gift
to me.
I was proud to volunteer as a nurse in
1950, '51 and '52, 1961, '62, '63, as was my
husband. We were privileged to work with
directors like Irwin Shaw, Mort Levitsky
and Bob Luby.
As a Jew, I am proud to see what
Federation, Sinai Guild and the tire-
less workers of the Fresh Air Society are
accomplishing. When we're asked to help,
it is a gift, but also an obligation. God will-
ing, I'll be asked to return next year.

iwalesniar :JaMsuy

reject letters. Letters of 225 words or less are considered first. Longer
ones will be subject to trimming. Letter writers are limited in frequency
of publication. Letters must be original and contain the name, address
and title of the writer and a day phone number. Non-electronic cop-
ies must be hand signed. Send letters to the IN: 29200 Northwestern
Highway, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax (248) 304-8885;
e-mail, letters@the jewishnews.com . We prefer e-mail.

