■ four questions

Who's thinking what

If your idea of a philosopher is an old man with a beard, meet
ELYSA KOPPELMAN WHITE! The 36-year-old philosophy professor at
Oakland University in Rochester Hills — and new mom — has dedicated
her career to teaching and exploring ethical and philosophical questions. "I
believe we can have the greatest impact on ourselves, others and our world
by doing something we're passionate about," says Koppelman-White, an
Ohio native who earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Iowa
and masters' degrees in philosophy and bioethics from Cleveland State
University and Case Western Reserve. Now settled in Royal Oak with her
husband, Dr. Nathan White, and their nine-month-old son, Austin, Koppel-
man-White's duties at Oakland University include teaching, research and
service. She serves on the executive committee for the school's new emerg-
ing Judaic Studies program, the
committee to start a medical school
and the ethics committee at Pontiac
Osteopathic Hospital. But, says Kop-
pelman-White, teaching is by far her
favorite endeavor. "What I love most
is seeing my students' eyes opened
to different possibilities for under-
standing their world and their lives."
Here, we ask Koppelman-White
our version of the Four Questions.

-

— Robin Schwartz

and why?

1

WHAT BOOK, CD, MOVIE OR
OTHER MEDIA ARE YOU
LONGING TO SHARE?
I would share novels by my favorite author, Milan
Kundera. In novels like The Unbearable Lightness of
Being and Immortality, Kundera shows us the trials
and tribulations of man's search to find meaning and
value in what often seems to be a meaningless, sense-
less world. He has a very unique way of writing that
mixes narrative with philosophical reflection to show
the reader how fragile and fleeting our understand-
ing of our very complex world can be and how our
struggle to find meaning and value impacts the way
we relate to others and ourselves.

2

IF YOU COULD HAVE BRUNCH WITH
ONE BIBLICAL OR HISTORICAL
JEWISH FIGURE, WHO WOULD IT BE?
Moses. He received the Torah on Mount Sinai, the
handbook of Jewish ethics. The Torah and the sub-
sequent commentary on it create a manual on how to

live a stellar life. I would love to have brunch with
the man who was chosen to bring such an amaz-
ing, complex and beautiful handbook to us.

3

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE
JEWISH FOOD AND WHY?
My favorite Jewish foods are the breakfast,
dairy foods — like bagels and lox and blintz souf-
fle. Perhaps it's related to the fact that these are
the foods we eat to break the fast on the holiday
that is quintessentially about ethics. Or, perhaps
it's merely related to the fact that I've never really
liked to eat meat, especially when it's on a bone.

4

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE
BE SURPRISED TO KNOW
ABOUT YOU?
People may be surprised to know I love to play
the Grand Thef t Auto video game [an
interactive game that allows players to take
on the role of a criminal]! El

Architectural & Fine

Photo• rapny Art

Limited edition prints
by Gene Meadows

We invite you to write your own

chapter of history at a place

For private,
corporate,
and museum
collections

where legends have walked.

Henry Ford Museurrr
Lovett Hall
Greenfield Village®

313.982.6220

www.TheHenryFord.org/catering

Celebrating our loth Year

www.detroit-photos.com

248 -435 - 0538