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This Week
Road To Improvement
T
wo Detroit day schools are among 33 to receive challenge
grants from a national collaboration of philanthropic part-
ners committed to strengthening the Jewish day school sys-
tem in North America.
Frankel Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield and Hillel Day School
of Metropolitan Detroit in Farmington Hills each received a $31,500
challenge grant from the Boston-based Partnership for Excellence in
Jewish Education (PEJE).
These school improvement journey grants for the 2007-2008
challenge grant year includes support for a school assessment and
improvement coaching. Current PEJE grants total $1 million for 23
communities.
"The Challenge Grant program is a major PEJE initiative to help
Jewish day schools increase enrollment through vital assessment and
www.JNOnline.us
coaching to attain the highest standards of academic excellence for
Jewish and general studies," said Rabbi Josh Elkin, executive director.
"This grant will help the school move from good to great:' said
Rabbi Lee Buckman, head of school at the Frankel Jewish Academy.
In December, a consultant from the Delaware-based Independent
School Management will spend three days with Frankel constituents
to assess areas that not only demand attention, but also excel. On the
last day, the consultant, Walter Buckalew, will present his report to
the Academy's board. PEJE not only pays for Walker, but also a PEJE
coach to shepherd Frankel's board and staff through the subsequent
improvement process.
PEJE was founded in 1997 by New York philanthropist Michael
Steinhardt and Rabbi Yitz Greenberg.
- Robert A. Sklar, editor
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Celebrations!
Tell" Holidays Uplifted
Ryan Barouch, (aka Trackslammers), a Jewish hip-hop producer from
West Bloomfield, is one of three finalists in VI-11's "The Score" Contest.
More than 8,000 songs were submitted to VH1 and Barouch was cho-
sen as one of three finalists.
The contestant with the most online votes will win the grand
prize: a studio session with "Questlove" from the Roots to create the
VH1 show's theme and a trip to New York City to attend the Hip Hop
Honors celebration.
To vote for Barouch (up to once daily
until Sunday, Sept. 9), go to the Web site
thescore.vhl.com .
Barouch, 24, is the son of Hubert and
Shari Barouch of West Bloomfield and
he owns American Credit Restoration
in Southfield. But, he says, music is his
passion.
- Alan Hitsky, associate editor
Ryan Barouch
In preparation for the High Holidays, the Orthodox Union (OU)
has created a series of programming meant to teach and inspire
— through the radio airwaves.
Running through Wednesday, Oct. 3, "Reflections on Teshuvah" is
available on OU radio at www.ouradio.org .
The series is part of the organization's Department of Community
Services Take Five for Torah program, in which rabbis from OU-mem-
ber synagogues across North America share their insights in five-
minute sessions. Weekday themes include prayer, Jewish law, character
improvement, the weekly Torah portion and Shabbat-related subjects.
During this season, topics relate to the upcoming holidays.
"Take Five is a wonderful opportunity to incorporate meaningful
learning into one's day," said Josh Vogel, Take Five for Torah's program
coordinator. "It is unique in that you can walk away with inspirational
Torah insights as well as repeat the concise information to your fam-
ily or friends. This piques interest for further inquiry into the topic. It
could easily become the most important five minutes of your day"
For information on Take Five for Torah's holiday programs, e-mail
Josh Vogel at vogelj@ou.org . To listen to the shows, access the Web site
at: www.ouradio.org/takefive.
- Shell! Liebman Dorfman, senior writer
8
September 6 • 2007
A partnership between the American
Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical
Center in Jerusalem and Craig 'N Co.,
a L.A.-based Jewish music production
company, has produced Jewels of Elul III, a
collection of stories, anecdotes and inspi-
rations for the High Holidays.
Craig Taubman
Released in concurrence with the 29
days in the Jewish month of Elul, a time of thought and introspec-
tion, Jewels of Elul III is a booklet featuring contributions from a
29 individuals — Elie Wiesel to the Dalai Lama, Shmuley Boteach
to Deborah Lipstadt, Matisyahu to Kirk Douglas, plus many rabbis,
scholars, activists and community leaders.
"We asked people to write with a particular theme in mind,'Hope
and Healing," said Craig Taubman, who heads Craig 'N Co. "The 29
`Jewels' we received were introspective and inspired, revealing and
rejoicing."
The Jewels of Elul III project, conceived and created by Craig 'N Co.
and made possible by friends of the American Committee for Shaare
Zedek, is available free by calling 1 (800) 707-9250 or visiting www.
JewelsofElul.com .
- Robert A. Sklar, editor
Rabbi Takes New E. Lansing Pulpit
Congregation Shaarey Zedek of East Lansing announces the arrival of
Rabbi Amy Bigman as the congregation's new rabbi.
Rabbi Bigman grew up in the Detroit suburbs and is a graduate of
Bloomfield Hills Andover High School and the
University of Michigan. She was ordained a rabbi
by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of
Religion in Cincinnati in 1992.
Following ordination, Rabbi Bigman returned
home to Michigan to serve at Temple Emanu-El
in Oak Park. From 1996-2000, Rabbi Bigman
served at Temple Kol Ami in West Bloomfield
while serving as the assistant director of the
Ecumenical Institute for Jewish-Christian Studies
Rabbi Bingman
(now the Dove Institute) in Southfield.
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This week's poll question:
At the High Holidays, do you
make a point of personally ask-
ing for forgiveness from those
you've wronged during the
year?
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