Front Lines NOTEBOOK JNenline 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 E-Newsletter Desire notification when sto- ries that interest you in partic- ular are posted on JNonline? It's easy to designate the kinds of stories you like when you sign up for your personalized e-newsletter. Only at JNonline.us . Just click on Newsletter on the menu near the top of the page. 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. Find weekly listings of births, b'nai mitzvah, engagements, weddings and anniversaries online as well as past simchahs all online. They are all bundled under each week's publication date. Just visit JNonline.us and click on Lifecycles 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. Latest From Israel Want the most current news from Israel? Check our stream- ing news from Ynetnews.com for continuous updates and lon- ger 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. 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? Visit the JNonline.us homep- age, below the left menu, to cast your vote.