Letters

Thanks Patti, JWF
We are so grateful for your excellent cover
story on the Hermelin ORT Resource
Center's "Better Job Opportunities" program
("Second Chances:' Feb. 14, page A16).
However, there is an individual and an
organization that also deserve great credit
for our programs and accomplishments.
Patti Aaron's vision for our center moti-
vated her to convince her parents, D. Dan
and the late Betty Kahn, and the Jewish
Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
Board of Directors, to create a space in the
expanded JCC for Hermelin ORT. Patti is
the chair of our advisory committee and
has been our biggest booster and PR agent.
Her enthusiasm and eloquence have been
invaluable to us.
Our gratitude to the Jewish Women's
Foundation is unbounded. They were early
believers and gave us our first grant for the
back-to-work program. Their continuing
support is invaluable.
We are always interested in hearing from
people who can teach computer skills who
might expand our small staff of part-time
instructors. Call us at (248) 432-5411. And
of course, contributions to support these
programs are very much appreciated.

Shaindle Braunstein, director
Sue Curtis, business manager
David B. Hermelin ORT Resource Center
West Bloomfield

Making It Happen
Your Editor's Letter "Detroit's Young
Pacesetters" (Feb. 14, page A5) highlighted
a few young adults making things happen
in Detroit. We have so many more doing so
much good here and all across the country.
To just name a few: Jill Menuck, Michele
Rosenblum, Dani Glickfield, Todd and
Jennifer Kroll, Jeff Belen, Adam Orley,
Jeremy Crane, Jennifer Glass, Josh Levine,
David Gorosh, Lauren Gibbs, Shirley
Cetner, Rachel Wright, Ariana Blumenfeld,
Faya Gene, Tova Feinberg. Also, many
more, along with Federation's Young Adult
Division board, which consists of 41 men
and women who plan, design and imple-
ment our programming with the great
assistance of a talented marketing depart-
ment, passionate professionals and 3,600
young adults in our active database.
All of the good things we are doing
today are the result of our community
leaders investing in YAD, and our previous

presidents and YAD boards establishing the
great programs described in your column.
One person can make a difference. If that
one person turns into 3,600 people actively
participating in our programming, which
we co-sponsor with almost all of the syna-
gogues and agencies, then people will stop
saying there is no one here in Detroit, there
are no jobs here in Detroit and there is
nothing to do here in Detroit.
If we all come together, there is nothing
we can't do; every day, we meet someone
who has been here all along, but was just
outside the radar.
If all of the parents, aunts, uncles, bub-
bies and zaydies want young adults to stay
in Detroit, where there is great opportu-
nity, have them call me (248-310-5666)
or Jennifer Levine, our YAD director (248-
642-4260). We will introduce them to great
programming and even greater people.
There is always a Campaign component
to most of YAD'S programs. We are a fund-
raising organization and we do so much
good in our community daily with these
funds. But young adults ages 22-42 should
not be intimidated by a Jewish conversa-
tion. We only ask that you make a meaning-
ful gift to Federation's Annual Campaign
once a year; a meaningful gift is different
for everyone.
At the end of the day, we all control our
own destiny. If we are to thrive, we can only
do it together. Working together, Detroit will
continue to be a great city.

Brad "Bubba" Urdan
YAD president
Bloomfield Township

Young Adult Sweep
As another 20-something who moved
home after five post-collegiate years away,
I appreciate the IN's ongoing focus on
our involvement within the Jewish com-
munity (Editor's Letter, "Detroit's Young
Pacesetters," Feb.14, page A5). I agree that
Federation's Young Adult Division plays an
important role in our community, but it is
only one organization.
For example, I am the youngest mem-
ber of Jewish Family Service's Mentor
Connection advisory board, where all of our
experiences and ideas contribute to better
the youth of Oakland County through men-
toring. My age is not the defining factor of
my dedication to our common passion.
Expand your coverage to feature the

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February 21 • 2008

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Mentor Connection and other organizations
to better reflect our collective involvement
and impact on the Jewish community as a
whole.

are "hanging out" in our brides room for
Brunch Bunch or baking challah in our
Parent Tot class; our new youth and adult
lounge is another nucleus for the gathering
Amanda Warner of community.
Birmingham
Why do residents love the community
within the Beth Shalom network? I think
More On Addiction
young families want the connection that
It is always encouraging to read about
past generations enjoyed.
addiction and recovery in the pages of the
I grew up in a community in Detroit and
Jewish News ("Jewish Denial, Recovery:' Feb. Oak Park. We had sidewalks and neighbors
7, page A27).
who watched out for each other. We walked
As in the past, you did a great job bring-
to the Dexter show and sipped chocolate
ing to light the latest available services
malts at the United Dairy counter. There
in the community as well as helping to
was a connection with neighbors and
alleviate the shame and denial associated
friends and synagogue.
with addiction, especially in the Jewish
I see in our Congregation Beth Shalom
community. I believe that such articles have neighborhood there is also a connection.
contributed to the fact that, in the last few
People walk to the synagogue. They can
years, recovering addicts have gained more
walk to the 7 Eleven or to the drugstore.
acceptance in our community and feel
They watch out for each other.
more comfortable sharing their stories of
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or non-
struggle and success.
observant, the Jewish people connect and
One area that remains unexplored and
become a community of Jews who care
unexposed involves other types of addictive about each other. Young and older families
behaviors, such as food, sex and gambling
connect with each other and through their
addiction. Many families in our community children.
have lost so much to these diseases, includ-
I am very proud of the article written by
ing marriages, savings and, in extreme
Special Writer Robin Schwartz as a member
cases, human lives.
of this community.
At the Daniel B. Sobel Friendship House,
Thank you for bringing our wonderful
we help families and individuals who
synagogue and the community to your
struggle with all types of addiction, includ-
readers' attention. We are vital and growing.
ing those yet ignored by the community
Susan Gartenberg
at large. I hope to see more coverage on
Congregation Beth Shalom
those issues in a future edition of the Jewish
director, Gan Shalom Parenting Center,
News. Keep up the good work.
Preschool and Camp

Rabbi Yisrael Pinson, director
Daniel B. Sobel Friendship House
West Bloomfield

Beth Shalom's Impact
The cover story "Hot Suburbs" was infor-
mative and positive regarding the influx of
young Jewish families in the Huntington
Woods, Ferndale and Royal Oak areas (Feb.
7, page A13).
Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park
is excited to welcome their new families
and appreciates their support in our Gan
Shalom Parenting Center, Preschool and
Camp. Our bilingual program has brought
attention from schools all over the U.S. We
had 32 children dropping in on Sunday to
play with Drora and spend an afternoon
together.
It is wonderful to see how the families

Oak Park

A Vibrant Area
As the rabbi of Beth Shalom, the only
Conservative synagogue in the Oak Park
area, I want to thank you for the wonderful
write-up you gave our area ("Hot Suburbs'
Feb. 7, page A13).
What is wonderful about the growth of
our dynamic community is how so many
of us have gotten involved in the greater
community. The number of children we
have at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan
Detroit, for example, continues to grow. The
Oak Park/Huntington Woods/Birmingham/
Royal Oak area is one of Jewish vibrancy
and one of which we can all be proud.

Rabbi Dan Wolpe
Congregation Beth Shalom
Oak Park

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