Letters

Prentice Supporter
From his 1980 opening of Deli Unique
(Greenfield, south of 1-696, Oak Park) to his
continuing local entrepreneurial restaurant
and catering endeavors, Matt Prentice is
truly a Metro Detroit treasure ("Curdling!"
Feb. 28, page A16).
While clearly in business to make a liv-
ing in a region buffeted by continuing eco-
nomic woes, he is not only the owner of the
Matt Prentice Restaurant Group based in
Bingham Farms, but is also highly visible in
his chef's hat cooking and serving at catered
events. His ongoing involvement with
numerous Jewish organizations on both a
business and charitable basis enriches our
community.
I was, therefore, disappointed to learn in
your referenced article that his contract with
the Jewish Apartments & Services for food
services at Meer and Hechtman apartments
reverted to a national company for reasons
not related to costs (or quality?) but to make
things easier for the agency.
While not pretending to understand all
the issues the agency faces regarding food
services across all the facilities on the two
Jewish community campuses, it would seem
Prentice's long-term, local, hands-on com-
mitment to fresh, nutritional and healthy
food would be in the best interest of our
community.
Is it possible the agency's goals could have
been better accomplished by replacing the
national Morrison Senior Dining company
in all the agency's facilities with the local
company?

Lewis Tann

Bingham Farms

Remember Technion
I read with interest the article featuring
the world-leading technological advances
Israel has produced in the area of water
treatment and desalination ("Shell Game
March 6, page A21). I was surprised, how-
ever, at the lack of any mention of one of the
most prominent water research centers in
Israel, the Stephen and Nancy Grand Water
Research Institute.
Established in 2001, at the Technion-Israel
Institute of Technology, in Haifa, the WRI is
an important player in regional water solu-
tions. Principal funding for this facility came
from the Grands, well known and sorely
missed former Detroiters.
The center also houses the Blumenstein

Family Water Information Center, endowed
by the Penny and Harold Blumenstein fam-
ily, which provides researchers a centralized
compendium of water-related research
papers, databases, standards and statistics,
with links to other researchers and institu-
tions.
As your article correctly pointed out,
Israel is a world leader in water-related
research. Your readers should be aware
this is due, in no small part, to the brilliant
minds of Technion scientists and the gener-
osity of some very forward-thinking Jewish
Detroiters.
If your readers would like to know more
they should go to: wwwgwri.technicon.ac.il
for a wealth of water-related news.

Scott Leemaster

Franklin

In Support Of Peters
Recently, some members of our Jewish com-
munity defended U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg,
R-Farmington Hills, from alleged accusa-
tions that he is not a friend of Israel. I
believe that Joe Knollenberg's commitment
to Israel is real and honorable.
However, I cannot accept the premise
that the only option for Jewish voters in
Michigan is to stick with Joe even when his
ultra-conservative positions (and voting
record) on a host of issues such as family
planning, stem cell research and gun control
are so contrary to the interests and values of
our community.
If you think that Israel is safer after the
remarkable incompetence exhibited by our
administration in pursuing the war in Iraq, a
policy and strategy never challenged by Joe,
I suggest that Israel is actually much more
vulnerable. I supported the initial inva-
sion of Iraq; but the Bush administration's
handling of the war has brought about
a weakened U.S. position in the world,
which is clearly not in Israel's best inter-
ests.
A strong, credible and influential
America is extremely crucial to Israel's secu-
rity. A wounded, discredited and isolated
America poses a real problem for Israel. Joe's
support for the administration may have
strengthened the influence of those calling
for isolationism and withdrawal.
I support Democratic challenger Gary
Peters against Joe Knollenberg in the Ninth
Congressional District because he is a true
friend of Israel and a dynamic candidate
with a remarkable ability to promote mod-

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A6

March 20 * 2008

erate policies and effective legislation. The
state of Michigan, our Jewish community
and Israel needs Gary Peters in the U.S
Congress.

Michael Lozman's e-mail address is:
mlozman@aol.com.

Rachel Kapen

West Bloomfie

Hannan Lis

Farmington Hills

Restoring Gravesites
The title of the article about Michael
Lozman and a group of college student vol-
unteers who are restoring Jewish gravesites
in little shtetls in Belarus caught my eye
("Cemetery Restoration',' Feb. 28, B42). My
mother, Sharah, hailed from a little shtetl
named Sopotskin in then Belorussia.
I couldn't believe my eyes when this name
popped up and was one of the sheds whose
cemeteries they restored in the truest form
of chesed shel emet a true form of loving-
kindness, the kind done to the deceased for
which there is no reward.
My mother left her shtetl for the land of
Israel in 1921, the first of the town to do so.
Only a brother, who joined her in 1929, and
a sister in 1935, survived. All the others per-
ished at the hands of the Nazis and have no
marked burial sites. My grandparents were
fortunate enough to pass away of natural
causes right before the Shoah and very likely
theirs were two of the gravesites these won-
derful people restored and placed a Magen
David on them.
Still moved beyond description, I e-
mailed Michael Lozman and promised my
support. Needless to say, he was quite happy
and grateful to get my e-mail.
To all those who want to support this
wonderful act of chesed shel emet, here is
where to send your checks: The Restoration
of Eastern European Jewish Cemeteries
Project,17 Johnson Rd., Latham, NY, 12110.

—

ATID At The Ready
Thank you for the generous Editor's Letter
about ATID, the high school program for
Conservative Jewish teens ("Conservateens")
that will launch this fall at Hillel Day School
of Metropolitan Detroit on Monday evenings
("The Future Is Novi,' Feb. 28, page A5).
There is much excitement brewing about
ATID for several reasons. The prospect of
Metro Detroit's Conservative congregations
coming together in a synergistic way for the
express benefit of the Jewish education of
our teenagers (the future of our people) is
refreshing. Additionally, the ability of ADD
to utilize the recently renovated Hillel Day
School facility will provide the teenagers
with many more resources than any one
congregational high school program can
offer. A building full of Jewish teenagers,
rabbis, educators, parents and specialists,
all learning and socializing together, has the
potential to effect real change in our com-
munity.
Perhaps what is most promising has
been the level of interest in ATID before
the enrollment period has even opened.
Families not affiliated with any congregation
are viewing ATID as a viable educational
program for their teens. The post-b'nai mitz-
vah years are a prime time for establishing
a strong Jewish foundation before our chil-
dren head off to college. ATID stands ready
to deliver.

Rabbi Jason Miller

interim director, ATID

Farmington Hills

SLEW 'cha Don't Know

How is the English word phrag related to the
Hebrew word shach?

—Goldfein

bons AepHoy ayl buiinp – pegs –
i!aql Io 6upanop 4001 an J0j lsanieti 4seoo pea •s•n
(mole smar xopoupo
Auew lag paam ap!seas e s! teiticl se umoul ispeilsne sapw6eiqd :JaMsuy :Jah ► suy

ALEFBET'Cha runs every other week.

8) Copyright 2008, Jewish Renaissance Media

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