Taking It To The Max

IsraelSixty's gala celebration honors the link between Detroit and Israel.

Brendan Alpiner of Franklin, a student at Yeshivat Akiva in Southfield, holds the
Israeli flag during the IsraelSixty gala event at The Max in downtown Detroit.

Keri Guten Cohen
Story Development Editor

T

here was no more fitting place
than The Max to honor Detroit's
connection with Israel on its 60th
anniversary.
The late Max Fisher — diplomat, philan-
thropist and businessman — played a crucial
role in supporting Israel throughout the years,
and part of his legacy has been the strong
connection between Detroit and Israel.
"My father, Max M. Fisher, of blessed
memory, who dedicated his life to enhancing
the bond between Detroit and Israel through
Israeli-American diplomacy, would be proud
of how our community has expanded its
role in perpetuating that bond, the diaspora
and the State of Israel," Phillip Wm. Fisher
of Bloomfield Hills wrote in the evening's

program. "The level of participation form the
entire community has been remarkable. This
is further proof that the harmony between
Detroit and Israel will remain strong for the
next 60 years and beyond"
That connection was celebrated in a film
produced by local filmmakers Sue Marx
and Allyson Rockwell. "Detroit and Israel: In
Harmony for 60 Years" was debuted before
an audience of nearly 2,000, who filled
Music Hall on May 7, three days before Yom
HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day, for
Federation's IsraelSixty gala event.
The film highlighted Detroit leaders past
and present and celebrated Detroit's strong
connection with Israel, including Miracle
Missions and Detroit's relationship with its
Partnership 2000 region in Israel's Central
Galilee. The film ended with the Hillel Day
School of Metropolitan Detroit choir singing

Versatile Israeli performer Noa showcased the event. Here she takes to her drums
as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra plays with her.

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May 15 • 2008

Students from the Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit choir took the stage to
lead the audience in "Hatikvah"-at The Max.

"HaTikvah" on screen, which melded into
the actual choir taking the stage to lead the
audience in the Israeli and American national
anthems.
The crowd then settled in for a perfor-
mance by Israeli musician Noa and guitarist
Gil Dor, who were accompanied by the Detroit
Symphony Orchestra. Noa sang many of her
well-known songs in Hebrew and English,
then launched into an operatic aria. Her
vibrant singing embodied the Israeli spirit,
yet some in the audience hoped for more
familiar Israeli tunes that could have ener-
gized the entire audience.
"I felt all the energy of Israel in her voice,
and having her with the orchestra was
really great" said Kale Davidoff, 17, of West
Bloomfield. "It was nice to see such a huge
turnoue
The evening ended with a lively post-con-

cert party sponsored by Federation's Young
Adult Division featuring live jazz and Detroit-
style desserts, like Vernor floats and Sanders
hot fudge cream puffs.
IsraelSixty is part of the Jewish Federation.
of Metropolitan Detroit. Robert Heinrich and
Amy Schlussel were event chairs; Phillip Wm.
Fisher is chairman of the IsraelSixty steer-
ing committee; Scott Kaufman is IsraelSixty
director.
Major sponsors of the gala event were the
Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation,
Jane and Larry Sherman, Mary D. Fisher,
Lauren and Phillip Wm. Fisher, Julie and
Peter Cummings, Dr. Marjorie M. Fisher and
Marjorie S. Fisher.
The next IsraelSixty event will be "A Fair To
Remember;' a communitywide Israel celebra-
tion at the Michigan State Fair in Detroit on
Thursday, Aug. 21. ❑

).14.
An afterglow party to continue the IsraelSixty celebration was sponsored by
Federation's Young Adult Division.