World Your Cellular Superstore/ Sharing Wisdom Question: Is there any evidence that cell phones cause cancer? Interfaith outreach group compare religions. Answer: There is no scientific evidence that proves that wireless phone usage can lead to cancer or a variety of other problems, including headaches, dizziness or memory loss. However, organiza- tions in the United States and overseas are sponsoring research and investigating claims of possible health effects related to the use of wireless telephones. The Federal government is monitoring the results of this ongoing research, and the FDA is participating in an industry-funded research project to further investigate possible biological effects. Question: I'm having billing problems with my cellular provider; who can help me? Answer: The FCC does not regulate contractual arrangements with cellular providers, but it does handle complaints about wireless service. You can file a complaint with the FCC by using the FCC's on-line complaint form, or stop in to one of our 40 metro Detroit Wireless Toyz® locations and let our expertz fit you with the right phone, carrier, and rate plan to match your wireless needs. Email Questions to: asktheexpertz@wirelesstoyz.com and visit the nearest locations at: Jennifer Babby 12 Mile & Northwestern 248.945.0090 Elizabeth Price 10 Mile & Evergreen 248.948.5000 Sandy Maizi Orchard Lk. & Telegraph 248.253.1400 Advertisement A24 June 26 • 2008 1374890 IN Diana Lieberman Special to the Jewish News A s told in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), a man once asked Hillel to teach him the entire Torah while he stood on one foot. "That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow:' Hillel replied. "This is the whole Torah, and the rest is commentary, go and learn it." The five speakers at the Birmingham Temple in Farmington Hills June 6 were faced with a similar quandary. Each woman — all members of the mul- ticultural group WISDOM (Women's Interfaith Solutions for Dialogue and Outreach in Metro Detroit) — was asked probing questions about her religion. Each had about five minutes to answer. Among the questions: What is the place of women in their religion? What is most misunderstood about your reli- gion? How would you summarize your own religious experience? WISDOM came together soon after 9-11 to work to build bridges between different faith communities. "Detroit is one of the most segregated communities in the United States," said WISDOM president Gail Katz of West Bloomfield, who modefated for the event. "We want to set up opportunities for peo- ple who, under everyday circumstances, would never get together and give them an opportunity to meet each other." WISDOM member Judy Satterthwaite of Rochester Hills said, "We have more in common than the media would have us think." The Birmingham Temple event, titled "Five Women, Five Journeys: How Different Are We," began with a potluck dinner attended by more than 100 peo- ple. The menu was vegetarian to accom- modate the broadest possible religious and cultural laws and preferences. Panelists were the Rev. Sharon Buttry, an ordained American Baptist min- ister; Paula Drewek, retired professor and author of interfaith teaching aids, representing the Baha'i faith; Padma Kuppa, founder of the Troy Interfaith Group, who is Hindu; Sofia Begg Latif, a co-author of the Children of Abraham play, who is Muslim; and Rabbi Tamara Kolton of the Birmingham Temple, the first person ordained by the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism. As they fielded questions, several speakers cautioned that their opinions and their life journeys as women were not necessarily typical of everyone who practices their religion. "Islam is a religion of about 1.2 billion people," Latif said when asked about the position of women in her religion. "Islam itself doesn't put women down. It's the culture that puts women down." Similarly, Kolton explained the first woman rabbi was ordained in 1972 in Judaism's Reform movement. It took until 1985 for the Conservative Movement to ordain its first rabbi. "Half the students at seminaries that Lecture On The Last Lecture Wall Street Journal columnist Jeffrey Zaslow, will speak about his collabora- tion with Professor Randy Pausch on the book The Last Lecture 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, at Temple Beth El, 14 Mile and Telegraph in Bloomfield Township. The event will benefit the Prentis Memorial Library and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Pausch is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Philadelphia. He was diagnosed last year with pancreatic cancer. Zaslow, who lives in the Detroit area, writes the Moving On column for the Wall Street Journal. In his presenta- tion, Zaslow will show clips from the professor's lecture and the worldwide media coverage of it. Tickets for the event are $18 in Birmingham Temple Rabbi Tamara Kolton (second from left) with WISDOM founders Trish Harris, Gail Katz and Shahina Begg are ordained today are women;' she said. "But most are not hired as pulpit rabbis. The image of the person on the pulpit is not a woman." The case is similar in most Christian denominations, Buttry said. "Being ordained is one thing; finding a pulpit is another." Kuppa differentiated between Hindu culture and religion. "Hindu women may be putdown culturally; but from the scripture, women are very powerful," she said. "A lot of Hindus do not know about the faith traditions." There are roughly 5.5 million Baha'i spread across the globe, Drewek said. She found the religion a good fit with feminist beliefs. "Because we feel all religions come from god, we take a little from here, a little from there." Kolton said the evening was very much ion the spirit of the Birmingham Temple. "This congregation believes not only in creating bridges, but in walking across them." ❑ For more information about WISDOM, go to the Web site www.interfaithwisdom.org . advance; $25 at the door. Donor oppor- tunities are also available, beginning at $250. A donor reception, at 6 p.m. will precede the event. An afterglow for all in attendance will follow the talk. The book will be available for sale and signing at the afterglow. For information and donor inquiries, call Eileen Polk, (248) 865-0627, or Evelyn Prince, (248) 626-6641.