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Riding For A Cure
It was a bicycle trip to remember.
After six months of hard training,
Bryan Robbins returned from
Lake Tahoe after cycling 100 miles
amid twists, turns and climbs in
the Sierra Nevada Mountains to
raise money to fight leukemia/
lymphoma.
Robbins, 23, of Farmington
Hills had never biked long dis-
tance before. He rode in the
Bryan Robbins in the Sierra
annual event, sponsored by the
Nevada Mountains
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
(LLS), in memory of his grand-
father, Leon Forman, who died from leukemia/lymphoma in 1993.
Robbins was just 8 when his grandfather died.
Robbins was among 3,000 bicycling enthusiasts from around the
country to take part in the 17th annual America's Most Beautiful Bike
Ride around Lake Tahoe.
The ride marked the 20th anniversary of the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society's Team in Training (TNT) national fundraising
program.
For his part, Robbins raised $5,000. Seventy-three U.S. chapters
raised more than $7.2 million from the ride to support the LLS mis-
sion of finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease
and myeloma and to improve the quality of life for patients and their
families.
Robbins is a Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit, North
Farmington High School and University of Michigan graduate. He'll
now turn his attention to law school this fall.
"This ride was very important to me because it not only provided
me with an opportunity to honor the memory of my grandfather, but
also allowed me to participate in an unbelievable fundraising experi-
ence together with thousands of others who have also been affected
by this disease Robbins said.

- Robert A. Sklar, editor

composer Ethan Bortnick, who astounded audience members with
his remarkable musical skill and engaging personality. Bortnick, who
has appeared many times on national television, including on Oprah
and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, played classical selections, Jewish
melodies and some of his own compositions on the piano.
Attendees included guests from all facets of the Metro Detroit com-
munity, most of whom are involved in the Chabad-Lubavitch move-
ment in some way.
"This event was representative of the Chabad-Lubavitch move-
ment's commitment to the community at large as well as to the
many children with special needs [the group serves]:' said Michael
Leibowitz of Bloomfield Hills, who attended the dinner. "I've never
seen so many people with so much dedication; the way they bring
Yiddishkeit to the Jewish community is wonderful:'

- Ronelle Greer, special writer

Mastering Masada

Fifty Years Of Support
More than 1,000 people gathered at the Rock Financial Showplace
in Novi on June 22 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the
Chabad-Lubavitch movement in Michigan.
Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, chief rabbi of Israel, gave a stirring keynote
speech filled with anecdotes about the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the late
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, whose 14th yahrtzeit was corn-
memorated on July 6.
One of the highlights of the evening was 7-year-old musician and

A10

July 10 • 2008

JN Story
Development
Editor Keri Guten Cohen
takes you along in her quest
for fitness as she participates
in a new program at Franklin
Athletic Club in Southfield.
Along with JN reader Dr.
Mark DeVore and three oth-
ers, she's a guinea pig test-
ing the program, which also
includes food from Gourmet
Everyday in Ferndale. That
means restricted calories
and more exercise than most
couch potatoes get in a year.
Read her blog at JNonline.
us and click on the box
labeled "What Have I Got To
Lose" on the right.

VW_

Latest From Israel

Shanna and Dina Kawer on their way up Masada

Dina Kawer of Huntington Woods was featured on the JN cover on
June 19 before she made her climb up the snake path to Israel's
Masada with her daughter, Shanna, and eight others on July 1. As pre-
dicted, her Multiple Sclerosis didn't stop Dina from making the climb
— in 2 hours and 15 minutes and in enough time to see the sunrise
over the Dead Sea.
"Sharma and my two cousins, Larry and Michael Abramowitz,
never left my side Dina wrote on her Web site. At the top, "I sobbed
as Shanna embraced me and I told her that I did this for her and [her
brother] Shay. I said that the two of them have always been my rock
and that the love we have for each other is what has always given me
the strength I need."
Dina also climbed to raise funds and awareness of MS. So far,
including offline donations, she has raised $10,307. "I am over-
whelmed with gratitude for everyone's generosity of spirit, support
and donations:' she wrote. "You have all made a difference in my life
and the lives of those with MS."
To contribute or read more about Dina's adventure, go to
www.howwilligetbackdown.com .

- Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor

Pianist Ethan Bortnick and Rabbi Yisrael Lau at Michigan
Chabad's 50th anniversary dinner

What Have I
Got To Lose?

Mini Maccabi
With 3,500 teen-age athletes coming to Detroit next month for the JCC
Maccabi Games, the Jewish Community Center has found a way to get
younger kids, ages 6-12, into the action.
The JCC's Center Day Camps will host a "Mini Mac" field day 9:30
a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, just two days before the teen games
open, as well as a one-week Multi Sport Camp Aug. 11-15.
Children in either program will be invited to participate in the JCC
Maccabi Games opening ceremonies Aug.17 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
For information about the programs, call Center Day Camps, (248)
432-5578.

- Alan Hitsky, associate editor

Want the most current
news from Israel? Check
our streaming news from
Ynetnews.com for continu-
ous updates and longer news,
opinion and feature stories.
And look at the center of our
homepage for an Israel story
that changes twice daily.
Visit JNonline.us and click
on a scrolling story on left.

Celebrations!

Find weekly listings of births,
b`nai mitzvah, engagements,
weddings and anniversaries
as well as past simchahs all
online. They're bundled under
each week's publication date.
Just visit JNonline.us and
click on Lifecycles on the left.

Online Poll

This week's poll question:
With the new probe against
Olmert, will he quit or sus-
pend himself?
Visit the JNonline.us
homepage, below the left
menu, to cast your vote.

Last week's question:
Are U.S. immigration laws too
strict?

Last week's poll results:
Yes: 44%

No: 56%