OTHER VIEWS Your Cellular Superstore! Ask‘the Masquerading from page A34 their religious beliefs. Furthermore, comparing this Christian aliyah with the many non- Jewish Russian immigrants who have come to Israel is misplaced and disin- genuous. Soviet Jews did not choose to assimilate; the reality of their circum- stances made that choice for them. As Ethiopian Jews, the right thing for us to do given the circumstances is to accept as part of our community the thousands of Falash Mura who already have come to Israel. At the very least, they chose to come here and be a part of our people. If meddling American Jews want them so badly, vast America is big enough for them. Take them to your- selves; take them. It will be good for us and it will be good for you. ❑ Danny Adeno Abebe, a journalist for Israel's daily Yediot Achronot, made aliyah to Israel in Operation Moses in 1984. Redeem from page A34 difference, and it is a mitzvah to make a difference. Once the Ethiopian Jews reach Israel, they will need a great deal of support as they learn to integrate themselves into Israeli society. It is our job to help them in that effort. Helping Ethiopian Jews become successful Israelis helps not only the Ethiopian-Israeli community, but also helps the entire Jewish world. If we do not help, we are placing another heavy and unfair burden on Israel. In bringing the rest of the Ethiopian Jewish community waiting in misery in Gondar to rejoin their immediate fami- lies and the rest of the Jewish world in Israel, we are doing God's work. It is a tragic irony that we must be reminded to do that work. ❑ Rabbi Jerome M. Epstein is executive vice-president of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the association of Conservative congregations in North America. ExiVert A 'Transformativer Mission To Israel Question: Lani Goldman Community View Answer: Smartphones have a lot of similarities (QWERTY keyboards, calendar and task options, etc.) Sometimes it just comes down to personal prefer- ences and things like screen and keyboard size, whether it's for purely business use and whether multimedia functions like music are important. No matter what your needs are, you can come to Wireless Toye to find the Smart- phone that will meet your needs. I knew I had a lot to learn when, during my pre-flight questioning, the El Al ticket agent/security guard/interroga- tor asked me what the last Jewish holiday was and I answered Passover. On June 28, unfortunately for me, the correct answer was Shavuot. Despite my obvious lack of Jewish trivia and knowledge, I passed the test and he let me on the plane, thus begin- ning the experience of a lifetime. Going into this, I knew a little bit about the differences between Israelis and Americans, but I learned immediately about the "Israeli" way from the flight crew. The laid-back, easy going, no-rules-apply lifestyle was obvious. The plane pulled away from the gate on time and proceeded to sit on the runway for two hours. Somewhere into the first 45 minutes, it turned into happy hour and everyone was up out of their seats social- izing. This was a new concept to me, being something Northwest never would allow; but it was a great way to get to know some of the 260 other people heading to Israel for Federation's Young Adult Mission to Israel. As we touched down at Ben-Gurion Airport, I knew that I was in for a great vacation. What I didn't know was that I was in for a trip that would change everything I thought I knew, where I thought I came from and who I thought I was. Arriving at the hotel in Tel Aviv, I was hit by the enormity of actually being in Israel. I was in the country that I'd heard about in Sunday school as a child, from classmates who studied abroad as teenagers and from friends who traveled there as adults. I was embarking on a trip that would take me to places thousands of years old and making memories to last a lifetime. Each destination we visited was more fascinating than the last. From Independence Hall in Tel Aviv, to a night in a Bedouin Village, to climbing Masada and Shabbat at the Western Wall, I was over- whelmed with emotion that I didn't know was even inside me. Growing up in what I considered to be a very Jewish community, I never really felt like a minority. Being in Israel where most everyone you come into contact with is Jewish was overwhelming. I didn't have to explain what a dreidel was when I wanted to buy one as a gift. There was no drawn- I want a Smartphone, but I'm not sure which one is right for me. How do I know which Smartphone to purchase? Jared and Lani Goldman In Jerusalem out rationalization as to why the kosher Burger King didn't serve cheeseburgers. Everything I saw on this trip can be read about in books and seen in photographs, but nothing I experienced can come dose to being matched by simple words on a page. I constantly found myself wishing I had paid more attention in Sunday school or that I had picked up a book or two about Israel's history or Jewish history so I would have a better grasp of where I was and what had happened there thousands of years ear- lier. This trip has re-ignited a desire to learn about my own history as a Jew. I made friendships that I hope will last a lifetime. It is amazing that a group of 27 virtual strangers became such a tight-knit group of friends seemingly overnight. This mission happens every year, but I can't imagine having experienced it any way but with the people I did. From our Federation staff member, to our YAD vol- unteers, to our Israeli tour guide, it was an ideal group. Each contributed something unique to the group. I hope that in the future, young adults can have an experience equal to or even better than mine. I went on this trip with absolutely no expectations and I came home knowing that it had exceeded any- thing I could have imagined. It wouldn't have been possible for me to take this trip without Federation and its donors. I thank everyone who had donated to Federation for their generosity for this experience and for everything Federation does for Jews in Metro Detroit, in Israel and around the world. ❑ Lani Goldman of Chicago is a Detroit native who participated on Federation's mission to Israel with her brother Jared of Farmington Hills. Question: I took so many pictures with my cell phone on my last vacation that my memory was full and I couldn't take any- more without erasing some. 'What should I do next time? Answer If your cell phone has a slot for memory cards, you can buy one and load your pictures on it. You can buy them in several memory sizes allowing you to be able to take pictures and store them on the card, leaving your phone's memory free. abbe . fireless ',INNS MINN INIMM IIMMI MIN T IMMO MINN 1111111.., I Present this column I I I 1 I for a FREE Bluetooth® headset. We want to keep you safe and ticket free! Certain models available, limited quantities available, must purchase a new/upgrade activation. Certain restrictions apply. Visit the nearest locations at Jennifer Babby 12 Mile & Northwestern • 248.946.0090 Elizabeth Price 10 Mile & Evergreen • 248.948.5000 Sandy Maizi Orchard Lk. &Telegraph • 248.253.1400 Advertisement August 21 • 2008 1392390 A35