Front Lines MORE FAI R MEMORIES Just Like Flying IS YOUR PENSION AN IOU TO THE IRS" Rabbi Joey Krakoff captured the prevailing sentiment of "A Fair to Remember:' the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's celebration of Israel's 60th anniversary as the modern Jewish state, when he said: "It's like taking a huge El Al airplane nonstop from Detroit to Tel Aviv where you know everybody. You can't even take three steps without bumping into somebody that you know." The Aug. 21 event drew 16,000 Metro Detroiters to the Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit. "It's no wonder that Israel is the great unifying force for Rabbi Krakoff Jews," said Krakoff, rabbi at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Oakland County. "It has been for thousands of years, for Jews of every background and from every place. "The fair is a microcosm of that." Rabbi Yechiel Morris of Young Israel of Southfield thought the expanse of the Detroit Jewish community at the fair was especially impressive. "I think it's important for different segments of the commu- nity to be here together to see and talk with one another',' he said. "We're able to interact and learn about one another in a Rabbi Morris more relaxed, open atmosphere." America's IRA Centers TM & NFI Advisors, Inc. are hosting the following Community Educational Workshops at the Jewish Community Center 6600 West Maple Road West Bloomfield SEPTEMBER 9TH AT 6:30PM The Truth about Annuities and the 5 Critical Points to Compare. SEPTEMBER 16TH AT 6:30PM Mutual Fund selection and the 5 Criteria to determine the Winners SEPTEMBER 23RD AT 6:30PM Distribution Planning for Retirement and the 7 Mistakes to Avoid A short presentation with hand-outs followed by an open question and discussion session — Robert Sklar, editor Deserts & Coffee provided .to AMERICA'S TM IRA CENTERS R1? 2ding C'onfideni :Moral-rows 1428610 Clean + Sober 2 Words. 12 Steps. 30 Days. = A New Start — Robert Sklar, editor A . BRIGHTON HOSPITAL. L Confidence Builder srpin Chemical Dependency and Dual Diagnosis Residential Treatment Michigan's first and most experienced addiction treatment facility. For a confidential assessment call: 1-800-523-8198 Visit us on the web at www.brightonhospitaLorg THE GIDEON in Co-operation with B'NAI 1Ti BRITh CANADA PRO GIRANI VOLUNTEER &. TOURING IN ISRAEL FORACTIVE ADULTS 50+ A chance to give of yourself and give to yourself Come to Israel, volunteer in hospitals, teach English in schools and form connections with Israelis, work in the forests and gardens of Israel, take Hebrew classes in the afternoons, listen to lectures and tour the country. Dates: April 23rd —May 17th 2009 (25 days) Celebrate Independence day in Israel! Discount Price: $3,998 per person double occupancy (single supplement $792, $33 per day) * 4 star hotels, half board Does not include airfare. Information Meeting Thursday Sept 11th at 11:00 a.m., Prentis B, Jimmy Prentis Morris Building A. Alfred Taubman Jewish Community Campus, 15110 W. Ten Mile, Oak Park, MI 48237-1472 Contact details for more information: North American contact: Sid Brail Tel: 416-222-6911 Program Director: Hadar Shiponi Tel: 00972-4-8667665 Mobile: 00972-50-7970695 www.gideonprogram.com A10 September 4 • 2008 Sabra's View Hannan Lis of Farmington Hills was born in Israel and goes back often to visit. He's also Midwest Zone president of the Jewish National Fund USA. He was elat- ed by the "A Fair To Remember" and the solidarity with Israel that it inspired. Comparing the Federation event with the first Israel event held at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in 1949 to celebrate the modern state's first anniversary, Lis said: "Fifty-nine years ago, it was the feeling that we finally have a state. Today, it's a feeling of pride, that we have something really special. It's reality; no longer a dream. Hannan Lis "The celebration here further reinforces our community's importance to the State of Israel." email: info@gideonprogram.com 1425280 Rabbi Levi Shemtov of Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield sent an e-mail mes- sage to Scott Kaufman, Federation's IsraelSixty director, shortly after "A Fair To Remember." Kaufman felt the quote offered an interesting spin on the event that was so successful. "I am sure that you, like all of us, have many conversations where people make it sound like there or 20 people left in this city and 10 of them are old and 8 of the others are out of work," Shemtov wrote. "Even though this event was planned to celebrate Israel, it came at the exact right time to give the com- munity the confidence of seeing that there is still so much that Rabbi is right and so much potential in Detroit." Shemtov — Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor Proud To Be Jewish At Federation's "A Fair to Remember," Danielle Forman, 2, and her grand- mother Elaine Serling of West Bloomfield paid a visit to the JN's Teen2Teen booth to share a quote with teen reporters for jnt2t.com . "We've been walking around and seeing everything, saying hi to all the people we know, and being proud of being Jewish and celebrating Israel's 60th together," said Serling. Elaine's husband Michael's favorite part was "watching our entire community in the amphitheater come witness the special presentation for Israel," he said. "It was a wonderful tribute to Israel and the Detroit Jewish community. His grandkids had fun with arts and crafts and getting the passports stamped. "It was a great celebration for our family as well," Michael said. — Gabriella Ring, Teen2Teen intern