'World L'SHANA TOVA ome visit our store and receive a FREE calendar for the New Year!! Building from page A42 @ The Jewish Community Center In W. Bloomfield • MAIN FLOOR ACROSS FROM CONFERENCE ROOMS 248-661-6800 cobysjudaica.com MON-THURS 10-6 FRI 10-3 SUN 10-3 Children from Sderot and their counselors enjoy a desert camel ride. 7- 4 0/4 L Shanah ovah! 14-LcAr Tablescapes and Ambience for Corporate and Social Occasions Event Design Management Ootering 275 E, Fronk $irrninghwm, M148070 246446,1770 I www,tImory111§got#ringxon, 1428990 HUSH NONE HERLINCATIE Nurse Owned & Operated PROVIDING IN HOME NURSING CARE We will provide... • Expertise and Professionalism • Dedication and Teamwork • Continuity of Care • Over 20 Years Experience • Bonded and Insured and Medicare Certified We offer... Personal Care, Homemaking, Skilled Nursing, IV and Wound Therapy, Over 20 years' experience, Rehabilitation Therapies (PT,OT, MSW, Speech Therapy, Nutrition Counseling) Phone: 877-877- 0551 • 248-547-5778 Nurse Owned & Operated Criminal Background checks, pre-employment drug screening 1435310 Let us know when your party is and we might catch you on film or send us your pictures at partypages@thejewishnews.com images must not exceed 5mb, images will be edited by the T2T staff A44 September 25 • 2008 Ai on the children — not simply as vol- unteers who have come halfway across the world to help them, and not only as strangers from another place and another culture, but most importantly, as friends. In the same way, so, too, have these Israeli children made a most profound influence on us!' Anna Gartman of West Bloomfield offered the teaching skills she'd been learning at Oakland University the past few years. During an English camp, the instructor allowed the vol- unteers one hour every day to plan lessons with the children, to leave their personal mark on the curricu- lum. Alma offered her unique experi- ences to make sure the lessons effec- tively engaged the students. Each day when the plans were pre- sented to the instructor, he'd caution that they were too difficult. Still, the volunteers marched forward with the original plans, exceeding expectations. During one particularly unique ses- sion, the volunteers arranged for an IDF soldier to visit class. The students asked insightful questions in English from the skills they'd acquired that week. The allotted 15 minutes quickly turned into an hour. Zerin went on to describe the English camp, which included stu- dents outside of the Sderot program. "We were equally impressed not only by their friendliness, but by the strength and diversity of their personalities. As we climbed a canyon near David Ben-Gurion's grave, we talked [but mostly listened] with a young girl whose spiritual strength and desire for knowledge gave us profound inspiration. She spoke with pride of her active childhood dancing, playing music, competing in archery competitions, exploring foreign coun- tries and reading books in several lan- guages, including The Da Vinci Code in English, with the constant help of her dictionary "She struck us as someone who was actively living her life to the fullest — not simply dreaming, but act- ing to make her dreams a reality. We thought about all she had done, about her strength of character and will for success, and took it as a lesson and inspiration for ourselves, and one that we hope to pass on to others!" While each of the volunteers had been to Israel previously, the opportu- nity to participate in community ser- vice allowed the Americans to engage with Israeli society in a new light. As dawn arose in Nitzana in early August, the 2008 Summer Olympic Games were being celebrated. Beijing brought out the pounding drums and the roaring fireworks — an extrava- gant celebration that linked the global community. And quietly, miles away, a link took root in the global Jewish community. After arriving back in Michigan, Sherman reflected: "My connection to the land of Israel is undoubtedly stronger. On Birthright, I was given a knowledge of and appreciation for the land, sights and cities of the country. Nitzana added a whole new dimension to my relationship. I developed a con- nection with the people of Israel!' Americans and Israelis helping to ensure the land of Israel is 60 years young, and that the torch of our past — linking community to community and generation to generation — continues to be lit proudly for the future. ❑ Adam Finkel, 22, of Bloomfield Hills is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan.