Front Lines NOTEBOOK Maccabi Thank You Leaders of the 2,200 Detroiters who volunteered at the JCC Maccabi Games in August were thanked at a reception last week in downtown Detroit's First National Building. Todd Sachse, president of the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, and Dr. Harold Friedman, chairman of the Games, broadly hinted that the JCC is considering hosting the Games for Jewish teenagers again four years from now. "It's something we're considering:' Friedman said. "It would be nice to do it again before we have to re-invent everything." Sachse presented Games director Karen Gordon with a homemade scrapbook of Detroit Maccabi memorabilia and Freidman with a Maccabi montage. Others attending the event were offered leftover Maccabi gym bags, medals and T-shirts. -Alan Hitsky, associate editor Saving Israeli Lives The gift of a 32nd ambulance by Natalie and Manny Charach of West Bloomfield was one of six ambulances donated to Israel by the Detroit Jewish community last week. Last year, the Charachs also donated the Natalie and Manny Charach Emergency Medical Center in Ashdod. The donations were announced at the 41st annual event of the John J. Mames Chapter of the Michigan Region of American Red Magen David for Israel. ARMDI is the American fundraising arm of Magen David Adorn, which provides Israel's national pre-hospital emergency needs, including medical, disaster, ambulance and blood services. At the dinner, Detroiters also donated four new paramedic training scholarships to MDA. Recipients of the Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award were local business leaders Tamara and Eugene Friedman and Emmanuel and Zoya Gauser, all of whom emigrated from the former Soviet Union to America in the 1970s. They gifted an ambulance on behalf of the Jews of the former Soviet Union. Judith Grant served as chair of the Sept. 21 dinner at Adat Shalom Synagogue, Farmington Hills. Co-chairs were Dr. Ariel Barkman and Dr. Margo Yellen Woll. "Dr. Mames would be so proud:' Grant said, "of how his devoted wife, Eva, continues to carry on his legacy in providing the people of Israel with the finest emergency medical care in the world. Eva, we all thank you for your tireless efforts and relentless commitment." - Robert Sklar, editor volunteers worked in the soup kitchen, the sewing center, hospital, gardens and elsewhere. "There's more to this program than the work:' Rachel said. "Every Wednesday was tour day. Israel grows so fast that there is more to see each time we go. The last two weeks we went to Tel Aviv, Eilat, the Dead Sea and then to Jerusalem!' Each Shabbat offers free time; and every evening something is planned, including a trip to the symphony, ballet, an Israeli Chinese restaurant and presentations by the Ethiopians of handcrafted items. "It's a wonderful opportunity to experience the daily lives of the Israeli people said Sheilah Goldberg of Oak Park, who also went on the trip. "The volunteer work is meaningful, and we're contributing to their society" Other WIN trips begin in mid-January. Options include four or eight weeks. Trips must be booked 90 days prior to departure. For more information, contact the Hadassah mission office, (800) 363- 2373. Create Memorials Online For thousands of years, Jews have memorialized their loved ones by participating in the Yizkor (remembrance) prayer service during Yom Kippur. This year, Jews will have another way to remember ancestors — with a 21st-century twist. Officials with Ti11120.com have launched a special section on their Web site for Jews worldwide to post memorials — at no cost — to remember loved ones. Memorials can include photos, messages and whatever other information family and friends consider important during Yom Kippur, which begins at sundown Oct. 8. As part of the Web site, online visitors can make secure donations to nationally respected charities on behalf of loved ones. In addition, they can fill out online yahrtzeit (anniversary of death) reminders that will be e-mailed when it is time to light the memorial candle. Ti11120.com has other services at no charge, including a system that notifies users when someone in their community has died, so they will be able to attend the funeral. The Web site also provides online condolence cards and a system to automatically send food baskets to a family sitting shivah, as part of its community service. The name Ti11120.com , comes from a traditional Jewish blessing, may you live till 120!' It refers to the age Moses is said to have lived to and is meant to wish someone a happy, healthy and long life. - Ken Guten Cohen, story development editor A10 October 2 • 2008 Ai www.JNonline.us Latest From Israel Check our streaming news from Ynetnews.com for updates, opinion and feature stories. See the center of our homepage for an Israel story that changes twice daily. Visit JNonline.us and click on a scrolling story on the left. What've I Got To Lose? Check in on Story Development Editor Keri Cohen's quest for fitness and weight loss. Keri Cohen There's a lot to learn along the way, as she says in this new blog post. Only at JNonline.us . Go to the right side of homepage and click on the box: What Have I Got To Lose? Celebrations! Find weekly listings of births, b'nai mitzvah, engagements, weddings and anniversaries as well as past simchahs all online. They are all bundled under each week's publica- tion date. Just visit JNonline.us and click on Lifecycles on the left. Online Poll This week's poll question: Will you be making amends to others during this High Holiday season? Visit the JNonline.us homepage, below the left menu, to cast your vote. - Robert Sklar, editor WIN By Working In Israel Peter and Rachel Siegel of West Bloomfield participated in Hadassah's Winter in Natanya (WIN) program for eight weeks in January. Peter, a retired physician, taught English in the schools. Rachel taught English in a boarding school for Ethiopian children in the upper grades. Other This Week Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor " White House Summit Top leaders of the Union of. Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, including Rabbi Steven Weil, met Friday morning with President George W. Bush at the White House in advance of Rosh Hashanah, which began Monday night. Weil is senior rabbi of Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills, Calif., and former rabbi of Young Israel of Oak Park. The 15 lay and rabbinic leaders of the nation's largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization wished the president a healthy and sweet new year. They gave him a framed reproduction of President George Washington's letter to the Newport Jewish community extol- ling religious freedom in the United States. The discussion also spotlighted the Bush administration's work to promote religious freedom and Israel-related matters. Dienline Rachel Siegel of West Bloomfield with some Ethiopian students she worked with during the Hadassah trip to Israel. Last week's question: Was it correct to cancel the invitation of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to address the anti-Iran rally Sept. 22 at the United Nations? Last week's poll results: Yes: 41% No: 59%