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This Week
Advising UM-Dearborn
The publisher of the Detroit Jewish News is one of three new appoin-
tees to four-year terms on the Citizens Advisory Committee at the
University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Arthur Horwitz is president of Renaissance Media, the Southfield-
based holding company for the Detroit Jewish News,
Atlanta Jewish Times, Jewish.com and Renaissance
Media Solutions.
He joins Brian Connolly, CEO of Oakwood
Healthcare, and Paul Hillegonds, senior vice presi-
dent of corporate affairs at DTE Energy, as other
new committee members.
The committee advises the chancellor, president
and board on all matters bearing on the effective-
Arthur
ness of the service of the university to the area that
Horwitz
its programs serve.
"These new members join a very strong and help-
ful group of advisers whose support is essential to our mission, that
of providing the University of Michigan excellence in service to Metro
Detroit:' said UM-Dearborn Chancellor Daniel Little. "They are terrific
examples of the commitment to the needs of the region that we hope
will characterize our campus, our students and our graduates."
Horwitz also serves on the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit's Board of Governors and as vice president of Hillel Day
School of Metropolitan Detroit.
- Robert Sklar, editor
Activist Of The Year
Do you know someone who has made a real difference in our com-
munity? The Jewish Community Relations Council of Metropolitan
Detroit is seeking nominations for its 2009 Activist of the Year Award.
The award is given annually to a volunteer who is passionate about
the Detroit Jewish community and works to secure the Jewish future
by championing Israel's cause, reaching out to our diverse neighbors
or advocating on behalf of Jewish interests with our government part-
ners. Nominees do not need to have a past or current affiliation with
the JCRC. (Council past presidents, current officers and congregational
clergy are not eligible to receive the award.)
To nominate a candidate for the JCRC's 2009 Activist of the Year, go
to detroitjcrc.org or call (248) 642-5393, ext. 9. Nominations must be
received by Friday, Nov. 21.
The award committee is chaired by Council board member Sharon
Lipton. Created in 2001, past award recipients include the late Nate
Shapiro (2001), Elaine Driker (2002), David Techner (2003), Dulcie
Rosenfeld (2004), Dennis Bernard (2005), Judge Hilda R. Gage (2006),
Richard Bernstein (2007) and Beverly Baker (2008).
- Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor
Christmakah Vs. Chanumas
The Jewish Gay Network-Family and Friends support group is host-
ing a discussion led by clinical therapist Maureen Lyn Bernard. The
discussion is part of the monthly meeting from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov.
4, in the lower-level library at the Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield.
Bernard will lead a discussion about the challenges of being in an
interfaith same-sex relationship during the holiday season. She will
lead a safe and open forum for concerned family and friends to air
their concerns about the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender
and questioning) person in their life who is romantically inclined/
involved with a non-Jew.
Bernard is a licensed master's social worker and a certified
addictions counselor. She is a clinical therapist at Jewish Family
Service of Metropolitan Detroit in West Bloomfield and Oak Park.
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October 30 • 2008
www.JNonline.us
The Jewish Gay Network-Family and Friends discussion and sup-
port group is a partnership of the Jewish Gay Network. The support
group meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month at the West
Bloomfield JCC. Meetings are open to all.
The mission of the Jewish Gay Network of Michigan is to serve all
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Jews and their families and
friends by providing community, information, empowerment and
education in an environment of respect.
- Ken Guten Cohen, story development editor
Save Kids' Lives
The nonprofit Matthew Bittker
Foundation in West Bloomfield,
named for Alan and Ellie Bittker's
6-year-old son who died in 2007
from a neuroblastoma, is offering
a special "Shop4aCureCard" to
raise funds for pediatric cancer
research.
"Alan and I wanted to do some-
thing to help other children after
Matthew died;' said Ellie, also
mother to Elana, 7, Matthew's twin
sister. "We couldn't let him die in
vain. We wanted to do something
to give these kids hope."
Matthew Bittker
Their foundation began with
a clothing line of T-shirts and
sweatshirts in different colors bearing slogans such as Happiness,
Hope, Love and Peace.
The Shop4aCureCard is $50 and yields 20 percent off purchases at
more than 200 local stores — from moderate- to high-end retailers
and restaurants. All $50 goes to research. The Bittkers also thought the
discount card would generate benefits for shoppers and retailers dur-
ing poor economy. To purchase a card or clothing, go to
itswhatmatters.org or call (248) 626-4800.
- Ken Guten Cohen, story develoment editor
Funding Jewish Innovation
As Jewish communities across the U.S. and around the world rally
support for organizations that are being hit hardest by the crumbling
economy, a group of young funders are concerned that Jewish innova-
tion will lose out in the end.
The creators of the Slingshot guidebook and the Slingshot Fund,
which were launched to support innovative Jewish nonprofits, are urg-
ing members of the Jewish funding community to "double down" on
their efforts to fuel Jewish innovation.
At the Slingshot Fund, 100 percent of any donation goes directly to
programs involving the next generation in Jewish life. From volunteer
efforts in the Gulf to rebuilding Jewish communities in the southeast
to supporting the celebratory Jewish life in cities around the country,
your contribution will be leveraged with others gifts of financial sup-
port and technical assistance to ensure that it's having an impact.
The idea is to keep the mills of innovation and entrepreneurship
humming despite the state of the economy.
Currently, the Slingshot Fund is accepting nominations for the
2009/2010 edition of Slingshot, an annual guidebook that highlights
50 North American organizations taking innovative approaches to
addressing age-old concerns of identity and community in Jewish life.
Interested in knowing more? Go to slingshot.org . Interested in
investing or sending a nomination? Go to info@slingshot.org .
- Ken Guten Cohen, story development editor
Latest From Israel
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news from Israel? Check
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Just visit JNonline.us and
click on a scrolling story on
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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 the scourge of racism
play a factor in this year's
presidential vote?
Visit the JNonline.us
homepage, below the left
menu, to cast your vote.
Last week's question:
Do you believe political
campaign advertising is
still useful to voters?
Last week's poll results:
Yes: 80%
No: 20%