Endorsed by:
Michigan State Medical Society. MEA, Michigan Osteopathic
Association and Michigan Association of Realtors (Lisa Brown's own association)
•
Metro
Vote Nov 4th
Peterman
For State Representative
About Amy Peterman
Born in Oak Park, Amy Peterman is a 33-year
resident of West Bloomfield. She and her
husband Michael have four children. Jack and
Amanda attend Walled Lake Central, Jeffrey
attends Frankel Jewish Academy and David
attends Oakland University.
1
Louk family gathers for Jakob's
miraculous bar mitzvah.
Ronelle Grier
Special to
Amy Peterman has the right
priorities
- Amy Peterman has offered detailed plans to fix
our economy, create jobs, protect schools and
reform government. And Amy Peterman
IL
supports stem cell research that offers the promise of treatments
or cures for cancer, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal
cord injuries and a host of other devastating disorders
M
Amy Peterman has bipartisan support
This election isn't about Republican vs. Democrat, but forward vs.
backward. That's why Amy
Peterman has been endorsed
ENDORSEMENT
by Republicans, Democrats and
October 22, 2008
Independents as well as
"[T]he candidate with the better
insight into the issues is
educators, job creators and all
Republican AMY PETERMAN."
five local newspapers!
mom
ISeirmLifree relit(
CEditonal En dorsemen
er15-,-2(566 —
"Peterman's passion
for public education
equity and experience
balandng budgets
give her the edge over
Democrat Li sa Br own,
41, a West BI oomfield
Realtor...."
--
0AicAN D
OCTOBER 12, 2008
"In the 39th district, our endorse-
ment goes to AMY PETERMAN,
R-West Bloomfield Township.
"Peterman has been a family la
attorney for 20 years and served
on the Walled Lake Board of
Education for nine years. She will
be a fresh and, we hope, invigorat-
ing face in Lansing. She will be
pro-business and, while she
would like to see more funding for
schools, she won't do it at the
expense of a fragile state budget."
The Detroit News
EDI TOR IAL • 0 CTO BER 14, 2008 1
"We encbrse A my Peterman,
who wants to eliminate the
destructive surcharge in the
Michigan Bvsiness
WEST BLOOIVIREV)
1...rcen Et
EDITORIAL • October 26, 2008
"Voters who care to look beyond the
basic issues should know that only
one candidate has the background
and experience to serve the
concerns of residents in the 39th
District..
"Peterman is willing to cha lenge the
status quo within her own party to
work across the aisle if need be -
qualities that are in short supply in
Lansing. Peterman is the clear choice
based on her experience and proven
track record of serving families of the
39th district.
"Vote Amy Peterman for 39th State
House on Nov. 4.'.!
Paid for by Committee to Elect Amy Peterman - 6771 Torybrooke Circle - W. Bloomfield, MI 48323
A22
October 30 • 2008
iN
Dream Becomes
Beautiful Reality
1443700
the Jewish News
A
bar mitzvah is a special
milestone for any fam-
ily. For the Louk family of
Farmington Hills, watching their son
Jakob experience this rite of pas-
sage on Oct. 16 at the Shul-Chabad
Lubavitch in West Bloomfield was
nothing short of a miracle.
Jakob, 13, has special needs caused
by a genetic syndrome known as
Fragile X. He has minimal speech,
low muscle tone and a variety of
developmental delays. It took several
months of planning and practice, with
help from the dedicated clergy and
volunteers from the Shul and the West
Bloomfield-based Friendship Circle, to
make the Louks' dream a reality
"I went to Bassie [Shemtov, direc-
tor of Friendship Circle's Lifetown]
and asked her if it were possible for
my son to have a bar mitzvah:' said
Meredith Louk. "She said yes, and it
took off from there'
The next step was finding a tutor.
Rabbi Yerachmiel Rabin, who teaches
at Yeshiva Beth Yehudah in Southfield,
filled the bill because of his reputation
for helping children with special needs
throughout the community prepare for
their b'nai mitzvah.
"Our challenge was to have a cer-
emony that would be in keeping with
all the traditions while accommodat-
ing the special needs of Jakob and his
family; said Rabbi Rabin, who also
serves at Danto Health Care Center
in West Bloomfield. "We practiced,
through repetition, the things he was
able to do, such as turning the sign
that displays the page numbers, open-
ing the Ark, dressing the Torah and
helping to carry the Torah to and from
the bimah!'
Adaptations were made as neces-
sary, including a plastic tubing system
devised by Jakob's grandfather, Steve
Mandell of Southfield. The tubes were
used to steady the wooden cylinders
on top of the Torah so Jakob would
be able to replace the crown before
returning the Torah to the Ark.
Raisel Beck, a Friendship Circle
Jakob Louk and his grandfather,
Steve Mandell, cover the Torah being
held by Rabbi Yerachmiel Rabin.
Looking on is Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov
of the Shul.
volunteer, also helped Jakob prepare
for the occasion by meeting with him
weekly to reinforce his Jewish connec-
tion by teaching him about the holi-
days and other traditions.
Family members converged from
near and far, including Australia,
to celebrate with Jakob. His class-
mates from Warner Middle School in
Farmington Hills turned the occasion
into a field trip. Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov
of the Shul officiated.
"Jakob was very happy;' Rabin
said. "He was smiling and clapping.
Everyone was touched by his enthusi-
asm. He brought an awareness of God
into so many people's hearts that they
wouldn't have had otherwise. And his
family's care and dedication was won-
derful!'
After the service, the guests enjoyed
a meal in the sukkah adjoining the
Shul and took a tour of the Ferber-
Kaufman Lifetown building.
"It was amazing:' Meredith Louk
said. "We were thrilled to see that
Jakob could do this. Once he realized
it was all about him, he became a real
ham. Something that we thought could
never happen actually happened. Our
kids surprise us all the time:' El