ctro
Jewish
Assistance
Project
Spreading Diplomacy
If you, or someone you
know, needs help...
PANEL FORUMS
Monday, December 1 9 2008
7:00 p.m.
Jewish Community Center
Jimmy Prentis Morris Building
A. Alfred Taubman Jewish Community Campus
15110 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park
Monday, December 15, 2008
7:00 p.m.
Jewish Community Center
D. Dan and Betty Kahn Building
Eugene and Marcia Applebaum
Jewish Community Campus
6600 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield
Representatives from Jewish communal agencies
will help answer your questions about:
•Employment Support
(Job search assistance and placement)
•Financial Assistance
(Crisis assistance for housing, utilities and basic needs,
and support developing self-sufficiency plans)
•Food Assistance
•Housing Assistance
(Including mortgage assistance, loan renegotiation,
and home/apartment transition support)
One on One Confidential Opportunities
Distribution of Informational Materials
Agency Referral Information
-
-
FREE OF CHARGE
Light refreshments will be served
Reservations encouraged, walk-ins welcome.
Please contact Pat Mayer at (248) 203-1519 or mayer@jfmd.org
Jewish
1:j) Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit
jewishdetroit.org/help
1449130
A24
November 20 • 2008
AJC strives to secure interethnic bonds.
T
he Detroit
Chapter of
American
Jewish Committee
recently com-
pleted its annual
Diplomatic Marathon.
Delegations of AJC
leaders met privately
with consuls general
from Canada, Italy,
Japan, Macedonia and
Mexico and with hon-
orary consuls general Kari Alterman, Rob Labe, Ken Gold,
representing Turkey,
Japan's Consul General Tamotsu Shinotsuka,
the Slovak Republic
Keith Lublin and Bryant Frank
and the United
Kingdom.
ties for the consuls general and others
The chapter diplomatic marathon
to learn more about Jewish history and
is held every year in commemoration
culture. The understanding they gain
of U.N. Day, observed annually on Oct. about the Jewish community can help
24 in honor of the anniversary of the
them to break down the prejudices
entry into force of the U.N. Charter in
within their own communities and in
1945. The marathon serves as a com-
the case of career diplomats, can be
plement to AJC's national diplomatic
useful when forming policy decisions
marathon, held during the annual
related to religious minorities, Israel,
United Nations General Assembly in
and other relevant issues.
late September. This year, AJC delega-
This year's Diplomatic Marathon was
tions met with foreign ministers and
chaired by AJC vice-president Robert
other officials from 86 countries.
Labe and co-chaired by officer Bryant
As noted by Canadian Consul
Frank. Other participants included
General Robert Noble, "The consular
chapter president Kenneth Gold, Officer
visitation program of American Jewish
Howard Brown, past presidents Fred
Committee of Detroit is a welcome
Frank and Ken Wolf, board members
opportunity for the Canadian Consulate Debra Kovsky Apap and Sheri Schiff
General in Detroit to have a youthful
and community members Greg Bloom
and thorough ongoing discussion on
and Keith Lublin. Chapter Director
issues of importance to Canada"
Kari Alterman and Assistant Director
This year, the meetings primarily
Jennifer Ludwig also attended.
focused on two key issues: the too-
"It is an incredible feeling to rep-
often unfair treatment of Israel in the
resent the Jewish people to so many
international arena, particularly in the international governments. Our inter-
U.N. Human Rights Council, and AJC's actions with the consuls general are
support for increased economic sanc-
impactful for our community; our
tions toward Iran in order to deter its
concerns and comments are consistent
government from pursuing its nuclear with the messages conveyed in New
program.
York in September and are reported
In addition to providing a platform
to the ambassadors of each country.
for policy discussions, the meetings
This organization continues to impress
serve another, equally important pur-
me with its diplomatic outreach and
pose: that of building relationships
impact:' said Labe.
between AJC, the consulates and the
The local diplomatic marathon
communities they represent. As the
concluded Nov. 19 at a reception
nations first human relations agency,
in Birmingham co-sponsored by
AJC throughout the year provides
the Assembly of Turkish American
opportunities to bring the Jewish com-
Associations. Guests included local
munity together with other ethnic and
members of the diplomatic corps, rep-
religious communities and often acts
resenting 26 countries. ❑
as a "Jewish Ambassador" to visiting
foreign nationals, providing opportuni-