Front Lines
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Unexpected Gift
Former Detroiter aids Yad Ezra
kosher pantry.
0
platinum rings from the Schubot Private Collection
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www.schubot.com
A8 November 27 • 2008
.041
n Nov. 11, Dawn Smith-
Montgomery was traveling to
Detroit from Miami to visit
family and to take care of some personal
business. As she sat on the plane, she
says, "God spoke to me to give $500 to a
charitable organization. I immediately
asked to what organization to give it to?
I sensed in my spirit that it was to go to
a Jewish organization. I then said, "Well
God, you will have to tell me what Jewish
organization because I am not aware of
any."
The next morning, as she prepared a
cup of coffee, Morry Silverman crossed her
mind. She had not talked to him in many
years. She had been his secretary many
years ago.
"That's when I knew it would be he
who led me to the right organization
because he is Jewish, and I have high
regard and respect for him:' she said. "I
immediately called
information to get his
home phone number
or his business num-
ber. I got the business
number and called.
"We had a warm
and wonderful catch-
up conversation on
Shayna Silverman of Farmington Hills and Dawn Smith-
the phone. He led me
Montgomery of Miami Beach, Fla.
to his wife, Shayna
Silverman, who is
ine. And I will continue my support of
on the board of directors for a Jewish
Yad Ezra and your community:' she said.
charitable organization called Yad Ezra.
"In this time where all we hear is
Shayna connected me with Lea Luger
doom and gloom, this was a nice sur-
[development director] of Yad Ezra. I met prise," Luger said. "At Yad Ezra, we've had
with them both and was given a tour of
an increase of 35 percent increase in the
the facility. It's history from there.
number of families on active roles from
"Thank you, Morry and Shayna. I have
a year ago."
been touched by your warmness, kind-
To donate to Yad Ezra in Berkley,
ness, family spirit and hospitality. You
Michigan's only kosher food pantry, call
have blessed me in ways you can't imag-
(248) 548-FOOD or visit yadezra.org .
Torah Study
Signup
The Detroit Jewish
Theological Seminary
Cabinet, chaired by
Norma Dorman and
Steve Weisberg, will
sponsor a lunch-and-
Rabbi
learn Torah series with
Ackerman
Rabbi David Ackerman
noon Wednesday, Dec. 3. Open to the com-
munity at no charge, Torah study will take
place at the offices of Sun Communities,
2777 Franklin Road, Suite 200, in
Southfield.
Rabbi Ackerman is national outreach
director and works with the JTS Kollot
program, which offers adult study
throughout the country. Prior to coming to
JTS, Rabbi Ackerman served as spiritual
leader of Tiferet Bet Israel in Blue Bell, Pa.,
for 16 years.
For reservations or information, contact
the Detroit JTS office, (248) 258-0055, or
beroth@jtsa.edu.
try and the global economy.
Guest speakers will be Joseph Ben-Gal
and M.P. Chugh. Ben-Gal is co-founder of
Gal-Mar LLC, a private equity group sup-
porting Israeli high-tech companies at the
market penetration stage. He has three
decades of experience in the high-tech
industry in Israel and the United States.
Chugh has had a long and prolific career
as a business executive in India and the
United States. Since 2007, he has been
the Managing Director (Asia/Pacific) for
Valiant International Inc. USA, where he
is responsible for creating and executing
the Asia Pacific Strategy for Production
Systems for the automotive, aerospace and
forestry industries through joint ventures
and strategic alliances.
The Indian-Jewish Dialogue meets
quarterly for cultural exchange and to
explore political and social issues of
shared concern. Program chairs are Dr.
Radha Krishnan, Sheri Schiff and Raman
Singh.
This dessert event is open to members of
the general community. Reservations are
required. Cost will be $10 and can be paid
in advance or at the door. For reservations
and the location, contact the AJC office,
(248) 646 7686 or detroit@ajc.org
Indian-Jewish Dialogue
American Jewish Committee's
Metropolitan Detroit Chapter will host a
meeting of the Indian Jewish Dialogue on
Thursday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. in Bloomfield
Township.
"Global Visions, Global Impact" will
explore the innovative high-tech sectors in
India and Israel, and the positive impact
they are making on the technology indus-
❑
-
Study In The Sun
Snorkel and Study is a winter break option
for Jewish college students from campuses
all over the globe. The program runs Jan.
1-8, 2009, at Mariners Resort in Key Largo,
Fla., and offers full scholarships to quali-
fied applicants.
Created by outreach organization Bais
Chana Women International, Snorkel and
Study — for women only — isn't the typi-
cal winter break trip. Rather than advocat-
ing escapism, Bais Chana attracts par-
ticipants by tackling real-life issues and
speaking directly to college women about
what matters most in their lives.
Students come with big questions about
life and about Judaism: "Why should
I believe in G-d?""What's the Jewish
approach to dating and marriage?""How
is Judaism relevant to my life and my
aspirations?" "What can I do to become a
better person?" Snorkel and Study focuses
on these questions, providing an environ-
ment where participants find the space to
discover their deeper values and Jewish
heritage.
The faculty at Snorkel and Study
includes Rivkah Slonim of Binghamton
University and Miriam Lipskier of Emory
University, both run campus Chabad
Houses and are well-attuned to the con-
cerns and experiences of students. Rabbi
Manis Friedman is an educator and phi-
losopher.
The annual winter break trip delivers on
the snorkel promise with activities wave-
riding, jet-skiing and full access to the
resort's spa facilities.
For more information, visit snorkeland-
study.org or call (800) 473.4801.
- Ken Guten Cohen, story development editor