Editor's Letter
A Community That Cares
I is a moment in time, not a permanent shackle — I hope.
Clearly, the old ways of finding jobs either don't work or are
Michigan's nightmarish economy is leaving an imprint that seldom bearing fruit. Resumes have to play up strengths, not
will take years to erase if it doesn't prove to be indelible.
titles. Ability reigns supreme.
The Detroit Jewish community is not immune from this
By closing the Campaign six weeks earlier than last year,
financial freefall. The need is real — as great as ever. The
Federation will move closer to locking down how many dol-
facts tell it all: "I had two meetings this morning with two
lars it can award agencies. Further, it can draw on contribu-
Jewish day schools and each was reporting at least 10 new
tions earlier by presenting pledges as collateral to banks.
families who used to be contributors, but now are saying they Given the likelihood that 2009 will not spur an economic
can't send their kids to the schools
turnaround, it's better to secure pledges now rather than wait
without scholarship help;' Federation
till later in the year when the economic position of donors
CEO Robert Aronson told me last
may be weaker. In past years, the Campaign has lingered into
Friday. "The rate of joblessness in our
December.
community is growing alarmingly
Typically, Campaign solicitors whose calls went unanswered
along with the loss of health benefits!'
left a message but didn't really expect a callback. Now, for the
We won't shirk our responsibility
first time in years, pledge seekers — local volunteers whose
to less fortunate Jews among us. We'll
only motivation is tzedakah — are getting callbacks for 2009
pull together, assess the challenges
pledges. That underscores the kind of community we have.
and give to the
We may be smaller in population than
extent pos-
a generation ago, but the concern for
sible. That's
our collective well-being has surged.
the way we are:
Federation's Annual Campaign is the
Staying Driven
keystone for what makes Detroit Jewry
Aronson vows to waste no time: He
an authentic community Our patri-
wants to give Federation's Planning
arch, the late Max Fisher, reinforced
and Allocation Committee an allocable
that over his lifetime of caring, giving
amount of money by Feb. 16. In addi-
and leading.
tion to allocations that meet personal
So it's prudent to close the 2009
needs like medical and housing assis-
Campaign early and put the deeply
tance, the Campaign, for example,
sought allocations in the grasp of our
helps Tamarack Camps and the Jewish
service providers. These agencies are
Community Center of Metropolitan
facing an avalanche of requests for sup-
Detroit's Pitt Childhood Center pro-
port. The reality is they will land only
vide scholarships even though actual
a piece of what's needed to help serve
cash may not arrive till summer. "It's a
newly disadvantaged Jews and help
timing thing," Aronson said. "Agencies
restore their dignity.
have got to know what they can count
The Campaign climaxes Feb. 8:
on. The same goes for day schools and
Federation's Super Sunday. If you
tuition
scholarships!'
Robert Aronson in front of Max Fisher's
haven't already made your pledge,
Jewish
communities become dys-
photo at the Max M. Fisher Federation
please do so by then. If you gave $500
functional or fall apart when their
Building in Bloomfield Township
last year, but have since ridden the
central fundraising address fails to
economic roller-coaster, consider half
keep all of the moving parts, like ben-
that amount this year. Give no matter
eficiary agencies and other recipients
how much you must cut this year's gift.
of precious monetary gifts, calibrated.
In the same vein, if you can afford to
Fortunately for its constituency, the
give $500 more this year, or a larger
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
amount, to make up for your friends
Detroit is a national model for how to
and neighbors who have been forced
achieve and sustain calibration.
to curtail their donation, please pledge
The Detroit Jewish community has
that increase. Every $10 or $20 gift will
always been there for Israel, under
make a significant difference amid the
siege by Arab and Iranian terrorists
overall decline in individual givers.
alike. And Federation must continue
to raise money for the Jewish ancestral
Shifting Sands
homeland. In recent years, we've allo-
Federation's top service agencies, the ones most able to extend
cated 42 percent of the Campaign for Israel and overseas pro-
aid, are seeing more and more clients age 50 and older who
grams. But our ability to fund proven international programs
have never sought assistance before. Often in the past, they were isn't secure. So Federation must engage Israeli and global
Campaign donors so now are unaware how to tap into the fed-
philanthropists in partnership — something it has begun to
erated system to get help. Too proud or embarrassed, they often do and must do more of.
wait until they are desperate before exposing their situation.
Notably, a higher percentage of total dollars raised through
These agencies also are serving more single women of all
the combined resources of the Campaign, the Jewish Fund
ages as well as retirees who may have to find part-time work
just to get by.
A Community on page A6
Federation's Annual
Campaign remains
the keystone for what
makes Detroit Jewry an
authentic community.
take
your
eyewear
to
new
heights
ROBERT MARE'
,
PRADA
CHROME HEARTS
FREUDENHAUS
(ORIGINAL VINTAGE AND CONTEMPORARY
EYEWEAR AND ACCESSORIES
(
E. 1" ( 1/1 1 0 ,
;
/
EYE EXAMS 8
DR. JOE ALE
245 WEST MAPLE
JUST EAST
OF BATES,
DOWNTOWN
BIRMINGHAM
248-646-6699
www.optikbirrn
MOST MAJOR
OPTICAL
INSURANCE
ACCEPTED,
INCLUDING VSP!
EXCLUSIVELY IN MICHIGAN AT OPTIK BIRMINGHAr
February 5 e 2009
A5