Front Lines JEWISH , RENAISSANLE NOTEBOOK DETROIT JEWISH NEWS JNonline.us Advertising Sales Publisher/President Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Sales Director: Keith Farber kfarber@renmedia.us Account Executives: Ann G. Abrams, Jan Haskell, Melissa Litvin, Heidi Martin, Rick Nessel, Dharlene Norris Senior Sales Assistant: Kim Metzger There Is No Such Thing W hen it comes to discussing uni- corns, pots of gold at the end of the rainbow and ghosts, many people will readily counter with, "There is no such thing." No, I am not about to dissuade belief in magical beasts, lepre- chaun's treasure or things that go bump in the night. You want to believe, go right ahead. A recent article I saw on the Web caught my attention, how- ever. It dealt with someone not believing that there was such a thing as a $2 bill and giving a customer grief because of it. At one time, there was the expres- sion,"As phony as a $2 bill." Our government, in its extreme wisdom, decided around 1976 to issue paper money in that denomination. The bills probably did not go over well due to previous condi- tioning with the idea of phoni- ness. They still exist and can provide much embarrassment when we endeavor to use them. There are many things that do not exist and I should like to review some of them. no such thing as a No matter what clone-hour meeting" you are told, there despite what your is no such thing as boss has e-mailed a "free lunch" (the you to the contrary. equivalent of some- Have you encoun- thing for nothing). tered any pseudo- You pay; whether psychologists who by unpaid labor by insist that there is you or someone else, no such thing as a there is a cost. This "naughty child"? Sy Ma nello also applies to "free Well, forget them. As Edit orial ride meaning that a devotee of the Super Assis ta n t you can get away Nanny TV shows, I without paying. can tell you that there Yes, we are aware of toll are kids who are just downright roads; but the use of "freeway" rotten. I'm not saying anything is misleading. In the former, you about why (like negative atten- fork over the money then and tion, etc.); it's just a fact that there. In the latter, you are pay- there are children who are left ing through your taxes for the to be uninhibited. Is that your upkeep of the road system. (Does parenting credo? OK; just don't that lead you to wonder who has expose the kids to me! been squandering our money?) Speaking of family (sure we There are many food "fiends" were: Where do you think kids who would argue with you that come from?): Did you know there is no such thing as too that technically there is no such much chocolate or barbecue or thing as a family crest? If you ... fill in your own special food study coats of arms, there is fetish. usually a part above the shield Those of us in the busi- that denotes the family name, ness world know that there is but that is not to be used alone. Bolstering Birthright Following a new commitment from the Adelson Family Foundation, Taglit-Birthright Israel is set to bring another 10,000 young Jews on free 10-day educational trips to Israel this spring and summer. Registration opens on Feb. 19 online at www.birthrightisrael.com . Taglit-Birthright Israel, which has taken 200,000 young adults to Israel, now plans to launch a new national fundraising campaign that ensures not only its 2009 participant goals, but its continued success as the program prepares to enter its second decade. Robert Aside from ongoing support from its found- Aronson ing philanthropists, the State of Israel and from local Jewish communities, the Birthright Israel Foundation announced a $20 million challenge grant from Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson's family foundation that will serve as the core of the new fundraising campaign, enabling the Birthright Israel Foundation to leverage other gifts. For every new dollar raised by the Birthright Israel Foundation in 2009, two dollars will be contributed by the Adelson Family Foundation up to $20 million. Recognizing that the global financial situation will create a challenging year for all nonprofit organiza- tions around the world, the Adelsons, along with Birthright Israel's philanthropists, are asking supporters and alumni and their fami- lies to assist with increased funds. The new fundraising campaign will be led by Foundation Chair A8 February 12 = 2009 The whole shebang is the coat of arms, containing a crest. Watch it the next time you go to boasting about your lineage. Considering things we do not know, I recall a professor in col- lege who would, near the end of his presentation, ask, "Are there any stupid questions?" There really are no such things. There are questions that should not be asked or would not need to be asked if someone were pay- ing attention; but no seeking of knowledge or clarification is stupid. It is also a matter of vantage point when using the term "junk." Many would argue that there is no such thing; they are the purveyors of "antiques." Well, just go to some garage sales and you'll see that junk is alive and well and people are paying money to acquire it. You know, I think I'll just get on my one-horned horse and chase after that jackalope to see if he'll lead me to the end of the rainbow so I can get rich. See ya. Daniel Och and Birthright Israel Foundation President Robert Aronson, working with a national team of experienced fundraisers. -Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor Fighting For All "Global Impact-Detroit Roots" is an exhibit about Ralph J. Bunche in the Community Gallery of the Detroit Historical Museum through March 8. Bunche, a native Detroiter, successfully mediated the signing of the 1949 Armistice Agreement, a formal contract that helped to temper conflicts in the Middle East. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950 for his efforts, making him the first African American recipient to receive the distin- guished recognition. In addition to readying the international stage for an unprecedented transformation of race rela- tions, Bunche played a prominent role in draft- ing the United Nations Charter, the foundation on which all of the organization's principles are based. Robert Ralph A staunch advocate of human rights, Bunche J. Bunche believed that the civil rights struggles in America had global implications that were linked to a wider cause of justice, freedom and equality of all races. The exhibit will address various aspects of Bunche's life, philoso- phies, methodologies and their impact on international culture. -Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor Business Offices Customer Service Assts.: Maya Brodsky, Jan Shain Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner Collections Analyst: Hazel Bender Creative Services creative@thejewishnews.com Creative Director: Deborah Schultz Senior Graphic Designer: Lindsay Schwartz Production By VERTIS INC. Site Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Iris Dembeck, Beth Farley, Kathleen Kargula, Jeffrey Meyer, Pam Sherevan, Michelle Sheridan Photography Staff Photographers: Angie Baan, Armando Rios Editorial Editor: Robert A. Sklar rsklar@thejewishnews.com Associate Editor: Alan Hitsky ahitsky@thejewishnews.com Story Development Editor: Keri Guten Cohen kcohen@thejewishnews.com Arts Editor: Gail Zimmerman gzimmerman@thejewishnews.com Senior Writer: Shell' Liebman Dorfman sdorfman@thejewishnews.com Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net Columnists: George Cantor, Robin Schwartz, Steve Stein Copy Team: Senior Copy Editor: David Sachs dsachs@thejewishnews.com Copy Team Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@thejewishnews.com Platinum: Editor: Lynne Konstantin lkonstantin@thejewishnews.com Executive Editor: Gail Zimmerman gzimmerman@thejewishnews.corn Young Adult Advisory Board Gayle Friedman Gold, Jordan Glass, Robin Schwartz, Brad "Bubba" Urdan Published by: Jewish Renaissance Media Chairman: Michael H. Steinhardt President/Publisher: Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Chief Operating Officer: F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Controller: Craig R. Phipps Editorial Director: Robert A. 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