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Akiva's Strategic Role
In "Building A Greater Jewish
Community" (Publisher's Notebook,
Feb. 12, page A5), JN Publisher
Arthur Horwitz insightfully articu-
lated Akiva's value to Detroit as an
anchor to our current Jewish commu-
nity and as a key to our community's
future growth. Our family, in fact, is
proof of his suggestion that Akiva has
the direct ability to lure young fami-
lies to Detroit.
Ten years ago, we had the oppor-
tunity to relocate to Detroit from the
East Coast. We knew a deciding factor
would be whether a school existed
in the Detroit community that could
provide our young family with an
education qualitatively comparable to
that which we had received in modern
Orthodox day schools in New York. We
walked into Akiva and immediately
knew that we had found our home.
A decade later, Akiva has exceeded
our expectations providing a rigor-
ous college preparatory secular and
Jewish education to our four sons, the
eldest of whom is currently in 10th
grade. We have seen, first hand, Akiva
students compete against students
from the very Jewish day schools our
sons would have attended had we
remained on the East Coast. From
Model United Nations to international
Bible contests to basketball tourna-
ments, time and time again, we have
seen Akiva's students shine-making
a name not only for our school, but
also for the wonderful community of
Detroit in which it is housed.
We have also seen how Akiva has
imbued in our sons a core set of val-
ues which we know will shape them
into the adults they will become. They
have found role models, in teachers,
fellow students and Akiva alumni who
have demonstrated to them that they
can truly live what they learn. They
can be committed Jews and success-
ful professionals, who love Israel, may
live in Israel and will most definitely
advocate on its behalf. As Mr. Horwitz
noted, Akiva's strength is that it is not
simply a school, but it represents a
way of life.
We, and our children, are thankful
to have made our home as part of
the Akiva community here in Detroit.
We share Mr. Horwitz's vision that a
"great Detroit" requires an Akiva that
is not only an educational center, but
also the dynamic "hub" of a vibrant
modern Orthodox community. We
are confident that if we promote and
support Akiva's growth, others will
find the missing piece of their own
personal puzzle here and embrace our
"great Detroit" as their new home.
Ariella and Mark Nadel
Southfield
Unique Akiva
Kudos to Arthur Horwitz for recog-
nizing a crucial piece in the Detroit
Jewish community, the existence
of Yeshivat Akiva, the only Modern
Orthodox and Zionistic day school in
Metro Detroit.
As a parent of three Akiva students
(11th, eighth and fifth grades), I am
proud of my children's confidence in
speaking fluent Hebrew, their depth of
Torah and their love of Israel. They are
being given the tools necessary from
Akiva to be role models and leaders.
Just as a compliment means more from
a stranger than say, your husband,
knowing that the education that Akiva
offers is met with,"Wow, they really
know their stuff" by New Yorkers, who
are in shock and in awe that these kids
from Detroit know what they know.
The Detroit Jewish community is
something that we take for granted,
but, of course, we shouldn't. We are
down-to-earth, warm (even in a cold
climate) and generous. We come
together to celebrate good times
(Israel Fair) and in bad (rallies sup-
porting Israel). Just like a family.
My husband is an Akiva graduate
and a grandson of one of the found-
ers (David I. Berris). Joseph gradu-
ated from Wayne State University in
Detroit on an academic scholarship
and then from the University of
Michigan Dental School. He goes to
minyan most mornings at our beloved
Young Israel of Southfield. He is an
involved member there and is on the
executive board at Akiva as well. He
is a talented, practicing dentist. He is
the quintessential Akiva graduate: a
hard-working professional, a leader
with a strong love for Israel, who lives
halachically ... in Detroit.
As with practically every organiza-
tion in these economic times, Akiva
is no different. We are struggling. But
there's no question that we need to
survive. We are unique; we serve a
purpose that other day schools do not.
We should not be absorbed by other
Jewish schools simply because it's
easier. Nothing worthwhile is easy.
I invite the 60,000 Jews of Detroit
to come to Yeshivat Akiva to see how
special it is. I guarantee you will be
proud of this jewel in Detroit's crown.
Please, just call first!
JIII Greenbaum
Southfiel
bon.
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February 19 • 2009
A7