Letters
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We prefer letters relating to JN articles. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Letters of
225 words or less are considered first. Longer ones will be subject to trimming. Letter writers are
limited in frequency of publication. Letters must be original and contain the name, address and
title of the writer and a day phone number. Non-electronic copies must be hand signed. Send let-
ters to the JN: 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax (248) 304-8885;
e-mail, letters©the jewishnews.com . We prefer e-mail.
Confessions Of A Shopaholic?
I am exceptionally disappointed in the
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CALL: 248.643.6654
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SANDOR M. GELMAN
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&ink iiatt
for your 75 years of support of
Council Thrift Shops.
Your donations and purchases enable
National Council of Jewish Women
Greater Detroit Section
to provide needed
community services
and advocacy on behalf of
women, children and families.
N C
SAVE THE DATE: Floats, Food & Fun
Celebrate 75 years of Council Thrift Shops
June I I, 2009 • The Parade Company
A6 April 2 a 2009
Jewish News' decision to run an article
about a 13-year-old girl without as
much as a phone call to her father.
My daughter, Jordyn Dresner,
was recently featured in an article
titled "Confessions of a Shopaholic"
(Teen2Teen, March 26, page B1). She was
interviewed, quoted and photographed
in the story, which referred to the dan-
gers of shopaholics from a counselor
who specializes in treating "the underly-
ing emotional problems of overspending
..." and further explains that "shopahol-
ics today are like 'drug addicts going
through withdrawal." It was extremely
unfair of you to feature her photo as
your cover girl for this serious topic
— particularly without the consent of
her father.
Jordyn is an outstanding young
woman who is beautiful, intelligent,
philanthropic and a gifted musician. She
enjoys shopping as much as most young
adolescent women do, but not to the
excess that your article implies.
When asked if she considered herself
a "shopaholic," I can assure you that she
had no understanding of the writer's
attempt to link her innocent response to
a condition equated to a serious addic-
tion problem. I hope that the editor of
the article and the Jewish News in gener-
al makes more responsible and sensitive
decisions in the future, particularly with
regard to interviewing and photograph-
ing minors.
Scott Dresner
Franklin, Mich. and Chicago, III.
JN A Pillar
I was very moved by your Editor's Letter
"The JN's Unique Role" (March 19, page
A5). What could have been a self-con-
gratulatory column in the hands of a
less-gifted editor was instead a comfort-
ing, uplifting, reaffirming shot in the
arm for your many readers.
Too many of our hometown institu-
tions and landmarks, both secular and
religion based, have caved in and gone
away in these challenging economic
times. In the midst of every kind of
turbulence, here is our beloved JN,
expanding, contracting, shifting in
form, reaching out to different reader
populations, instituting new technolo-
gies, educating, informing, sticking
with us, bringing us together. And in so
doing, week after week, over all these
many years, managing to establish and
maintain an editorial standard that is
unmatched in this niche industry.
I know I'm speaking on behalf of your
readers when I say we are indebted to
you and your fine staff for lifting our
collective spirit as Detroiters and Jews.
Marilyn Krainen
West Bloomfield
Plus For Learning
I wish to thank you for the article
"Mega Mezuzah" (March 12, page A34)
highlighting just one of the many Artist
in the Schools projects that are taking
place this year at 10 congregational
schools in our community.
This classroom enrichment project,
which was developed to help build
Jewish identity through a hand-on arts
experience, is administered through
Federation's Alliance for Jewish
Education. It is important to add that
the DeRoy Testamentary Foundation
has generously funded this program for
nine years, providing more than 5,000
students the opportunity to work with
professional Jewish artists, learn new
skills and express themselves creatively,
while at the same time advancing their
Jewish education.
Barbara Kratchman, chair
Artist in the School Program
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit
Bloomfield Township
Diverse Dialogue
Kudos on Arthur Horwitz's Publisher's
Notebook "Unshackle Our Young
Adults" (March 26, page A5), originally
written for the March 19 issue of the
Michigan Chronicle. What a great idea
to swap editorials with the Chronicle!
As a lifelong Detroiter and passion-
ate cheerleader for downtown, I am
continually amazed at the number of
my contemporaries who have not been
downtown in decades and eschew any
possibility of going down there for
anything but a sports event and a quick
run back to their cars, looking over
their shoulders all the way!
Detroit, like any major city, has
crime. But, by and large, the streets are
safe and the many new and old standby
places to dine and spend a relaxing and
entertaining evening far outweigh any
real danger lurking there.
In that same March 26 issue, colum-
nist Danny Raskin only touched the
surface of the 300-plus restaurants and
bars now operating downtown — and
all within a block or two walk, in safe,
lighted areas — of the 13 Detroit
People Mover stations.
I strongly urge your readers, young
and old, to put aside their dated preju-
dices, fears and bubbemeises [tales] and
make the trip downtown. For a 50-cent
People Mover ride, they are just min-
utes away from exploring a whole litany