Family Focus

Leading the Way

Akiva supporters raise funds for tuition assistance.

Yehudit Jubas, Dana Berlin and Sherri Weil, all of Southfield; Chaye Kohl with Janelle and Stuart Teger, all of Southfield; Bert and Rita Schreiber of Southfield

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Eugene Sherizen of Huntington Woods and Lois Shiffman of West Bloomfield; Karoline Puder Fischer and Paul Fischer of Southfield; Rachel Siegel of West Bloomfield and
Julie Sherizen of Huntington Woods; Sidney and Shoshana Katz of Southfield

C

hallenging times sometimes
call for extraordinary measures.
With that in mind, more than 80
supporters of Yeshivat Akiva in Southfield
gathered for an elegant parlor meeting
Aug. 25 at the Southfield home of Sarah
and Dr. Martin Kornblum. Each partici-
pant pledged at least $500 for a special
scholarship challenge campaign to raise
money for the Modern Orthodox Zionist
day school's tuition assistance program.
An anonymous donor pledged to match
up to $100,000 raised by Aug. 31. To date,
the school has raised more than $80,000.
"This past year has been particularly
difficult for everyone. At Akiva, there was
a 50 percent increase in the amount asked
for tuition assistance': said the school's
new education director, Chaye Kohl of
Southfield."That's why it's heartwarm-
ing to see everyone here, supporting the
school and believing in the importance of
a Jewish, Zionist education. "

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September 10 - 2009

"This challenge sets an example," added
Akiva's president, Dr. Howard Korman of
Southfield. "Our regular needs continue
but we have an additional need. That's why
we asked you to give an additional gift and
you have risen to that challenge."
In attendance were 10th-graders Liz
Kirshner and Ilana Goldmeier who, with
fellow students, started a fundraiser this
past year to help classmates stay at the
school. "We had a carwash and said, `Make
sure to clean the inside of the car as well
as the outside: and we realized that was
the perfect analogy for the importance of
what we learn at school: good values start
on the inside and are projected out."
Participants enjoyed a huge spread
including cocktails, kosher sushi, sliders,
ribs, hors d'oeuvres and a variety of des-
serts by Jewel Kosher catering.
Lois Shiffman of West Bloomfield was
recognized for the impact she and her
late husband, Milton, have had on Metro

Detroit's Jewish community, especially
with regard to Jewish education.
"I was initially focused on support-
ing education," she told the crowd. "We
were fortunate that Milton, a physi-
cian who went into business later in his
career, established the Shiffman Family
Education Trust before he passed?'
The Trust supports local day schools,
including Akiva.
Eugene Sherizen, whose mother babysat
Mrs. Shiffman back in Detroit, and who
attended high school with the Shiffmans'
daughter, Gail, shared fond memories of
the family's willingness to lend a hand.
"I can recall one snowy Sunday morn-
ing when I went to Dr. and Mrs. Shiffi-nan's
home to ask for help in creating a Jewish
educational presence on the campus of
University of Michigan. After being in
bed all week due to a back injury, Dr.
Shiffman struggled out of bed and greeted
us warmly:' Sherizen recalled. "At the end

of the meeting, he thanked us for coming
over and allowing him the privilege to
help."
According to Akiva Executive Director
Sidney Katz, "Over 40 percent of Akiva
students will benefit from this campaign?'
Other attendees included Beth and
Avi Adler, Helen and Larry Brown, Cillia
and Les Kleiman, all of Southfield; Peter
Alter and Terran and Roger Leemis, all of
Bloomfield Hills; Ed Hersch of Franklin;
Sheryl and Seth Korelitz of Huntington
Woods; and Lisa and Dan Mendelson,
Kim and Bryan Schon, Rachel and Peter
Siegel and Sharona Shapiro, all of West
Bloomfield.

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For more informationabout
Akiva's programs or to make a
donation, contact Sidney Katz
or Jon Goldstein at
(248) 386-1625.