Publisher's Notebook
WOMEN'S
EUROPEAN & AMERICAN
A Final Look At 2009
E
mptying the notebook of opinions, observations
— and Detroiters doing interesting things for one
last time in 2009:
A Bridge To Somewhere
Less than two years ago, the Ann Arbor-based Michigan-
Israel Business Bridge (MIBB) was formed to facilitate
job-creating relationships between Michigan and Israel.
Compared to other states, most
notably Ohio, Michigan was lagging
in its efforts to partner with Israeli
businesses and entrepreneurs. After
enduring the usual startup pangs,
the MIBB and its executive direc-
tor, Ron Perry, have been gaining
momentum, bringing more than 60
Israeli companies to Michigan for
job-creating opportunities, help-
ing to plan and lead four business
missions from Michigan to Israel
and organizing two Michigan-Israel
automotive business exchanges.
Most recently, a group of leaders at Wayne State
University in Detroit, including Tech Town executive direc-
tor Randal Charlton, visited Israel in October, meeting with
scientists, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs at various
universities and business incubators. A deal between Tech
Town and Taburit, an Israeli company that "banks" stem
cells from individuals for potential future use by those
individuals, is imminent and will create several new high-
tech jobs in Detroit.
The MIBB must become integrated into
our Detroit Jewish community's vision
for revitalizing Southeast Michigan, cre-
ating new-economy jobs and providing
another touch point between our Jewish
and general communities and Israel. Our
Federation and its leadership see the
value of MIBB and need to politely but
MIBB's
firmly twist arms in Lansing, in Wayne
Ron Perry
and Oakland counties and with area foun-
dations for funds to keep the Michigan-
Israel Business Bridge viable. Other states have economic
development offices in Israel. Why not Michigan, with
MIBB as its agent?
The Little Credit Union That Can
With $28 million in assets and about 8,000 members, the
Detroit-based Communicating Arts Credit Union (CACU)
is small by most yardsticks. Yet under the longtime vol-
unteer leadership of its chairman, Bob Feldman, CACU
is raising eyebrows for its innovative lending programs
to those most in need in the Detroit area. It was recently
selected as the Michigan Credit Union of the Year and
received national recognition for opening a branch in
Highland Park, the first financial institution to open there
in 20 years. At a time when the newspaper industry is
reeling across the country, it is heartening to witness this
former pressman and his colleagues leverage dollars with
tikkun olam, healing the world, that was and is part of
Bob's upbringing.
Respect For Greatest Generation?
Detroit's "Greatest Generation," an impressive and exten-
sive documentary film produced and directed by Keith
Famie to honor those who served on the front lines and
behind the scenes during World War II, was previewed
before a packed Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit on Dec.
13. It aired on WDIV-TV/Channel 4 Dec.16 and will be
repeated Dec. 25.
Famie, the chef, Survivor reality TV show star and Emmy
award-winning filmmaker, elevated the visibility and stature
of this rapidly shrinking group of 80- and 90-somethings
from Detroit, "the Arsenal of Democracy:' in myriad ways
beyond the movie. A group photo at Willow Run in Belleville,
which in its heyday cranked out bombers by the thousands,
attracted more than 700 veterans who subsequently signed
their names to a rivet-framed portrait that was received by
President Obama. A Detroit-area veteran was brought back to
Omaha Beach by Famie to relive the D-Day landing with the
veteran's tearful middle-age son showing renewed apprecia-
tion for the sacrifices his father and his colleagues made.
The Detroit Jewish community was
well represented in the documentary, with
downed bomber pilot Sonny Eliot; Dr. Guy
Stern, the Ritchie Boy German POW inter-
rogator; Army Ranger Don Golde; and
Holocaust survivors Sam Offen and Rose
Guttman offering poignant recollections
and stories. (Offen's live appearance at the
Sonny Eliot
Fox event, where he thanked his U.S. Army
liberators, generated a standing ovation.)
Our usually generous Detroit Jewish community, which sent
thousands of its young men and women into World War II
service and further worshipped Hank Greenberg for shedding
his Tigers uniform for an Air Force uniform, was shamefully
under-represented on the list of supporters and backers of
this memorable project.
Detroiters Doing Interesting Things:
Matthew Berry: Could he become the second Republican
Jewish member of the House of Representatives? Matthew
Berry is taking on Democrat incumbent Jim Moran in the
Eighth District in Virginia, which includes Alexandria.
Berry, a fiscal conservative, is the former general counsel
to the Federal Communications Commission and clerk to
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. In contrast to
Moran, he is advancing a pro-Israel platform. He is the son
of Larry and Sharon Berry and occasionally seeks out the
advice of his grandparents, Harold and Barbara Berry. Yes,
the other Jewish Republican, Eric Cantor, also of Virginia,
has definitely taken note.
Norm Fell: As the chair of the clinical law department and
founder of Cooley Law School's Innocence Project, Norm Fell
has the unique opportunity to tap into the talents, creativity
and passion of 4,000 current Cooley Law School students in
Lansing, Grand Rapids, Auburn Hills and its newest location
in Ann Arbor. When not sifting through evidence to overturn
guilty verdicts and exploring other areas (such as for senior
citizens) where Cooley can establish clinics, Fell assists Jewish
students at the Ann Arbor campus find everything from syna-
gogues to corned beef sandwiches.
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Final Look on page 6
tenderbirmingharn.com
December 24 .2009
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