Front Lines N E arc Enriching Lives. Erasing Barriers. Moments To Savor 0 nce more, Jews of all ages galva- nized behind a noble cause that, at its simplest, helped Christians who were scheduled to work or volun- teer at local social-service nonprofits on Christmas. The outreach gave Christians a chance to take the day off and enjoy the holiday with their families. This year, 40 members of the Muslim commu- nity were counted among the 900 volunteers at one of the Detroit Jewish community's 74 Mitzvah Day sites serving the Christian com- munity. Muslim participants were wel- comed and appreciated. I hope they return next year. Community service is central to all three faiths whose roots go back to Abraham. We seldom see such a coming together. Mitzvah Day has become an increas- ingly popular program of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and its public affairs arm, the Jewish Community Relations Council. It's a way to give back and where all givers are equal in stature. Lest there be a mistake: Mitzvah Day isn't so much about Jews, who have nurtured the annual program, or Muslims, who joined in the effort this year at Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan. Other tzedakah opportunities included feeding the homeless, delivering Meals on Wheels, assisting at nursing homes and vol- unteering at senior living complexes. Mitzvah Day is really about the Christians who otherwise may have had to spend time away from their families on one of their holiest days of the year. It's great that Mitzvah Day grabbed headlines, even in the New York Times. The press played up the Jewish-Muslim angle given the political and ideological unrest simmering in the Middle East. Local Muslims, coordinated by the Council of Islamic Organizations under Victor Begg of Bloomfield Hills, worked alongside Jews at Gleaners in Pontiac to sort and package nearly a ton of food. This interfaith impetus to brightening Christmas Day certainly resonates. Any Jewish-Muslim friendships that emerge will only be a positive as we try to build sturdy multicultural bridges in our own back yard. Having younger Muslims take part is especially beneficial because their impres- sionable age means they could be deeply influenced by the vapors of propaganda ECO,,Judaism What you can do to stop global warming. Basics • Use less hot water. It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Use less hot water by installing a low-flow showerhead (350 pounds of CO2 saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year). • Use less water. It is precious. • Opt out of junk mail. Get off all of those lists. You will have less to recycle if you never get it in the mail in the first place. Contact 1 (888) 567-8688 to opt out. Also contact the three credit bureaus. Get forms at www.ftc.gov/privacy/cred-ltr.htm . Another Web site for credit bureaus is www.optoutprescreen.comi?rf=t. To stop catalogs, go to www.abacusoptout.com. Please contact Michigan Coalition on the Environment & Jewish Life for global warming presentations: (248) 642-5393, ext. 7, or mi-coejl®jfmd.org . Source: Michigan Coalition on the Environment & Jewish Life emanating from world events. Begg's work with the Council of Islamic Organizations as well as the Detroit-based Michigan Roundtable for Diversity & Inclusion has been integral in bringing the Muslim community around to embracing tolerance and understanding. Mitzvah Day won't settle the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. And the wonderful melting pot that bubbled up as Mitzvah Day must not be confused with the sheer hatred that Palestinian terrorists have for Zionists and Jews. Just last week, Palestinian terror left another Israeli settler dead. American Jews can't lose sight of Israel's struggle to not just exist, but also prosper with safe, secure borders. Detroit Jewry is mighty proud of being the longtime organizer of Mitzvah Day — and rightly so. It has blossomed into a high-profile event now attracting Muslim support and national attention. Still, humility is the highest form of volunteerism. So it's admirable how Jews and Muslims relished their 2009 mitzvah moments and their gifts of compassion and ecumenism, but then quickly moved on to other pressing matters of the day. 1 On behalf of the men, women and children with disabilities we serve... THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Please share your thoughts online: thejewishnews.com/community. Go to Local News. Related story: page 15. THANK YOU! Quotable "My first encounter with anything Jewish was at age 7. I saw a TV commercial that said, 'Happy Passover from your friends at Channel 2,' and I said, 'Mommy, I want to be Jewish.' I drew six-pointed stars on everything in the house. And that was that. It was instinctive. The next day, my mother talked to a woman she worked with — I can't imagine what their conversation actually entailed — but the woman invit- ed us to attend my first seder." — Yitzhak Jordan, aka Y-Love, a black Orthodox Jew and hip-hop artist who creates rhymes from the Talmud, quoted in the November/December This year has been a time to celebrate JARC's forty years of helping people with disabilities to live full and dignified lives in our community. As you consider your year-end charitable gifts, please remember how much your generous support enriches the lives of others. Together we will remain strong for another forty years. issue of Moment magazine. Our JN Mission The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that's useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. It strives to reflect the full range of diverse viewpoints while also advocat- ing positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continuity. We desire to create and maintain a challenging, caring, enjoyable work environment that encourages creativity and innova- tion. We acknowledge our role as a responsible, responsive member of the community. Being competitive, we must always strive to be the most respected, outstanding Jewish com- munity publication in the nation. Our rewards are informed, educated readers, very satisfied advertisers, contented employees and profitable growth. 30301 Northwestern I Suite 100 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248.538.6611 v/tty I Fax: 248.538.6615 jarc@jarc.org www.jarc. org/donate December 31 • 2009 5