Metro
The Lester and Jewell Morris Hillel Jewish Student
Center at Michigan State University Invites You to
Inspiring
Future Jewish
Leaders
Our Annual Tribute Gala Celebrating Jewish Life
at Michigan State University
Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 6:00 p.m.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Southfield
Honoring Our Presidents
President Patrice Phillips
& Dr. Eric Phillips
Past President Michael Balkin
& Debbie Balkin
Past President Art Langer
& Gail Langer
Past President Jeff Himelhoch
& Kim Himelhoch
Drawn By Philosophy
Frankel Jewish Academy hires
its first dean of Judaics.
R
abbi Maccabee Avishur joins
Frankel Jewish Academy this
fall as the West Bloomfield
school's first Dean
of Judaics. Avishur,
currently direc-
tor of Judaics at
the Emery/Weiner
School in Houston,
will supervise the
school's Judaics
faculty in develop-
Rabbi Avishur
ing curriculum. In
addition to administrative duties, he
will teach.
After graduating with honors from
Brandeis University near Boston,
Avishur attended Shapell's College of
Jewish Studies in Jerusalem before
continuing his education at the
University of Cambridge in England,
where he earned a master's of phi-
losophy. Avishur is pursuing doctorate
coursework in rabbinic literature.
He received his rabbinic ordination
from Dayan Ephraim Greenblatt in
Memphis, Tenn.
"Rabbi Avishur's keen mind and
breadth of professional experience
make him a valuable addition to our
staff as dean and teacher:' said Rabbi
Eric Grossman, FJA's head of school.
"When he was here as a visiting
teacher, the level of energy and enthu-
siasm he brought to the classroom
engaged every student present."
Avishur said, "I have been interested
in FJA for a number of years. I visited
five years ago and was impressed by
how happy the students were. When
kids are that happy in class, and in
the morning no less, then I know they
enjoy their learning and the relation-
ships they have with their teachers:'
A second factor drawing Avishur
is the school's identity as a hala-
chic, intellectually open, Zionist and
American school.
"I am intrigued by how the school's
philosophy works in practice said
Avishur. "FJA is a living experiment in
klal yisrael, where a baseline of practice
agreed to by all members makes pos-
sible one large community of diverse
components. Jews are God wrestlers
— always grappling with the various
implications of thought and practice.
FJA seems to do this well. That's what
excited me — to be an active partici-
pant in the wrestling match."
Avishur and his wife, Alexis, are
the parents of two sons. Alexis Letvin
Avishur grew up in the Detroit area
and still has family locally.
"We won't miss Houston's summers','
he said. "But we will miss the rodeos." E
Guarding Against Terror
"Security and Terrorism: What you
need to know now" will be the topic of
Andrew Arena, FBI special agent, 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 25, at the Holocaust
Memorial Center, Farmington Hills.
There is a charge. Register at www.
adl.org/michigan or call (248) 353-7553.
Sponsors are the Anti-Defamation
League/Michigan Region, American
Jewish Committee Metro Detroit
Chapter and the Jewish Community
Relations Council of Metropolitan
Detroit.
Passover potluck dinner at 6:30.
The Metropolitan Detroit Federation
of Reform Synagogues (MetFed) will
provide kosher-for-Passover chicken
and beverages, and those attending will
be responsible for bringing a Passover
non-dairy side dish in a disposable
container. There is no charge for the
meal, but reservations are necessary.
Contact Dave Henig by March 25:
(248) 682-4992 or dahenig@comcast.
net.
Each year, MetFed sponsors a com-
munity service on the Friday during
Passover. Hosts have rotated among the
area Reform congregations. This event
started in 1967, when the Metropolitan
Detroit Federation of Reform
Synagogues was founded to promote
the advancement of Reform Judaism
and to foster community togetherness
and inter-congregational harmony.
Gala Chairs
Sharyl and Alan Ackerman
Emily and Gary Alter
Penny and Harold Blumenstein
Carol and Gary Hurand
Gina and Arthur Horwitz
Cheryl and Dr. Ron Kerwin
Anita and Robert Naftaly
Ann Newman
Rhoda and Stephen Paull
Malka and Gary Torgow
Mitchell Weiss
To reserve an ad in the tribute journal,
please call 517-332-1916 or visit www.msuhillel.org
before March 25, 2010
For gala tickets or more information,
contact Jonathon Koenigsberg
at 517-332-1916 or jonathon@msuhillel.org
It
Jewish
Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit
WE'RE PART OF THE TEAM
Reform Shabbat
Members of Detroit-area Reform con-
gregations will come together as a com-
munity at Congregation Shir Tikvah in
Troy on Friday, April 2, for the annual
Isaac Mayer Wise Shabbat. The 7:45
p.m. service will be preceded by a
4H1!lel
Lester & Jewell Morris Hillel
Jewish Student Center
1579990
18
March 18 • 2010