when Faber organized a physical challenge
much like you see on current TV shows
The Biggest Loser and Survivor. Oakland
County-based Tamarack Camps hosted the
challenge. Students who were Chaldean,
African American or Jewish, as well as so-
called skinheads who wore leather jackets,
had to depend on each other to navigate the
obstacles. Faber was among students and
faculty who took part in various courses.
One course involved hanging more than 30
feet in the air; participants relied on their
teammates to make sure they landed safely.
The participants ultimately learned how
to trust each other as well as develop lead-
ership skills.
"Many things have changed over the
years:' Faber said. "We worked hard to
get the kids involved in sports and school
activities. They learned better during infor-
mal settings and realized they could be
friends with kids from other ethnicities."
The lessons spilled over to families and
eventually the entire community.
"Chaldeans in the '80s were not involved
in many school programs," Faber said.
"Over time, we saw the dynamics change.
Now, so many Chaldean kids are excelling
in sports and in other programs."
Faber credits Father Frank Kalabat of

St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church on
West Maple for reaching out to Temple
Israel on Walnut Lake Road to
help secure a bridge of har-
mony between the two West
Bloomfield groups.
"We are so far past those
general stereotypes about
each other:' Faber said. "I
truly believe today that the
Chaldean community and the
Dr.
Jewish community have a healthy
Steve
relationship."
Gaynor
In Bloomfield Hills,
Superintendent Steve Gaynor, Ph.D., said
cultural interaction among students in
athletics, in classrooms on academic
teams is seamless.
He confirmed this by getting an insid-
er's perspective among friends in both
the Chaldean and Jewish communities.
"Our kids and our adults attend family
celebrations in each community — wed-
dings, bar and bat mitzvahs, etc.:' he said.
"There are close friendships that last well
beyond high school into college and adult-
hood. Kids hang out together — again,
routinely"
He added, "It would be too simple to
attribute this harmony only to our schools,

JACOB's Ladder

More than a decade ago, in the wake of tension in the
corridors of Southfield-Lathrup and West Bloomfield
high schools between Chaldean and Jewish students,
Chaldean and Jewish leaders were wise enough to recog-
nize that there – in those hallways – the future of Metro
Detroit's ethnic harmony would be influenced.
Those leaders understood they had to bring the kids
together, shatter the stereotypes, end the name-calling,
stress shared values and, most important, build trust and
inspire friendships.
The bridging project they chose in 1999 was dubbed
JACOB – Jewish and Chaldean Opportunity Builders. The
name reflected the shared history of these two great
cultures in the Bible. JACOB was the outgrowth of the
Temple Israel programming department and Jewish com-
munity members who saw the need to reach out to the
new neighbors planning the Chaldean Cultural Center
(CCC) at Shenandoah Country Club across Walnut Lake
Road, east of Drake.
"Recognizing our common ancestry and
heritage, we endeavored to bring lead-
ers of both communities together to
build bridges and share culture,"
recalled Rabbi Joshua Bennett
of Temple Israel, which had sup-
ported the CCC during West
Bloomfield zoning approval hear-
ings.
Rabbi Bennett and Barbara
Dechter, a longtime temple member,

26

April 1 • 2010

though I give great
credit to faculties that
embrace, live and teach
Eugene
inclusively. We also Driker
have great kids,
raised in households
that, despite religious
and cultural differences,
embrace many of the same
values."

dents also now attend WSU and
other local campuses as they,
too, are becoming profes-
sionals.
"Our history has brought
us closer together:' said
Mike George, in many
respects the face of the local
Chaldean community. "We
Dr. Jay
have learned about each other
Noren
over the years. We have improved
Wayne State's Influence
our communication with each other,
After high school, higher education over
which ultimately improved our relationship."
the years has provided upward mobility
Dr. Jay Noren is president of Wayne State,
for both Jewish and Chaldean immigrants. a gold sponsor of "Building Community" He
"It is particularly noteworthy that
said the initiative "is consistent with Wayne
Wayne State University has served as the
State University's tradition of celebrating
`portal to the American dream' for both
diversity and educating students to have
of these groups, who trace their roots to
both a global perspective and an apprecia-
the same area of the world and who share
tion for cultural and ethnic enrichment."
so many characteristics and values',' says
He added, "Our Center for Peace and
Eugene Driker, a Jewish member of the
Conflict Studies is devoted to such efforts.
WSU Board of Governors.
And we are currently developing plans
Detroit-based Wayne State was the
to establish an international center for
launching pad for Jewish careers in
Middle East studies and diplomacy.
medicine, law, business,
We are also in the second
education and
year of a Study
accountancy.
Abroad pro-
Chaldean
gram that
stu-
last year

e re
Reac ng

• MAY – An opening, invitation-only event hosted by
the Chaldean community.

• JUNE – A roundtable discussion among Chaldean and Jewish
joined with Father
business people about how – working together – they can create
Frank Kalabat,
new businesses, jobs and ideas of where they can collaborate.
of St. Thomas
Chaldean
• SEPTEMBER – A community-wide event with a focus on building
Catholic Church
business-entrepreneurial relationships. Also, a roundtable discussion
on West Maple,
among Chaldean and Jewish high school teens discussing the impor-
and Martin
tance of education – and the challenges they face getting to know each
Manna, co-pub-
other, overcome stereotypes, etc., in their respective schools.
lisher of the
Chaldean News, to
• OCTOBER – A roundtable discussion among Chaldean and Jewish
create a three-step
physicians discussing challenges and opportunities for working
ladder for JACOB.
together on genetic research, respecting the customs and
Rabbi Josh and
traditions of their patients, mentoring, etc.
Father Frank worked
with the youth. Adults
• DECEMBER – A community-wide closing
enjoyed cultural sharing
celebration event hosted by the
and relationship building
Jewish community.
with ethnic dinners at Temple
Israel and Shenandoah as mixers. For
the third and highest step, the two com-
munities came together via Blight Busters to help
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
rebuild a home in Redford Township, a mitzvah
Bank of America.
[a righteous deed] repeated at least twice.
Programming continued for some three years.
GOLD SPONSORS:
"In the end," Rabbi Josh said, "we did a
Meijer, Wayne State University,
great job of beginning to build community.
Detroit Medical Center.
Although not a long-term project,
Rabbi
Project JACOB has led to open
SILVER SPONSORS:
Joshua
dialogue, shared physical space and
Lawrence Technological University,
Bennett
much trust." r]
Southfield; University of
Michigan-Dearborn;
County of Wayne.

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