FINANCIAL PROBLEMS GETTING THE BEST OFYOU? • Are you running out of money? • Are you facing foreclosure? • Are you thinking about using your IRA or 401(k) to pay your creditors? • Are you so stressed that you can't sleep at night? Don't rely on myths and rumors. Chapter 7, 13 and 11 Bankruptcy can help you when you think that there is no solution. We can SAVE your home and significantly reduce or totally eliminate second mortgages, credit card debt and medical bills and other unsecured debts. WE CAN HELP YOU GET YOUR LIFE BACK! Complete confidential no obligation consultation! You have nothing to lose. We will get you through this!! Gudeman & Associates, PC, 26862 WOODWARD AVE. SUITE 103 • ROYAL OAK, MI 48067 WWW.GUDEMANLAW.COM Gudeman & Associates, P.C. is law finn which is a Debt Relief Agency assisting people seeking protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Former Detroiter Rebecca Rosen will discuss her first book, Spirited and share her personal story. 6 April 29 • 2010 How to Send Letters We prefer letters relating to JN articles. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Letters of 225 words or less are considered first. Longer ones will be subject to trimming. Letter writers are limited in frequency of publication. Letters must be original and contain the name, address and title of the writer and a day phone number. Non -electronic copies must be hand signed. Send letters to the JN: 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax (248) 304-8885; e-mail, letters@the jewishnews.com . We prefer e-mail. Federation Getting Together Communally We write this letter to the Jewish News PERHAPS IT IS TIME TO LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT BANKRUPTCY. 248-546-2800 Letters Edward J. Gudeman 1 „„60 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL ADAT SHALOM, (248) 851-5100. and to our community in response to Robert Sldar's Editor's Letter "Getting Together Communally" (March 25, page 5). We agree wholeheartedly that "our communal model isn't broken, but does require a tune-up:' as Mr. Sklar states. We also agree that cooperation is key to such tune-up in our Detroit Jewish community. In an effort to maximize our community's dollars and continually improve quality of service, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, in partnership with its agencies, has formed a task force to identify ways to save money by creating greater efficiencies, leveraging economies of scale as well as implementing strategic and structural communal changes. The Community Collaborations Task Force is overseeing workgroups to sur- vey contractual arrangements, staffing, vendors and other functions among six common areas in the community. Workgroups are comprised of Federation staff and lay professionals who are experts within these areas: facilities, office functions/financial services/trans- portation, information technology, mar- keting, human resources, programs and services. The task force and its workgroups are working closely with our Federation agencies to develop recommenda- tions that make the best use of limited resources and create the highest-quality cost-effective and efficient agencies and services. Based on the recommendations developed by the workgroups, the task force will formulate and implement an overall action plan for community col- laborations. Key findings and recommendations will be shared with our community's synagogues and other communal organi- zations to explore further collaborations and respond to the economic challenges they face as well. The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit is proud of our fundraising efforts and legacy of philanthropy to support vulnerable members of our local Jewish community and Jews worldwide. Given the current and foreseeable eco- nomic environment, Federation, along with its agencies, continues to take the necessary steps to examine operations and maximize Campaign dollars. Yes, in the light of a shrinking con- tribution pool coupled with increased demands, combining more resources will relieve some of the pressure on Federation's Annual Campaign, as Mr. Sklar indicates. The Community Collaborations Initiative takes the corn- munity further by beginning a process of fiscal responsibility to meet the ongoing needs of our community without dimin- ishing the excellent quality of service for which our Federation system has been recognized. Through this community-wide initia- tive, we will help strengthen and posi- tion the Detroit Jewish community for the future. Irwin Elson and Dr. Richard Krugel, co-chairs, Community Collaboration Task Force Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit Bloomfield Township Don't Besmirch Tea Party How dare you quote WDET-FM General Manager Mikel Ellcessor's comment, "The explosive growth of three distinct groups — the Tea Party Movement, the Patriot Movement with the militias as their paramilitary arms, and the nativ- ist anti-immigration movement — has been under way for the past year. While these distinct movements have their own animus, there is a well-documented and rising level of extreme rhetoric coming from all three groups" ("Right-Wing Extremism," April 8, page 10). The Tea Party Movement should not be quoted in that context. It is largely made up of truly patriotic Americans who are at odds with the president's policies. What is conspicuously absent from that list is mention of left-wing hate groups. There is an excellent article (avail- able on the Internet) titled "Press Largely Ignored Incendiary Rhetoric At Bush Protest" by Bill Sammon. In it, he describes a situation where President George W. Bush was attending a fund- raiser in Oregon. There was a sign calling for his assassination as well as other indignities. There is more from this arti- cle if you wish to explore it. In addition, there have been many protesters in other locations of the United States who have held signs calling for Mr. Bush's assas- sination as well. Your newspaper never published this. Why not? Apparently, you just choose to demon- ize the conservative movement. This is patently unfair. Dr. and Mrs. Edward Goldberg West Bloomfield Advocacy Tools Ruthie Lehmann's article on "Israel advo- cacy" in Teen2Teen (April 15, page TT2) highlighted a key issue for our commu- nity, namely, giving Jewish teens the tools to confront challenges to Israel's defen- sive actions and even her legitimacy. The Jewish Community Relations Council was pleased to work with the Israeli consulate to bring Israel advo- cacy trainer Neil Lazarus to Akiva