JEWISH EDU
Helping Others
1 By, jraines Sherman
-7
Summer in the City keeps
her coming back.
By Jillian Fellows
W
hat kind of kid wants
to spend six summers
doing community ser-
vice? I do.
My allegiance is to Summer in the
City (SITC), a nonprofit organiza-
tion that takes teens from the suburbs
to downtown Detroit to beautify and
rebuild the city.
Founded in 2002, SITC has recruited
more than 2,700 volunteers who have
completed 55,000 hours of commu-
nity service in Detroit. I've seen SITC
mature from a puny little program into
a community service juggernaut.
Teens earn community service hours
each day they volunteer, but what
keeps me coming back is that I truly
enjoy helping the Detroit community,
especially through our youth enrich-
ment programs.
After six years of volunteering, I now
run the SITC sports programs at several
youth sites. Children learn the basics
of team sports, and what I love most is
•
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• "
"":
Directed by: Christopher Brenner
when a kid shares
Jillian Fellows
their newfound love
for a sport — that
tells me I'm making a difference.
Last spring, when I went to Israel on
an alternative spring break trip through
the Jewish National Fund, I realized
SITC has taught me many valuable
lessons.
Working mostly in the Negev, vol-
unteers gardened, painted and played
with kids. Standing under the hot des-
ert sun 6,018 miles away from home,
I realized I was doing there what I had
been doing in Detroit. The entire trip
I kept making comparisons between
the tikkun ()lam (repair of the world)
I was doing in Israel with the Detroit
program a few Jewish guys from the
suburbs started eight years ago.
Giving back to the community,
whether it's in Michigan or in Israel,
now seems like the most natural thing
to do. I am grateful to have learned that
through SITC. @
Jillian Fellows, 18, of West Bloomfield is a
sophomore at Ohio University in Athens.
NATURE AND NURTURING
from page 45
"A store ofpopular Jewish humor that goes back to Lenny Bruce, Shelly Berman
and the famous Borsht Belt Resorts in the Catskills....at•aordinarily Awry!"
response to the Holocaust. The muse-
um is located on the site of the Old
Synagogue that was built in Cape Town
nearly two centuries ago. The current
synagogue — the Gardens Shul — is a
magnificent building. It was an incredible
feeling to stand there and take in centuries
of worship half-way around the globe.
During the three months I was there,
I also was amazed by the wildlife on an
African safari, swam with sharks off the
Atlantic Ocean, watched the sunset from
the top of Table Mountain, mingled
with penguins in a nature reserve, rode
elephants and ostriches across the des-
ert, skydived over the African coastline,
tasted wines at a South African vineyard
and attended two World Cup matches.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup began
shortly after I arrived in Cape Town. The
"Michael Brian Ogden plays the addled Isaac pitch perfectly...(and)...this splendid
cast is wonderful as they play four or five roles apiece, putting the "Ensemble"
in Jewish...Theatre." –Michael Margolin, Encore Michigan
"An astonishing poignant, hilarious evening in the theatre.
You miss this at your own risk. Wiwi" –Davidi. Magid son, Artistic Director; JET
"The acting is superb in this play that centers around people partially disconnected
from their parental and peer generations. Convincing with both beauty and vitality."
–Ruth Crystal Za•omp, The New Monitor
"Weighty issues served between generous servings oflaughter: Just the right amount
of drama, romance and religion to keep Om becoming either silly or syrupy.
A seamless flow that will have the audience thinking long after the laughter stops."
–Ronelle Grim The Jewish News
atmosphere and energy in every corner
of the country was incredible. Every
day, a new match with new team colors
and languages would flood the streets of
Cape Town. Those annoying horns you
heard buzzing on television were every-
where, and I now have my own vuvuzela
to blow back home at the MSU football
games.
My summer in Cape Town will remain
with me for a lifetime. During this won-
derful, eye-opening journey, the lessons
I learned,are countless. The image of life
through an African lens has taught me
that while many people here may have
little material pleasures, their desire for
life is measureless and meaningful. @
Danny Bittker, 21, of Franklin is a senior at
Michigan State University in East Lansing. At
MSU's Hillel, he is an intern in fundraising.
NEW FACES from page 45
BE SURPRISED...BE AT JET
he studied management, sociology and
tional programs focusing on Israel.
anthropology. While in the Israel Defense
Kozel looks forward to assuming his new
responsibilities at MSU Hillel and working
Forces from 2003-2007, he served in field
intelligence and was in active duty during
the Second Lebanon War.
As Israel Fellow, Kozel's duties include
providing educational and cultural Israel
programming on the MSU campus and con-
JET performs in the Aaron DeRoy Theatre in the JCC
located on the corner of Maple & Drake in West Bloomfield
16'29650
46
October 21 • 2010
necting with Jewish students through Taglit
Birthright-Israel and implementing addi-
with students to create a deeper awareness of
Israel, its culture and people.
For more about upcoming programs, go
to www.msuhillel.org . @