Stephen and Nancy Grand (now of San Francisco) for the past two months. The institute includes the Blumenstein Family Water Information Center ow can you engineer Middle established by Harold, Penny and East peace? Get the engi- Richard Blumenstein of Bloomfield neers at the Technion-Israel Hills. Institute of Technology in Haifa to He says the GWRI provides "an work on it. important umbrella" for an interdis- Noah Gall, professor of civil engi- ciplinary approach to water resources neering at Technion and new director bringing together chemical, biological, of the Stephen and mechanical and civil engineers with Nancy Grand Water scientists in chemistry and microbiol- Research Institute ogy. (GWRI), isn't look- "It's a remarkable thing',' he said, ing to supplant the crediting it with being a major con- politicians, but he tributor to the progress being made. says the institute The Blumenstein information center hopes to make their has become "a central focal point for job easier. Noah Galil all water practitioners in Israel;' said "Other people say Galll. In 2010, more than 400,000 visi- because of water we will have more wars',' said Galil, who was in Detroit last tors from Israel and abroad accessed its extensive and expanding database. week to speak for the local American Because of work done at Technion, Technion Society "But Israel's experi- the Mediterranean Sea is Israel's most ence and technology will enable more important source of drinking water cooperation in the future and, I hope, I and Israel is an international expert am optimistic that the cooperation will on desalination. Current research assist the achievement of peace in the focuses on how to reduce maintenance area. costs and improve energy efficiency. Water is a scarce resource through- Israel is also a world leader in out the Middle East. Israel gets most industrial wastewater treatment — of its water from the Kinneret (Sea Galil's specialty. One of the world's big- of Galilee) in the north. The second- gest filtration plants is in the Galilee largest natural source is underground and filters about 500 million cubic aquifers in Samaria in the northern meters of water per year from Israel's West Bank, an obvious issue of con- national water carrier. Israel also treats tention. 85 percent of its municipal wastewater. But Technion's internationally Gall says the next-highest percentage renowned work on desalination and wastewater treatment already provides is Spain at 12 percent. Like desalination, wastewater treat- significant alternative resources that ment takes a large amount of energy as engineers are working hard to grow. does pumping water from the Kinneret "We don't have to fight over the to central Israel, which requires going natural resources," Gall said. "We have uphill about a quarter mile. Making to look together for a solution to arti- these processes more energy efficient ficially produce water. This should be is a top research priority. Increased done together." And he says, at some level, it already efficiencies in alternative water source technology will decrease the need for is. A recent Technion conference brought Israelis, Egyptians, Jordanians diverting the Kinneret, allowing for the water to flow naturally down the Jordan and Palestinians together and called River to the Dead Sea. for deeper cooperation on developing To better assist other nations, and water resources. "Sitting and working together is most grow its own reputation, Technion now offers a master's of education degree important these days in the Middle in English, and hopes to soon provide East;' he says. "We have a common lan- other programs. guage with them when we speak pro- "Academic education today is global, fessionally. And we speak professionally, not local," Gall said. "It is impossible not politically." to be a world-class university without students from other countries, so it's Interdisciplinary Work not enough to teach in Hebrew only." Gall has spent his career at Technion, The new international program has getting three degrees there, the first a attracted top students from China, doctorate in environmental engineer- India, South and Central America and ing in 1980. He has headed the GWRI, the United States. established by former Detroiters Don Cohen Special to the Jewish News H Webcasting Funerals Ira Kaufman Chapel in Southfield is now offering the option of webcasting funerals. "Families are now spread out around the country, and too often loved ones cannot make it back in time said funeral direc- tor Joshua Tobias. "This new service allows them to do the next best thing — watch and listen." Families, at no extra cost, can choose live webcast, archived webcast or neither. "We also hear from members of our community who are not able to make it to SAAB funerals, particularly senior citizens in the winter," said funeral director David Techner. For information, call Ira Kaufman Chapel, (248) 569-0020. move your mind' M SAAB AUTO SHOW SALES EVENT "People who test drive a Saab usually buy a Saab" I SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE 4 Year/50,000 MILES Bumper to Bumper Warranty DEMO SALE 2010 Saab 9-3 Sports Sedan Starting at $19,988 wow what a good deal!! 0% FINANCING UP TO 72 MONTHS ON SELECTED VEHICLES 2010 Saab 9-3 Convertible Buy NOW 2010 Saab 9-5 Aero AWD Buy $3264 0 sg7 988 , MSRP $49,140 SAVINGS $1615 No gimmicks. No headache. No hassles. Everyone qualifies for this price. 6 to choose from No gimmicks. No headache. No hass es. Everyone qualifies for this price. PRE-OWNED SPECIALS • WE SERVICE ALL MAKES & MODELS OVER 400 VEHICLES AVAILABLE Choose from pre-owned domestic, imports, trucks & SUV's. SAAB CERTIFIED PRE-OWNEED HEADQUARTERS Over 100 Available 9-3, 9-3 Aero, 9-5 & 9-7 6 year/100,000 mile warranty `Add tax, doc fee. plate & title. All rebates to dealer. —0% financing in lieu of rebates. with approved Tier 1 credit thru Ally AUTO. Expires 1 /31 /11. -Exclusive Valet Service- Experience Your New Vehicle At Your Home or Office! IONE3:33=MMI A MAI Of LaM5801 k, SAM TIOT* SATELLITE )(AA RADiO %m.o. 1 III ■ 11111=1=11111111111/1111111111111 SAAB of TROY SAAB of LAKESIDE 1819 Maplelawn Between Crooks & Coolidge In The Troy Motor Mall 19077 Hall Rd. Macomb, MI 48044 M-59 & Romeo Plank Rd. saaboftroy.com Saaboflakeside.com 15 MUG, E. Maple 161. 40.4 January 20 2011 29