Metro
Defense Tools
TribeFest
Israel on Campus Coalition
provides ways for students
to counter anti-Israel action.
Young Jews aim to connect to
Jewish roots amid glitz of Vegas.
Don Cohen
Special to the Jewish News
forum, along with conferences and
other physical gatherings, are designed
to share new resources and educate
tephen Kuperberg, execu-
staff in best practices for proactively
tive director of the Israel on
building relationships, developing pro-
Campus Coalition (ICC), says
gramming and maintaining a strong
that when he flies into Detroit Metro
pro-Israel atmosphere on campus —
Airport, he usually heads west toward
and for dealing with difficult issues
Ann Arbor where he got his under-
when they inevitably arise.
graduate and law degrees at University
"We focus on a 365-day program of
of Michigan, and toward Kalamazoo,
promoting Israel on campus and seiz-
where he grew up.
ing the agenda:' Kuperberg said. "We
But this time, he
work to show what Israel actually offers,
headed north and east not just what people say about it. We
to keynote the 79th
stress Israel's historic quest for peace,
Intercongregational
the energy, creativity and entrepreneur-
Men's Club Dinner
ial spirit of the country, and that Israel
held Feb. 16 at Young
has a diverse society and shares con-
Israel of Oak Park.
cerns about many of the issues impor-
The ICC is a
tant on campuses: the environment,
Stephen
national organization
human rights and gay rights."
Kuperberg
based in Washington,
A current focus is countering efforts
D.C., born nine years
to delegitimize Israel, particularly
ago from a partnership between the
through the BDS (Boycott, Divestment,
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family
Sanctions) movement. One resource
Foundation and Hillel: The Foundation
that provides tools to understand and
for Jewish Campus Life. Originally a
respond is the "BDS Cookbook" at www.
membership organization, it is now "a
stopbds.com .
coalition of the willing" that can coordi-
ICC also provides resources for
nate different initiatives and approaches informed, respectful and substantive
while not requiring buy-in on every-
discussion on the Arab-Israeli conflict
thing it does from each of its 33 affili-
in all of its aspects.
ated organizations, Kuperberg says.
"Interestingly, those in [Israel and the
And when you have affiliates from all
Palestinian areas] are able to talk con-
three major Jewish streams as well as a
structively about a peaceful horizon:'
political spectrum that stretches from
Kuperberg said. "On college campuses,
Americans for Peace Now to the Zionist we are about 40 years behind the times."
Organization of America, that flexibility
Mark Berkman, president of Young
is important.
Israel of Oak Park, was pleased with
"Israel supporters on campus
Kuperberg's talk.
know their communities far better
"It was a very important topic, and
than someone from the outside does,"
very timely with all that is going on in
Kuperberg said. "We ask how we can be
the world:' Berkman said. "The ICC is
helpful, and then work to meet those
really the linchpin in providing infor-
needs. We don't assume we know the
mation so they can rebut the anti-Israel
answer. Each individual campus answer bias on campuses."
will be different and distinct, and we
Kuperberg also met with Hillel and
should appreciate those differences.
community relations professionals dur-
"We want to connect the campus
ing his visit, and took time to thank the
communities to the organizations that
Detroit Jewish community for its sup-
want to support them, and foster dis-
port of young Jews statewide.
cussion and provide needed resources:'
"Growing up in Kalamazoo, I would
Kuperberg said.
have fallen off the map:' he says. "I'm a
One way is through ICC Interactives,
product of the Detroit Jewish commu-
a new interactive web-based learn-
nity's fostering of a Jewish youth con-
ing and discussion forum for Hillel
nection with Israel." i _ I
and partner agency professionals. The
S
14 March 3 • 2011
T
he first time Moses men-
tioned to the Jewish people
that he wanted them to wan-
der off into the desert; we can only
imagine what the reaction might have
been. Looking back, however, we can
agree that they all made a pretty good
choice to do it.
Here in 2011, with the creation of
TribeFest: Las Vegas, March 6-8, the
Jewish Federations of North America
(JFNA) is giving young Jews a new
opportunity to wander into the desert.
This time, though, they get to sleep on
900-thread count sheets at the hotel
at Mandalay Bay and party at some of
the hottest venues in this playground
to the stars.
This leap forward back to our roots,
however, is not simply a chance to
pound some Slivovitz and flirt with
well over 1,000 other young Jews from
across North America. It is a serious
and focused effort by JFNA to change
its approach about how to engage
young people into Jewish communal
life.
TribeFest is a way for young people
to connect, explore and celebrate
the richness of Jewish life, including
music, food, arts and culture. The goal
is to help people find their own con-
nection to their Jewish identity, then
recognize how much of an impact
they can have on the world around
them.
Networking, Lunch Study
At Downtown Synagogue
More than 100 networkers are
registered to participate in a meet-
ing coordinated by Jewish B2B
Networking at 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Monday, March 7, at the Isaac
Agree Downtown Synagogue, 1457
Griswold, Detroit. Signup is still
open; call (313) 962-4047.
The event will feature speed
networking. People can meet and
exchange business cards in a struc-
tured setting with many like-minded
entrepreneurs and business owners.
At noon that day, Robert Sklar,
Contributing Editor of the Detroit
Jewish News, will discuss in a lunch-
and-learn setting the role of the JN in
Jewish Detroit. Call for reservations.
The Detroit connection for TribeFest
includes Robb Lippitt of Bloomfield
Hills, the national co-chair along with
Robin Zappin of Philadelphia. David
Kramer of Birmingham serves on the
national TribeFest team as co-chair
of pre- and post-programming. Local
chairs Rachel Wright of Birmingham
and Matthew Ran of Bloomfield Hills
will lead more than 40 local young
adults to the event.
There will be programming and
speakers in all aspects of the Jewish
experience. Speakers include Ben
Mezrich (author of The Accidental
Billionaires, the book the film The
Social Network is based on), Jonathan
Kraft (president of the New England
Patriots), Miri Ben-Ari (Grammy-
winning hip-hop violinist) and Las
Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. Event
participants will be able to "Choose
Their Own Adventure" not just at the
event, but also in how their Judaism
resonates.
J-Dub Records, Jew or Not Jew,
Presentense, MASA, Birthright Next,
Punk Jews, Idealist and Jewish Art
Now are just of few of the partners
who will help drive the chaotic energy
of the event. The event's success will
be measured by connecting people to
the Jewish community in any way, not
just through Federation.
For more information about the
event, visit www.tribefestorg.
Boutique, Women's Dept.
Team To Aid Federation
The Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit Women's
Department and the local women's
clothing boutique, SHE, will present a
personal appearance and stock show
by Heike Jarick on March 3-4 to sup-
port Federation. Ten percent of all
sales those two days will be donated
to Federation's Carolyn and Jim
Bellinson Challenge Fund.
Sharon Eisenshtadt is owner of
SHE and a Women's Department
board member. Event co-chairs are
Michele Bleznak and Molly Chernow.
SHE is at 4076 W. Maple,
Bloomfield Hills.
Call the Women's Department at
(248) 642-4260, ext. 202.