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.