Celebrate With Music

A

Yom HaAtzmaut party brings participants together in unity for Israel.

Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebration
of music was held at the Magic Stick in Detroit on May
10 hosted by Federation's Young Adult Division and
CommunityNEXT, Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy and Coby's
Judaica in West Bloomfield.
Rabbi Arnie Slutelberg of Shir Tikvah served as emcee
for the evening. Neil Michaels, cantorial soloist at Temple
Israel in West Bloomfied and guitarist Ari Teitel of West
Bloomfield opened the event with "Hatikvah" and the "Star-
Spangled Banner." Then, Reb Yosil Rosenzweig of Kitchener,

Ontario, joined in for a rendition of the classic Israeli song/poem
"Eili, Eili" by Chana Senesh.
Reb Yosil and the Kosher Gravy Co. took the stage for two
sets of blues, rock and soul. Teitel sat in with the band for a few
songs as well.
The event drew people from diverse communities — Jewish
and non-Jewish alike. All were united by their support of Israel
and love of music.
A raffle raised money for World ORT efforts in Sha'ar
Ha'Negev near Gaza. LI

Kelli Saperstein, Benji Rozenzweig and

Ben Chutz

Neil Michaels, cantorial soloist at Temple Israel, sings with Reb Yosil before he is

Sage Berger grabs the winning raffle

joined by his band, the Kosher Gravy Co.

ticket from a bucket held by emcee

Rabbi Arnie Slutelberg.

Fighting ALS

Avi Pesis of Ann Arbor and Chayala

Levits of Southfield

Event honoring Jim Hiller raises $90,000.

A

LS of Michigan–Lou Gehrig's Disease and the Hiller
ALS Clinic and Research Center honored Jim Hiller,
CEO of Hiller's Markets, on April 29 at the Royal
Oak Music Theatre. The event raised more than $90,000 to
support programs and services for people with ALS and
research into the cause, treatment and cure of the disease.
Hiller's allegiance to the ALS community began when his
mother, Harriet Hiller, was diagnosed with ALS. She lost her
battle to this disease, most commonly known as Lou Gehrig's
disease, in 2000.
"When my mother was diagnosed with ALS, I promised
that I would work to find a cure for this terrible disease,"
Hiller told the crowd. "This event is the chance for all of us to
act, not just talk. We have assembled a powerful partnership
between ALS of Michigan, the physicians and researchers at
Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Hiller ALS
Center. Every bit of support we can muster makes a difference
in this fight."
ALS affects more than 30,000 people across the United
States. In Michigan alone, more than 1,200 people are cur-
rently battling this disease. ALS attacks the motor neurons
in the brain and spinal cord that control the ability to move,
speak, swallow and eventually breathe, while the mind stays
fully aware.
The Hiller ALS Clinic and Research Center at Wayne State
University School of Medicine takes a progressive and
forward-looking approach to both patient care and research
towards a cure for ALS. Its world-class physician-scientists
work closely with clinical and scientific teams to develop
innovative treatments and resources for patients with ALS. F1

Linda Hiller Novak, vice president of ALS of Michigan

and Jim Hiller's sister, Lani and Norman Sussman, Fran

Schlesinger and Eric Novak

Dr. Eva Feldman, Jim Hiller and Dr. Richard Lewis, director Marge and Jim Hiller

of the Hiller ALS Center at WSU.

iN

May 26

G

2011

17