frontlines
My Yiddishe Swami
Keri Guten Cohen
Story Development Editor
Edsel dealership, then had an auto
repair shop. His parents imparted
Jewish traditions and values that
admit I was intrigued by the press
included a fine sense of gratitude. So
release. Author Radhanath Swami
far, nothing that extraordinary.
was coming to Metro Detroit
But, at age 19, this son who pos-
as part of a tour for his book, The
sessed a certain sensitivity and con-
Journey Home: Autobiography of an
cern for all around him, wanted to
American Swami (Mandala).
take a semester off from college to
travel with a friend. He
OK, I do take
had his parents' bless-
yoga once a week
ing for a three-month
from an extremely
journey. Little did they
lithe 65-year-old
know this trek to find
whose soothing
a closer connection
voice challenges
to God would last for
our spirits as
several years and land
much as our bod-
him in India, where
ies. And yes, I have
he now lives as one of
been known to
that country's great
listen to a certain
spiritual leaders.
Wayne Dyer CD
The Journey Home
over and over
is truly a page-turner.
again in my car,
I was sucked in, find-
absorbing positive
ing myself staying up
vibes about love
until 2 a.m. some
and intention.
Radhanath Swami
nights because I was
But what
so intrigued with all
hooked me
Slavin encountered and all he discov-
about the American swami were his
ered about himself. He was relentless
humble beginnings in a middle-class
in his pursuit, driven from within.
Jewish family in Chicago's suburb of
Highland Park. It was the 1950s, and
All that passion, singlemind-
edness and faith led him across
Richard Slavin played sandlot base-
Europe, through Turkey, across Iran,
ball; his hero was Nellie Fox of the
Afghanistan and into India.
Chicago White Sox.
Now traveling alone and living the
His father, Jerry, first owned an
I
JN CONTENTS
June 23 29, 2011
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Ann Arbor
13, 27
Points Of View
27
12
Sports
23
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Spotlight
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Calendar
18
Food
34
Staff Box/Phone List
Synagogue List
Torah Portion
World/Israel
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Life Cycles
38
Marketplace
40
Obituaries
from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on both Tuesday, June
28, at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32
Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms, and
on Wednesday, June 29, at the Royal Oak
Music Theater, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak.
Free. RSVP at (248) 632-0740. (Note: An
incorrect date was in last week's Calendar.)
:
21-27 Sivan 5771 I Vol. CXXXIX, No. 19
Arts/Entertainment
Metro
Radhanath Swami will speak and sign books
JEWISHNEWS
Around Town
Letters
life of an Indian sadhu, or monk, pen-
niless and barefoot, he writes of his
adventures and shares what's going on
in his head and heart. He explains it all
in a way that resonates with readers and
takes us with him as he evolves deeper
and deeper into thought and spirit.
Along the way, he meets amaz-
ing teachers and is awed by natural
beauty. He especially feels the pull of
India's mighty rivers. He has danger-
ous and mystical encounters with
humans and animals. Everything
prompts a deeper look inside. He
perseveres with a resolve few might
exhibit, following his inner voice in
search of meaning. In turn, his con-
templation pushes you to do some
soul-searching, too.
Now a swami, or priest in the Hindu
tradition, he practices Bhatki Yoga
(devotional yoga) and passionately
pursues a lifelong mission of reducing
suffering in the world; this includes
his charity, Midday Meals, which pro-
vides more than 260,000 daily lunches
to indigent children in India. 1
8
46
5
24
26
21
Danny Raskin
Loan was always there in the back-
ground. "Growing up, I knew about it,"
Randy said, "because Bubbe went
to HFL." Then Randy's son, Matthew,
needed both oral surgery and
braces to correct a serious issue,
and Randy's mother reminded her
about the agency and how, if Bubbe
went, it had to be a good solution.
"It wasn't a huge amount of money,"
Randy said, "and it might not have
seemed like a big deal to some
people, but for us, it was important.
It wasn't merely to make my son
better-looking, it was work he really
needed to have done, and if we didn't
do it then, it would have become worse."
Randy qualified for a loan through
HFL's Project HEAL program which
targets medical, dental and related
health care expenses. A grant from
The Jewish Fund helps support this
important program.
"Now I tell everyone, if you need
something, Hebrew Free Loan is where
to go, because things come up all
the time in life, and you aren't always
ready for what comes your way."
The Power of Recycling
Shabbat Lights
Shabbat: Friday, June 24, 8:56 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, June 25, 10:08 p.m
Shabbat: Friday, July 1, 8:55 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, July 2, 10:07 p.m.
Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah
calendar.
Columnist
For Randy Frankfort, Hebrew Free
35
On The Cover:
Hebrew Free Loan gives interest-
free loans to members of our
community for a variety of
personal and small business
needs. HFL loans are funded
entirely through community
donations which continually
recycle to others, generating
many times the original value
to help maintain the lives of
local Jews.
www.hfldetroit.org
248.723.8184
HEBREW
FREE -,, LOAN
hfidetroit.org
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