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I wrote a tribute to my attorney, the Honorable Justin "Chuck" Ravitz,
who believed my story along with the many others who came forward and bared
their souls of torment from being abused by the priests of the Catholic Church.
He represented all of us in a class action lawsuit against the Archdiocese
of Detroit in January, 2005 to no avail. The Catholic Church's lawyers and
hierarchy blocked the victims from ever having their stories told in open courts.
Justin "Chuck" Ravitz, encouraged me to write my story.
He read it and approved of the manner in which it was being told. He was
aoing to write his opinion of these cases for the inside of my book cover, but
died before he could complete it. People need to know the
truth. My book in a very small way opens the door to the truth.
This is my true story of the abuse I suffered by a Catholic
priest during my youth. I have lived with these memories
throughout my entire life. This priest was finally defrocked
by Pope John Paul II on January 11, 2004, after 39 long years.
You may purchase the book Raped by a Catholic Priest:
My True Story on Amazon.com kindle for only $9.99.
6 June 23 2011
frontlines
>> letters
Jews Must Defend
Rights Of Minorities
It is important to understand the
nature of recent opposition to sell a
Farmington Hills school to an Islamic
group. The opposition is due to the
fact it is under the auspices of a group
that is different than we are and whose
adherents are often hostile to Israel
and Zionism.
It is unbelievable that Jews would
contemplate denying another group
their lawful right to exercise their reli-
gion. Jews came to America to enjoy
that very freedom.
What may have been enshrined
in law was not often guaranteed in
practice. We fought hard and long to
claim our rights as a group and as
individuals. Many (including my own
grandparents) had doors slammed in
their faces when trying to buy or rent
or work where they chose just because
they were Jewish.
Opposition to synagogues, Jewish
schools and community centers were
often framed as concerns with zoning
regulations, parking problems and the
like. That any Jew should now simi-
larly frame such ethnic opposition is
astonishing and reprehensible.
How different is such an attitude
from the canard that questions the
loyalty of Jews to the U.S. because
they support Israel or Zionism? We
cannot have it both ways. Either we
staunchly and unquestionably fight
to preserve the rights enshrined in
the Constitution for all who live in
America, or we will see those rights
taken from us and from our children.
If Jews fall prey to the fear and
antipathy of bigotry, we will have for-
gotten one of the most basic values of
Judaism: "Remember that you were a
stranger in the land of Egypt."
We strive to understand and empa-
thize with those who are different,
because we are different. We do not
have to agree with the stranger or even
like him. If we forget that, we have for-
gotten Judaism.
Lighting The Way To
A Better Tomorrow
"Try a smile, we could use it."
That public service announcement,
made by the late Alex Graham, was
just re-released on what would have
been her 30th birthday. Alex died at 17,
just shy of her high school graduation.
What was a devastating loss for her
West Bloomfield family has become a
testament to the power and resiliency
of the human spirit.
Since 1999, local bicycle riders have
participated in the Make-A-Wish
Foundation of Michigan ride, support-
ing the granting of "wishes" for criti-
cally ill children. The local community
has supported Team Alex, formed in
her memory, and contributed more
than $1.25 million in the past 13 years
(which has helped grant close to 150
wishes).
On June 13, the team wanted to give
back to the community in apprecia-
tion for its support for the team and
all the "wish kids" they have helped.
A concert, free to the community,
was given by Chazzan Daniel Gross,
his wife, Lauren Skuce Gross, and
band members Martin Liebman, Jon
Liebman, Jake Reichbart and Dan
Maslanka at Adat Shalom Synagogue
in Farmington Hills.
Playing to a full house, everyone in
the room benefited. Beginning with a
presentation of Alex's public service
announcement and concluding with
the beautiful song "Let There Be Light"
from Alex's favorite band, Barenaked
Ladies, the evening was a magical way
to honor Alex's memory and legacy, the
tireless efforts of her parents, Susie and
Bill Graham, and the boundless gener-
osity of the Greater Detroit community.
Thank you to Team Alex, which
organized this event, and to everyone
who was there. "Let there be light" in
all of our lives, always. You are true
mitzvah heroes who light the path for
all of us.
Some of the biggest hearts anywhere
are right here in Detroit.
Isaac Lakritz
Linda Jacobson
West Bloomfield
West Bloomfield
Shavuot Teachers
Deserve Plaudits
Kudos to the outstanding teaching
staff for the B'nai Israel Synagogue
Tikkun Leil Shavuot in West
Bloomfield: Rabbi Arianna Silverman,
Dr. Mitch Parker, Shira Wolf, Rabbi
Jason Miller and Rabbi Jonathan
Berger.
The more than 50 adult participants
from B'nai Israel Synagogue, Temple
Kol Ami and the community at large,
as well as the 10 young adults between
the ages of 9 and 17, had a truly
enriching educational experience.
Topics such as "Sources of food
in the Book of Ruth,""Rabbi, must I
tithe my Holocaust reparations?" and
"Unexpected Connections between
Shemini Atzeret and Shavuot" were
just some of the food for thought
digested between the evening Maariv
and the dawn Shacharit service.
We look forward to next Shavuot
when we can again share and host
a most meaningful evening for the
Temple Kol Ami/B'nai Israel commu-
nity and the community at large.
Ruby Robinson
Franklin