for college students by college students

If Not Now, When?

JOIN Intern sees firsthand how the region's future
depends on reinvigorating Detroit.

By Rachael Malerman

Starting my summer as a JOIN intern through
JVS at the Jewish Community Relations Council
(JCRC), I never imagined myself connecting with
the city of Detroit as much as I have. It was
JCRC's connection with Detroit that showed me
how the fate of the Jewish community is linked
with that of the city — and the place I might
some day have in the city's future.
My first week on the job began with the
Jewish Council for Public Affairs Mission to
Detroit. Teams of black and Jewish leaders from
all over the country came to Detroit to discuss
poverty, racism and hunger in the city, and how
they might go home and work together on those
problems.
The mission allowed me to act as a sponge
and delve into the city in a way that I never had
before. I saw many people who live in Detroit
and are passionately dedicated to bringing it
back. I also realized the expanse of the city and
truly how disconnected we in the suburbs are
from Detroit.
The disconnect between city and suburbs is a
major problem worth fixing if we want Detroit
to return to the greatness it once had. One way
JCRC allowed me to begin to bridge that gap is

through social action opportunities. I was fortu-
nate enough that the second Interfaith Health
Fair held in Detroit fell during my internship.
The health fair not only allowed me to help
those in need of health care, but also to interact
with members of Detroit's Muslim community,
a rarity growing up in a prominently Jewish
neighborhood. This only made me see further
the disconnect that occurs between ethnic com-
munities.
Attending New Michigan Media's Conference
on Immigration in Michigan on behalf of JCRC
was a way for me to examine ethnic differences
through prominent speakers. The conference
featured Detroit city councilman Ken Cockrell Jr.,
Peter Karmanos Jr. of Compuware, Dan Vamer
of the Kellogg Foundation and Gov. Rick Snyder.
Focusing on how immigrants can help save the
city of Detroit through the opening of small busi-
nesses, the conference made me realize how mul-
tifaceted the effort of Detroit's rebirth really is.
If we are to truly bring back Detroit in a way
that I now know is possible, we need to attack
the problem from all sides. Making Detroit more
appealing to young people will bring in more
residents and more business. Making Detroit

Members of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs Mission to
Detroit came to discuss poverty, racism and hunger in the city.

an international city will create more jobs and
economic growth. Making Detroit a safe haven
for those who already live there will relieve
racial tensions and allow the city to grow in a
prosperous and sustainable way.
Detroit's Jewish community is shrinking. As
we move into the future, we need a place where
young Jews feel welcome. The city of Detroit
has the potential to be that place. Institutions
such as the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue
and Moishe House are working toward that
goal. Bringing young Jews into Detroit can spur
growth in the Jewish community and within the

city itself.
As Jewish college students, we cannot simply
dismiss Detroit as our next destination. JCRC
has taught me to look at an issue from all sides
and take action in a meaningful way. Detroit has
the potential to become great again. We have
the power to help the city move into the future,
and we can begin by reinvesting in the city. The
time to act is now. In the great words of Hillel: If
not now, when? @

Rachael Malerman of West Bloomfield is a

junior at the University of Michigan.

a na

Michigan Jewish Institute

Dual Enrollment Program

for High School Juniors and Seniors

MJI's unique classes for high school students provides the opportunity to earn both high school and college credit.

• Elementary Modern Hebrew I & II
• Intermediate Modern Hebrew I & II
•Advanced Topics in Modern Hebrew I & II
• Contemporary Issues in Society

• Encountering Jewish Civilizations
• Exploring the Holocaust I
• Exploring the Exceptional Child
• Introduction to Speech and Language Pathology

Benefits include:
•Enhancing the college application
•Earning 3 credits transferable to other colleges or universities
•Experiencing select topics framed from a Jewish perspective

For questions and registration information, contact Rhonda Gilbert at (248) 417-7110 or rgilbert@mji.edu

All Classes Held at our West Bloomfield Campus

Michigan Jewish Institute is a senior college accredited by AM. +I

Register Online NOW

Classes begin the week of September 11, 2011

www.mji.edu
or call 248-414-6900

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September 8 • 2011

Michigan 'Jewish
Institute