ewish Beat

Yeshiva University's

Maccabeats singing group gets people moving.

The Maccabeats are ready to perform.

ongregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield welcomed the New York-based
Yeshiva University Maccabeats a cappella group for two concerts in mid-
December.
The Maccabeats formed their male singing group in 2007 and gained atten-
tion last year when their video for their song "Candlelight" went viral on
YouTube. They have since performed throughout Europe, Israel and the United
States, including at the White House. This was the first Detroit-area appearance.
The Saturday night event drew more than 350 adults for Havdalah, delicious
food by Quality Kosher Catering and an engaging performance. This event was

C

in association with CommunityNEXT and the Young Adult Division of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
On Sunday, 850 children, teens and adults filled the synagogue for an interac-
tive concert.
The Maccabeats had everyone singing to their hits and even taught the crowd
how to make it "rain" inside of Shaarey Zedek!
The weekend was sponsored by the Sandra Davis Memorial Fund.
For more information on Shaarey Zedek programming, go to www.shaareyzedek.
org or contact Tobye Bello, program director, at tbello@shaareyzedek.org . I I

Shaarey Zedek clergy Rabbi Joseph Krakoff, Cantor Meir Finkelstein and Rabbi

Signing autographs for young fans

Aaron Starr conduct Havdalah.

Festive Celebration

StandWithUs-Michigan marks Chanukah
and its organization's 10th anniversary.

S

tandWithUs-Michigan recently
celebrated Chanukah as well
as the 10th anniversary of the
founding of its parent organization. With
Israel advocacy and education as its goal,
Stand WithUs was started in Los Angeles
in response to mounting anti-Israel, anti-
Semitic incidents on California campuses.
The Michigan chapter (SWU-MI) was
formed in 2006 as the propaganda-fueled
hatred spread to Michigan campuses.
Among other activities, SWU prepares pro-
Israel students to deal with the anti-Israel
bias they may encounter on their campuses.
Barbara Moretsky, SWU-MI
president, introduced Adat Shalom
Synagogue Rabbi Aaron Bergman
who warmly welcomed the guests to
his synagogue. Moretsky then intro-
duced honorees, Miriam and Dr. Isaac
Barr, recognized for their consistent
support of Israel education, for chal-
lenging misinformation in school text-
books and global media outlets, and for
actively educating others in keeping with
the StandWithUs mission.

Before dinner, guests heard Jeff Jacoby,
an op-ed columnist for the Boston Globe,
talk on the subject of "The Peace Process
and other Middle East Delusions."
Jacoby believes that each of Israel's
efforts at peacemaking has only been
perceived as weakness by the Palestinian
leadership and has encouraged initiation
of the next war, with the ultimate goal of
eliminating the Jewish state. Therefore,
Jacoby says, the "peace process" must be
discontinued for now
Peggy Shapiro, SWU Greater Chicago
community coordinator, spoke on the
dangers of remaining silent in the face of
anti-Israel hate.
"The intolerance, the hate and the
genocidal plans against Israel are
abominable she said. "However, what is
worse is the silence. Silence is the most
disgraceful and tragic problem we face
because silence is consent."
Music and a Chanukah/Israeli-themed
dinner followed, served at tables adorned
with displays of many varied menorahs
loaned by SWU-MI supporters.

Honorees Dr. Isaac and Miriam Barr with their family: John Firsht, Sharone

Bigelman, Michal Firsht and Joseph Bigelman.

Left: Linda Baruch of West Bloomfield, who teaches the Israel advocacy course at

the Frankel Jewish Academy, talking to speaker Jeff Jacoby

Right: Peggy Shapiro, SWU Greater Chicago community coordinator, and Barbara

Moretsky, SWU-MI president

January 5 • 2012

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