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i www.jarc.org
Jews Aren't Immune
To Bullying
In response to Steve Freedman's
letter regarding bullying from the
Dec. 29 issue ("Jewish Values Can
Help Combat School Bullying"), Mr.
Freedman seems to imply that a
Jewish learning environment immu-
nizes its students from bullying. While
I agree that a Jewish day school has
the potential to address problems such
as bullying, our values and beliefs as
Jews in no way make us immune to
being bullies (or to being bullied).
A school environment, Jewish or
otherwise, is full of children, many of
who are bullies or victims of bullies.
Anti-bullying policies can be based on
Jewish teachings or secular values, but
the only way to address the problem is
to acknowledge it will always exist and
to address it continuously. Jewish day
schools, like any schools, are full of kids
who are perceived as "different:' There
is no personal attribute that is not sub-
ject to bullying, whether it's "nerdiness,"
sexual orientation (real or perceived),
body shape or appearance, etc.
For a Jewish day school to succeed
in creating good, moral Jewish adults
with a sense of community and tik-
kun olam, we need to recognize that
we are part of both the problem and
the solution. We have to teach our
children that bullying for any reason
is wrong, that it goes against our
values as both Jews and as human
beings in general. To deny the prob-
lem, or to believe that our Jewish
identity and teachings somehow
make us immune from bullying, will
ensure that another generation of
kids suffers the short- and long-term
consequences of bullying.
Dr. Peter A. Lipson and Amy Lipson
West Bloomfield
Ethiopian Jews'
Perseverance Is Striking
I recently read Robin Schwartz's article
on the Metro Detroiters who traveled
to Ethiopia to assist the Ethiopian
Jews in migrating to Israel ("New
Year, New Life," Jan. 5, cover). I was
very intrigued and touched by this
story. I am from Huntington Woods
and moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
four months ago to work on economic
development with the United Nations.
I have similar impressions of life in
Ethiopia so far, although living in the
capital city is far different than the
rural lifestyle described in this article.
What strikes me most is the strength
of this Jewish community in Ethiopia
to persevere through hardships and
maintain their cultural and religious
heritage, as well as the dedication of
those who undertook this trip from
Michigan to Ethiopia.
Honesty Is Best
Despite the pain and embarrass-
ment in the loss of the JN Chanukah
artwork ("Our Apologies:' Jan. 5,
page 6), I admire Rabbi Schneur
Silberberg's old-fashioned honesty
and willingness to apologize for a
human error. We should all take
note and follow his example of integ-
rity. All too many leaders refuse to
admit making mistakes and com-
pound the damage by covering up
their errors.
Kudos to Rabbi Schneur for his
sincerity and honesty. This is a rabbi
worthy of following.
L to R: Partygoers Betty Drakos
and Tonia Parks from
the Shenkman Home in
Ruth Katsnelson
West Bloomfield
West Bloomfield
To welcome in 2012,
Corrections
• In "A New Era Begins" (Dec. 22,
page 11), it should have been noted
that Ari and Peter Schwartz are chil-
dren from a previous marriage.
75 JARC guests and
volunteers attended a gala
bash that included lots of
streamers and confetti,
• In "New Year, New Life" (Jan. 5,
cover), an incorrect number was
given for Ethiopian Jews coming to
Israel. The Jewish Agency for Israel
will bring a minimum of 2,400
Ethiopian immigrants to Israel a year.
In 2011, more than 2,800 arrived.
The immigration process will end in
March 2014.
party hats, balloons, horns,
delicious refreshments
and lively singing by the
fantastic Robin Beck. As
they toasted the New Year
and made their resolutions,
everyone agreed this was
John R. Sloan
the best party ever!
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Whether as a volunteer
Lecture Series On
Jewish Political Life
Fellows at the Frankel Institute for
Advanced Judaic Studies at the
University of Michigan will present a
lecture series providing three examples
of historical and contemporary per-
spectives on Jews and political life.
On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Sammy
Smooha, a professor of sociology and
former dean of the faculty of social
sciences at the University of Haifa and
a 2008 recipient of the Israel Prize,
will speak on "Israel as a Jewish and
Democratic State." He will address cur-
rent realities in answering a complicated
question: Are democracy and Judaism
compatible in ideology and practice?
On Wednesday, Feb. 15, Dr. Mia Sara
Bruch, a Stanford Ph.D. and an award-
winning scholar and author, will pres-
ent a talk on "The Freedoms for Which
We Fight: Judaism and Democracy on
the Home front During World War IL"
She will reveal the role of religion and
Judaism in the nation's response to fas-
cism, showing how they influenced the
articulation and defense of American
democratic values and created a faith-
based mobilization against fascism.
On Wednesday, March 14, Dr. Zvi
Gitelman, professor of political science
and Preston R. Tisch Professor of Judaic
Studies at U-M, will lecture on "Politics
and Perspectives on the Holocaust
in Wartime Soviet Union." His talk
explores how and why Soviet govern-
ment perspectives on the Holocaust,
and those of the Jews, differ from their
counterparts in the West and examines
how those differences matter today.
All lectures take place at 7:30 p.m.
at the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit, 6600 W. Maple
Road, West Bloomfield. Registration
fees are $25 for the full series or $10 per
session; $5 per session for students and
Jewish communal professionals.
Register by Jan. 16 by calling (248)
354-6415, or email lectures@
thejewishforum.org or go online at
jewishdetroit.org/jewsandpolitics . For
more details, visit www.thejewishforum.
org.
Series Focus:
Women In Film
Temple Israel Sisterhood and the
Weinberg Family Library will offer
"Images of Jewish Women in American
Film:' a movie, dinner and discussion
series running from Jan. 19-March 15 at
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.
The first film will be Marjorie
Morningstar on Jan. 19, facilitated by
Jewish educator Sheila Schiffer.
Dinner and movie included for $12
per adult or register for the series of five
films for $50. Reservations required.
Contact Judy Solomon by Monday, Jan.
16, at (248) 661-5700 or judy@temple-
israel.org.
Dollar Castle To Give Away
Free Hand Sanitizer
Michigan-owned and operated Dollar
Castle wants to help stop the spread of
germs this winter. The company will be
giving away bottles of hand sanitizer at
area stores.
President and CEO Eddie Denha said,
Continued on page 6
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January 12 • 2012
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