metro

Advocate Injured

Akiva faculty and students

outside the school

YESIII VAT AKI VA

'Lead The Way'

Student-generated idea drives
Akiva's tuition aid fundraiser.

Talia Schechet

JN Teen Intern

W

hen a delegation of Akiva
Hebrew Day School stu-
dents attended an Eimatai
conference three years ago, they had
little idea what would become of the
then-modest, fledgling program they
devised.
At Eimatai, Jewish teens are exposed
to issues facing the Jewish and global
communities, trained in leadership
skills and provided the framework to
take action in the real world. They
then are encouraged to craft a program
to carry home with them that will be
of benefit to their area.
As the ninth-grade Akiva students
at the conference deliberated over
the needs of their local community,
images of neighbors and friends strug-
gling to pay Jewish day school tuition
immediately were evoked. Desiring to
assist those unable to afford tuition,
the students conceived Akiva's now-
thriving "Lead the Way" tuition fund-
raising campaign.
The program has been running for
three years, during which Akiva has
raised more than $750,000 in tuition
assistance through the generosity of a
matching anonymous donor.
Sidney Katz, Akiva's executive
director, says the amount of tuition
assistance Akiva continues to provide
each year is escalating at an alarming
rate. He cites taxing economic times
and the increasing cost of living as the
causes.
"Over the last five years, financial
aid given to students at Akiva has
tripled," he said. "Last year was our
most successful campaign monetarily,
but this year we hope to surpass it so
that we can keep up with the increases
in assistance needs. The community
understands the uncompromising

24

August 23 • 2012

necessity of a quality Jewish educa-
tion and is aware that it needs to be
subsidized for many families. We
hope this knowledge will be the impe-
tus for people to continue to help and
provide for Jewish education."
Current enrollment at Akiva is
approximately 300 students in grades
preK-12. Of these students, Katz says
roughly 55 percent receive financial
assistance.
"Annually, the school has more
than $1.2 million in financial aid
needs," he said. "About 60 percent
of the school's annual budget is met
through tuition; the other 40 percent
must be met through outside sources.
We receive generous support from
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit [$450,000 annually]. Any
amount that we do not receive
through funding has to be raised by
the school."
In terms of goals for the upcoming
year, Katz says Akiva would like to
completely offset its tuition assistance
needs with "Lead the Way" and will
be looking outside the school com-
munity as well as inside. The school
is grateful to its matching donor,
who has recently removed a previous
$100,000 matching cap. Akiva hopes
that with the removal of the cap, it
will be able to reinstate programs that
in the past were eliminated because of
a series of fiscally necessary cuts.
Funds raised through Sept. 5 will be
matched in this fourth season of "Lead
the Way." A special "One Child at a
Time" fundraising event for scholar-
ships will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday,
Sept. 5, in the home of Alice Berlin,
17347 Sherfield Place, Southfield.
RSVP by Aug. 24 by calling Sidney
Katz at (248) 386-1625 ex. 231. LI

To donate to "Lead the Way," go to www.

akiva.org/giying/lead-the-way.

Attorney Richard Bernstein hit by
high-speed bicycle.

L

ocal attorney Richard
roundabout safety and the reper-
Bernstein, known as an
cussions of the 'Open and Obvious'
advocate for those with dis-
doctrine, but it is apparent that the
abilities, was hit Aug. 13 by a bicy-
fight is not over and continual atten-
tion needs to be directed toward this
clist going 35 mph as he was walking
in the pedestrian lane in New York
issue."
City's Central Park.
Bernstein's accident
Bernstein, 38, who is
came a week after the
New York Daily News ran
blind and an accomplished
athlete who was training for
a story outlining the dan-
his eighth New York City
gers of high-speed bicy-
Marathon, was struck from
cling in Central Park. The
behind. He was wearing
man who hit Bernstein
bright-colored clothing at
was going 10 mph over
the time of the accident. He
the 25 mph bicycle speed
was being treated in New
limit.
York for a fractured pelvis
After New York City
Richard
and hip, facial cuts and
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Bernste in
severe injuries to his mouth.
was asked about the issue
His recovery is expected to be long.
of pedestrian safety amid bicycling
In a statement, he said, "Thank
in the city's parks and downplayed
you everyone for the kind words,
it, Bernstein took his concerns
thoughts, prayers and well-wishes. I
to Facebook on Friday. His post
cannot begin to express how much
expressed his disappointment in the
it means to me ... Although I'm con-
mayor's reaction and urged people
cerned about my fractured pelvis,
to express their displeasure as well
hip and the additional injuries sus-
as their concern about pedestrian
tained to my face and body, I'm even safety.
more concerned about the future
Bernstein works with his father
of pedestrian safety. I've had the
and siblings at the Farmington Hill-
pleasure to work on cases regarding
based Sam Bernstein Law Firm.

Letters from page 6

Bone Marrow Donor
Saved My Life
I am writing to comment on the
article "The Ultimate Mitzvah" (Aug.
16, page 16).
I received a bone marrow trans-
plant from an unrelated anonymous
donor in February 2011. If it were
not for people like my donor, or Brett
Satovsky, individuals like me would
not have a second chance at life.
For some cancer patients, a bone
marrow or stem-cell transplant is the
only cure; the situation I was person-
ally faced with. I have two young
boys, and my husband and I just
celebrated our 10th wedding anniver-
sary this past June ... I still have a lot
of living to do!
Because of my transplant, I am able
to enjoy life's moments and write this
letter to you today.
I have been in remission for 18
months (since transplant) and am
so thankful for the support I have
received from my family, friends,
caregivers, the Jewish Community and
organizations that recruit potential
donors to the registry. This is my plea
for you to consider becoming a poten-
tial donor today. As Brett indicated
in the article, a mere cheek swab only
takes a few minutes and could help to

save a life.
Please take the first step to become
a donor — you could be the one to
save a life. Visit www.bethematch.org
or www.giftotlifemichigan.org .

Jennifer Barish

Farmington Hills

Visit To U.P. Synagogue
Was Great Experience
On a recent trip to the Upper
Peninsula we stopped at Temple Jacob
and met Ms. Susan Burack. We had
pre-arranged a meeting with her and
what a treat we experienced that day.
We toured this very old shul and
enjoyed the history lesson Ms. Burack
taught. As I stood listening to her talk
about the shul and its founders, I felt
as though I was revisiting my youth,
as we walked from shul to shul in old
Detroit on yomtov.
In her article "U.P. Treasure" (Aug.
9, page 1), Shell Liebman Dorfman
captured the enthusiasm that we
shared while visiting Temple Jacob,
and I would urge anyone that plans
to visit the U.P. to make the time to
visit this Jewish gem. Many thanks to
Ms. Dorfman for such an enriching
article.

Suellen Trionfi

Wolverine Lake