metro
Camp Maas
Director
Lee Trepeck
addresses
campers
during the
World's Biggest
dedicat n „;.*
ceremony in
Smoklervill
Pioneer Sri's.
Campers and staff at Tamarack Camps
build the world's largest mezuzah.
C
ampers and staff of Tamarack
Camps' Camp Maas helped create
the world's largest mezuzah, which
was dedicated this summer at Camp Maas
in Ortonville. The mezuzah, created under
the leadership of Eli Rockowitz, director of
Jewish programming, and arts and crafts
supervisor Esther Rubyan stands 6 feet tall,
making it the world's largest mezuzah.
More than 1,300 Camp Maas campers
and staff contributed to the effort by sand-
ing, tiling and shellacking the 5,000 tiles
that make up the structure of the mezu-
zah, which is located at the entrance to
Smoklerville Pioneer Skills at Camp Maas.
The giant mezuzah will be officially dedi-
cated before camp sessions begin in 2013.
"This is not only a world-class piece of
art decorating our camp, created by camp-
ers," said Lee Trepeck, director of Camp
Maas, "it is a Jewish symbol that represents
our mission of togetherness, continuity and
family."
The creation of the world largest mezu-
zah is part of Tamarack Camps' year-round
Mezuzah Project campaign. Community
members have been dedicating mezuzot to
adorn the 260 doors throughout Tamarack
Camps. Thus far, more than 100 mezuzot
have been placed on doors throughout Camp
Maas and other Tamarack facilities, thanks
to more than $40,000 raised in funds.
"The spirit of Tamarack Camps is Jewish,
and our energy comes from bringing kids
together from all backgrounds:' said Rabbi
Simcha Tolwin, a member of the Fresh Air
Society board of directors and executive
director of Aish Detroit. "Nothing makes us
prouder than to have the largest mezuzah
in the world at our camp —and that it was
built by our campers, bringing with it the
message of Judaism and harmony:'
It is customary in Judaism to place a
mezuzah on the doorpost of a building.
Inside the frame of the mezuzah is a scroll
written by a qualified scribe or sofer. The
scroll has verses from the Torah along with
the "Shema," a prayer affirming one's Jewish
faith. Tamarack's record-breaking mezuzah
contains a kosher scroll affirmed by Tolwin.
The previous record-holder was
donated by Samuel Flatto-Sharon, and is
Esther Rubyan and Eli
Rockowitz at the dedication
eremony of the mezuzah
affixed at the upper entrance gate to the
plaza of the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Tamarack's mezuzah, officially standing at 6
feet and 1 inch, is a foot longer than Flatto-
Sharon's mezuzah.
"More important than any world record
is the fact that we have accomplished
this great feat together," Rockowitz said.
"Thousands of us did this and we did it as
a family."
You can see more about Project Mezuzah
on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/
ProjectMezuzah.
Jewish Programming Director Eli
Rockowitz,installs the customary
Kosher scroll in the mezuzah.
❑
Tamarack Camps is a Jewish camping agency
Shiffman campers make their mark on
for campers entering grades 2-11. For more
information, contact Deena Lockman, director
the world's largest mezuzah this past
of development for Tamarack Camps, at (248)
summer.
647-1100. To dedicate your own mezuzah as part
of Tamarack's Mezuzah Campaign, visit www.
tamarackcamps.com .
Welcome To Detroit
Beaumont's new pediatrician-in-chief has strong ties to Jewish causes.
Bob Ortlieb
Special to the Jewish News
Menorah Park Center.
The couple has only been in Southeast
Michigan for a few months, but they feel right
leveland's loss is a big win for Detroit. at home in Birmingham. "We look forward
to getting involved in Metro Detroit's Jewish
They may have the Rock and Roll
Community," Berman says.
Hall of Fame, but we've got Motown
Why the move from Cleveland?
and now we've got Brian Berman, M.D., the
"Several things attracted me
new pediatrician-in-chief at
to Beaumont Health System
Beaumont Children's Hospital,
and Beaumont's Children
and his wife, Nora. And the
Hospital: its strong reputation,
Jewish community in Metro
superb leadership and clinical
Detroit has two new volunteers
excellence.
with impressive resumes.
And there is also the
Through the years, the
Oakland University William
Bermans became very involved
Beaumont School of Medicine.
in Jewish causes in Cleveland,
"It elevates the plane on all
such as the American Israel
Dr. Brian Ber man and his spheres — patient care, teach-
Public Affairs Committee
wife, Nora
ing and research:' he added.
(AIPAC), Israel Bonds, the
Berman comes to Beaumont
Temple-Tifereth Israel, Friends
from University Hospitals Rainbow Babies
of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), Cleveland
& Children's Hospital in Cleveland. Since
Jewish Federation and Menorah Park Center
1993, he was chief of the division of General
for Senior Living.
Berman served as Ohio Region chairman of Academic Pediatrics and director of the
Pediatric Consultation and Referral Service.
the FIDF and was a national board member.
Since 1989, Berman served as director of
He chaired the Physicians Division, Cleveland
the Rainbow Sickle Cell Anemia Center at
Jewish Federation. Nora, a retired attorney
Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital.
who did her undergraduate work at the
With a strong background in research,
University of Michigan, is a life trustee of the
C
20
October 11 0 2012
Berman has taken part in many clinical trials
funded by the National Institutes of Health.
A committed educator, Berman served
as professor of Pediatrics at Case Western
Reserve University School of Medicine. He has
been appointed chairman of the Department
of Pediatrics at the OUWB School of
Medicine.
He was hired by Beaumont following the
retirement of Jeffrey Maisels, M.D.
"At Beaumont Children's Hospital, there
are tremendous opportunities for growth and
advancing the care for children throughout
our region:' Berman says. "The possibilities
were not only appealing to me, but Nora, too.
We welcome a new adventure." 7
Beaumont Lecture Series
Premieres Oct. 17
Michael Frogel, M.D., an internation-
ally recognized expert in emergency
and disaster preparedness will present,
"Meeting the Unique Needs of Children
in Disasters: Lessons Learned from the
Israeli Experience" on Oct. 17.
The 7 p.m. program will take place at
the Berman Center for the Performing
Arts in West Bloomfield. While there is
no charge, attendees are asked to RSVP at
theberman.org by selecting "buy tickets"
or calling (248) 661-1900.
Frogel is a pediatrician with North
Shore-Long Island Jewish Health
System and the principal investigator
for the New York City Pediatric Disaster
Coalition, a federally funded program
that has developed a comprehensive
disaster plan for mass casualty events
involving children.
The program will include a welcome
by Robert Folberg, M.D., founding dean,
Oakland University William Beaumont
School of Medicine; an introduction to
Brian Berman, M.D., pediatrician-in-
chief, Beaumont Children's Hospital;
and remarks by Jeffrey Maisels, M.D.,
professor, Pediatrics, OUWB School of
Medicine.
This is the first in the three-part
Beaumont Lecture Series. Sponsors
of the premiere lecture include
the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit, Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit and the Detroit
Jewish News. Li