Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit metro 2 0 1 3 EIGHT EIGHTY Push For Pluralism from page 21 NOMINATE AND SAVE THE DATE! SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013 le The Tikkun Olam Award WHAT: Eight Over Eighty — The Tikkun Olam Award Eight Over Eighty is an annual event where Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit honors eight senior adults, eighty years or older, who have dedicated their time, talents and lives to our community. WHY To recognize eight senior adults for their lifetime achievements WHEN: Sunday, May 19, 2013, LUNCHEON 11:30 AM (Dietary laws observed) WHERE: Adat Shalom Synagogue, Farmington Hills Nominations are due by January 11, 2013 How to Nominate: Do you know a deserving older adult who... • Is at least 80 years old? • Has been a long-standing volunteer in the community? • Is active or volunteering today? • Is dedicated to maintaining strong Jewish values? • Is an inspiring leader or mentor in the community? Honorees will be honored at a community luncheon held on May 19th during Older American's Month. Proceeds will benefit: The JSL Kosher Meal Program Write or email JSL describing the worthiness of the nominee. Please include (as applicable): • Name and age of nominee • Duration of volunteer • Involvement in Jewish organizations and causes • Leadership positions held • Current accomplishments • Letters and newspaper articles supporting nominee's accomplishments • Explain how the nominee's long- standing activities exemplify a commitment to the Jewish value of Tikkum Olam (Repairing The World). Mail or email nominations to: Eight Over Eighty Jewish Senior Life of Metro Detroit 15000 W. Ten Mile Oak Park, MI 48237 Attn: Michelle Buda mbuda@jslmi.org (248) 592-1101 Or nominate on-line at: www.jslmi.org JEWISH SENIOR LIFE Audi Sylvania 5570 Monroe St. I Sylvania, OH www.sylvaniaaudi.com -at illg" Keep your company top of mind with our readers. ADVERTISE WITH US! CALL 248.351.5107 Visit theJEWISHNEWS.com 22 December 20 • 2012 JN Coming Of Age Regev and California-based business- man Stanley Gold founded Hiddush on Rosh Hashanah 2009. In Hebrew, hiddush means "new/renewal" and is the acronym for "religious freedom and equality:' The organization was launched at 16 Rothschild Blvd. in Tel Aviv — the site of Independence Hall where David Ben- Gurion read the Israeli Declaration of Independence, which sets forth "religious freedom and equality for all." "The urgency in creating Hiddush," Regev said, "is understood in looking at the gap between that founding dream and promise, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the painful realization that Israel is at the bottom of all indices among world democracies when it comes to comparative religious freedom:' Hiddush operates with a $500,000 annual budget built mainly from U.S. donations. Regev works with a research- er; three staff members who maintain the website and social media in Hebrew, English and Russian; and a part-time office manager. What should resonate in America, Regev said, is that non-Orthodox con- verts to Judaism, or their children if the convert is the mother, cannot legally marry in Israel. There is no civil mar- riage in Israel and only Orthodox rabbis can officiate at Israeli Jewish weddings. Further, only Orthodox-sponsored con- verts can be buried in most Israeli Jewish cemeteries. American Jewry's strong commitment to bonding with Israel through Talit- Birthright and other popular avenues aside, Regev said, "Half to two-thirds of American Jews growing up — either children of intermarried families or whose mothers converted but not under Orthodox auspices — will either not be recognized as Jews in Israel or will be treated as second-class Jews there:' A White - Hot Issue Regev insisted Israel must recalibrate its exemption from military service for yeshivah students or face dire conse- quences. He explained that then-Prime Minister Ben-Gurion exempted 400 yeshivah stu- dents in 1948, remnants of the yeshivah world destroyed in the Holocaust. By 1997, that number had grown to 800. Today, 60,000 yeshivah students are exempt "Ten years ago, they constituted 7 per- cent of annual conscription:' Regev said. "Now that's 14 percent "Today, 26 percent of Jewish first- graders in Israel study in haredi schools. So you understand why the heads of the Israel Defense Forces come out openly and loudly saying they worry for Israel's security if this is not changed:' According to the haredi newspaper Yated Ne'eman, the senior rabbi of the Lithuanian haredi, Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman, declared on Dec. 10, the day after Israel's Cabinet approved a tem- porary law allowing yeshivah students to perform national service in place of military service: "We must warn publicly against this serious and dangerous phe- nomenon, which only aims to destroy the foundations of our existence — against the essence and mission of a yeshivah stu- dent to devote his life to studying Torah:" Also at issue is whether the state should subsidize housing for yeshivah students. The special benefits afforded yeshi- vah students, both the mass exemption from service and the unique subsidies, will command a front burner for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu follow- ing the January elections in Israel. What Israel needs is a sturdy coalition not dependent on the haredi parties, Regev said. "Something will have to give he said. Bringing It Home In hosting Regev, Rabbi Roman observed: "We need consciousness-raising not only of the organization and the rabbi, but also of the message Hiddush represents. This is an issue for the Jewish people, not just the Jewish state:" Hiddush polling shows 80 percent of the Israeli population wants the country to teach and inspire the next generation dif- ferently than what is being imposed by the government and the Rabbi Roman Ultra-Orthodox. "There has to be a way of reconciling our religious needs," Roman said. "What's new are indigenous Israeli expressions of Jewish identity and wor- ship and religiosity. That's an exciting and fulfilling moment. But ifs being stymied. This doesn't mean we don't support Israel; to the contrary:" Said Rabbi Paul Yedwab of Temple Israel, a Reform congregation near Kol Ami: "It is certainly sad that our people finally have a Jewish homeland, yet it is the one democratic country in the world where Reform and Conservative Jews are denied the right to practice their religion freely." Ever animated, Regev shares his agenda with confidence and gusto. "This is about being denied basic civil liberties:' he said. "This is a message for Israel on behalf of Israelis. This is a message that suggests we have an exciting possibility of re-igniting a pioneering spirit of basically living that founding dream, which yet awaits being realized:' ❑ The Hiddush website is at www.hiddush.org.