metro

Stand Up from page 24

same passion we do, which
matters most at the end of the
day:'
BBYO-Michigan Region, in
collaboration with LiveNation,
will hold Stand UP for Detroit!
on Sunday, April 14, at St.
Andrew's Hall in Detroit. The
event will begin at 6 p.m., with
doors opening at 4:30 p.m.
Further details and tickets
about Stand UP for Detroit! can
be found on the event website:
www.standupfordetroit.com.
A minimum donation of $35
grants access (one ticket) to
Stand UP for Detroit! Those
who raise more than the mini-
mum amount are eligible for
incentives, such as event mer-
chandise or meet-and-greets
with the musical guests.
To become a sponsor for this
event, contact Eric Adelman at
(248) 432-5689 or eadelman@
bbyo.org. ❑

Katie Fried, BBYO-Michigan Region
program associate,
contributed to this report.

1

Jewish Student Connection

New club allows exploration of Judaism year-round.

y connection to Judaism has always
This shared complexity led a few seniors
been hard for me to accomplish dur-
and me last year to come up with the idea of
ing the school year. Beginning in the
starting a club at school where Jewish students
summer of 2003, I fell in love with a place that
could congregate and just hang out in a Jewish
is now home to me — Tamarack Camps in
environment similar to the various commu-
Ortonville.
nities we are a part of during the
Camp Maas is a summer
summer. Skyline's Jewish Student
program that allows me to have
Connection (JSC) club began and so
a great time while bonding to
did my Jewish connection during my
my religion through nature and
schooling
music, and in an environment
We have had many successful
where I know everyone shares a
meetings, thanks to support from
similar identity. During the rest of
BBYO, specifically our latke-making
the year, I reside at home with my
contest during Chanukah this past
parents in Ann Arbor.
fall. As president of the group,
Many people believe Ann Arbor
I work hard to make sure every
Bryan Aaron
has a prevalent Jewish population
member can talk to one another
Special to the
based on their beliefs about the
about anything — school, social
Jewish News
University of Michigan popula-
lives, sports, religion — and help
tion; however, this is not the case.
facilitate the strengthening of our
As a matter of fact, my school, Skyline High
relationship in such a large school and city.
School, has around 40 Jewish students out of
The JSC is important to me because it allows
roughly 1,600 students. Needless to say, con-
me to network with Jews from my school and
necting to Judaism can be difficult and rare
area that I wouldn't otherwise have met, let
during an average school week.
alone have built relationships with.

The reaction of the group from the school
has been supportive. Ann Arbor is generally a
very accepting city for any person and so the
creation of the group was not problematic at
all. During our Chanukah party, many teach-
ers and students who were not in the club
stopped by to partake in the festivities and eat
a few delicious treats — my personal favorite
memory from this current school year.
I think with proper leadership and funding,
the JSC can continue to have a long-lasting
effect on the Jewish and non-Jewish popula-
tion in Ann Arbor. The group dynamic, idea
and vibe all flow really nicely together and
currently work in unison, which could provide
a promising future ahead.
I look forward to the growth of Skyline's Jewish
Student Connection as well as the other JSCs
in Ann Arbor and across the state, and I am so
grateful I now have the opportunity to discuss
and learn more about myself in relation to my
religion in the months I spend in school. ❑

Bryan Aaron, 18, is a senior at Skyline High School
in Ann Arbor Township.

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THE ROEPER SCHOOL 15 AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTION

new preschool options available for fall

open house

(age 21/2 through 1st grade) -

(248) 203-7317

26

kpril 4 • 2013

JN

saturday, april 13, 10am - noon

THE ROEPER SCHOOL

www.roeper.org