DETROIT JEWISH NEWS theJEWISHNEWS.com frontlines >> letters DETROIT JEWISH NEWS theJEWISHNEWS.com Letters from page 5 Arthur M. Horwitz in an economic ghetto. Detroit jumped Publisher / Executive Editor ahorwitz@renmedia.us into the cesspool of reverse racism driv- ing away too much of its talent and tax base, and our Chamber of Commerce governor stands on the shoulders of the drowning man withholding revenue shar- ing to cajole concessions that will mini- mize any obligation of his constituency to help. A mayor who led his own company into bankruptcy cannot rescue Detroit. Neither can a council that lets vocal malcontents overrule good judgment. An emergency financial manager cannot save Detroit by negotiating a division of the spoils ahead of bankruptcy while preserving the finan- cial ghetto that isolates the city. Chrysler was not rescued with auster- ity alone but with massive investment and proven leadership from Fiat. Mr. Orr cannot rescue Detroit with financial management and no investment or new leadership. Detroit has a free hand with which it can continue to grasp power for its own sake or reach out for a helping hand. That decision requires leadership skills that we cannot assume to be included with the skills of a financial specialist. Jackie Headapohl Managing Editor jheadapohl@renmedia.us Keri Guten Cohen Story Development Editor kcohen@renmedia.us Gail Zimmerman Arts Editor gzimmerman@renmedia.us Deborah Schultz Corporate Creative Director dschultz@renmedia.us EDITORIAL Senior Copy Editor David Sachs dsachs©renmedia.us Editorial Assistant Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist Danny Raskin dannyraskin©sbcglobal.net Dennis L. Green Farmington Hills Contributing Editor Robert Sklar rsklar@renmedia.us Grandparents Must Provide A 'Safe Space' For Kids Contributing Writers Suzanne Chessler Annabel Cohen Don Cohen Shelli Liebman Dorfman sdorfman©thejewishnews.com Ronelle Grier Esther Allweiss Ingber Harry Kirsbaum Lynne Konstantin Rabbi Jason Miller Allan Nahajewski Robin Schwartz Steve Stein sports®thejewishnews.com RED Ttirm Managing Editor Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@renmedia.us Contributing Editors Gail Zimmerman gzimmerman@renmedia.us Keri Guten Cohen kcohen@renmedia.us 6 April 4 • 2013 JN As a grandchild, I was extremely fortunate to know, love, enjoy and appreciate my F. Kevin Browett four grandparents for many, many years; and as a grandparent myself for more than 20 years, I have determined that we as grandparents have at least two main mis- sions in life! We are to provide memories and "safe space." Usually, a grandchild does not really understand what safe space means until sometime in their mid-teens they have a confrontation with their parents and seek to locate someplace "safe" to hang out. Grandparents can usually pro- vide that safe space. Somehow, apparently, Sandra Layne missed that lesson in her grandparenting training! Her recent actions have devas- tated all of us observing grandparents. The justice system has, however, helped provide us true grandparents with a little bit of comfort and consolation! Joel G. Basset! West Bloomfield Corrections • The Katz-Katzman engagement announcement (March 21, page 71) should have stated that Dr. Rebecca Katzman is a scientific editor for the journal Cancer Cell. • In "Super Simchahs" (March 28, page C24), Party Management should have been listed as Dee Dee Hoffman Party Design. • In "We Are Here" (March 28, page 14), on Witness Theater, Erica Schuman's name was misspelled and her age is 15. Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us Keith Farber Sales Director kfarber@renmedia.us Account Executives Ann G. Abrams Jan Haskell Melissa Litvin Ilene Lubin Heidi Martin Rick Nessel Senior Sales Assistant Brigitte Lute BUSINESS OFFICES Customer Service Asst. Jan Shain Billing Coordinator Pamela Turner Collections Analyst Hazel Bender Production By FARAGO & ASSOCIATES Manager Scott Drzewiecki Designers Amy Pollard Pam Sherevan Michelle Sheridan Susan Walker PUBLISHED BY: RENAISSANCE OTWEDIA Chairman Michael H. Steinhardt Last Week of Downtown Synagogue's Fund Drive The last free-standing Jewish religious institution in the city of Detroit has launched a $120,000 capital campaign to help its 80-year-old building accom- modate its growing needs. The Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue has launched a $60,000 online campaign to match $60,000 raised offline from private donors to make necessary improvements to its historic building. Founded in the 1920s, the syna- gogue grew— and declined — with Detroit and was nearly given up for dead when one day in 2007, a handful of young Jewish professionals living in Downtown Detroit took interest in the building, only to find out that the board was making plans to sell it. "We realized we couldn't let that hap- pen:' said attorney Leor Barak, now the synagogue's president. With a lot of hard work, today the synagogue claims some 280 members, whereas "fewer than five years ago, it was a blessing if we could make a minyan [a quorum of 10] on a Friday night:' Barak said. "Now our challenge is keeping up with the capacity." The funds sought in the capital cam- paign will provide a fire escape to meet safety codes, a functional kitchen (the synagogue provides locally sourced dinner for the community after Friday night services); a handicap-accessible restroom, a bike rack to accommodate more guests, among other improve- ments. The fundraising campaign is nearing its final days. Already, more than half of the $60,000 has been raised. To contrib- ute to the effort with whatever amount one can afford, visit www.indiegogo. com/projects/make-it-history. BBYO Invites Girls To Scavenger Hunt At 12 Oaks A "Mall Scavenger Hunt" for prospec- tive BBYO members will take place at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi on Sunday, April 7, from 2-4 p.m. This free event is sponsored by Or Shemesh BBG #786, a new local BBYO chapter. All Jewish girls in grades 8-12 who are not currently affiliated with a BBYO chapter are welcome to attend. The group will meet at the mall entrance near the food court. For more information or to RSVP, contact orshemeshbbg@gmail. corn. President Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Chief Operating Officer F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Controller Craig R. 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