metro

Godsigns

J ews, Chaldeans
J oining Together

Author Suzy Farbman to talk about
her book at Temple Beth El.

Potluck dinner promotes friendship
and aids needy families.

Ronelle Grier
Contributing Writer

j

ews and Chaldean came
about the critical needs in the Jewish com-
together at the Eastern Catholic
munity and of new Chaldean immigrants
Re-Evangelization
from Iraq. The collected items
Center (ECRC) in Bloomfield
— medical equipment, toiletries
Hills on May 1 to meet and
and bedding — were divided
greet one another, sample each
between the two agencies to be
other's culinary delights, and
distributed to needy families.
bring much-needed items for
State Rep. Klint Kesto,
the needy in both the Jewish
R-Commerce Township, shared
and Chaldean communities.
a few words about his goals in
The evening began with
Michigan state government.
a welcome from Gail Katz,
Katz said, "This wonderful
co-chair of the Jewish and
Jewish and Chaldean Social
Chaldean Social Action
Action event achieved its goals.
workgroup of the Building
We look forward to another
Community Initiative started
social action event that will
Gail Katz
a few years ago by the Jewish
bring both of our communities
News and the Chaldean News as a way to
together again in the near future
bring together two communities that have
so much in common. Her co-
chair is Jumhoria Kaskorkis of the
Chaldean Community Foundation.
Katz emphasized that the goal
of this potluck event was to work
together on a joint social action
project to benefit both communi-
ties. She hoped that bringing the
communities together would be a
major step in bonding with each
other as human beings with similar
needs, wants and emotions. About
65 people attended.
Neran Karmo, coordinator of
the ECRC, welcomed everyone and .g•
outlined how the ECRC takes care i
&
n
of the Chaldean community.
Breaking bread together: Sue Kattula of Sterling
Arthur Horwitz, IN publisher,
Heights and Barb Rosenthal of West Bloomfield.
and Martin Manna, Chaldean
News co-publisher, spoke about the
Building Community Initiative,
which is continuing with some
exciting plans. For example, a net-
working event for the Chaldean/
Jewish Business Committee in
Detroit is being organized, and an
annual "Newsmaker of the Year"
award luncheon, sponsored by both
publications, is in the works.
The entire group then proceeded
to the social hall to indulge in
homemade Jewish and Chaldean
delicacies. At the end of the din-
ner, the group heard from Ellen
Yashinsky Chute, chief community
Ellen Yashinsky Chute from Jewish Family Services
outreach officer at Jewish Family
of
Farmington Hills looks over contributed items
Service in West Bloomfield, and
with
Sharon Hannawa of the Chaldean Communtity
Sharon Hannawa, program man-
Foundation
in Sterling Heights.
ager of the Chaldean Community
Foundation in Sterling Heights,

❑

18

May 16 • 2013

forms: a chance encounter with a strang-
er who turned out to be a kindred spirit,
a sign or saying that struck a chord, a
n 2004, journalist Suzy Farbman
license plate whose numbers held mean-
thought she had been to hell and
ing, a surprise visit from a friend who
back. She had recently published a
knew exactly what to say to help her
memoir about how she and her husband, through a current challenge.
Burton, had repaired their troubled mar-
"When we're stressed and vulnerable,
riage through forgiveness and a spiritual- we're more likely to pick up on them"
ly-based healing program.
According to Farbman, Godsigns
The book, Back from Betrayal: Saving
appear frequently, but most people miss
a Marriage, a Family, a Life (Crofton
them because they are not accustomed
Creek Press, 2004), gener-
to looking for such signals.
ated a series of appearances
"I encourage people to
on Oprah, and Farbman
look for their own Godsigns,"
was enjoying the aftermath;
Farbman said. "They can
emails from readers, media
be warnings about things to
interviews, book talks and
avoid or reinforcement of
readings. The Farbmans'
things we're already thinking
marriage was stronger than
about"
ever, and the Franklin couple
Farbman's ordeal affected
enjoyed being together,
her entire family, especially
welcoming their new grand-
Burton, who coordinated his
daughter, spending time Up
wife's
medical care and spent
Suzy Farb man
North and working on their
many hours researching vari-
respective golf games.
ous treatment options. Finding himself
Suddenly the calm was shattered by
in need of support, the Reform Jew
a new and unexpected form of anguish.
sought spiritual guidance from Rabbi Avi
After seeking medical attention for a
Cohen, an Orthodox rabbi in Oak Park.
persistent pain in her groin, Farbman
"When you're going through a very
learned she had uterine cancer, stage
trying experience, you're constantly
four, grade three. Filled with fear but
searching for something to hold onto"
armed with the support of her family,
Burton said. "What I found is that the
friends and a multitude of medical pro-
purest form of Judaism is a very beauti-
fessionals, she began to fight the disease
ful religion"
that had invaded her body and threat-
Farbman's next project is a book about
ened her sense of well-being.
other people's Godsigns. She has been
What followed was a year that includ-
collecting stories on an informal basis
ed chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries
and hopes to gather more from individu-
and a constant struggle to maintain faith
als who have had similar spiritual expe-
instead of giving in to fear.
riences. She said Godsigns can occur
When she was finally declared
during times of illness or in relation to
cancer-free, Farbman processed the
other situations.
experience of her illness and grueling
Farbman has been cancer-free for
treatment regimen by doing what came
more than eight years, but the lessons
naturally: writing. She based the book
she learned are everlasting.
on a series of experiences so remark-
"I still have Godsigns, but not as [often]"
able she coined a new word to describe
she said. "I try to be more in the moment
them — Godsigns — and titled the book and stay in a state of gratitude:'

I

❑

Godsigns: Health, Hope and Miracles;
My Journey to Recovery (Read the Spirit
Books, an imprint of David Crumm
Media, LLC, 2004).
On Tuesday, May 21, Farbman will
talk about her experience at Temple Beth
El in Bloomfield Hills.
When explaining Godsigns, Farbman
refers to psychiatrist Carl Jung's defi-
nition of synchronicity: meaningful
coincidences, incidents that might be
dismissed as flukes if not for their inex-
plicable timing and deep significance.
Farbman's Godsigns took a variety of

Suzy Farbman will speak about
her book, Godsigns: Health, Hope
and Miracles; My Journey to
Recovery, as part of the Temple
Beth El Library Author Program
at 7 p.m. in the chapel. Free.
RSVP to epolkiltbeonline.org or
(248) 851-1100, ext. 3138.
To submit a personal Godsign
story or for more information,
contact Suzy Farbman at
sfarbman@farbman.com .

