frontlines >> letters

}low to Send Letters

We prefer letters relating to JN articles. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Letters of 225 words or less are considered first. Longer ones will
be subject to trimming. Letter writers are limited in frequency of publication. Letters must be original and contain the name, address and title of the
writer and a day phone number. Non-electronic copies must be hand signed. Send letters to the JN: 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110, Southfield,
MI 48034; fax (248) 304-8885; e-mail, letters®the jewishnews.com . We prefer email.

The Opposite Of
Self-Improvement
Dr. Michael Gray's plan to launch a
website where people can anonymous-
ly critique the personal qualities of
others under the guise of "improving
humanity" will create the exact oppo-
site of self-improvement or whatever
Dr. Gray claims his goal to be.
There are already plenty of sites
that offer consumers the opportunity
to review their experiences. Dr. Gray
plans something quite different — a
site where people critique each other
not as consumers, but rather person-
ally, where the person being criticized
has no ability to opt out. That's not
enlightened — it's an appeal to our
basest instincts under the guise of
being helpful. Most of us graduated
from this pursuit when we left middle
school.
As we see from the trolls that
make life a living hell for many on
the Web, anonymous criticism of
others' personal qualities does not
make the Web, or the world, a bet-
ter place, but rather a new venue
for bullying and slander. I sincerely
hope that Dr. Gray reconsiders his
plan to "improve" people in this
way, and that he finds a more noble
side business — one that will actu-
ally improve his "humanity score."

Bill Harder
White Lake

Where Are The Benefits
Of Pegged?
The description of Dr. Michael Gray's
website sounds horrible to us. What is
the benefit of allowing people to anony-

Torah Trope Classes
Offered At Beth Ahm
Congregation Beth Ahm in West
Bloomfield is launching a study group
this month for lifelong learners in
the community who are interested
in learning Torah cantillation (trope/
melody). Solid Hebrew reading skills
are a prerequisite. The ability to carry a
tune is helpful but not required. There
is no charge, but once the group gets
off the ground there will be a modest
materials fee.
The study group is designed primar-
ily for those who wish to master Torah
trope and a short section of Torah
to read in shul on Shabbat morn-
ing, Shabbat afternoon or at weekday
morning minyan sometime in the
upcoming year. However, anyone is
able to participate.

mously slam other people? How is the
negativity, which the website seems to
be inviting, going to help anyone's self-
esteem in any way?
We are quite surprised that anyone
would find any social benefit to this
absurd idea. Even the name of the web-
site demonstrates the negative intent
of Dr. Gray's concept. How ironic that
Dr. Gray wants to make people look
good on the outside, but feel bad on the
inside!

Hilda and Phil Neuman
Farmington Hills

Pegged Or 'Slandered'?
It is neither "social" nor media (as in
journalism) ... sounds like it should be
called "Slandered:'
Besides, have you never heard of the
"Tower of Babel?" Everyone will com-
bat negative "pegs" with rebuttal nega-
tive pegs, until there are so many that
desensitization kicks in and people
ignore it completely.
He [Dr. Michael Gray] says, "I want
to be able to look someone up and
immediately understand what type of
person they really are:' Yeah, sure, this
will do that — and I have some land
in the Everglades to sell ya, too.
And he "insists that many safe-
guards are built into the system so
there is no (bias)"? Yeah, sure. And
the check is in the mail, too.
Besides, at the heart of it, isn't
this really just a cross between Angie's
List and J-Date?
The intention may have been good;
the execution, not so good. Stick to
plastics.

G. Scott
Detroit

Beth Ahm's Torah Trope group
will meet in the chapel every other
Thursday evening from 7:30 to 8 p.m.,
starting June 6 and will be facilitated
by Beth Ahm ritual assistant Nancy
Kaplan.
For more information, contact
Kaplan at (248) 737-1931 or by email at
nancyellen879@att.net .

Enter For A Chance
To Win Free Israel Trip
The Israel Ministry of Tourism
launched its new "Beyond Belief" video
contest, offering travelers a chance to
win a trip for two to Israel.
To enter the contest, participants
must visit the Israel Ministry of
Tourism Facebook page and select
the "Win a Trip" tab at the top of
the screen. Participants should then

HMD Thanks The Jewish Fund
Hillel of Metro Detroit (HMD) is
thrilled to be the recipient of a two-
year grant from the Jewish Fund. The
funding will support our "Jewish in
the D" initiative, bringing our local
Jewish college students attending
Lawrence Technological University,
Oakland Community College, Oakland
University, University of Detroit Mercy,
University of Michigan-Dearborn and
Wayne State University into the city of
Detroit for vibrant programming, work-
ing in cooperation with the Isaac Agree
Downtown Synagogue and Federation's
CommunityNEXT. We look forward to
implementing this exciting new venture.
Hillel of Metro Detroit is the commu-
nity's foremost organization for engag-
ing local Jewish college-age students
(18-29). HMD enriches Jewish identity,
furthers Jewish journeys and inspires
involvement in the community.

Karen Alpiner
HMD Board President
Miriam Starkman
HMD Executive Director

Correction

• In "Two-Decade Tradition" (May
30, page 51), an incorrect date
was given for a concert. Judd
Greenstein's A Serious Man, part
of the Great Lakes Chamber Music
Festival, will be performed at 8
p.m. Saturday, June 22, at the
Seligman Performing Arts Center,
22305 W.13 Mile, Beverly Hills.
www.greatlakeschambermusic.org ;
(248) 559-2097.

post an original two-minute video
that incorporates the phrase "Israel is
beyond belief"
The contest winner will win two
nonstop, roundtrip tickets to Israel on
El Al Israel Airlines and a seven-night
stay with the Dan Hotels chain.
"The new Facebook contest is a fun
and interactive way to promote tour-
ism to Israel," said Haim Gutin, Israel
Commissioner for Tourism, North and
South America. "We hope the contest
inspires a new wave of travelers to visit
Israel this year:'
Participants can enter the contest
through July 28. The contest winner
will be announced in August.
To enter the contest, visit www.
facebook.com/goisrael . For more
information about travel to Israel,
visit www.goisrael.com.

Ask Attorney
Ken Gross
about...

Your
Legal Issues

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

I'm retired. My credit

card debt and housing

costs are too high. Do
I keep paying?!

If you are elderly,
retired and living
on a fixed income
and your obligation on
your credit cards and
housing costs leaves
you no money for food,
transportation and
living, you can and
must do something to
fix the problem. You
can't keep paying until
you are broke. There are
solutions that will get rid
of the credit card debt
and trim your housing
costs - so you have
money to live and enjoy
your retirement - but you
need to take action.

THAV GROSS

has been solving
its clients' business, tax and financial
problems since 1982. Be sure to tune in
to the Financial Crisis Talk Center, on
Radio and now on TV - Saturday's at 9:00
AM - on WDFN 1130 AM, "The Fan,"and
Sunday's at 1 PM on MyTV20

We are unique - catch the radio show
& visit our websites to see why!

O THAV GROSS

888.235.4357 (HELP) or
248.645.1700

For information, visit us online at

thavgross.com • fctalkcenter.com

30150 Telegraph, Suite 444
Bingham Farms, MI 48025

Were a premier debt relief agency helping people file for Bankruptcy Protection.

June 6 • 2013

5