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Helping Ethan

Rabbi Moskowitz's sons use their
b'nai mitzvah to help a fallen camper.

0

ne of the more important
components of a bar or bat
mitzvah is to complete a
sort of social action project, some-
thing to help others. Two local boys
took that project to heart, and Rabbi
Michael Moskowitz and his wife,
Leslie, of Temple Shir Shalom in West
Bloomfield could not be more proud
of their twin sons, Nathan and Asher.
Their b'nai mitzvah takes place March
7, but the real headline takes place
March 8.
The story started in June at the
Indiana summer camp the Moskowitz
twins were attending. One fateful
day, their camp mate Ethan Kadish,
12, was struck by lightning and
severely injured while teaching some
younger boys and girls. Ethan went
into cardiac arrest and, sadly, suffered
Nathan Moskowitz carries his twin
a traumatic brain injury and had to
brother
Asher.
be placed into an induced coma. He
spent the next 145 days at Cincinnati
"Ethan is going through so much
Hospital, where he went through
rehabilitation close to home.
right now that it is difficult to imag-
Finally, this past November, Ethan
ine," said Asher Moskowitz. "With all
came home only to be rushed
of the blessings my brother and
back to the hospital where
I have, we feel the need to
he remains today, for
share and to help some-
more surgery. The
one else. Helping Ethan
Kadish family is pray-
makes sense. It may
ing for their son's
not be traditional, but
recovery, and they
it is the right thing
have been finan-
to do."
cially decimated
Added Nathan,
during this process.
"We worry a lot
Ethan was to have
about Ethan; but
celebrated his bar
all of us who were
mitzvah this past
at camp that day do.
August, but instead he
That was the scariest
spent the day with this
day of our young lives:"
family at his side, fighting
According to Rabbi
for his young life.
Moskowitz, "When our
Ethan Kadish
Here is where Nathan
sons came home from
and Asher Moskowitz come
camp, it really changed
in.
the focus and tone of their
Inspired by their parents, the boys
b'nai mitzvah. It put a perspective on
decided to put together a fundraiser
the experience for our entire fam-
for Ethan. On Saturday, March 8,
ily — just in knowing the reality of
come rain or shine, Kensington Metro
what Ethan is fighting for and what
Park will be the site of a 5K run/walk,
we can do every day. But this also has
which will be the culmination of a
been humbling in our community's
months' long fundraiser established in response and support. I think the
an effort to offset Ethan's hospital bills. way Asher and Nathan have shared
The boys created their own website
Ethan's story has moved and engaged
some months ago, icanihopedihelped.
so many."
com, where people can go for all of the
The boys are hoping to engage even
details on how to contribute money
more people with their 5K fundraiser.
and sign up for the fundraiser, which
"This is about doing the right thine
begins at 12:30 p.m. People can regis-
said the boys, who hope the commu-
ter on the website.
nity gives generously to help Ethan.

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February 27 • 2014