Honoring them
just won't be the same without you.
Differences from page 40
Taken aback, I said no, then asked why
she had thought so. Apparently, she had
heard that Jewish women wear wedding
rings on their middle fingers, so assumed
that the simple ring I wore on the middle
finger of my left hand was a symbol of mar-
riage.
I laughed and explained that it definitely
wasn't a wedding ring and that I had never
even heard that Jewish women wear wed-
ding rings on a different finger from every-
one else.
From there, we spoke of all manner of
things, from how difficult it is to get ready
in the morning at the same time as your
roommate to my impending trip to Israel
and all the food I needed to try while there.
The evening wound down and we said
our goodbyes. I quickly slipped into the role
of the typical Jewish mother, demanding
that everyone leave with plates of leftovers.
We parted ways, with smiles on our faces
and a renewed appreciation for our new
friends.
It was so wonderful to sit down with
the members of the MSA and talk about
trivial human things. Not once did it cross
my mind that I was talking to anyone other
than a fellow college student.
Too often, I think, particularly in the
age of anonymous online commenting, we
forget that behind every tweet, every news
article, and yes, every stereotype, there are
people. Just people, like you and me, with
feelings and emotions.
It is important in every community that
we take the time to get to know not only
one another, but people on the outside as
well. We must imagine people, and thus
the world around us, more complexly than
we often do if we are serious about living
peacefully with one another.
I must admit, I didn't know what to
expect going in to the Avi Shabbat dinner,
but I came away from the evening with a
full belly and a few new friends. What more
could I really want from life? @
Audra Gamble from Canton is a sophomore
at Grand Valley State University in Allandale.
Focus from page 40
Lupovitch on the rise and role of Zionism,
Saeed Khan of WSU about the roots of the
Middle East conflict, Ayelet Kon of Federation
about her experience growing up in Israel as
an American, American Jewish Committee
regional director Kari Alterman on the work
AJC does to show people in roles of power
the amazing country that Israel is, a debate
between representatives of both J Street
and the ZOA, and an inspirational speech by
Robert Roth about the role AIPAC plays and
how easily we could get involved.
My experience with Israel Fellowship illus-
trated the critical need for Israel advocacy
now. We are fortunate that people today still
see the value in having an American-Israeli
relationship. This, however, may not always
be the case. So we should constantly educate
ourselves to become advocates on Israel's
behalf to ensure a brighter future for both
ourselves and the land we hold so dear.
I would like to thank Hillel of Metro Detroit,
the guest lecturers and my fellow classmates
for teaching me and making me realize the
greater impact Israel advocacy should hold in
my future. @
Shugmi Shumanov of Southfield recently
graduated from Wayne State University in
Detroit.
Dr. John J. Mames — Michigan Region Founding Members
Dr. Elie D. and Eileen Aboulafia
*Norman and *Fani Adelsberg
Dr. Jules and *Deborah Altman
*Dr. Harvey Beaver
Dr. Phyllis Beaver Horwitz
Dr. Eric and Doris Billes
B'nai B'rith —Albert Einstein
Lodge
*Larry and *Belle Brenners
*Bessie Chase
*Max and *Sally Drew
*Arnold and *Phyllis Einhorn
*lsidor and *Belle Eisenberg
*Gedale and *Luba Elbaum
*Dr. Elmer and *Peggy Ellias
Fred and Miram Ferber
*Leon and *Esther Halpern
*Samuel and *Miriam Hamburger
Horodoker Women's Organization
*Sol and *Annie Kleinman
*Jack and *Esther Lipton
*Dr. John and *Eva Mames
*Dr. Harold and *Ethel Maxmen
Dr. Sheldon and Sybil Mintz
*Dr. Lawrence and Libby Newman
*Sam and *Hyla Offen
*Harry and *Esther Praw
Radomer Aid Society
*Felix and *Frances Rosenzweig
*Dr. George and Rhoda Rosin
*Morris and *Emma Lazarus
Schaver
*Simon and *Evelyn Schwarzberg
*Dr. Norman and *Barbara Segal
Asa and Sara Shapiro
*Dr. Leo and *Roslyn Shipko
*Dr. David and Gertrude Silver
*Josef and *Miriam Slaim
*Carmi and *Sharron Slomovitz
*Philip and *Anna Slomovitz
*Max and *Ruth Sosin
*Julius and *Anna Spielberg
*Dr. Morris and Betty Starkman
Dr. Warren and *Charlotte Tessler
*Benesch and *Riva Thatch
Oscar and *Charlotte Tuttleman
*Jack and Ida Waksberg
*Martin and *Sabina Water
Abraham and *Lea Weberman
*Dr. Robert and *Mary Jo Wolfe
*Dr. Arnold and *Joanne Zuroff
* of blessed memory
AFMDA is honoring these chapter founders for the
ambulances and paramedic scholarship they sponsored, the
emergency medical stations they built, and the lives they saved.
But to honor them, we need you. If you're a friend or relative
of any of these honorees, contact us at central@afmda.org or
877.405.3913 so we can include you in our festivities and save
even more lives in Israel.
K eCration,
i e - 9
OF
W cia
2014
Honoring our Chapter Founders
Thursday, September 11, 2014 • 5:30 p.m.
Congregation Beth Ahm, West Bloomfield
Hillel@GVSU enjoyed a matzah pizza-making program during
Passover: (top) freshman Gabe Hessenthaler, Berkley; senior
Sammi Fine, West Bloomfield; senior Jakob Slep, Hart, Mich.;
sophomore Matthew Devore, West Bloomfield; sophomore Shelby
Bruseloff, West Bloomfield; junior Joey Hockin, Wixom; and senior
Allie Camhi, Kalamazoo; (bottom) senior Noah Zucker, West
Bloomfield; and freshman Danielle Kay, Novi.
Dr. John J. Mames Chapter — Michigan Region
Manny Charach, Chair • Cari Immerman, Director
23215 Commerce Park Road, Suite 306, Beachwood, OH 44122
877.405.3913 • Central@afmda.org • www.afmda.org
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF
MAGEN DAVID ADOM
1897620
May 22 • 2014
41