111 1 11 1 1111 1 111k ii:;,,- Torah Center Appeals To Supreme Court I Hundreds of local Jews attended the memorial service at Adat Shalom Synagogue. Sharing Israel's Loss Detroit Jews honor the lives of the slain Israeli teens. Michael Higer JN Intern H undreds gathered at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills Wednesday night, July 2, for a community-wide memorial service to honor the lives of Eyal Yifrach, Naftali Fraenkel and Gilad Shaar, the three kidnapped Israeli teenagers who were found murdered two days before. Four organizations helped to quickly organize the event — the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Anti- Defamation League (ADL). Between 750 and 1,000 people paid their respects to the three teens. "Look at how many people came out with two days' notice said Allan Gale, associate director of the JCRC. "What it says to me is two things. One is that many Jewish Detroiters are very connected to Israel. Two, is that we watched the news very closely and we were really hopeful that the three teens would be found alive. And when they were found dead we needed a program like this to really bring together the community:' For some, the loss of Eyal, Naftali and Gilad hit closer to home than most in Metro Detroit. "I feel a close kinship to Israel and to the loss; said Adele Nodler of Oak Park. "I have family there, and los- ing these young boys is like losing family." Rachael Vettese, 21, a senior at Kalamazoo College, traveled to Israel on a Birthright trip in December and now, with friends in Israel, she felt even more connected to the three teens. "There's such a deep connection, especially after going on Birthright:' Vettese said. "Having those friends who were Israeli soldiers, knowing that my friends could have been those three teens who were kidnapped or killed, they were the same age as them. There was such a strong connection you felt like you were a part of it:' 'Our Hearts Are Broken' Rabbi Aaron Bergman of Adat Shalom opened the ser- vice with words of loss and wholeness. "The word shalom, peace, is from the word for whole- ness. We do not feel whole today:' Bergman said. "Our hearts are broken for Naftali, Eyal and Gilad and their families and loved ones. "The Baal Shem Tov said that there is nothing more whole than a broken heart. We are a community of the broken-hearted, and when we come together to grieve the loss of our boys, we bring peace and wholeness to us and to the world:' Following Rabbi Bergman's opening remarks, three 18 July 10 • 2014 Hazzan Daniel Gross of Adat Shalom and Israeli counselors working at JCC camps lead the singing of "Hatikvah." candles were lit, one for each boy, by Douglas Bloom, president of Federation, Howard Brown, president of AJC, and Jeannie Weiner, past-president of JCRC. Among others who participated in the service were Israeli campers at Tamarack Camps Danna Ezer and Eitam Silverman, who gave a reflection on the three boys. At the conclusion of the service, Israeli counselors working at JCC camps this summer led an emotional singing of Israel's national anthem, "Hatikvah." Connection To Israel One of the attendees, Jordan Weiss, 28, of West Bloomfield thought that even though the service was put together in just two days, it did a great job of memo- rializing Eyal, Naftali and Gilad. "I thought they did a beautiful job with the selection of songs and the readings, and I thought it was very well done and very inclusive amongst all the participants:' The outpouring of support from the Metro Detroit Jewish community shows how connected Jews are to the State of Israel, Ruth Vosko, 90, of Farmington explained. "I think it was wonderful to see so many people here Vosko said. "I was hoping that we would have a big showing. Our Jewish community in Detroit is the best Jewish community in the country:' Although the loss of the three teens is still fresh in the minds and hearts of many Jews in Metro Detroit, the memorial service did its part in giving those who came some closure. As Rabbi Bergman said to end the memorial service, "When we leave each other we say `tzeitchem l'shalom,' may we go out in peace, may we go out for the sake of peace. May our boys rest in peace:' ❑ David Sachs Senior Copy Editor n June 30, the Sara & Morris Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center in West Bloomfield (Torah Center) filed a request for the Michigan Supreme Court to review its May 22 loss in the state Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals ruling reversed the Oakland County Circuit Court decision that the lawsuit by Chabad of Michigan seeking the deed to the syna- gogue was filed too late, after the statute of limita- tions had run. Chabad of Michigan successfully argued in the Court of Appeals that the arbitrations in bet dins (rabbinical courts) with Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg of the Torah Center suspended the run- ning of the statute of limitations. Todd Mendel of the Detroit-based law firm Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker represents the Torah Center. He said his application to the state Supreme Court sus- pended the Court of Appeals' ruling — which would have sent the case back to the trial court — until the Supreme Court deals with it. The process could take five to seven months — or much longer if the high court agrees to hear the appeal. In its application for leave to appeal, the Torah Center argued that the Court of Appeals created new law in ruling that arbitration suspends the running of the statute of limitations. "The Supreme Court jus- tices are not judicial activists:' Mendel said. The Torah Center's other argument is that only Rabbi Silberberg was party to the arbitrations, not the Torah Center — and it's the Torah Center that owns the property. "We've got exhibits from the actu- al proceedings that say that:' Mendel said. "In addition, the argument about Chabad of Michigan going to vaads [rabbinical boards] seeking permission to sue is persuasive Mendel said, refer- ring to Chabad of Michigan's self-stated need to get approval to sue. "The Chabad vaad said don't sue, but Chabad of Michigan did an end run [by going to a different vaad to get permission]. "I'm saying they never got permission to sue from the hierarchy they say they're part of. And they never got it against the Torah Center and the board — and since it's the Torah Center and the board that owns the property, we shouldn't even be in court:' Chabad of Michigan Attorney Norman Ankers of Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn, also based in Detroit, said, "I don't think that any of the Torah Center's arguments are new, and I think they're incorrect. "To us, it's really disturbing that a rabbi and his congregation are flouting clear rulings and orders and directions of rabbinical courts and the entire sys- tem of Lubavitch — and then complaining about the hardships and money being spent and how difficult this is — when they could just follow the rulings of the bet din and follow Jewish law, which would be appropriate for any congregation. "Instead, they are pursuing further legal action when they could close this matter by following those pronouncements:' Ankers said. "We will respond to their application for leave to appeal in due course. "Lubavitch spent many years trying to resolve this matter within the process that was set up by the Rebbe, and it was only after several clear verdicts were issued that were flouted by the other side that we were obligated to seek court intervention — and that's unfortunate:' ❑