aikrat2C metro How can Israel survive without a secure blood supply? Awash from page 10 estimator with Absolute Services, who said they had an overwhelming influx of calls and a wait list of customers that goes into the hundreds. "Just this morning, when I checked our answering machine we had 28 calls overnight:' Financial Aid MDA blood center staffworking in underground bomb shelter during Operation Protective Edge. Sh e can't! Whenever rockets are aimed at Tel Aviv, Magen David Adom's National Blood Center, Israel's only blood bank for her people and the Israel Defense Forces, must move into cramped, underground bomb shelters. Please join us on September 11th to hear Prof. Eilat Shinar, M.D. discuss the challenges facing the current blood bank and why it is vital to move the operations to a permanent and secure underground facility. Thursday, September 11, 2014 5:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth Ahm, West Bloomfield Featuring Guest Speaker — Dr. Eilat Shinar, M.D. Director of MDAs Blood Bank R.S.V.P. by Thursday, September 4, 2014 by calling 877.405.3913 or at www.afinda.org/mames-gala Ad journal deadline extended to Tuesday, August 26, 2014. Proceeds will be used to sponsor an ambulance in Israel in honor of our chapter's founders and supply MDA with much needed medical equipment and supplies. AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM 12 August 21 • 2014 Bat Mitzvah Plans Overall, flood victims maintained a cheery outlook that "things could always be worse:' They know personal belongings they lost are "just stuff," but they still are in a state of mourning for sentimental and priceless possessions that money cannot replace. Daniella HarPaz Mechnikov of Huntington Woods was one week away from celebrating the bat mitz- ❑ JFS is seeking donations to help families recover from the flood- ing. To donate, go to http://www. ifsdetroit.org/support-jfs . Donors can indicate they want to support flood relief in the comment box. Nechama is looking for donations as well as local volunteers. Call (763) 732-0610 or sign up to vol- unteer at www.nechama.org and click on the Detroit Area Flood Response link. Taking The Plunge from page 8 Celebration of Life Gala Dr. John J. Mames Chapter — Michigan Region Cari Margulis Immerman, Director Manny Charach, Chair 23215 Commerce Park Road, Suite 306 Beachwood, OH 44122 Toll-Free: 877.405.3913 • central@afmda.org wwwafmda.org David Contorer, executive director of Hebrew Free Loan in Bloomfield Township, said his agency is here to help people get through "wrinkles that life throws our way." "In our 119 years in operation, we have never seen such an unprecedented disaster as this flood in Detroit," Contorer said. "But Hebrew Free Loan is here to provide interest-free loans up to $7,500 to members of the Jewish community, whether you have lost your car or wish to refmish your basement:' Those interested in applying for a loan can call Hebrew Free Loan at (248) 723-8184 Monday through Thursday or begin the application pro- cess online at www.hfldetroit.org. vah of her daughter, Pelli, when raw sewage water seeped into her family's basement and rose to nearly 3 feet. In addition to furniture, photos and other mementoes stored in the base- ment were the new shoes she and her daughter were supposed to wear for the simchah. "You know what was also floating around in the basement? My rain boots," Mechnikov said. "I'm lucky my neighbor let me borrow his big fishing boots so I can get down there and clean:' Though she has a rider on her homeowner's insurance policy for sewer water damage that should cover the cost to replace her furnace and appliances, Mechnikov is uncertain when the family will have the money to restore their finished basement. "Still, you just have to take a deep breath and put things in perspective," Mechnikov said. "After all, I have a brother in Tel Aviv who has been run- ning to a shelter for cover all summer. It could be worse:' Co-sponsored by: DETROIT JEWISH NEWS The flooded highways threw cold water on everyone's plans. One friend coming from Toronto ended up getting caught on 1-696 and spent a total of 14 hours in his car. Another friend drove with water up to his ankles, until the car stalled. A relative from St. Louis was in his car for eight hours before pull- ing over to buy something to feed his kids because they never did end up getting the wedding dinner. Then they headed back to the Oak Park house they were staying in, only to find that the basement had flooded and all their possessions had been wrecked under a foot of sewage. Friends and neighbors were forced to give up mid-drive and find a place to spend the night in their wedding clothes because the way home was blocked. Some slept in their cars in the Lowe's parking lot in Warren. Ten friends of the groom were "unstoppable," Hurvitz says. When these guys came up against the flooding, they parked, headed to Walmart to purchase bathing suits... and then swam in 6 feet of water to the wedding, where they literally made a splash. "A bathing suit is still a suit," Hurvitz jokes. Hurvitz says it was a little disap- pointing to not have the wedding they'd planned and dreamed of, but it's water under the bridge for this positive-minded family. "We were warm and dry, we had food, drink, music, and we are filled with tremendous appreciation for all the time people put into trying to get there," Hurvitz says. However, unlike most other wed- dings when families sometimes second-guess themselves and worry about the hurt feelings of people who weren't invited, Hurvitz says, "This time around, people who we didn't invite are going to thank us." ❑