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Doing Business In Israel
While Country Mourns
T
he trip started out as any other:
long flights, no sleep and hit-
ting the ground running. As
executive director of the Michigan Israel
Business Bridge (MIBB), I was in Israel
to talk to our partners and colleagues
including current members of MIBB,
government and NGOs working with
bi-national trade and some
specific companies poised to
expand in the U.S.
Sunday and Monday's
meetings were just great.
It was wonderful to be in
Michigan Jewish Federation's
P2G (Partnership2Gether)
region up in the Central
Galilee. I even fit in a trip to
my favorite falafel stand at
the Afula bus station. MIBB
has great members up north and we
would like to ramp up our work with
businesses in the region.
Heading back to Tel Aviv on Monday
evening, I even got to spend some time
at the new Sorona shopping and dining
area with a former Huntington Woods
friend.
Then came Tuesday morning.
I woke up looking forward to my
multiplier day. I had meetings with
MATIMOP (Israel Industry Center for
R&D), the Israel Export Institute and
the Israel Manufacturers Association,
and those were the meetings before
lunch. Of course, as soon as I awoke
and saw the terrible news of the mass
murder and mutilation in a synagogue
in Har Nof, a religious neighborhood in
Jerusalem, my heart sank.
But, as we always say, Israel moves
forward. Every meeting still took
place, albeit with respect for the lives
lost and concern for the days ahead.
Conversation among Israelis turned
to starting to carry their weapons after
years of concern but not hour-to-hour
worry. It also turned to asking those
who are in service to bring their guns to
synagogue during services.
By the end of the day, I knew that
the son of my former Hebrew school
teacher had been among the
murdered. I hadn't thought
of Rabbi Shlomo and Bracha
Kupinsky in years, but their
faces and classrooms imme-
diately came to mind. Their
loss and those of all the
families is really too much
to bear.
But, as all Israelis do time
after time, we put that on
one side of our minds (cer-
tainly not in the back of it) and contin-
ued to talk about Michigan wanting to
be the landing spot in North America
for Israeli expansion. From automotive
suppliers to water-related companies
to cyber, agri-tech and medical devices,
we have a place for everyone here. We
are looking for big things to happen.
I think the coming days will be diffi-
cult ones, and I pray for the safety of all
Israelis and peace-loving people. Israel
needs our business support right now.
We urge all to continue to work with
Israeli companies as they continue to
work and move forward each and every
day.
I look forward to my next trip to
Israel and hope it will be in better
days.
❑
Pamela Lippitt is the executive director of
the Michigan Israel Business Bridge. She
was in Israel to showcase Michigan to Israeli
organizations and companies.
Despite the horror of the synagogue massacre, life in Israel moved forward,
even at Pam Lippitt's favorite falafel stand.
44 December 11 • 2014
JN
Industry Leaders
Home Builders Association honors two
Jewish members.
T
he Home Builders
Association of
Southeastern
Michigan (HBA) presented
its 2014 Industry Leadership
Awards Dec. 3 at the asso-
ciation's Awards Night and
Holiday Celebration held at the
Diamond Center at Suburban
Collection Showplace in Novi.
Nearly 300 members and
guests attended the event,
Dennis P. Dickstein
Norman Hyman
a clear indication that the
economy has improved for
local builders, land develop-
The Jewish honorees were Oakland
ers, remodelers and suppliers to the home
County Realtor Dennis P. Dickstein, who
construction industry.
was honored with the Samuel Kreis Award
"These individuals and companies
for Distinguished Service to the Building
are pillars of the regional home build-
Industry, and Bloomfield Hills-based real
ing industry. Their accomplishments are
estate attorney Norman Hyman, who was
making a positive impact on our industry
honored with the Professional Services to
and enhancing our communities," said
the Building Industry award.
Michael Stoskopf, CEO of the HBA. "It is
our honor to acknowledge them."
❑
Business 'Claus'
Entrepreneurs offer cards for kids.
Leslie Spector
Special to the Jewish News
S
anta's elves are hard at work this
year in Maplewood, N.J., as they
prepare to send personalized
Chanukah and Christmas cards from Santa
to kids all over the world.
Business partners Jayson Raitt and Kelly
Easterling work as a team every holiday
season, as they process fill-in-the-blank or
personalized cards addressed from Santa.
"You fill in the card as if it comes
from Santa; said Raitt, formerly of West
Bloomfield, who now produces theatri-
cal shows. "You chose a template and pay
online, it gets sent to us and we process it in
house
Easterling, who is not Jewish, started
Santa Sent Me A Letter seven years ago. As a
kid, he believed in the magic. He used to get
personal, handwritten letters from Santa. He
was always excited that Santa knew things
about him, such as his teacher's name, his
best friend's name and his dog's name.
"We all love getting mail when it's not a
bill:' Raitt said.
New this year, Raitt came up with the idea
to incorporate a new tradition — Chanukah
cards from Santa.
The Chanukah cards are a reminder that
"Santa Claus recognizes you and your reli-
gion. They're a reminder that just because
you don't celebrate Christmas doesn't mean
you don't believe in Santa;' Raitt said.
"Being Jewish, I never celebrated Christmas,
but I was intrigued by it.
"I've always loved the holiday season,
not just blue and white. We know a lot of
our customers are religious and believe
in Christmas, but for me it's more about
the holidays — warmth, family, tradition
and the families believing in magic; Raitt
added.
The letters are authentic-looking, coming
on stationery from the desk of Santa Claus,
complete with a wax seal and a North Pole
stamp. Raitt's parents, Jane and Stephen
Raitt of West Bloomfield, field questions for
customers.
The business was running the day after
Halloween and will continue through Dec.
15. Find holiday cards at www.
santasentmealetter.com.
"We do it because we love it, and we know
that every letter we have our hands on is
going into the hands of a wide-eyed kid who
loves receiving letters from Santa, whether
they're Christian or Jewish; Raitt said.
❑