APRIL
HAIL TO THE VICTORS
Turmoil at the University of Michigan over a controversial divestment
proposal culminated at an emotionally charged six-hour meeting of the
Central Student Government (CSG) assembly, where the resolution was
defeated by a 25-9 vote. Later in the month, an anti-Israel resolution
failed on UM-Dearborn campus.
RARE MITZVAH
APRIL: Rabbi Dovid Kahn, a kohen, receives
APRIL: At one of many strategy sessions,
students listen to U-M Hillel chair Michele Freed
a sheep as redemption for the firstborn male
give her ideas about defeating the BDS resolution. donkey during the Pidyon Peter Chamor
mitzvah.
411
On April 17, a baby donkey and a sheep were the main players in a rare
mitzvah held at Young Israel of Oak Park. More than 1,200 Orthodox
men, women and children created standing room only to be part of the
mitzvah known as Pidyon Peter Chamor (redemption of the firstborn
donkey). It was a first for Detroit. Not counting Israel — where Jewish
farmers with donkeys abound — the mitzvah is seldom performed
because of the difficulty in obtaining a firstborn male donkey.
MAY
MICHIGAN-ISRAEL BOND STRENGTHENS
The Partnership2Gether Region of the Central Galilee created a Young
Adult Forum, drawing from more than 100 young Israeli adults who
have had prior connections to Jewish Detroit through their experiences
as Tamarack alumni, counselors on Teen Missions or as participants in
Detroit Community Birthright trips.
JUNE
HEART AND SOUL
JUNE: Sam Morris at the loom in the Friendship Circle
art studio.
MAY: Israeli camper Shani Eshto from
Migdal HaEmek is all smiles at a picnic
with the youngest member of her host
family, Aden Opperer. (Aden's parents
are Josh and Rachel Opperer.)
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JUNE: The Wayne County morgue.
JUNE:
A page from the Jewish Chronicle.
Friendship Circle of Michigan announced a new endeavor that will pro-
vide programming and vocational training for adults with special needs:
the Farber Soul Center, an 18,000-square-foot facility that includes an art
studio and gallery as well as a fully operative restaurant.
DIGNIFIED BURIALS
Members of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association from Wayne
and Oakland counties, with the support of the Jewish Fund, led a coali-
tion of volunteers who would work together to ensure more than 200
bodies being held at the Wayne County morgue would be buried in
individual graves, with caskets, in local cemeteries over the next several
months.
JN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES ADDITION TO ITS
ARCHIVES
The Detroit Jewish News Foundation announced it would move for-
ward with the digitization of the entire contents of the Detroit Jewish
Chronicle, which dated from 1914-1951. Expected to be completed in
mid-2015, the DJN archive will provide more than 100 years of continu-
ous free and searchable content about Metro Detroit's Jewish community.
STRENGTHENING TIES
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Consul General of Israel to the Midwest
Roey Gilad signed a bilateral cooperation agreement to promote joint
industrial research and development projects. The pact will promote and
enhance the economic partnership between Michigan and Israel, calling
for issuance of a request for proposals (RFP) from for-profit business
collaborations between Michigan and Israeli companies.
JULY
SHARING ISRAEL'S PAIN
JUNE: Israeli consul Yariv Becher and MIBB
President Hannan Lis attended the event.
JULY:
Hundreds of local Jews attended the memo-
rial service at Adat Shalom Synagogue.
JULY: The Save Our Synagogue Committee petition meeting on July 13 drew a large crowd.
Hundreds gathered at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills 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 organiza-
tions helped to quickly organize the event — the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit, the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish
Community Relations Council and the Anti-Defamation League.
Between 750 and 1,000 people paid their respects to the three teens.
KRAKOFF LEAVES CSZ
Athough Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff resigned his position as religious leader
at Congregation Shaarey Zedek (CSZ) in Southfield at the end of July,
a group of congregants, critical of the lack of transparency regarding
Krakoff's ouster, pressed forward with a petition for a special meeting to
recall the synagogue's executive board. The group gathered nearly 350 sig-
natures.
Year In Review on page 10
December 25 • 2014
9