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.) B1.1 L Dethrri.t —7- ezu- L4frs.. A DErRo u " ‘HRONIC,74%- e va.s.-24.28 •■■• Chronicle, Nes, Merge Publisher Bids Readers Goodby IM SEYMOUR mcarr; Outuide ',blasts o‘ ,o.Syf REynt Political _Deals Out- Premier *Petrol' to Have Unified Jewish Paper July 20 In the best Interests of our com- munity, the Deceit Jewish Chronicle will be merged with the Detroit Jewish Ral:RSe;rt' New5 The beg.rew .Ur sh Chronic publication with its issue of July 13. The Jewish News, having pur- chased the Jewish Chronicle, auunses all rights to its name, to its subscription and advertising lists and all its rights in the Jewish publication field. Unenuired oaid vuhverinvion t *h. 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