metro MICHIGAN Media Savvy from page 8 Michigan Opera Theatre in collaboration with the Macomb Center for Performing Arts presents the Midwest Premiere of the colorful and explosive production of... 1 DA ROBERT XAVIER RODRIGUEZ Featuring Catalina Cuervo as Frida Sung in English and Spanish Presented at these Metro Detroit venues: MACOMB CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS MAR. 7, • 7:30 PM I MAR. 8, • 2:30 PM THE BERMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS MAR. 21, • 7:30 PM I MAR. 22, • 2:30 PM THE DETROIT FILM THEATRE MAR. 28, • 7:30 PM FOR TICKETS & INFO: 313.237.SING or michiganopera.org DTE Energy Foundation communityfoundation FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN Mandell and Madeline Berman Foundation 10 March 5 • 2015 MacombCenter FOUNDATION forthePerformingArts DIA WILLIAM DAVIDSON Foundation go to France. I believe the people there need to know we arerit abandoning our interest in them. Not all can immigrate. "Herschel is the religious scholar; she said. "His ability to speak on these topics is the major force of the program:" Chaplaincy To Cyberspace Finman refers to himself as both "a teacher and student of Judaism:' with a major focus on Kabbalah and Talmudic studies, teaching mainly in adult educa- tion programs and seminars. Since his family came to the Detroit area in 1988, he has served the commu- nity in a multitude of areas, including having been a chaplain for the Michigan Department of Corrections and, for 18 years, coordinator of the Detroit Jewish Judicial Seminar, a monthly lecture series focusing on current events and Jewish law. Currently, he is an adjunct professor of philosophy at Oakland Community College and professor of Judaic studies at the Michigan Jewish Institute. He also has close to 35 years working in medical-legal-business ethics research. Finman began sharing Jewish-based teachings online 20 years ago when a student asked him to speak with his niece about her questions on Judaism. After the session, he emailed her a note and included a short insight into that week's Torah portion, along with a Chasidic story. He said he realized no one else was yet doing what he had just done, so he sent the email to his mailing list of about 30 people. Requests from friends of the recipients began to pour in and the next week he sent it to 100 people. Within a year, more than 2,000 indi- viduals were receiving it and today more than 14,000 receive the weekly e-Parsha — sponsored by a grant from the Paul and Leslie Magy Foundation — a short, in-depth, easy-to-read analysis of the Torah portion or an upcoming Jewish holiday, along with a Chasidic story. A short YouTube video version, YouParsha is co-sponsored by the Specs Howard School of Media Arts in Southfield and Alan and Lori Zekelman. His Chasidic YouStory follows the same format as YouParsha, but with a Chasidic story instead. Finman is working to connect The Jewish Hour with community projects, including a recent Chanukah menorah- lighting program in Ferndale, where the WLQV radio station is based. He also read the megillah for Purim at the Ferndale Public Library on Wednesday. On Air - When he arrived in Detroit in 1988, he began weekly learning sessions with Specs Howard (founder of the Southfield-based Specs Howard School, a broadcast and communications arts school). "Twenty-five-years later, we still meet in his office every Tuesday after- noon," Finman said. "I arrived as his teacher, but I look up to him in so many ways, and when I started The Jewish Hour, he became my radio mentor," Finman said. "He taught me to speak naturally; he gave me point- ers on writing and reading the news:' Specs Howard, whose "real" name is Jerry Liebman, was Finman's first Jewish Hour guest when he went on air in 1996. He was on again last March, during the program's "chai anniversary" episode. That show was heard online in Atlanta by former Detroiter Cheri Eisenberg. "The rabbi's interviews are timely, enlightening and he asks intelligent, tough questions," she said. "The show has a small town feel while discussing big world issues and the local refer- ences are heartwarming to me said Eisenberg, who grew up in Oak Park and Southfield. The Rebbe's Vision Beyond his radio show audience and the many who learn with the rabbi are those affected by Finman personally, like Yaakov Goldsmith of Oak Park, whom he met 20 years ago. "It was at the beginning of my return to Orthodoxy, and it was great to find a rabbi who 'got it' or seemed to speak the language of the outside world while being very much a chasid of the Lubavitcher Rebbe," Goldsmith said. "I love and look forward to hearing the words of the Rebbe along with Rabbi Finman's explanations," he said. "He is what an authentic shaliach (emissary) is, a throwback to the self-sacrifice the ear- lier shluchim had and displayed:' Sharing his knowledge and reaching out are paramount to Finman's drive. "Chasidic philosophy dictates that we utilize every media the world affords to make the world a greater vehicle for con- veying Godliness:' Finman said. "The Lubavitcher Rebbe showed great insight in utilizing mass media to this aim. The Rebbe encouraged radio programs, public cable access shows and the Internet to make the teachings of Chasidus much more available. I am truly humbled to be part of the Rebbe's vision. That The Jewish Hour, e-Parsha and YouParsha touch so many lives encourages me to continue he said. "I feel a tremendous sense of grateful- ness with every new class, new subscrib- er and new participant in the projects in which we are involved:' ❑ For details on Finman's classes, web projects or radio show, or to sponsor a Torah e-Par- sha or YouParsha, go to: www. rabbifinman.com.