metro

>> on the cover

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Boards vote to end JCC operations in Oak Park.

Jackie Headapohl I Managing Editor

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The Federation board also passed a
resolution to "issue a Request for Proposals
[RFPs] from organizations seeking to
repurpose the Jimmy Prentis Morris
Building:'
Ron Aronson, who leads the grassroots
group Save the Oak Park JCC, said he was
not surprised by the boards' actions.
"We're more concerned about what hap-
pens next," he said.

Fielding Proposals

The Oak Park JCC has been running a defi-
cit of nearly $1 million for several years and
JCC and Jewish Federation leaders said in
January they wanted to close it as of May
31 as a part of a solution to the JCC's long-
time debt problem. The JCC includes the
much larger JCC in West Bloomfield, which

leaders say has an annual deficit of about
$200,000. Both community campuses
also are home to apartment buildings for
seniors run by Jewish Senior Life.
Public forums about that decision held
by JCC/Federation lay
and professional lead-
ers Jan. 12-13 drew
about 750 people. Once
Federation leaders saw
the outpouring of con-
cern, they decided to
delay the closure to Aug.
31, at a cost of $250,000,
Scott
according to Federation
Kaufman
CEO Scott Kaufman.
Kaufman says the JCC
has been working to wind down operations
in Oak Park at the same time leaders have
been fielding proposals from organizations
to repurpose the Jimmy Prentis Morris

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ickaiii

Entrance to JCC in Oak Park

Building. Kaufman says that within 60
days, the Federation will begin vetting the
proposals.
"Unlike other landlords, the Federation
isn't interested in making a dime from this
lease," Kaufman said. "Mission is more
important than revenue:'
Michael Berger, who leads the Futures
Committee, which has been examining the
organization for months and deciding on
what changes need to be made to keep the
JCC viable into the future, said that work is
being done to identify programs that will
continue in the same geographic area, if not
within the building itself.
"The best case is to keep as many pro-
grams as possible," he said. "Our ultimate
goal is to serve the community:'
The Federation is seeking RFPs from
organizations that intend to "maintain an
inclusive community facility that continues

SHABBAT

featuri7

5:30 p.m.

Nosh and Schmooze

6:00 p.m.

T.G.I.S. (Thank God it's Shabbat)

1:00 p.m.

Shabbat Dinner - New and Improved!

Bring your family to share a meal with your Shaarey Zedek
family. Dinner cost: CSZ Members— $25 per person,
CSZ Familes with school-age children $36 per family;
Non-Members — Adults $36 per person, Children ages 5-12 $5 each.

1:30 p.m.

Rabbi Naomi Levy will speak:

Life vnaer construction:
Repairng Our World, Repairing Ourselves

SATURDAY,
MARCH 21, 2015

Activities for children during the remarks.

URDAY, HARM 21, 2015

Rabbi Naomi Levy, founder and spiritual leader of flashuvah, a vroundbrea
outreach organization based in Los flnifeles, is a unique and passionate v
contemporary Jewish world.

Through ilashuvah, Rabbi Levy has been involved in draing hundreds of unaffiliated Je
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The Jewish Daily forward listed Rabbi Levy as one of the fifty most influential Jewish lea
in the nation. Reustueek named Rabbi Levy in its Top 50 Rabbis in Rmerica list.
. /
Rabbi Levy was in the first class of women to enter the Jewish Theological Seminary's rabbinic
school, and subsequently became the first female Conservative rabbi to head a pulpit on the
West Coast.

14

Decision Made on page 16

Usher in Shabbat with this joyful and musical Friday night
experience. Free and open to the community.

AND

•

The Grassroots Effort

Aronson addressed Federation and
Foundation board members prior to the
meetings.
"We of the Committee to Save the Oak
Park Jewish Center say that it is the wrong
decision," he said. "Even as a symbolic
statement and at this late hour I would urge
you to vote against that motion — at the
very least to bear witness against the terri-
ble fact that the Jewish Community Center
of Metropolitan Detroit is leaving the build-

FRIDAY. MARCH 70 7015

FRIDAY,
MARCH 20, 2015

/A
V ■ V
AWAk

to serve the Jewish population in the area
with programming by the JCC and other
Jewish community organizations:' It has
received a handful of proposals from local
Jewish organizations, Kaufman said, but he
declined to say which ones.

9:00 a.m.

1

Shacharit

Rabbi Levy will address the congregation during morning services:

A Little Push Can Cause the Seas to Part:

What Push Do You Need?

Following the Congregational Lunch,

Rabbi Naomi Levy will speak:

From Your Mouth to God's Ear: How Do
We Talk to God and Make Prayer Personal?
Free and open to the community.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO RSVP FOR SHABBAT DINNER

Contact Tobye Bello at tbello@shaareyzedek.org
or 248.357.5544. Dinner reservations must be
confirmed by Monday, March 16, 2015.

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CONGREGATION

SHAAREY ZEDEK

March 12 • 2015

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AND SHAAREY ZEDEK SISTERHOOD.

EVENT (0 - (HAIRS JUDIE BLUMENO AND RUTHE GOLDSTEIN.

199013C

