The American Friends of
Bar-Ilan University
Thanks the Generous
Individuals and Foundations
Whose Gifts Have Create

the Detroit Jewish Communit
Library at the Bar-Ilan Universi
School of Medicine in Safed

Josh Aronow of Ann Arbor decided to "play it forward" for his bar mitzvah
by collecting and donating gently used sports equipment to the Detroit

Police Athletic League.

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osh Aronow, 13, of Ann
Arbor knows all about the
thrill of playing in a bas-
ketball game that's won with a "crazy
shot" at the buzzer. From his years
playing basketball, baseball, soccer
and hockey, he also knows the most
exciting moments of playing a sport
are gained through commitment and
teamwork.
Prior to his bar mitzvah this
Shabbat at Ann Arbor's Beth Israel
Congregation, the seventh-grader at
Greenhills School wanted to share his
love of playing sports with thousands
of deserving kids in Detroit. So he
"played it forward" by collecting and
donating nearly a truckload of gently
used sports equipment to the Detroit
Police Athletic League (PAL).
Detroit PAL runs year-round athletic
and leadership programs for more
than 12,000 Detroit youth. According
to the organization, Detroit PAL annu-
ally trains more than 1,500 individuals
to make a difference in the lives of
children through coaching and getting
involved in youth sports.
Athletic programs like those offered
by Detroit PAL provide a multitude of
proven benefits to a child's well-being.
The statistics are clear. Youth who
participate in sports are 27 percent
more likely to get better grades and
37 percent more likely to do better on
standardized tests.
The organization does not turn away
any child because of financial situa-
tions, but often the registration costs
do not cover the expense of equipment
or gear. That's why PAL was extremely
appreciative of Aronow's donation
of multiple bins full of cleats, tennis
racquets, gold clubs, baseball mitts

j

0

MOM

Representing the Detroit Jewish Community at the recent
dedication of its Library at the BIU School of Medicine were,
from left, Gary Fetter and Rhonda & Gary Ran, who chairs the
Library Campaign. The Library's Wall of Honor was unveiled
at the dedication, which celebrated 60 years of partnership
between the Detroit Jewish Community and BIU.

Thanks to the generosity of individuals and
Foundations in Detroit, the BIU Medical School
now boasts an outstanding library providing students
with a prime study space.

It links students and researchers in the rural Galilee
with the global research community via hundreds
of online journals and databases. Detroit donor
support has enabled the Library to purchase state-
of-the-art videos featuring the world's best medical
science thinking.

To learn more about the BIU School of Medicine,
which is cultivating better healthcare in the Galilee
and further strengthening Israeli medical research and
development, call Ari Steinberg at 847-423-2270 or
email ari.steinberg@afbiu.org

Jewish and Zionist values are central to Bar-Ilan's initiatives
in the sciences, law, nanotechnology, engineering, business,
the humanities and its Medical School in Safed.

American Friends of

Bar-Ilan University

www.afbiu.org

2013640

20 June 18 • 2015

rorward'

and soccer balls. Aronow also donated
$1,000 of his bar mitzvah gifts to the
organization. He said donations are
still pouring in and piling up in his
garage. He expects to make a second
delivery to Detroit PAL in the coming
weeks.
In a true demonstration of his bar
mitzvah studies, Aronow could link
the values offered from playing on a
sports team to his June 20 Torah por-
tion, Korach, which focuses on leader-
ship.
"You should not become a leader out
of greed" Aronow said. "Good leaders
know that they are just one person on
a whole team. I always liked sports
and wanted to give other kids the
opportunity to become part of a team.
Playing it forward is my version of tik-
kun olam."
To gather 10 storage bins worth
of sports equipment, Aronow asked
his family and friends to donate and
placed collection bins in multiple loca-
tions around Ann Arbor for donations.
"There was an outpouring of sup-
port and everyone thought it was
a win-win situation" said Stefanie
Aronow, Josh's mother, who is a pedia-
trician in Ann Arbor. "All children
benefit by being part of a sports team.
Playing in PAL keeps inner-city kids
connected to role models and coaches
and gets them active and healthy"
Josh Aronow does not plan to stop
collecting sports gear after he steps
off the bimah this weekend. After his
bar mitzvah, he plans to continue to
donate and to start his own nonprofit
organization for kids who want to play
sports.
"I want to continue helping more
kids in Detroit" he said. "Through
sports, they can learn about leader-
ship while making great friends. And,
above all, it keeps you in shape"

❑

