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Let th

Plight Of Refugees

Keter Torah event remembers the Jews
who fled persecution in Arab lands.

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n Saturday evening, Nov. 14,
more than 200 people of all
ages crowded into Keter Torah
Synagogue's sanctuary to remember the
plight of close to 1 million Sephardi/
Mizrachi Jews who fled persecution in
Arab lands and Iran in the years after
creation of the State of Israel in 1948.
The second annual commemoration
opened with anthems led by Dr. Daniel
Mizrahi. Greetings followed from Rabbi
Sasson Natan of the West Bloomfield
synagogue, Barbara Moretsky of
StandWithUs-Michigan and Dr. Richard
Krugel of the Jewish Community
Relations Council (JCRC).
Synagogue President Rick Behar

showcased his family's Middle East jour-
ney. Fourteen memorial candles were
lit as Kim Benezra and Dr. Daniel Keyes
alternately recounted personal experi-
ences of each candle lighter and country
of origin: Iraq, Egypt, Yemen, Syria,
Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia,
Ethiopia, Libya, Turkey, Greece, Iran
and Azerbaijan.
A music-filled Havdalah ended with
guests spilling into the lobby for sweet
desserts. Joining Keter Torah, co-spon-
sors included ADL, Detroit Jewish News,
Hadassah Greater Detroit, JCRC, Jewish
Federation of Metro Detroit, Managed
Estates, StandWithUs-Michigan, Walk
for Israel and ZOA-Michigan Region. *

Right: Jessica

Levine, Abby

Baron and

Nicole Baron.

Below: Egypt

candlelighter

Albert Ben-Ezra,

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candlelighters

Myrna Doppelt,

Nora Natan,

Hadassa Kidron

and Mary David.

7782 Merriman Rd., Romulus, MI

Ricky Behar, president of Keter Torah,

speaks about his family history.

Exit 198 from 1-94
Exit 20 from 1-275

Rabbi Sasson Natan

sings with the band

after candle-lighting

during the

program at Keter

Torah Synagogue.

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2001

20 December 31 • 2015

ID

JARC Names
New CEO

ARC, a nonprofit that
serves people with devel-
ail opmental disabilities and
their families, has named Robert
"Bob" Blumenfeld as the new chief
executive officer to replace Rick
Loewenstein who departed in May.
The selection was made after a
regional search and selection pro-
cess, during which Rena Friedberg
served as interim-CEO while also
supporting JARCs fundraising
efforts as chief development officer.
"The board of directors was
impressed with Bob's extensive tech-
nical experience, outstanding lead-
ership skills, collaborative approach
to problem solving and his enthusi-
asm for our mission," JARC's Board
Chair David Grand said.
Blumenfeld
has experience in
both the private
and nonprofit
sectors, and has
spent the last
28-plus years
I
working with
organizations
Bob
which, like JARC,
Blumenfeld
are in the human
services field. Most recently, he
served as chief financial officer at
the Children's Center, a Detroit-
based agency which provides com-
prehensive programming in the
mental health, child welfare and
educational arenas.
"Bob has a track record of success
in helping human services nonprofit
agencies thrive operationally and
financially," Grand said, "He is a
humble and compassionate leader
with values that mesh perfectly with
JARC's, making him the best person
to move our organization forward:'
Friedberg said, "JARC is at a criti-
cal time in its development. We just
wrapped up a successful fundraiser
and a sold-out young adult pre-glow.
We recently secured an end-of-
year match on new and increased
gifts and, in January, we will open
the JARC Center for Autism and
Rehabilitation Services.
As an organization, we have a lot
to be proud of and we look forward
to Bob's leadership and guidance
in continuing to provide support to
over 200 people in 90 different set-
tings to live full, secure and inclusive
lives," Friedberg said.
For information, contact
Friedberg at renafriedberg@jarc.org
or (248) 488-7522. *