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Chanukah Happening

Downtown Synagogue enjoys the holiday and announces new board.

T

he Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in Detroit
hosted its yearly Chanukah Happening on Dec.
13. The warm and inviting gathering included
homemade latkes and salads, menorah lighting at each
table and a rousing Chai Stakes Dreidel Tournament.
The Chanukah party followed the synagogue's annual
meeting. Arlene Frank was introduced as the new execu-
tive director, and Jodee Fishman Raines was elected board
president. In addition, Rena Friedberg was elected the
new treasurer, and Amit Weitzer was voted in as the new
secretary. Also selected by the membership to serve on
board were Susannah Goodman and Chava Knox. *

L'

Erin Piasecki and Rachel Klein listen to DaVid Powell

Deirdre Hirschtritt of Ann Arbor, and Rebecca Waisanen

announce board election results.

and Susannah Goodman of Detroit

Marty and Judy Herman of Detroit light Chanukah candles. Antwoine Knox, 9, and his grandmother, Chava Knox, both

Liz Kannon of Ferndale enjoys the party.

of Detroit, enjoy the Chai Stakes Dreidel Tournament.

Festival Of Lights

A

crowd of 250 people celebrated
the fifth annual StandWithUs-MI
Festival of Lights Gala Dec. 5 at
Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills,
chaired by Reva Rosen and her committee.
President Barbara Moretsky presented Annette
and Russell Meskin with the prestigious
StandWithUs Beacon of Light Award.
Following their acceptance, StandWithUs
Central Region Campus Coordinator Assaf
Grumberg introduced keynote speaker
Hussein Aboubakr, an Egyptian Muslim, who
captivated guests with his compelling nar-

StandWithUs hosts annual gala.

rative of growing up immersed in Jew-hate
propaganda, slowly discovering the truth and
transforming himself into a pro-Israel Hebrew
studies educator.
Two StandWithUs videos displayed Israel
education strategies to train high school
and college students to effectively counter
anti-Semitism. Michigan Campus Liaison
Andrew Moss and Central Region High School
Program Coordinator Vida Velasco stressed
the need for Israel education with meaningful
examples. *

Dinner committee members: Dr. Herbert and Margot Gardner, Susan Rollinger and

Reva Rosen, honorees Annette and Russell Meskin, Barbara Moretsky, Dr. Irving

Ginsberg and Julie Blair.

SWU MZ Teen Intern Rachel Krasner, her

MZ Teen Interns Miriam Lupovitch,

mother Francine Arbit and keynote speak-

Suzanne Curtis, Diane Klein and

Hannah Borow and Ellie Moskowitz

Larry Wolfe, Joan Chernoff Epstein and

Arline Gould

Herb Glass

er Hussein Aboubakr

December 31 •2015

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