metro » Word From Washington Jewish Community Relations Council convenes meeting with Sen. Peters. Israel’s security needs with Peters since the senate’s September vote. The Flint water crisis, U.S. refugee policy, programs for the difficult- to-employ, campaign finance, Washington, D.C., gridlock, homeland security, ISIS, Michigan’s economic recovery, and science and technology funding were among the other issues discussed. JCRC Executive Director David Kurzmann opened the program, which was chaired by JCRC Vice President Mary Ellen Gurewitz. The meeting is part of JCRC’s ongoing effort to share Jewish communal priorities with Michigan’s elected representatives. A first lieutenant from the IDF’s Paratroopers Brigade bears the Israeli flag at the main entrance to the Birkenau camp (Auschwitz II) in Poland. Sen. Gary Peters converses with JCRC Associate Director Allan Gale. Sen. Gary Peters discusses key legislative issues with Jewish communal leaders. 24 February 25 • 2016 to be delivered to Flint. Above, vol- unteers Carol Klein and Randie Levin flank NCJW President Susan Marwil. They organized the drive. For details about NCJW/Greater Detroit, visit www. ncjwgds.org. * FIDF MISSION TO AUSCHWITZ, ISRAEL * JCRC Executive Director David Kurzmann and Vice President Mary Ellen Gurewitz flank U.S. Sen. Gary Peters prior to the JCRC-hosted meeting with Jewish community representatives. Sen. Gary Peters chats with Dr. Daniel Rosenbaum, JVS Executive Director Leah Rosenbaum and JCRC board member Ruby Robinson following the meeting. On Jan. 28, the National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Detroit Section held a bottled water drive to respond to Flint’s emergency. The group collected more than 2,400 bottles and 50 jugs. Volunteers loaded cars and took the water to Art Van Furniture in Southfield Shahar Azran J CRC hosted Michigan U.S. Sen. Gary Peters on Jan. 31 for a meeting with more than 50 representatives of the Jewish commu- nity’s key advocacy organizations. The session coincided with the completion of Peters’ first year in the senate and followed his recent trip to Israel and other Middle Eastern countries. Representatives from several Jewish organizations with multi-issue public policy agendas, as well as community rabbis and congregation presidents, were invited to attend. The meeting was the community’s first opportunity to discuss the imple- mentation of the Iran nuclear deal and COLLECTING WATER FOR FLINT This May, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) supporters from Michigan and across the U.S. will embark on a mission to Poland and Israel with Israeli soldiers, Holocaust survivors and their G.I. liberators. The delegation, led by FIDF National President Peter Weintraub, will span Jewish history, from the darkest moments to the most inspiring. FIDF Michigan Board Member James Katz of Birmingham, who participated in a similar del- egation in 2013, said, “Visiting Polish concentra- tion camps with Israeli soldiers was extremely humbling and special, and flying to the Jewish homeland with them on an Israeli Air Force plane was an experience like no other.” For information or to register to par- ticipate in the FIDF “From Holocaust to Independence” delegation to Poland and Israel, visit: fidf.org/poland. * TALK TO HIGHLIGHT ISRAELI INNOVATIONS THE BLUE FUND AIDS PROSTATE PATIENTS On Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m., Congregation B’nai Moshe in West Bloomfield will present “Stand With Us — Successful Innovations Under Fire” with Shoshana Janer. Janer will portray Israel as it is rarely seen in the media. She’ll com- bine PowerPoint slides and short vid- eos to bring to life Israel’s productive diversity and its array of innovations in technology, energy conservation, medicine, agriculture and more. The 40-minute program shows how Israel’s innovations service the world. Janer was born in Poland to Holocaust survivors. At age 6, she immigrated with her family to Israel. She is now a board member of StandWithUs-MI and helped found the “Different Cultures, Different Foods” program series at West Bloomfield’s Keter Torah Synagogue. This free presentation is open to the community. RSVP by March 7 to cbminfo@bnaimoshe.org or (248) 788-0600. The Michigan Institute of Urology Men’s Health Foundation has announced the Blue Fund, a pro- gram providing short-term finan- cial assistance to men during active treatment for prostate cancer. In a recent study, researchers found that the financial stress resulting from the high costs of cancer treatments was nearly as deadly as the cancer itself. Financial assistance will be avail- able for qualified men undergoing active treatment for prostate cancer, providing up to $1,000 per month for up to three months, based on available funds and need. Men must be able to demonstrate need, based upon federal poverty guidelines, debt-to-income ratio and/or recent hardship. Applications are available at http://bit.ly/TheBlueFund. For information, visit the web- site or email TheBlueFund@ MIUMensHealthFoundation.org. * *