18 January 31 • 2019 jn continued on page 20 New center aims to help people manage diffi cult conversations. T he newly established Detroit Center for Civil Discourse is holding a panel discussion Feb. 4 at the Wayne State University Student Center on the past, present and future of Yemen. “Yemen is so emblematic of the importance of different groups coming [together]; it shouldn’ t just be Muslims or Arabs or Yemenis talking about it. Everyone should be talking about it, ” said Rabbi Asher Lopatin, the center’ s founder and director. Lopatin aims to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis in Yemen, a war- torn country where Jews and Muslims coexisted for centuries, and also to showcase his organization’ s approach to managing difficult conversation. The event is being co-sponsored by the Detroit Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC and the Michigan Muslim Community Council and will feature speakers from both faiths. It’ s the first public event for the Detroit Center for Civil Discouse (DCCD), whose main goal is to offer a fellowship for Jewish and Muslim (and/or Arab) WSU students on con- ducting civil discourse. The fellowship will launch next fall with a cohort of 10 to 16 students, half of them Jewish, half Muslim and/ or Arab. It will start by providing an academic background on hot-but- ton issues, particularly the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. That includes an overview of Muslim-Jewish relations over the centuries, including the long periods of relative equanimity but also the flash points. “Oftentimes, communities come in with fairly insular narratives, ” said Saeed Khan, a WSU senior lecturer who will be serving as associate direc- tor for the center. “That then skews not only the overall discussion, but also prevents discussion from happening in the first place. ” On this firm foundation of facts, fellows will discuss tough issues — “no redlines, ” Lopatin stressed. The goal for the students is not to change opinions, but simply to learn how to engage with one another. To that end, they’ ll become versed in methodologies for carrying on fraught conversations in a respectful manner. “You don’ t have to legitimize the other side; you don’ t have to give up your own passionate feelings; and you can still come together — that’ s the theory of civil discourse, ” Lopatin said. Lopatin, like the center, is new to the Detroit Jewish community, hav- ing come from New York last year to establish Kehillat Etz Chayim, a Modern Orthodox congregation based in Huntington Woods. “The pulpit’ s really all about the importance of the micro — of Jewish lives, of services, the smaller circle … I wanted to really balance it on a person- al level with the broader circle — the world, ” he said. To build the DCCD, Lopatin con- Civil Discourse DAVID ZENLEA SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS Howard Lupovitch, Saeed Khan, Ariana Mentzel, Emad Shammakh and Rabbi Asher Lopatin jews d in the NOT T I N G H I L L o f W E S T B L O O M F I E L D AQUATICS THERAPY POOL Notting Hill of West Bloomfield is focused on short-term in-patient rehabilitation, with the goal of transitioning back home. We are happy to announce the opening of our Aquatics Therapy pool. Aquatic Therapy uses water’s naturally therapeutic properties of buoyancy, resistance and warmth to enhance the therapy experience. Since not all people respond well to traditional gym exercise programs, many people find aquatic therapy less stressful, preferable to traditional methods...and FUN! Why Choose Aquatic Therapy? Gently builds strength and muscle tone Increases blood circulation Improves range of motion Decreases joint stress Reduces pain Minimizes swelling Delivers better joint position awareness Develops core strength 6535 Drake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322 phone 248.592.2000 | www.cienafacilities.com “Weightless” Rehab IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM ANTONE, CASAGRANDE & ADWERS, P.C. Representation in all areas of family and business immigration law. www.antone.com or email at law@antone.com Ph: 248-406-4100 Fax: 248-406-4101 JUSTIN D. CASAGRANDE N. PETER ANTONE Congregation Beit Tikvah of Ottawa is a warm and welcoming Zionist, Modern Orthodox community in Ottawa, Canada comprising approximately 140 member families. Ottawa is a full-service community of about 15,000 Jews. We are seeking a warm, personable, and menchlich Rabbi to lead the congregation in our spiritual, halachic, educational, welfare, and pastoral needs. The ideal candidate will be able to inspire people of all ages and differing levels of observance. He must be able to connect with the diversity of observance within our community and be willing to work hard to infuse an elevated level of teaching in order to engage existing members and attract new ones. Semicha from a recognized yeshiva, RCA eligibility, and a university degree required. This is an exciting opportunity to nurture and grow an established, vibrant congregation. We welcome applications from candidates who believe they have the right skill set and motivation to take on the role. Please apply in confidence with resume, covering letter, and copy of semicha certificate by February 14, 2019. For more information and to apply for this position, please refer to the job description by logging on to our website: https://cbto.org/rabbi-job-posting-2/ Dynamic Orthodox Rabbi sought for Congregation Beit Tikvah of Ottawa.