24 March 21 • 2019 jn Lecture To Mark OU’ s New Maisel Judaic Studies Program Oakland University is hosting a lecture by Annabelle Gurwitch, an author, humorist, popular TV host and storyteller, to help celebrate the launch of its Cis Maisel Center for Judaic Studies and Community Engagement. The event takes place at 7 p.m. Monday, April 8, in the Oakland Center Founders Ballroom B. Gurwitch is author of the New York Times best-selling memoir I See You Made an Effort: Compliments, Indignities and Survival Stories from the Edge of 50s. She uses the redemptive power of storytelling, aging, and Jewish and humanist-themed messages in her talks. The Cis Maisel Center for Judaic Studies and Community Engagement was created through a gift by Cis Maisel, a community leader and a staunch advocate for education. The center will focus on the study of Judaism from an academic standpoint as well as provide an important space for research to enhance the under- standing of rich traditions of Judaism from around the world. She hopes the center will create new collaborations and build a new level of understanding about Judaism in southeast Michigan and beyond. Professor Michael Pytlik is its director. “The Maisel Center will allow OU to develop ongoing programs and series, host lectures, display cultural artifacts and collaborate with other institutions and community groups in new and exciting ways, ” Pytlik said. “The Jewish community has been involved with Wayne State and the University of Michigan, but not so much with Oakland. I felt they should be more involved with the Jewish community, ” Maisel said. “I am always directed by my [late] husband Manny and he was always interested in edu- cation. ” The lecture is free, but RSVPs are required: oakland.edu/giving/rsvp. Free self-parking in the lot at 331 Meadow Brook Road. For details, call (248) 370-4916. ■ jews d in the Annabelle Gurwitch COURTESY OF HOUSE REPUBLICANS Rabbi Yedwab of Temple Israel Leads House Invocation State Rep. Ryan Berman of Commerce Township welcomed Rabbi Paul Yedwab to the state Capitol to give the invoca- tion for the Michigan House of Representatives on Tuesday, Feb. 26. Yedwab serves at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield and was invited to speak by Rep. Berman, a long-time congregant. The rabbi shared he was “shepping nachas” (very proud) of Rep. Berman’ s many accomplish- ments. In recognizing Rep. Berman, he also provided a message of soli- darity for the Michigan House of Representatives: “… We have faith in your human hearts and pray that you will rec- ognize that the representative sit- ting across the political aisle from you may also have the very best of intentions. For I know you will agree with me, that the welfare of our great state stands above any partisan divisions that might divide us.” Yedwab ended with an emphasis on the hard work accomplished by the Michigan government and encouraged a sense of hope across the entire state. ■ ALLISON JACOBS DIGITAL EDITOR Rabbi Yedwab and State Rep. Ryan Berman FJA Students Win At Israeli Robotraffi c Competition Frankel Jewish Academy (FJA) stu- dents competed for the second year in the Nadav Shoham Robotraffic Competition at the Technion University in Haifa, Israel. This year’ s competition fosters robotics educa- tion, traffic safety and learning cor- rect driving behavior. The FJA team received first place for its 3D CAD design of a fuel injec- tor, which an expert judge called “professional quality.” The team is led by Elisha Cooper and Henry Tukel (FJA ’ 21) with support from STEAM Lab Director Simon Pinter (FJA ’ 06). A second trophy was awarded to the team for overall excellence. Of the 25 teams competing, FJA placed fifth in the Innovation Presentation on a braking alert sys- tem. The goal was to reduce rear-end collisions by making the brake lights more noticeable and flash faster in relation to harder/emergency braking to warn distracted drivers behind the stopping car. The team also col- laborated on the written safety test, which was presented by Jack Harris (FJA ’ 21), commendably placing sixth, despite working with unfamiliar Israeli and EU traffic laws and sig- nage. FJA’ s robotic car, nicknamed “The FJA Autonomous Jaguar,” was com- pletely torn down to its chassis and pieced electronically back together just a few weeks before the competi- tion by Aiden Keenan (FJA ’ 20) and last year’ s team member and special adviser Jonah Weinbaum (FJA ’ 19). They wrote the controlling code and algorithms from scratch. The car performed well and, while it did not place in the competition, the students learned an incredible amount to improve for future competitions. ■ FJA’ s winning team Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with Dena Weiss Congregation Beth Ahm will host Dena Weiss for its schol- ar-in-residence weekend March 29-30. Weiss is the Rosh Beit Midrasah at the Hadar Institute in New York City. Beth Ahm and B’ nai Israel will host Kabbalat Shabbat services followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, March 29. Adults cost $25; children under 18 are free. Register by March 25 at cbahm.org/event/weissweekend. At 8:15 p.m. Weiss will talk about the “value of keeping up appearances” and explore the principle of Mar’ it Ayin and its moral implications. At 12:30 p.m. March 30, there will be a Shabbat lunch and learn on “Independence and Interdependence: When Do We Need to Stay Together and When Must We Strike Out on Our Own?” The discussion will address the limitations of being in a community and when you must leave peers to pur- sue your own path. Advance registra- tion is appreciated. ■ Dena Weiss COURTESY OF FJA Save the Date The Walk for Israel — this year on Sunday, May 5 — has a new home this year: Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills. There will be bouncies, Israeli music, games food, entertainment and fun for the whole family. Visit walkforisrael.org or follow it on Facebook for updates. ■