8 July 11 • 2019
jn

views

greenberg’
s view

continued from page 5

Michigan State University, where I 
studied for two years and lived on $10 
a week spending money. I had a diffi-
cult time adjusting to all the changes 
and knew that MSU was expensive. I 
transferred to Wayne State, moved into 
my parent’
s home and found a job. I 
know what it’
s like to go through tough 
times, and I hold very dear the Jewish 
value placed on education.
My next “aha” moment came in 
2007 when my husband, Bob, and I 
were attending a Friends of the IDF 
dinner and my friend Shari Kaufman 
stood up at the podium. She spoke 
from her heart as she described FIDF’
s 
Impact Scholarship Program for IDF 
soldiers. As she continued to talk, I 
observed people stand up and say, “I 
want to help educate these young men 
and women who have put themselves 
in harm’
s way protecting Israel.
” That 
night I learned that after completing 

their IDF service, many of these young 
soldiers cannot afford to attend college 
and further their education. From my 
own experience, this felt personal and 
meaningful, and I knew how critical it 
was for me and Bob to stand up and be 
counted. I am happy to say in the last 
12 years, Bob and I have helped more 
than 20 students, former IDF soldiers, 
receive their college degrees. It’
s the 
most wonderful feeling. 
Bob and I, along with our children, 
know the value of a college degree, and 
we also know the importance of sup-
porting our family in Israel. ■

Joan Chernoff Epstein was recently honored 
for her commitment to FIDF and supporting 
the IDF’
s soldiers at the 2019 FIDF Women 
of Valor luncheon. She lives in Bloomfield Hills 
and attends Adat Shalom Synagogue. For 
more information about Impact Scholarships, 
contact Paula Lebowitz, FIDF Director Michigan 
Chapter, (248) 926-4110 or paula.lebowitz@
fidf.org

Readers responded to the op-ed “Why Holocaust Analogies are Dangerous” by 
Edna Friedberg, Ph.D., of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (June 27, page 6).

Steven Seiler: I’
ve said for years that calling people such names begins to 
trivialize a sick, horrific, sad uprising that left death and scars for so many! A 
trip to [the Holocaust Memorial Center] Orchard Lake Road would make many 
rethink their position on the name calling!

Catherine Meza: Packing Hispanic/indigenous kids into a windowless metal 
warehouse, leaving the older ones to take care of the younger ones without 
soap, toothbrush or diapers, eating ramen and rice, and with disease rampant is 
a concentration camp. Not a death camp. Nothing to do with the Holocaust. But 
nothing to do with what America should be.

The JN welcomes comments online at thejewishnews.com or on its Facebook 
page. Letters can be sent to letters@renmedia.us.

online comments