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F

or 12 years, the University 
of Michigan-Dearborn 
helped fund a Hillel pres-
ence on its campus. 
That changed in December 
2019, when the school ended its 
annual $25,000 contribution to 
Hillel of Metro Detroit (HMD).
HMD is a regional Hillel 
chapter that coordinates Jewish 
student life across six different 
Metro Detroit universities. In 
addition to UM-Dearborn, 
it has a presence at Lawrence 
Technological University, 
Oakland Community College, 
Oakland University, University 
of Detroit Mercy and Wayne 
State University. 
Miriam Starkman, executive 
director of HMD, told the JN 
they are still currently going 
to UM-Dearborn occasionally, 
once a month or so, and are still 
in contact with the students but 
do not have the presence now 
that they once had. 
“
As a graduating senior who 
has worked so hard to fight 
for Jewish students’
 rights on 
this campus, it concerns me,
” 

UM-Dearborn senior Jordan 
Wohl said. “Hillel enabled the 
perspective that Jewish students 
were and are welcomed on this 
campus. They were the consis-
tent body that students needed 
at UM-Dearborn.
”
Ken Kettenbeil, vice chan-
cellor of external relations at 
UM-Dearborn, said in a state-
ment to the JN that the school 
was working to secure HMD 
funding through other means, 
and it had received a lead gift 
from an anonymous donor.
“We are still continuing to try 
and find a matching gift for that 
lead so we can rekindle the rela-
tionship with Hillel and ensure 
that we would be able to con-
tinue to fund campus engage-
ment here at UM-Dearborn,
” 
Kettenbeil said.
Shortly after the April 2019 
appointment of Domenico 
Grasso as UM-Dearborn’
s 
new chancellor, according 
to Kettenbeil, the university 
revealed it was experiencing 
budget difficulties, primarily 
related to a decline in the num-

UM-Dearborn Pulls 
Financial Support for 
Campus Hillel Group

The university is working to secure outside 
donations for the program instead.

CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER

COURTESY OF HILLEL OF METRO DETROIT

Jordan Wohl and other 
UM-Dearborn students at 
the JSO Pre-Chanukah/
Holiday Movie Night & 
Party in December 2017 
.

Provides Joy to Children 
Across the Country

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

Get involved, 
go to 
friendshipcircle.org/
foreverfriendship

Great Bike Giveaway

There are few greater joys for 

a child than riding a bike. For 

thousands of children with special 

needs, that joy is almost impos-

sible. Friendship Circle’s Great 

Bike Giveaway has made that joy 

attainable for children across the 

country.

Mikhail Reytsman was once 

given a bike by a stranger. The 

only stipulation was that he pay it 

forward. He reached out to Tzvi 

Schectman of Friendship Circle 

to see if there was a child in need 

of a bike. That was in 2011. Since 

then, Friendship Circle has taken 

Reytsman’s simple act of kindness 

and turned it into more than 

1,000 adaptive bikes given to 

children with special needs.

“What is so special about 

Great Bike Giveway is that it’s a 

national effort that also becomes 

a community effort wherever the 

child lives,” said Sara Daniels, 

Friendship Circle marketing 

director.

Through Friendship Circle’s 

online resource blog, founded 
through support from the D. Dan 

and Betty Kahn Foundation 
, peo-
ple across the country connect, 

sharing special needs information 

and expertise. Using the blog 

as its launching point, the Great 

Bike Giveaway is able to reach 

individuals across the country 

to nominate children in need of 

an adaptive bike. In addition to 

voting for a winner, thousands of 

people use the Great Bike Give-

away website as a fundraising 

platform to rally behind children 

in need of an adaptive bike. 

Jadiel Ceberino is one of 

those amazing children. “I don’t 

even know about 80 percent of 

the donors, which shows that 

generosity still exists,” said Jen-

ny, Jadiel’s mother. “When this 

event comes around again I will 

be a donor to another amazing 

boy or girl, just like other people 

did for me.”

A simple joy and a dream 

come true. That is the blessing of 

an adaptive bike that will allow a 

child with special needs therapy, 

exercise and a way to experience 

a fuller life every day. 

“Jadiel has gone bike riding 

every single day, and there is no 

way I was going to be able to 

afford this kind of joy for my little 

angel,” Ceberino says. “I will be 

forever grateful.”

To nominate or vote for a 

child, or donate to an 

adaptive bike fundraiser, visit 

www.greatbikegiveaway.com.

Jadiel 
Ceberino

