Washtenaw Jewish News Presort Standard In this issue… c/o Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor U.S. Postage PAID 2939 Birch Hollow Drive Ann Arbor, MI Let there Channukah Healthier Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Permit No. 85 be music in sufganjot Israel Page 4 Page 14 Page 27 December 2014/January 2015 Kislev/Tevet/Shevat 5775 Volume XXXVIII: Number 5 FREE Maimonides Symposium to focus on Ebola Chabad to host Jonathan D. Trobe, MD, special to the WJN annual Chanukah veryone knows about Ebola. But, there are at least two people in our community who have special exper- celebration E Chana Sara Elias, special to the WJN tise on this topic. They can get behind the news and provide in-depth perspectives. They will n a room purposefully chilled to keep the be the featured speakers on Sunday morning, ice rink frozen, it’s hard to think about December 14, at a symposium entitled “The I an active, hot flame. This is exactly what Ebola Story: Are We Responding Wisely?” Or- Chabad of Ann Arbor is going to do at their ganized by the local Maimonides Society, and annual Chanukah on Ice event on Tuesday, free of charge, it will start at 8:30 a.m. in the December 23, at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Lane Family Auditorium of the U-M School “Not only are we bringing more light into Ann of Public Health. The speakers will be Arnold Arbor through a public menorah lighting, as Monto, MD, professor of epidemiology, U-M prescribed by the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, School of Public Health and a world authority but we will also create an intense dynamic of on the spread of influenza; and Eden Wells, Dr. Arnold Monto Dr. Eden Wells Dr. Sheri Fink fire grazing the tops of a carved ice menorah,” MD, MPH, associate professor of epidemiol- As a preview to this event, Drs. Monto Guinea. Then it got exported to neighbor- said Rabbi Aharon Goldstein of Chabad. ogy and director of the Preventive Medicine and Wells graciously agreed answer ques- ing disadvantaged countries—Liberia and Each year during Chanukah, many cities residency program, University of Michigan tions put to them in telephone interviews. Sierra Leone—and across the world. nationwide help to bring light into this world School of Public Health. They will be joined Here is what they had to say: JT: Where did it start? by having a public menorah lighting. Chabad on Skype from Liberia by Sheri Fink, MD, of Ann Arbor is excited to continue this cus- JT: What makes this outbreak of Ebola differ- Dr. Monto: In bats in remote rural areas. PhD, a U-M graduate and Pulitzer Prize- tom. There have been many different versions ent from every other outbreak of Ebola? Then it probably spread to monkeys as winning medical reporter for The New York of Chabad’s annual Chanukah events, such as Dr. Monto: This one got to the crowded urban secondary hosts. Then it got to humans, Times, who is covering the Ebola crisis. areas of a very disadvantaged country— Chanukah Wonderland and last year’s Cha- continued on page 33 nukah in the Jungle. The most popular event, Chanukah on Ice, is back again with all of the trimmings, including a dinner and many Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz to speak on ethics and social justice family-oriented activities. Martin B. Shichtman, special to the WJN The evening will begin with a kosher dinner at 5:45 p.m. and iceskating to festive n Tuesday, December 2, East- penal reform, and immigration policy. He cial justice movement and is currently ex- Chanukah and other Jewish tunes will start ern Michigan University Jewish has used his position as a Modern Orthodox ecutive director of Valley Beit Midrash, a at 6:30 p.m. During the event, there will be O Studies will wel- rabbi to advocate for LGBT collaborative organization that offers the many activities for kids, including one for the come Rabbi Shmuly Yanklow- inclusion, including his sup- Greater Phoenix Jewish community excit- whole family—watching a huge block of ice itz, who will address the topic port for gay marriage. He is ing programming like the “Start Me Up be carved into a menorah. The cost before De- “Jewish Ethics and Social Jus- a fierce and determined voice Fellowship,” an incubator that trains and cember 18 is $25/family and will increase to tice.” The presentation will for animal welfare— Rabbi funds Jewish social entrepreneurs to launch $30/family after December 18. To reserve, go begin at 7:30 p.m. in the EMU Yanklowitz is a committed innovative social ventures. to www.jewmich.com or call 995-3276 #5. n Student Center Ballroom. Ad- and determined vegan. Rabbi Yanklowitz has written six books, mission is free. Rabbi Yanklowitz holds including Jewish Ethics and Social Justice: In 2010, a young Mod- a bachelor’s degree from the A Guide for the 21st Century and The Soul ern Orthodox rabbi, Shmuly University of Texas; a mas- of Jewish Social Justice. His articles have Yanklowitz, exploded onto ter’s degree from Harvard in appeared in the Times of Israel, the Huff- the national scene as one of leadership and psychology, a ington Post, the Jewish Press, the Wall Street the stars of the PBS Indepen- second master’s degree from Journal, the Washington Post, the Forward, dent Lens documentary, The Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz Yeshiva University in Jewish and Haaretz. Calling. Brilliant, charismatic, philosophy; and a Ph.D. from At the age of 33, Rabbi Yanklowitz has al- determined to make Judaism relevant and Columbia University in Moral Development ready been recognized by Newsweek maga- exciting to all Americans, Rabbi Yanklow- and Epistemology. From 2010–2012, Rabbi zine as one of the 50 most influential rabbis itz insisted that faith is inextricably bound Yanklowitz served as Senior Jewish Educator in America. Dr. Jonathan Sarna writes, “Rab- up with the struggle for social justice, and and Director of Jewish Life at UCLA Hil- bi Shmuly Yanklowitz’s name has become that study of the Torah requires a concomi- lel, and he has taught at UCLA Law School synonymous with the call for ethical renewal tant commitment to ethical living. He has and Barnard College. He is the founder and and social justice within the American Jew- since taken on such issues as labor rights, president of Uri L’Tzedek, the Orthodox so- ish community.” n I Community 2935 Birch Hollow Drive Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 One Candle for Tzedakah celebrates voice: 734/971-1800 e-mail: [email protected] giving, not receiving www.washtenawjewishnews.org Clara Silver, special to the WJN Editor and Publisher he Jewish Community Center of about—giving. This program is the perfect way Susan Kravitz Ayer Greater Ann Arbor will bring the Ann to bring the entire Ann Arbor Jewish commu- Arbor Jewish community together on nity together in one of the most festive holidays Calendar Editor T Claire Sandler Thursday, December 18, at 6 p.m., for One all year.” Candle for Tzedakah, a com- Advertising Manager munity Chanukah event that Gordon White celebrates not the gift-receiving aspect of the holiday, but rather Design and Layout the gift-giving aspect of the holi- Dennis Platte day through tzedakah, (charity). Staff Writers Children who attend One Can- Mary Bilyeu, Sandor Slomovits, Rochel Urist dle for Tzedakah forego the gift they would have received that Contributing Writers night and instead donate one Shadin Atiyeh, Rabbi Ilana Baden, Rabbi Robert that they purchase with their Dobrusin, Alina Dain Sharon, Chava Sara Elias, Polina Fradkin, Rosemary Frenza Chudnof, Deborah parents to children less fortunate Fineblum Schabb, Jaime Geller, Robert Gluck, Rabbi than themselves. Aharon Goldstein, Linda Greene, Deborah Meyers Families will have the op- Greene, Bobbi Heilveil, Maayan Jaffe, Jacob Kamaras, portunity to engage in tzedakah Dalit Kluger, Yaffa Klugerman, Lucinda Kurtz, in two ways. The JCC has once Lighting the menorah, 2013 Joan Levitt, Jim Morgenstern, Avital Ostfield, Sue again partnered with the United Rebner, Ali Reingold, Matt Robinson, Sean Savage, States Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots One Candle for Tzedakah will begin with a Sarah Schneider Hong, Martin Shichtman, David Shtulman, Clara Silver, Yehudit Jessica Singer, Elaine program, which will distribute the donated kosher style dinner that will include traditional Sneideman, Elliot Sorkin, Maxine Solvay, Jonathan gifts. Also, families who attend One Candle for Chanukah foods There will also be games and ac- Trobe, Rabbi Michal Woll, Leah Zaas tzedakah will also be able to “give tzedakah,” or tivities for a variety of ages. After dinner, partici- donate money, to raise funds for Food Gather- pants can join in lighting the Chanukah candles, The Washtenaw Jewish News is published ers. Anyone from the community can partici- led by Israeli teens visiting from our partnership monthly, with the exception of January and July. pate by bringing new, unwrapped toys, games community in the Galilee region, as part of the It is registered as a Non-profit Michigan Corpo- ration. Opinions expressed in this publication do and other gifts to the JCC, as it is serving as a Ann Arbor/Nahalal teen exchange program. The not necessarily reflect those of itseditors or staff collection site for Toys for Tots. Donations candle lighting will be followed by a performance will be accepted through December 18. The and magic show by award winning, professional ©2014 by the Washtenaw Jewish News. All rights reserved. No portion of the Washtenaw donated gifts will be presented to the Toys for magician and actor, Tom Plunkard. Jewish News may be reproduced without Tots representatives, visiting Marine reservists, One Candle for Tzedakah is open to the en- permission of the publisher.