December 2008/January 2009 Kislev/Tevet/Shevat 5769 Volume XXXIII: Number 4 FREE Jewish Federation to honor Steve and Joyce Gerber at Main Event Jeffrey Lazor, special to the WJN he Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Steve Gerber is the consummate volunteer University of Michigan Hillel. Steve also vol- Arbor will recognize the volunteer taking on leadership roles in almost every Jew- unteers for Glacier Hills, with Joyce for Arbor T achievements of Steve and Joyce Ger- ish agency in Greater Ann Arbor, and many Hospice and Hospice of Michigan, as well as ber at this year’s Main Event on December 11. more in the general community. His volun- other local non-profits in the Greater Ann Steve and Joyce have worked on behalf of the teer resume, which is two pages long, reads as Arbor area. “We should all strive to help oth- Jewish community of Greater Ann Arbor for a community’s volunteer wish list. “Steve and ers and give of ourselves—not until it hurts, more than 25 years and have contributed posi- Joyce Gerber are everything a community can but until it feels good,” said Steve. tively to every facet of community life. expect of their volunteers. They give of their The Main Event, which draws in over 600 Building and sustaining the community own resources for the community, they give of community members every year, is a fitting comes as second nature to the Gerbers. In their time to help the community, they inspire place to showcase our community’s most addition to being active campaign solicitors others to give of themselves and they spread dedicated volunteers. “Steve and Joyce are so on behalf of UJA and the Federation, Joyce themselves among many worthy causes. All important to the success of our communal has co-chaired Super Sunday for five years, of Ann Arbor benefits from having Steve and agencies. Honoring them at the Main Event, co-chaired Jewish Family Services’ Friends Joyce as part of the community,” stated David our community’s largest program, is befitting of the Family Committee, and serves as a Shtulman, executive director of the Jewish Fed- of their accomplishments and hopefully will volunteer for the University Musical Society, eration of Greater Ann Arbor. move others into action,” remarked Judie Lax, Performance Network, Detroit Opera House, Steve has worked with the Jewish Federa- a 2008 Main Event co-chair. Purple Rose Theater, and many more. As one Steve and Joyce Gerber tion of Greater Ann Arbor, Jewish Family Ser- In between their volunteer commitments, of the founding members of the Soviet Jewry those in need. “Helping and caring about oth- vices (he currently serves as board president), Steve and Joyce managed to have successful ca- Committee in the 1970’s, Joyce understands ers is what makes us human and humane,” re- Eastern Michigan University Hillel, the Jewish reers, have been married for 42 years, and have the importance of reaching out and aiding marked Joyce. Community Center, Hebrew Day School, and two children and one grandson. n Social justice approach to kashrut Chanukah Wonderland Ruth Kraut, special to the WJN Chana Kroll, special to the WJN ollowing is a shared effort between the Rabbinical As- his winter, area youth (and the young well-publi- sembly and the United Synagogue of Conser- at heart), will have a chance to step Fcized labor vative Judaism. Heksher Tzedek was recently T back in time and learn the ancient art and environmen- endorsed by the Reform Movement’s Central of hand-pressing olive oil, then step into the tal violations at a Conference of American Rabbis. futuristic world of a Chanukah multimedia kosher meat pack- Rabbi Morris J. Allen has served as the first center, or enjoy some complimentary suf- ing plant in Post- spiritual leader of the Beth Jacob Congrega- ganiot (jelly doughnuts) and traditional latkes culinary skills by making sufganiot, or ville, Iowa, many tion in Minneapolis, Minnesota since August at Chabad of Ann Arbor’s Chanukah Won- decorating Chanukah cookies. Jews have asked of 1986. In addition to his responsibilities at derland. The Chanukah Wonderland will take There will be a public menorah lighting at the question, Beth Jacob, Rabbi Allen is involved in numer- place in the heart of Ann Arbor’s downtown the Chanukah Wonderland each evening at “What does ko- ous local and national initiatives on behalf of area—making it a convenient stop after a day 5:45 p.m. There will be a family program on sher really mean? a wide variety of causes and issues. He is cur- of work or shopping, or as part of a family night December 24, with a Chinese dinner following Can kashrut ad- Rabbi Allen Brit Tze rently leading the Conservative movement’s out. A relaxed fairground-style arrangement the menorah lighting, children’s activities, and dress social and environmental concerns?” work on producing a Hekhsher Tzedek stan- creates an inviting place to simply hang out adult discussions. Hot dogs and other foods On December 7 Rabbi Morris Allen will be dard. He has been involved with Minneapo- and enjoy the company of family and friends. will be on sale other evenings. speaking on “Heksher Tzedek: A Social Justice lis-based Jewish Community Action and their A variety of shops and food vendors will be on Chabad has also added a few new attrac- Approach to Kashrut.” The talk will be held at work on behalf of non-documented workers, hand, although the Chanukah Wonderland is tions this year. Each day there will be a different Beth Israel Congregation (2000 Washtenaw particularly in the Hispanic community. Rabbi much more than just a place to enjoy a shop- Chanukah-themed show. A Chanukah balloon Ave.), at 7:45 p.m. Rabbi Allen’s visit is co- Allen was ordained by the Jewish Theological ping excursion in a Jewish atmosphere. show, Dreidel Magic, Chanukah in Lego Land, sponsored by Beth Israel Congregation, the Seminary in 1984, and received his bachelor’s Through activities, games, and shows Chanukah in Chocolate Land, and latke-mak- Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Havurah, Tem- and master’s degree in social work from the that educate while they entertain, the Won- ing are some of the shows already planned. ple Beth Emeth, and the University of Michi- University of Wisconsin-Madison. derland brings Chanukah to life. Some of The Chanukah Wonderland will take gan Hillel. Rabbi Allen writes, “We should not be eat- the more popular activities returning from place December 21–29, on the lower Heksher Tzedek is a new kind of “justice cer- ing food that has been produced in a way that last year’s Wonderland include a Macca- level of the Town Center building, 500 East tification” for kosher foods, which will certify has denied the dignity of the labor! We should bee movie theater showing Chanukah- and Washington Street. Programs will run Sunday that the production of these foods meets specif- not be more concerned about the smoothness Jewish-themed films, a Chanukah Lego through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m.; Friday, ic health, safety, environmental, labor, and cor- of a cow’s lung than we are about the safety of menorah contest, and Chanukah sand art. 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.; and Saturday, 7–10 p.m. porate transparency guidelines. Heksher Tzedek a worker’s hand.” n Children and adults alike can test their Admission is $2.50. n Washtenaw Jewish News NON-PROFIT ORG. In this issue… 2935 Birch Hollow Drive U.S. Postage PAID Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Ann Arbor, MI Chanukah Election Gerald Ross Permit No. 85 lights 2008 and his results ukelele Page 10 Page 20 Page 25 Need a nanny, I Community babysitter or mother’s 2935 Birch Hollow Drive helper? Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 We’ve been Young JFS volunteer bridges cultural voice: 734/971-1800 matching families fax: 734/971-1801 and generational gap e-mail: [email protected] with qualified www.washtenawjewishnews.org and experienced Laurie Barnett, special to the WJN in-home Child Care hen David Schapiro started volunteering with Jewish Family Services for his Providers for bar mitzvah project, he never expected it to turn into a lasting mitzvah and life Editor and Publisher Susan Kravitz Ayer full-time, part-time, W shaping experience. In keeping with the tradition of local youth, David sought out a project to fulfill the community service component of his bar mitzvah. David found and temporary a project as a Friendly Visitor and Language Partner with Abram and Sofia Dorfman, older Copy Editor David Erik Nelson positions adults resettled by JFS from the former Soviet Union. This project has turned into a mean- since 1997. ingful, long-term relationship for the Dorfmans, David, and his family. Calendar Editor Now in the eleventh grade at Huron High School, David is one of Jewish Family Services’ Claire Sandler 734.668.6882 | [email protected] long-time volunteers. As David says, “I started volunteering as a bar mitzvah project, but once I got to know them it was really enjoyable. My grandparents live in South Africa, so I got Advertising Manager Gordon White to know them like they were my grandparents. Now it’s a weekly thing I can look forward to. We help each other.” Mr. Dorfman’s long and distinguished career as a physicist has further Design and Layout improved David’s under- Dennis Platte standing of physics. In re- turn, David has helped Mr. Staff Writers Judy Cohen, David Erik Nelson, Dorfman with the editing Sandor Slomovits of a book on physics that he is writing.