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 Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Focus on Communal Hillel at EMU Permit No. 85 Israel’s Conversations Alternative Arab With Spring Community JCLP Break Page 8 Page 10 Page 12 May 2011 Nissan/Iyar 5771 Volume XXXV: Number 8 FREE WASHTENAW Seventh annual Celebrate Israel Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor salutes Israel’s cultural diversity celebrates 36 years Eileen Freed, special to the WJN Dina Shtull, special to the WJN s one of the most culturally diverse notch entertainment. There will be fun Israel- n 1974, a small group of dedicated in- nations in the world, Israel is home themed activities for the entire family, and a dividuals gathered to discuss the pos- A to citizens with origins from every shuk (marketplace) with Israeli merchandise. I sibility of establishing a Jewish day corner of the globe. This year’s theme, is “Many Communities: One school in Ann Arbor. “How do you start?” The Ann Arbor community will gather Nation,” and the festival will include activities reminisced founder Tzivia Garfinkel whose to celebrate Israel’s 63rd birthday and to ex- such as an olive press, Druze pita making, Is- granddaughter Priya Weisberg now attends the school. “You start with 13 families who… are willing to be chalutzim (pioneers) in Jew- ish education. Those 13 families would eat, drink, sleep, and breathe Hebrew Day School for years,” said Garfinkel. “There were end- less meetings to deal with ideology, policy, Barry and Susan Gross and general direction of the school,” com- The Ann Arbor Jewish community came to- mented founder Yehuda Reinharz who went gether at a joyous gathering in March to celebrate on to become president of Brandeis Univer- the school’s impact and legacy and to honor the sity, “and a wonderful esprit de corps among many people who contributed to its success, in those who had made a decision that a He- particular Susan and Barry Gross, who were brew Day School in Ann Arbor [would be] involved in the school’s progress for 26 of the a major contribution to the life of the Jew- 36 years. The Gross family enrolled their old- ish community.” “I remember my parents, est daughter Lauren (HDS 1991) after an initial Birdie and Sam Garfinkel, z’'l, rolling up start in public school, and then their other chil- their sleeves and building the cots that the dren, Carrie (HDS 1994) and Paul (HDS 1997). gansters (kindergartners) would use for rest FOX Y time each day,” shared Garfinkel. continues on page 29 OR G GRE Y O B T O H JCC Jewish Film Festival returns to P Israeli Dancing at Celebrate Israel 2010 the Michigan Theater May 15–19 perience Israeli cultural diversity on Sunday, raeli game center, kibbutz activities and more. Halye Aisner, special to the WJN May 22, from 12:30–3:30 p.m. at the Jewish Says Hern, “This year’s theme is really great as Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor. we highlight the richness and variety of Israel’s he 10th annual Lenore Marwil Jewish The festival will open at 2 p.m. with a show- This event brings together representatives people and communities.” Film Festival returns to Ann Arbor ing of Inside Hana’s Suitcase. The film tells the from Greater Ann Arbor’s Jewish commu- For the fourth year in a row, Ann Arbor T May 15–19. The Jewish Community story of a group of Japanese children and how nal organizations to conceive, program and will host a delegation from its Partnership Center of Greater Ann Arbor, in association their passionate teacher helped them solve the implement a joyous celebration of Israeli 2000 community, Moshav Nahalal. The dele- with the Jewish Community Center of Met- mystery of Hana Brady, whose name was paint- people, communities, and culture for over gation will develop an exhibit focusing on the ropolitan Detroit and the Michigan Theater, ed on an old battered suitcase that they received 600 celebrants of all ages. contribution of moshavim to Israeli society. will showcase 15 films over five days at the from Auschwitz. There is no charge for students Celebrate Israel committee chair, Laurel Entry to Celebrate Israel is $5/individual Michigan Theater on East Liberty. ages 13 and under. Hern, looks forward to the festival. “This day and $15/family. Additional donations may be The opening night sponsor reception, ca- is always a wonderful day full of fun as well made to benefit the Nahalal-Ann Arbor Park tered by Lori Shepard of Simply Scrumptious as a special day for everyone to gather and at Moshav Nahalal. Pre-registration is highly Catering, will begin at 6:30 p.m. At 8 p.m., fol- celebrate what we love about Israel. With the encouraged. Become a sponsor and get free lowing the reception, the film The Yankels will participation and support of Ann Arbor’s entry, a t-shirt, food voucher or preferred be shown. Jewish organizations, it is truly a community parking. For more information or to register, Of the 15 films, 10 of the films are foreign, event that I’m proud to chair and an event volunteer or sponsor Celebrate Israel, visit including six from Israel. that everyone will enjoy,” she said. www.jewishannarbor.org/celebrateisrael or This year’s event will feature two Lunch and As in previous years, participants will enjoy contact Eileen Freed at celebrateisrael@jew- Learn programs at the Michigan Theater. The Israeli dancing, tasty Israeli street food and top- ishannarbor.org or 677-0100. n Scene from Inside Hana’s Suitcase continues on page 4 I Community 2935 Birch Hollow Drive Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 Dear Reader, voice: 734/971-1800 fax: 734/971-1801 You can help us keep the Washtenaw Jewish News free — e-mail: [email protected] and win a $25 gift certificate! www.washtenawjewishnews.org We’ve all been affected by the rise in postage costs. In addition, other expenses related to publishing Editor and Publisher the Washtenaw Jewish News have also increased. Susan Kravitz Ayer In order to maintain the quality of this publication, we have decided to apply for the second class peri- Calendar Editor odical rate. To that end, we have to show the post Claire Sandler Join us for Mother’s Day office that our readers want to keep receiving the and Graduation Celebrations Advertising Manager Washtenaw Jewish News. Gordon White You can help! Please sign the postcard included in this Design and Layout month’s paper, affix a 44¢ stamp, and mail it back to us Dennis Platte —or drop it off at our office at the Jewish Community Staff Writers Center of Greater Ann Arbor. Our goal is to hear back Sandor Slomovits from 80% of our readers by June 18. Contributing Writers Confirm your free subscription by June 18 and you’ll automatically be entered into our Halye Aisner, Elizabeth Alpern, Jennifer Arapoff, prize drawing. One respondent, chosen at random, will receive a $25 gift certificate, Julie Bass, Tonya Backstrom, Andrew Baker, good at any business advertising in the Washtenaw Jewish News! Miriam Borenstein, Rabbi Robert Dobrusin, Sue Fishkoff, Eileen Freed, Florence Gerber, Rabbi Aharon Goldstein, Rabbi Alter Goldstein, Thanks for your support! Nathan Guttman, Ben Henig, Deborah Huerta, Ron Kampeas, Liz Kohn, Wendy Maybaum, Matan Naamani, Merrill Poliner, Cantor Annie Rose, Symi Rom-Rymer, Dina Shtull, Maxine Solvay, Elliot Sorkin, Mira Sussman, Community Yom Hazikaron ceremony at Beth Israel Lisa Wardl, Mimi Weisberg, Brett Willner Elliot Sorkin, special to the WJN The Community Wide Yom Hazikaron Ceremony for Greater The Washtenaw Jewish News is a free and inde- pendent newspaper. It is published monthly, Ann Arbor will take place on Sunday, May 8, from 7–8 p.m. at with the exception of January and July. It is reg- Beth Israel Congregation, 2000 Washtenaw Avenue. Yom Haz- istered as a Non-profit Michigan Corporation. ikaron, which is often translated as Israel Remembrance Day, is Opinions expressed in this publication do not a time for Israelis and Jews the world over to take a moment to necessarily reflect those of its editors or staff mourn the loss of Israeli soldiers and victims of terror. Coming as it does a day before Israeli Independence Day, this one-hour Member of ceremony provides a very powerful emotional experience to American Jewish Press Association everyone present. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, there have been more than 22,000 fallen soldiers and 3,700 vic- tims of terror. In the ceremony in Ann Arbor, volunteers and clergy from the community will present memorial poems and songs (with piano accompaniment) in Hebrew and English and screen a PowerPoint display which memorializes the lives of some of the fallen, including those who have died over the past year. Many of the works included mirror those used in Israeli ceremonies. The planning committee, chaired by Malli Holoshitz, includes Roby Lehavy, Zevi Bareket, Brett Wilner, ©2011 by the Washtenaw Jewish News. Shirley Kopelman, Michael Pedersen, Guy Shani, Elliot Sorkin and Rabbi Robert Dobrusin. All rights reserved. No portion of the Washtenaw Jewish News may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. Signed letters to the editor are welcome; they should The JCC‘s Amster Gallery to feature the Jaffa Mosaic not exceed 400 words. Letters can be emailed to the editor at [email protected]. Name will be Photography Exhibit withheld at the discretion of the editor. Circulation: 5,000 Mimi Weisberg, special to the WJN Subscriptions: The Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor will host the inspirational photographic $12 bulk rate inside Washtenaw County journey, “Jaffa Mosaic Photography Exhibit” to the Amster Gallery, April 15–June 1.