February 2009 Shevat/Adar 5769 Volume XXXIII: Number 5 FREE JFS to honor Rachel Bendit and Mark Bernstein Batsheva Laurie Barnett and Robin Little, special to the WJN Dance Company n Sunday, February 15, Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw returns to UMS O County will honor Rachel Ben- Sara Billmann, special to the WJN dit and Mark Bernstein with the Claire and he University Musical Society Isadore Bernstein Leadership Award at “An (UMS) will present Israeli ensem- Afternoon of Heart and Sole.” This award is T ble Batsheva Dance Company in given each year to Ann Arborites who have two different programs on Saturday, Febru- demonstrated outstanding community ser- ary 14 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, February 15 at vice. Past recipients include Ambassador 4 p.m., in Ann Arbor’s Power Center (121 Ronald Weiser and Albert Berriz (McKinley Fletcher Street). Batsheva Dance Com- Associates), Ken Fischer, and Phyllis and Da- pany is one of the most influential artistic vid Herzig. A dessert reception will be held groups in Israel, internationally renowned at 2 p.m. in the Michigan League Ballroom, for pushing the boundaries of cutting-edge followed by a performance by the Batsheva dance with intense energy, rich sensuality, Dance Company of Israel at 4 p.m. in the and a culturally diverse dance language. Power Center. Tickets are $36 per person; Led by Ohad Naharin since 1990, this con- combined tickets to both the reception and temporary dance company reels with ener- dance performance are $72 per person. gy, adrenaline, and force. On Saturday, the From the time Rachel Bendit and Mark company presents Three, a bewitching work Bernstein met at the University of Michigan from 2005 that tests the dancers’ individual Hillel while students, they have built a life boundaries in a powerful composition of together based on the Jewish tenets of fam- force, speed, and passion (Three contains ily, service, and education. And since they brief nudity). The Sunday performance moved to Ann Arbor five years ago, they features Deca Dance, a celebration of 10 have made an indelible impact on Jewish Rachel Bendit and Mark Bernstein years of artistic director Naharin’s work and non-Jewish organizations throughout Women’s Health Program at the University during the Clinton Administration as the with Batsheva (first performed in 2000). the community and Michigan, as well as of Michigan, and the Corner Health Center. Director of Press Pool Operations. Mark Deca Dance takes sections of existing works Jewish philanthropy nationally. She has close ties to the Jewish Federation of serves on the executive board of the Michi- continues on page 33 Rachel is a mediator and attorney who Greater Ann Arbor, where she is consulting gan Association for Justice and the Michi- serves on the executive committee of the with staff to launch a local Jewish teen phi- gan Civil Rights Commission, for which Jewish Funders Network and the board of lanthropy program, serves on its Personnel he also has served as chair. Nationally, he the Bendit Foundation, and works closely Committee and has also served on its Israel serves on the Jewish Funds for Justice, a with the Dispute Resolution Center, a and Overseas Committee, Women’s Divi- public foundation working to achieve so- community mediation center in Ann Ar- sion, and Search Committee. cial and economic security and opportunity bor. She is also involved with Jewish Fam- Mark is an attorney with the Bernstein ily Services of Washtenaw County, the Law Firm. He served in the White House continues on page 2 Lecture and class on Islam hosted by Genesis Ronnie Simon, special to WJN Temple Beth Emeth and St. Clare of Assisi ly authored Na- He has written extensively about Egypt, Iran, Episcopal Church will host a public lecture by poleon’s Egypt: Iraq, and South Asia. He continues to study University of Michigan Professor Juan Cole, Invading the Mid- and write about contemporary Islamic move- entitled “Shiite International in Global Islam dle East. A regular ments, whether mainstream or radical, Sunni Today,” to be held at their common facility, guest on PBS’s Leh- and Salafi or Shiite. Genesis of Ann Arbor, 2309 Packard Rd., on rer News Hour, Cole In March Temple Beth Emeth will host Sunday, February 8, at 7:30 p.m. has also appeared a jointly sponsored class on Islam, Sunday Juan R. I. Cole is the Richard P. Mitchell on ABC Nightly evenings at 7:30 p.m., March 1–22, taught by Collegiate Professor of History at the Univer- News, Nightline, the Grant Shaefer, a member of St. Clare’s who has sity of Michigan. Cole has sought to put the Today Show, Char- taught World Religions at Eastern Michigan relationship of the West and the Muslim world Juan R. L. Cole lie Rose, Anderson University and Washtenaw Community Col- in historical context. His most recent book is Cooper 360, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, lege. To register for the class, email office@st- Engaging the Muslim World, and he also recent- Democracy Now!, and many other programs. clares.org. n Washtenaw Jewish News NON-PROFIT ORG. In this issue… c/o Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor U.S. Postage PAID 2939 Birch Hollow Drive Ann Arbor, MI Mission Tu Where Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Permit No. 85 to B’Shevat Klezmer Israel celebrations meets corn Page 8 Page 14 Page 26 I Community 2935 Birch Hollow Drive Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108 JFS February programs voice: 734/971-1800 Robin Little, special to the WJN fax: 734/971-1801 e-mail: [email protected] JFS explores intermarriage www.washtenawjewishnews.org Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County will present “Family Affairs: Intermarriage and Jewish Parents in Historical Perspective” on Sunday, February 8, from 2–4 p.m. at the Editor and Publisher Jewish Community Center of Washtenaw County. Has your adult child married someone Susan Kravitz Ayer who is not Jewish? Join Jewish Family Services for this unique examination of intermar- riage throughout the ages and today. Featured speaker Keren R. McGinity, Ph.D., will discuss Copy Editor research findings from her new book Still Jewish: A History of Women and Intermarriage in David Erik Nelson America. Keren R. McGinity is the Mandell L. Berman Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Con- Calendar Editor temporary American Jewish Life at the University of Michigan Frankel Center for Judaic Claire Sandler Studies. Following her presentation, a panel of Jewish parents of intermarried children will discuss Advertising Manager their experiences with intermarriage today. This event is free and open to the public. For more Gordon White information, contact Abbie Lawrence-Jacobson, 769-0209, or [email protected] Design and Layout JFS explores driving safety and the elderly Dennis Platte Are you concerned about the driving capability of an aging loved one? On Wednesday, Staff Writers TAILOR February 18, Jewish Family Services will host a discussion of this topic from 6:30–8 p.m., “The Judy Cohen, David Erik Nelson, MADE SERVICE Driving Dilemma: Is Your Loved One Safe on the Road?” Learn how to initiate this difficult Sandor Slomovits discussion with a parent, and how to create positive solutions. Extensive resources, includ- Contributing Writers With Me You’re Family ing conversation scripts and safety worksheets, will be provided. A guest expert will present, Aura Ahuvia, Roann Altman, Toby Axelrod, Leslie followed by open discussion. For more information contact, Abbie Lawrence-Jacobson, 769- Bash, Laurie Barnett, Laura Berger, Sara Billman, 0209, or [email protected] n William C. Daroff, Rabbi Robert Dobrusin, ILENE FRIEDLAND Eileen Freed, Julie Gales, Tina Gargotta, Terri REALTOR Ginsburg, Rabbi Aharon Goldstein, Rabbi Altar Bernstein, continued from page 1 Goldstein, Esther Goldstein, Jesse Gordon, Noa 734-358-7089 Gutterman, Ben Harris, Erika Hauff, Kelly Hartog, Peretz Hirshbein, Deborah Huerta, Michael J. www.ilenefriedland.com by investing in healthy neighborhoods, vibrant Jewish communities, and skillful leaders. He Jordan, Ron Kampeas, Kim Reick Kunoff, Rabbi [email protected] also serves on the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, and is a past board Robert Levy, Robin Little, Andrea Ludwig, Eszter member of Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County and University of Michigan Hillel. Margit, Merrill Poliner, Cantor Annie Rose, The Claire and Isadore Bernstein Leadership Award honors the founding members of Dina Shtull, David Shtulman, Clara Silver, Ronnie Simon,Elliot Sorkin, Bert Stratton, Jewish Family Services. In 1977, Claire and Iz organized a resettlement committee to assist Hadar Susskind, Tamar Weaver 734-769-3800 Russian Jews who came to Washtenaw County, and these activities led to the establishment of JFS in 1993. JFS remains the primary county resource for resettlement of immigrants and Mailing Committee refugees. JFS assisted with the temporary resettlement of families displaced by Hurricane Ka- Ruth Ankiewicz, Beverly Bixler, Ruth Breslaw, trina, and is currently helping to resettle Iraqi families. English as a Second Language classes Ethel Ellis, Steve Fishman, Esther Goldman, are an important component of this process. Fran Goldman, Betty Hammond, Jayne Harary, The agency also provides crucial social services for older adults and their caregivers, the Evelyn Horwitz, Doris Jamron, Marilyn Krimm, unemployed, families in crisis, and people in need of transportation. Proceeds from “An Lily Ladin, Doris Miller, Bob and Sophie Mordis, Afternoon of Heart and Sole” will support JFS’s ongoing work. In addition, a matching gift Irwin Pollack, Lotte Rosenbaum, Esther Rubin, from Rachel Bendit and Mark Bernstein will establish an Emergency Aid Fund to assist indi- Sol Saginaw, Sarah Shoem, Nell Stern viduals and families impacted by the current economic crisis. Special thanks This gift demonstrates Bendit and Bernstein’s service to community and social justice— To Ethel Ellis and Betty Hammond to improving the lives of all people—in order to create a better place for their children, our The Washtenaw Jewish News is a free and inde- children and all of us.