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Free Screening!
You Are Invited!
Come see the Award Winning PBS Television Documentary:
Surviving Auschwitz:
Children of the Shoah.
Meet Ms. Tova Friedman, featured in the documentary and one of the youngest child survivors of the notorious Auschwitz death camp. She will speak about her struggles, endurance, hope, the oneness of human kind, and the need to respect diversity.
January 27, 2009; 10 to Noon
Kalamazoo, MI
Click here for more info.
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"The Ravitz grant is going to be instrumental (maybe it already is) in keeping us all engaged in Temple activities!" Diane Rapaport Benton Harbor, MI
After a Klezmer band rejuvinated their Chanukah celebration inspiring even a 90 year olds to dance!
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Registration for Jewish Summer Camp Subsidies opens Jan. 1
The First-Time Jewish Experience Subsidy Fund provided more than 40
subsides to Michigan Jewish youth this past summer. Pre-registration is now open to Jewish children for Summer '09! Click here for info.
For additional camp scholorships, click here.
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Phone (from) Home
More people join every single week. Don't be the last Jew in Michigan to be off be part of the discussion!
You can gain a personal connection to
Jewish life and wisdom...on the phone! Explore
Judaism with a personal touch from the comfort of your own home. Jeff Surowitz, Statewide Outreach Coordinator,
leads the phone discussions and allows participants to probe Jewish topics of
their choice. We learn, we argue, we laugh.
If only Hebrew School
had been like this!
Classes meet over the phone and there is no charge and no commitment.
Got Gossip? A Lesson in Proper Speech
Mondays 9:30 - 10:30 am
How we speak of others -- how we see them, judge them, empathize with
them and, when necessary, how we criticize them -- defines us as people
and as Jews. These aspects of life occur throughout each day, and these
are the aspects that the class addresses.
The Secret to Happiness
Tuesdays 9:30 - 10:30 am
The key to happiness is to appreciate what you have. Sounds simple. So why are so many people unhappy? Join us as we work through the book Gateways to Happiness and learn some practical ways to be more happy.
Jewish Philosophy/Kabballah
Thursday 9:45 - 10:45 pm
A study in a classic book in Jewish philosophy called "The
Way of G-d." The book lays out clearly,
layer by layer, the very fundamental principles of the universe, and the very
things expected of us all as a consequence of them. Sounds heavy? It is. But if you like a good philosophical schmooze, this is for you!
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To join one of these exciting classes, call Jeff Surowitz at 248-914-1138 or send Jeff an email.
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Statewide Community Calendar For program information, please email Jeff Surowitz. Iron Mountain 12/28 Community Chanukah celebration and Latke Party Grand Rapids 1/11*The Jewish Theatre performs Women's Minyan Flint & Bay City 1/11*
Jewish Teen Connection event for area Jewish Teens
Grand Rapids 1/18* tentative
Jewish Teen Connection event for area Jewish Teens
Saginaw 1/24Jewpardy - a Jewish quiz show and fun night out! Grand Rapids 1/24
Israel TV Icon and senior political correspondent Gil Tamary speaks on the topic: UNITED STATES - ISRAEL TWO NEW ADMINISTRATIONS An Insider's View Lansing 1/25* Young Leadership Development Training Seminar - Andrew Echt
Detroit Jewish Federation Chief Financial Resource Development Officer speaks
on Jewish Leadership to Lansing's
up-and-coming Jewish leadership.
Petoskey & Traverse City 1/25*
Jewish Teen Connection event for area Jewish Teens
Kalamazoo 1/27
Free screening of the award winning PBS television documentary: Surviving Auschwitz: Children of the Shoah. (see above advertisement) Kalamazoo & Benton Harbor 2/8* Jewish Teen Connection event for area Jewish Teens Mt Pleasant Feb Date tba*Lecture by Rabbi Avi Cohen, Partners in Torah, Detroit Mt Clemens Feb Date tba*Lecture on Kosher Food Visiting Lecturer TBA Please continue to email me about Jewish events you will be running in your communities so we can get the word out. Thanks! * indicates wholly or partially funded by the Ravitz Initiative
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 Hebrew Class beginning in Jan.
The phone-in class will focus on reading comprehension of the prayer book, Tanach and other Jewish texts. Amazingly, you'll go from merely being able to sound out the words to actually knowing what they mean in only a few months. Click here for more info... Our Price: $0
List Price:priceless
S & H: $0
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Quick Jewish Joke of the Month
As the plane settled down at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, the voice of the Captain came on:
"Please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until this plane
is at a complete standstill and the seat belt signs have been turned
off. To those of you standing in the aisles, we wish you a Happy Chanukah. To those who have remained in your seats, we wish you a Merry Christmas."
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Recent Jewish Events in Your Communities Most communities put on wonderful Chanukah celebrations. There were too many to list here, but here are some of the highlights:
- Benton Harbor, November 13 - Rabbi Tzvi Muller mixed humor and impressive scholarship into his discussion on interpersonal relationships. It was a
wonderful kick off for the lecture series covered under the Ravitz Initiative. Thanks to Dave Ravitch and Diane Rapaport for arranging it.
- Grand Rapids, November 13 - 16 - Northeast
Lakes Council/Detroit Federation Regional Biennial Re-Union; NFTY
bi-Regional event; and Mishpachapalooza Family Program. Hundreds of Jew from across the region gathered for an unforgettable weekend featuring the music of Josh Nelson.
- Tri-cities, November 16 - Zach Goodwin ran the first Jewish Teen Connection program in Bay City.
 - Sault Ste. Marie, November 30 - Prof. Alex Gropper University of Toronto gave two lectures on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Thanks to Ginny Cymbalist for putting it together.
- Kalamazoo, December 7 - Evan Schwartz and Alyssa Simko ran the first Jewish Teen Connection program for teens in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and Benton Harbor. Nineteen teens from three cities and four synagogues participated.
- Kalamazoo/Benton Harbor, December 7/8 - Jeff Surowitz led a discussions on the Secret of Happiness based on Jewish traditional sources and a new field of Positive Psychology.
 - Flint, December 14 - Sam Glazer performed to a full audience as kids and adults alike enjoyed this wonderful Jewish performer. An LA musician, Sam performed in Flint on his way to perform at the White House's annual Chanukah celebration. Thanks to Gary Alter and to Rabbi Karen Companez for planning and hosting.
- Benton Harbor, December 14 - The Heartland Klezmorim transformed the annual Chanukah celebration into a very festive event with foot-tapping and dancing.
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Israel Mission Options
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism - Midwest Region
February 22 - March 2, 2009 - $3995/person; click here for info. Join the Midwest Region of United Synagogue's Mission to Israel...be so much more than just a tourist! Experience the spirit of Shabbat in Jerusalem, see Israel through the lens of the Conservative Movement, tour central Israel with experienced tour guides and noted speakers and much more.
Albion College's Holocaust Studies Trip to Poland May 9-18, 2009 - $3,450.00/person; click here for info. This unforgettable trip will be led by two Albion history professors and a Polish-Jewish child survivor of the Holocaust. The group will visit Holocaust sites, including the Warsaw Ghetto, Treblinka, and Auschwitz, and spend a morning working with current Albion students in the ongoing restoration of the New Jewish Cemetery in Wroclaw. The trip will also explore the architectural beauty, cultural richness, and historical drama of Poland's great cities.
URJ's
Summer Adult Institute
July 22 - August 5, 2009 - $4,595/person; click here for info. Join this unique opportunity for adults of all ages to engage
in an adult education experience in Israel, modeled on the EIE program. Explore ancient and modern Israel and study and experience the history of Israel. Celebrate Shabbat on the Kibbutz Tzuba and in
a congregation of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism.
Jewish Federation of Grand RapidsDec. 20 - 29 2009; price tba - click here for info. This Community is geared for all ages and will partner with another mid-west Jewish community. Return to Top |
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Spotlight on the MJC A special message from the president of the Michigan Jewish Conference.
Greetings from the Michigan Jewish
Conference
We are very excited that we have been able to reach out to
many Jews in small communities throughout the state this year. Through the
Ravitz Foundation grant, the MJC and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's Alliance for Jewish Education has
brought on Jeff Surowitz to coordinate outreach activities and make connections
throughout the state, bringing us all closer. His efforts are part of the MJC
mission, and thanks to the Ravitz Foundation we were able to make this a
reality.
Now that we have connected with you, we want to make sure
that we engage your community and include your input in representing the public
policy interest of the statewide Jewish Community. The American people recently voted for change; change at all
levels of government, federal, state and local. The MJC is our voice in Lansing with State
Government. In the coming months MJC will connect with you to get your
thoughts, ideas, concerns and passions about Jewish life in Michigan
including those politics and initiatives
which would enhance Jewish life in your communities. Of course, feel free to
contact The MJC, board or it's director, Susan Herman, at any time
We as Jews must be involved in the process, not only for our
own concerns but because we are compelled by our history, beliefs, values and
traditions to make the world a better place for everyone. We cannot sit idly by;
we must make our voices heard. The MJC provides a vehicle for our voices to be
heard with the decision makers in state Government. Your input assures that the MJC is addressing the concerns
of the entire state wide community. The MJC Board of Directors develops the
Public Policy Agenda, with your collective wisdom and input, for the Statewide
Community. If you would like to be more involved in this process, please
contact our director, Susan Herman at mjc@jfmd.org or (517) 449-1562.
Neal Elyakin,
President, MJC
December, 2008
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Jewish Thought of the Month
If most of our community's teens are the only Jewish kids in
their schools, safe it to say that many of our homes are the only Jewish homes
in the subdivision. I recently gave a class at a Jewish home in Kalamazoo; I didn't need
to look for addresses, it was the only home without Christmas lights. Not
far from my house is a house that looks like Times Square. Flashing lights, Rudolph in the yard, Santa
on the roof, Blow up Frosty with faux snow swirling around.
What do we have in our window? A little menorah; some tiny candles glowing. My neighbors: lights flashing on and off,
ours: these tiny candles glowing a special glow. Of course it tells us that we're different. But
remarkably, it tells us how we're
different.
As Jews we should understand what
our goal is in the world: we're to be a light to the nations. Not a flashy, loud light going on and off,
but a beautiful, steady glow, a candle. A
candle can light another candle and it does not diminish the first candle, but
it does spread that light. I hope you'll
share the glow of being Jewish this Chanukah with your communities. When we have this mindset, it's impossible
to feel overshadowed by all the flashing lights around us. Happy Chanukah!
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Thanks for taking the time to look through this newsletter. I hope you found it helpful and shared it with your community! Please encourage others join the list by clicking the button to the left.
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Happy Chanukah,
Jeffrey Surowitz
Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit
Outreach Program Coordinator
surowitz@jfmd.org
248-914-1138 (cell)
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Our teen programming has started with great success and we've completed our hiring process with a new coordinator to run Jewish Teen programs in Traverse City and Petoskey. Eric Awerbach, a junior at MSU from the Detroit area will bring his enthusiasm for being Jewish to the teens in these cities. In addition to these northern communities, we now have Teen
Coordinators running Jewish Teen programs in Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo,
Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Flint and the Tri-Cities. 
