Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/613029
metro » n e w s y o u c a n u s e 18 December 10 • 2015 The Maccabeats in the kitchen making latkes — and singing MAKE IT A MITZVAH DAY ADAT SHALOM BOOK DRIVE Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills is collecting new books to donate to children at Bennett Elementary School and pre- school programming in Southwest Detroit. Collection boxes are in the synagogue's main office and near the school office in the lower level through Dec. 18. This new "partner school" is working very hard to ensure the success of its students, so donations will be most appreciated. * Select your mitzvah and share your day on Friday, Dec. 25, when the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit once again present Mitzvah Day. Volunteers of all ages can participate in dozens of social service projects and activities throughout Metro Detroit, including visits to older adults in nursing care facilities, preparing and serving holiday meals, and delivering toys and gifts to families in need. Interfaith volunteer sites to work with Muslim community volunteers will again be available. Mitzvah Day event chairs are Janet Berman, Seth Fisher, Micki Grossman and Milt Neuman. More than 800 volunteers are anticipated to take part. Sign up by Wednesday, Dec. 18, at detroitjcrc. org/mitzvahday2015. Volunteer spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. For details, call (248) 642-2656 or email nlevine@jfmd.org. * CHANUKAH VIDEOS! Every year at Chanukah, various groups come out with new holiday videos for us to enjoy. So, while the holiday candles still burn brightly, here are some more videos for your holiday pleasure. Check out: • Singer Julie Geller offers an uplifting original song: bit.ly/1PzSisr. • The Maccabeats — classic a cappella: bit.ly/1SWXfJu • A One Direction Chanukah parody: bit.ly/1lboFkn • Six13 offers "Watch Me": bit.ly/1XEjrcM • A Chanukah version of Adele's "Hello": bit.ly/1IriLWw • Even the Muppets sing Chanukah songs: bit.ly/1IG1kMA • PBS' Peg & Cat celebrate with Albert Einstein: bit.ly/1TnjyYP • New Israelis taste their first sufganiyot: bit.ly/1MZcEaD • And, of course, Adam Sandler's latest version: bit.ly/1Q00P6i With thanks to Jacob Richman in Israel. To see his annual list of videos, go to bit.ly/1LRcA91. * The Detroit Institute of Arts has named an area of its gallery of ancient Greek and Roman art in honor of the Merton J. and Beverly Segal family's generous donation to the museum's operating endowment. In addition to Merton Segal and his late wife, Beverly, the Segal's three daughters and their spouses — Carol and Michael Ziecik, Laura Segal, and Dana and Dr. Steven Weinstein — will also be recognized. The late Beverly Segal was an artist, an art historian and a passionate collector. She was the guiding force in encouraging the family's interest in various art forms, including glass, music and design. In addition to making his gift in honor of his family, Merton Segal, a past president of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township, also wanted to recognize the DIA's new director, Salvador Salort-Pons, and the ongoing leadership of Eugene Gargaro Jr., DIA chairman of the board, who helped the DIA raise money for the city of Detroit's pensioners as part of the museum's com- mitment to the Grand Bargain. * Grammy-Award winner Don Was DON WAS JOINS DIME Detroit music producer and president of Blue Note Records Don Was, born Donald Fagenson, has been named to the board of the Detroit Institute of Music Education (DIME) in Downtown Detroit, according to Crain's Detroit. Other board members include DIME founders Kevin Nixon and Sarah Clayman as well as Charlie Rothstein, senior managing director of Beringea LLS, a venture capital firm in Farmington Hills. "Detroit artists have made a mind-boggling contribution to the world's musical culture," Was said in a news release. "DIME is a world-class facility that will play a big role in attracting musicians from all over the country and developing the next generation of musicians right here in Detroit. I'm thrilled to contribute in any way I can to this exciting new effort in our city." * BARBIE'S STORY GOES TO FILM Actress Reese Witherspoon is co-produc- ing and may star in a film about Ruth Mosko Handler, the Barbie doll's Jewish creator. Variety reported that Witherspoon is pairing with Bold Films on an adaptation of the 2010 book "Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her." Handler founded Mattel with her hus- band, Elliot. She came up with idea for Barbie; the doll came on the market in 1959. According to the Jewish Women's Archive, Handler, who died in 2002, was the youngest of 10 children born to Polish Jewish immigrants. In addition to creat- ing Mattel and Barbie, Handler, who had breast cancer, created Nearly Me, a pro- ducer of breast prostheses. * Ruth Handler with Barbies Mattel SEGALS GIFT TO DIA Be rkl ee C o ll ege o f M u sic WATCH THE MENORAH Every year, Ben Forta and his family create an outdoor Chanukah display at their Oak Park home — but this year they outdid themselves. They built a giant animated elec- tric menorah over their garage for all to enjoy. A glowing shamash candle glides across the menorah to light the correct number of candles each night. The menorah has been in the plan- ning stage since last Chanukah, and Ben estimates that more than 100 hours of effort have gone into the project. Actual assembly began two months ago by Ben and wife Marcy's sons, Shmuel, 19, Eli, 17, Daniel, 15, and Ezra, 12. A video is online showing the menorah in all its glory as well as the behind-the-scenes electronic cir- cuitry that makes it run. Visit bit.ly/1XQ3ohr. For those who want to view the actual display, go to 25514 Gardner in Oak Park each night of Chanukah between 4:30 and 11 p.m.