Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/671794
22 April 28 • 2016 The Jewish Community Relations Council is holding a com- munity food drive during May by collecting Israeli products and donating them to local homeless shelters. Individuals are encouraged to purchase nonperishable Israeli food products and bring them to drop-off boxes at Israel-themed events in May, such as the Walk for Israel, Israel Independence Day festivals at Hillel and Akiva day schools, and the JCC Marwil Film Festival. Also look for boxes at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park and Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township. Many Israeli food products, such as crackers, wafers, coffee, tea, snack items, juices, soups and pudding mixes, dried fruits/nuts/seeds and candy, are available at Johnny Pomodoro's Fresh Market in Farmington Hills, One-Stop Kosher Market in Southfield, Babylon Ethnic Foods in West Bloomfield, and Kroger, Plum and Meijer markets. All should say "Made in Israel" on the package. Monetary donations are also welcome. For more informa- tion, contact Sandy Lippitt, (248) 642-2649, or email slippitt@ jfmd.org. * metro » n e w s y o u c a n u s e FREE THE BEAR! Many fondly remember Northland Center: the shopping, the restaurants and, of course, the beloved Marshall Fredericks sculpture — The Boy and Bear. When Northland Center closed, the sculpture was slated for auction. The city of Southfield purchased it for $500,000 to keep it in Southfield on the grounds of the Southfield Public Library. The library and its Friends of the Library contributed $300,000 of the purchase price. The nonprofit Southfield Public Arts Commission has launched its Free the Bear campaign to raise funds to repay the city for the sculpture. The cam- paign includes a public crowd funding component as well as corporate under- writing. Also, every contribution will help to establish a permanent fund for youth art programming, support local artists and expand cultural opportuni- ties in Southfield. To donate, send checks (made pay- able to): City of Southfield, c/o Mayor's Office, 26000 Evergreen Road, P.O. Box 2055, Southfield, MI 48037-2055. Indicate 'Free the Bear' on the check memo line. Or visit www.gofundme. com/freethebear. The Southfield Public Library Leon Miller Trust Fund will match all donations raised up to $300,000. The city will hold a VIP reception and unveiling of The Boy and Bear at the library for donors on May 19. A public unveiling will take place on May 23. * Marshall Frederick's The Boy and Bear Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8, and Better Made wants to know why you think your mom is the best. Better Made will give their Mom of the Year a sampler box of delicious Better Made snacks. Submit your stories with photos via email to info@bettermadesnackfoods. com, on Facebook, or by sending in an entry to Better Made Mother's Day Contest, 10148 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48213. All submissions will be posted on the Better Made website. The deadline for entries is Friday, May 6, and the winner will be chosen on May 8. * KOSHER RIB BURNOFF The Hillel Day School annual Independence Day Carnival is upping the ante this year. For the first time, the Ramah Kosher Rib Burn-Off will pit local synagogues and Jewish organizations against one another for the trophy crown- ing one of them the barbeque maven of Metropolitan Detroit. Jared Skoff, one of the Detroit Ramah Fellows behind the burn-off, anticipates "intense" yet convivial competition. "Growing up in Cleveland," he says, "the annual rib burn-off was the one event that brought all streams of Judaism together. I think Detroit would similarly benefit, and I hope it grows." The burn-off will take place during the carnival on Thursday, May 12, from 3-6 p.m. The carnival is open to the commu- nity. Games are geared toward preschool- ers and older. Ribs are $5 each or five for $20. Entry wristbands are $20 before May 12; $25 at the door. Game and food tickets, including dinner tickets, are 50 cents each. * BUY ISRAELI HELP THE HOMELESS JCRC Volunteers Margot Gardner and Sally Krugel, both of Bloomfield Township, display Israeli products with JCRC Executive Director David Kurzmann at Johnny Pomodoro's Fresh Market in Farmington Hills. IS YOUR MOM THE BEST? Get inspired. Meet medical specialists. Connect with others. All at a Novartis MS Education Link Event is talking multiple sclerosis (MS) and treatment. Space is limited. Please RSVP by calling 1-866-682-7491. Save a seat for a friend. Accessible to folks in wheelchairs or who need assistance. Light meal served. Validated parking. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation East Hanover, New Jersey 07936-1080 © 2015 Novartis 12/15 T-XMG-1325053 0DUWLQ%HONLQ'2 DW30 *LQRSROLV5HVWDXUDQW 0LGGOHEHOW5RDG )DUPLQJWRQ+LOOV0, 0000000 Suzanne Paul, a past president of the American Humanist Association (AHA), announces the opening of the Center for Secular Humanism (CSH), which will be housed in the Birmingham Temple Congregation for Humanistic Judaism in Farmington Hills. She will serve as its president and executive director. The Birmingham Temple already hosts many secular, atheist, freethought and Humanist groups on a regular basis. The Center for Secular Humanism can now provide them with their own space to plan and program. This includes a small conference room for meetings and access to larger areas for workshops, speakers and social events. Paul said the CSH plans to make good use of social media as it serves the role of a clearing house for all the vari- ous groups in the Detroit metro area. In her new role as executive director of the CSH, she will assist in coordinating events for various secular groups and also offer secular programming and activities for the secular community. * BIRMINGHAM TEMPLE TO HOUSE SECULAR CENTER