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National Council of Jewish Women Greater Detroit Section 2109110 MISSION:The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. Terry Hollander How can you not smile when a child hugs you while picking out new school clothes at our Back 2 School Store? This is the event that drew me into NCJW. I have been a Jewish communal volunteer for several years and it was this project that resonated with me. Although I do work full time as a CPA, I knew I could ¿QGWKHWLPHWR³MXVW´YROXQWHHUIRURQH project; but before I knew it, I was the fundraising chair of this remarkable event! Nothing has touched me so deeply as being able to provide new clothes and school supplies to children who are less fortunate. NCJW makes a difference in the lives of women, children, and families, and we need your support now more than ever. Give us a try and you will be as hooked as I am. Randie Levin ,¿UVWEHFDPHDFTXDLQWHGZLWK1&-: when my late husband Gerald was the longtime CEO of Orchards Children's Services started by the Greater Detroit Section in 1962. As a social worker, and working in the Jewish community for many years, I was particularly impressed with NCJW's commitment to issues facing all women, especially its advocacy on behalf of reproductive rights. NCJW is such a wonderful organization, providing much needed services to so many different populations, from children to older adults. I am amazed at the energy and hard work of our volunteers and the impact they make. Our advocacy for women, children, and families is so crucial and I am proud that we are represented in so many important areas. Making A Difference viewpoints » S e n d l e t t e r s t o : l e t t e r s @ t h e j e w i s h n e w s . c o m December 1 • 2016 5 for openers Winter Is Coming O n Nov. 18, our temperature reached 70 degrees. Twenty- four hours later it was 37. And what did I say to anyone who would listen? "Can you believe it! OMG, one day it's summer and the next day it's winter!" I've experienced nearly 62 winters. Yet there's just some- thing about that flick of a switch seasonal transition that compels me to have the same dumfound- ed reaction every year. For a lack of a better way to say it, I just can't handle going through "the change." (On second thought, maybe I should have thought of a better way of saying it.) Meanwhile, nowhere is the reaction to our "sudden" arrival of winter more entertaining than when our local televi- sion stations report with breaking news urgency our first ¼-inch snowfall. A reporter, positioned strategically on an expressway overpass with wind-blown hair and flakes swirling like in a snow globe, describes the snowy arrival with a "flurry" of excitement and awe. But exhilaration departs as quickly as it arrived. News follows that will shake us to our core. We are warned that this ¼-inch of snow, so pretty and mesmerizing, may … make … our … roads … slip- pery! Wait, what? Are you serious? The camera immediately cuts to a dramatic shot of the wet pavement below that … shows no sign of snow because it melted over the last three commer- cial breaks. I mean no disre- spect to my media colleagues. Covering our first snow- fall, no matter how little, is in the public interest. But I can't help but be amused when they remind us that now would be a good time to start dressing our kids warmly, replenish our windshield washer fluid and keep our gas tanks full. Really? Come on, this isn't our first winter rodeo! Actually, I'm going to walk back that windshield washer comment. I've pushed that washer button when the tap is dry, having ignored the dashboard warning for days. I've lived through that vibrating, fingernails on a chalkboard noise dry wipers make. But I am proud of the fact I've learned how to drive safely while looking through 50 curved streaks of mud deposited on my wind- shield from the car in front of me. So, will this winter be as Shakespeare penned in Richard III the "winter of our discontent?" (Weather bulletin: I just quoted Shakespeare so "you know what" is about to freeze over.) Yes, every win- ter I feel discontent. Without fail, I get those skin-splitting cracks on the tips of my fingers. It never ceases to amaze me how painful they are. And the same cold, dry air that wreaks havoc on my fingers is also to blame for the return of … the whistling nose. Many nights my shnoz breaks out in a symphony at decibels high enough to attract neighborhood dogs. Luckily, my snoring eventually drowns out the whistling. But there is actually something worth looking forward to this winter. For only the fifth time in the last 111 years, Chanukah will overlap Christmas. Such a rare occurrence, it makes Chanukah the Chicago Cubs of Jewish holidays. But, after this last election season, I think it's only fitting that we can unite and together share in the joy of our respective holiday seasons. So come on, everybody, sing along! "Deck the halls with a bissel of latkes, fa la la la la la la, la, la." … Oy, I could plotz from all that oil. * Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/acting tal- ent, speaker, emcee and a regular guest host on the Mitch Albom Show on WJR AM 760. Visit his website at laughwithbigal.com and "Like" Al on Facebook. Alan Muskovitz DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE NOMINEE ANTISEMITIC? The post-election coverage in the JN was as expected. Two columns, the "Guest Column" and "Commentary," trashed Donald Trump with half-truths, false- hoods and innuendos. No alternative views were presented. In addition, the "What's Next?" piece included interviews with a number of young people (some rabbis) bemoaning the election by holding pseudo-shivahs and actually attempting to draw a com- parison to the catastrophe of 9-11. This level of immaturity speaks volumes about the education that our young Jewish students are given. What the JN disappointingly failed to dis- cuss is the nomination of Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) to be head of the Democrat National Committee, surprisingly endorsed by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Ellison is a Catholic convert to Islam. He has been a strong supporter of the Nation of Islam's anti-Semitic Louis Farrakhan, who called Judaism a "gutter religion." Ellison had also claimed that the Jews benefitted from 9-11 (bit.ly/2geOQVG). Ellison is associated with many anti- Israel groups. Through his association with CAIR, he has links to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. Where is the JN on this? The JN has more and more become a dedicated Democrat pipeline to the Detroit Jewish community. Sylvia C. Fleshman, Farmington Hills See a related story on page 8. Letters to the Editor: We prefer letters that relate to articles in the Jewish News. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Brevity is encouraged. Letters published will include the name and city of residence of the writer. Letters submitted must contain the name, address, title of the writer (if applicable) and a daytime phone number. We prefer emailed letters. Please email to letters@thejewishnews.com. (Letters sent by U.S. Postal Service must be hand-signed and mailed to the Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034.) Correction In "Tour of Duty" (Nov. 24, page 26), Jack Backalar's name was misspelled. letters