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32 December 29 • 2016 In honor of its 75th anniversary, Temple Israel wrote a new Torah. The Mitzvah 613 Torah Project began in April with a kick-off celebration where the very first letters of the new Torah were ceremoniously scribed on the bimah. Hundreds of members fulfilled the 613th mitzvah by writ- ing a letter. This memorable project concluded in June 2017 when Temple Israel's new Torah was dedicated. MAY Jewish Family Service held its annual meeting, "Mission Possible," to cel- ebrate the 25th anniversary of Operation Exodus. Famous refusenik Natan Sharansky was the guest speaker. The Machon Devorah library at Bais Chabad of North Oak Park, which opens twice weekly for the community, opened its doors in May. LifeLinks, a new Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network (JHCN) program, designed to bridge the gap between diagnosis of a life-threatening illness and the eligibility for hospice care, led by Rabbi Joseph Krakoff, launches. After more than 26 years as the owner and manager of the Tradition!Tradition! Judaica store, Alicia Nelson decides it's time to retire and is looking to sell the business she runs in her Southfield home. After 25 years at Congregation B'nai Moshe in West Bloomfield, Rabbi Elliot Pachter said he would retire to focus on his role as dean of student services and programming at Frankel Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield. He would become rabbi emeritus of B'nai Moshe on July 1. Mohel Dr. Craig Singer of Bloomfield Hills was turned around at the Windsor Tunnel crossing on May 19 as he traveled to perform a circumcision for a Windsor family because he didn't have a work permit from the Canadian Department of Immigration. Norman Shy, 74, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fed- eral program bribery and federal income tax evasion for failing to report income earned during 2011 for his part in a massive bribery/kickback scheme involving the Detroit Public Schools. Rabbi Herschel Finman found a home in a former dentist's office on the western edge of the city's downtown for Jewish Ferndale. The grand opening is set for the fall. Chabad-Lubavitch of Michigan's four-year secular court case against the Bais Chabad Torah Center ended May 23, when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up Chabad of Michigan's appeal, thus granting victory to the Torah Center. NEXTGen Detroit launched NEXTGen Detroit Pride to "serve as a wel- coming gateway into the Jewish community for LGBTQA young adults." The kickoff event was May 31. JUNE The Farber Soul Center in West Bloomfield held its official grand opening June 5. The brainchild of Friendship Circle, the center offers artistic and employment opportunities for young adults with special needs. On June 5, Beth Israel Congregation held a gala event in celebration of its 100th anniversary. Marjorie Fisher died at her home in Palm Beach, Fla., on June 12 at age 92. The wife of the late Detroit industrialist and philanthropist Max Fisher, she devoted herself to improving the lives of others at home and through- out the world. metro » y e a r i n r e v i e w MAY: LifeLinks client Marty Scheer, right, enjoys his visits with Rabbi Joseph Krakoff of the Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network. JUNE: The Soul Cafe is open for business, featuring kosher dairy meals. JUNE: Rabbi Robert Dobrusin of Beth Israel lights the chanukiah last Chanukah. continued from page 31