Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/895657
26 November 2 • 2017 jn jews d in the S tanley Bergman, the Jewish CEO of Henry Schein, a lead- ing supplier for medical and dental offices, and Farooq Kathwari, the Muslim CEO of furniture maker Ethan Allen, are national busi- ness leaders. Last year, they joined together to counteract hate speech and crimes toward Muslims and Jews in the U.S. The two visited Detroit on Oct. 3 to talk about their newly created national Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council and met with Muslim, Jewish and other Detroit-area lead- ers during a town hall in Dearborn. This was the council's sixth face- to-face meeting since its founding last November. Last year, Bergman and Kathwari agreed to lead the council, a national nonpartisan, public-private advocacy organization convened by the American Jewish Committee and the Islamic Society of North America. Its mission is to advocate for religious tolerance and respect, and to publicly recognize the contri- butions of all religions. Kathwari, originally from Kashmir, reported that the coun- cil has held successful meetings with representatives from the Department of Justice and Congress as well as Muslim, Jewish and other leaders. "It has been well-received across the country," he said. Council co-chair Bergman emi- grated to the U.S. from South Africa, where his parents fled to escape Nazi Germany. "There are more hate crimes against Jews than other groups in the U.S., but the rate is increasing fastest for Muslims," he said. "It is our job to make sure that people are not fearful." "Silence is not an option," Kathwari commented. The council is advocating for pas- sage of the bipartisan "Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2017" that would include reli- giously affiliated schools and com- munity centers in the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996. This law makes it a federal crime to damage a house of worship. Daniel Lemisch, acting U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Michigan, who is Jewish, described the increasing incidence of hate speech and discriminatory actions. "Hate is becoming mainstream. Hate is broadcast with the speed of light. Our job is to make sure that laws are applied equally," he explained. Lemisch referred to two recent cases in which the federal govern- ment successfully sued local gov- ernments that were trying to thwart the construction of a mosque and Muslim school. BUILDING TRUST Alicia Chandler, president of Detroit's Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC, spoke about the organization's progress in build- ing trust and connections with the local Muslim community. When the federal government issued its initial ban on immigration from Muslim countries, Jews supported the local Muslim community in its protest, she said. When bomb threats were called into the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield, she noted that a group of Muslim leaders took out a Jewish News ad in support of the Jewish community. According to David Kurzmann, JCRC/AJC executive director, the national Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council visited Detroit because of its large Muslim community and the successful partnership efforts between local Muslim and Jewish organizations over several years. Going forward, he said the coun- cil will work to engage additional communities, establish regional councils and highlight the contribu- tions of Muslim and Jewish groups in American society. On the legisla- tive front, the Council is seeking an additional legislator to sponsor the Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2017. Locally, the JCRC/AJC of Detroit will continue its expanding Mitzvah Day volunteer program with the Muslim community, according to Kurzmann. In addition, the JCRC/AJC Shared Dialogue program in which two Wayne State University professors — one Muslim and one Jewish — jointly addressed audiences in three Detroit-area locations, is likely to be repeated early in 2018. Professors Howard Lupavitch and Saeed Khan discussed "A Shared Future: American Xenophobia — Anti- Semitism and Islamaphobia." • For more about the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council, visit muslimjewishadvocacy.org. Dr. Muzammil Ahmed, chair of the Michigan Muslim Community Council; Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council Co-Chairs Farooq Kathwari and Stanley Bergman; and JCRC/ AJC Detroit President Alicia Chandler ANDREA STINSON OLIVER Advocacy Effort Leaders of national Muslim-Jewish council stop in Detroit to engage the community. SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER JVS has expanded services that will enhance the types of community-based activities available for people with dis- abilities, offering them more options. Known as "Choices," the expanded array of services offers individuals the option to work or volunteer in their community, participate in field trips and cultural outings or engage in artistic expression, music therapy, yoga and other enriching activities. The changes come amid recent trends and state and federal guidelines that advo- cate for greater community inclusion for people with dis- abilities. Governmental fund- ing priorities are also shifting in favor of programs that pro- mote more access to the com- munity. "JVS is committed to pro- viding opportunities for individuals to have a greater sense of personal value, com- munity and choice in how they want to live their lives," said JVS President and CEO Leah Rosenbaum. "In addition to providing staff support to help some people maintain jobs, others will be supported in finding volunteer work at local nonprofits such as organic farms or food pantries to help build their skills. Based on individual desires and goals, others may be supported in visiting local areas of interest or participating in stimulating activities to build skills and engagement in their commu- nity." With increased focus on expanding activities available in the community, JVS will phase out its work center in Southfield. The center cur- rently serves approximately 90 people with developmental disabilities who will be offered expanded choices on how to enhance their lives. JVS navi- gators will work closely with individuals and their family members to educate them on the new choices available and which options meet their interests, desires and needs. • 'Choices' At JVS