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Any member of two tropical anthropoid primate groups: Old World monkeys and New World monkeys. Almost all species are tropical or subtropical, and almost all are diurnal. Most species are arboreal, using all four limbs to leap from tree to tree. They can sit upright and stand erect. Most species run along branches rather than swinging arm over arm like the apes. Monkeys are highly social omnivores, organized in clans as large as several hundred individuals headed by an old male. Sexually mature males of all species are always potent, and all nonpregnant females have a monthly menstrual cycle. Most species bear a single young, which is reared by the mother for years.
This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on monkey, visit Britannica.com.
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OPIC's annual report contains financial statements for the fiscal year, along with a comprehensive activities list and features several key projects.
The Federal Records Act and other statutes require all federal agencies to create records that document their activities, file records for safe storage and efficient retrieval, and dispose of records according to agency schedules. The publicly available www.opic.gov website contains documents and artifacts that detail how OPIC is meeting existing records management requirements including policy and guidance, laws and statutes, schedules, and tools.
• Policy and Guidance • Laws & Statutes - http://www.archives.gov/about/laws/ • Schedules - A records schedule provides mandatory instructions for the disposition of records (including the transfer of permanent records and disposal of temporary records) when they are no longer needed by the agency. All federal records must be scheduled (44 U.S.C. 3303) either by an agency-specific schedule or a General Records Schedule (GRS). The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) must approve all records schedules.
• Tools - OPIC Records Management Training Briefing • Contact - Essie Bryant, Records Analyst & Agency Clearance Officer

subset: commoncrawl


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European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA)
European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA), created in 2006 by companies operating in the outdoor industry, aims to collect funds to help to finance environmental projects. The Petzl Foundation is member of this association since its creation, in 2006.
Bumblebee Habitat and Coastal Path Extension, UK : The project aims to provide habitat to support and expand one of the few remaining populations of the shrill carder bee, which is thought to be on the verge of extinction in the UK. The project will support a wide variety of other flora and fauna as well as providing an attractive new route for walkers with opportunities to learn about the value of the habitats at and around the Castlemartin range in Pembrokeshire on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
Sri Lanka Mangrove Swamp Restoration : Mangrove forests are unique habitats, adapted to the living conditions of brackish estuaries and coastal areas. In no other biotope is the same habitat shared by so many different creatures, salt and freshwater species as well as sea and land organisms. Also, all mangrove species have extensive root systems that serve as a barrier against tidal waves. This particular area consists of 10 major wetland vegetation types and 303 species of plants. Over the past 100 years, about 50% of the world's mangrove forests have been irrecoverably lost.
The main objective is to facilitate the sustainable community management of Mangrove Ecosystems of the Madampa Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Sri Lanka. This wildlife sanctuary is an extensive lake system facing several threats due to uncontrolled community activities such as land reclamation, dumping of household and industrial waste, and the logging of mangrove trees for timber and firewood. The project aims to increase the communities' understanding of the importance of the mangrove ecosystem through long term educational programmes and empowering communities in implementing mangrove conservation programmes.
Acquiring and Replanting Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil : Working with several organizations, the Breathe Foundation's 2010 main focus is the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil. Now less than 7% of its original size, UNESCO has identified it as one of the five highest biodiversity hotspots in the world. Farming, illegal logging and poaching is pushing this area towards ecological collapse, diversity being replaced by monoculture. The main focus of this project is one of guardianship, reforestation and education. Funded by a carbon offset programme, memberships and donations, the 10 year goal is to reclaim 700,000m2 of forest, creating an intact ecological corridor which will then be registered protected via Brazillian Environmental law.
School Extensions and Forest Protection : Pipar is a 42km square rhododendron forest at 3322m on a spur of the Machhapuchare Peak in the Annapurna Conservation area and home to 5 out of 6 of Nepal's Himalayan pheasant species. Since 1983, the WPA has worked closely with the local village of Karuwa, closest to the conservation area, helping to resource teaching facilities, pay for teaching staff and equipment in return for the villagers' using the forest only as they had always done, for their own needs, and not for commercial gain i.e. not for hunting, collecting medicinal plants and mushrooms or cutting timber in the pheasant breeding season. The pheasant population has remained stable in all this time and the project has been held up as a model project.
Elephant Corridors in India : After much research, the Wildlife Trust of India has published a comprehensive list of 88 corridors throughout India that are critical to the long term survival of the Asian Elephant. Corridors comprise the unprotected lands between fragments of protected areas. These areas are increasingly human dominated, resulting in high levels of human-wildlife conflict (destruction of crops, buildings and even human life). Securing the corridors involves sensitising local communities to the option of voluntarily relocating outside the conflict zones to safer areas, with their own land and improved housing. It would also have great conservation value, preventing further fragmentation of the continuous forest habitat by encroachment from urban areas, as well as providing continued refuge for tiger, elephant, sambar, marsh crocodile, gharial and over 575 species of bird.
- [06-24-14] The environment call for projects is launched!
- [10-18-13] Rescue services operational in Kalymnos!
- [09-11-13] The Petzl Foundation Supports the Alpine Near-Miss Survey
- [08-05-13] Working with Aron Ralston to protect Utah's redrock desert canyons
- [11-27-12] Encourage respectful climbs in a major site: Piedra Parada
- [05-16-12] The Cochamo valley, a forgotten Yosemite
- [04-23-12] Saving the monk seals in Mauritania
- [12-21-11] Grimper dans les palmiers, un métier dangereux
- [12-20-11] Nepal: training future professional trek guides
- [05-23-11] Call for projects environment!
- [05-02-11] How to reduce accidents in the Gouter couloir?
- [03-29-11] Join the public Conservation Vote !
- [02-14-11] Ice Crystal, a scientific expedition into the heart of the waterfall
- [11-24-10] Results of the 2011 environment request for proposals!
- [07-30-10] Outdoor Industry Conservation Charity joins IUCN
- [06-29-10] Successful release of 3 Bearded vultures in the Vercors massif
- [05-21-10] Makay, the last Eden in flames
- [04-19-10] Saving Cochamo
- [02-05-10] Great success for symposium of the Bonelli's eagle
- [01-22-10] Petzl Foundation supports scientific explorations


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I want to purchase sorona smartstrand carpeting. Home Depot has many types and colors but I'd rather not deal with them having had a problem with another home service. The carpet dealers listed on the Mohawk website only have a couple of types. Can someone recommend a reliable carpet dealer in central/northern new jersey that has Mohawk Horizon? Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by carpetgirl (My Page) on Mon, Mar 29, 10 at 10:12
Golfcat - Did you call the stores or just go by the options on the website? I know that all the styels are not loaded. Also - Floorscapes and ColorCenter dealers will likely have all the styles as well as Horizon dealers - actually FS and CC are even more likely to carry everything since they get styles first....so don't leave them out of your search. I would go back to mohawkflooring.com and try your zip code again...then give the store a ring to confirm that they do indeed have the entire lineup. CG |
HD and Lowes both have a small section for SmartStrand, so is a local retailer that is listed on mohawkflooring.com. We went to the retail store the other day and it happened that a lovely girl rep from Stainmaster was helping out in that store. She said that the Triexta PTT is not as strong as nilon and it has lesser wear even tho it is more stain resistent. She said in fact that's why SmartStrand has very few loop pile choice as it is prone to have the a few loop broken after a while. We love the loop pile style but was concerned about this. I also checked mohawkflooring.com ad it seems there is only one SS loop listed using the search function on the web site (Constant Charm?) So carpetgirl, is the claim true? Also, what's a reasonable price for SS? $5 per s.q.? $7? Is SmartStrand ever on sale? |
I just had Smartstrand installed this weekend. I pd $2 a sf and there was a lot around $2-3. Stainmaster nylon doesn't have the stain resistance of Smartstrand and can fade. No one fiber is absolutely the best, but the testing I've seen on Smartstrand make it a very high choice for my needs. My friend bought it 4 yrs ago cause they have skylights and cats that throw up constantly. It still looks great, no fading, no stains and its still very soft to walk on. I think its a good choice. |
Thanks boxers. I think I saw some SmartStrand at HD/Lowes that are $2~$3 range that has wierd label like "Port Lacroix", which confuses me as who makes it. The SmartSrand I saw at the retailer has a price tag for something like $5+. The thing with retail store is they always have something for sale but always not the one you want. With $5 I might opt to put the hardwood floor. I have seen some nice BR-111 engineered wood floor goes between $4~$5. Anyway, do you mind to share where you got your SmartStrand for $2 a s.f.? Not that I can take advantage since I probably are from a different region but still a good reference point to take into consideration. Thanks. |
- Posted by echoflooring (My Page) on Mon, Apr 5, 10 at 22:18
Smart strand is sold by Mohawk period. We sell smartstrand. Karastan also has smartstrand however they are Mohawk also.We sell the lighter weight of smartstrand on the color wall for about 2.60 per sq ft.. The lighter weight which is still extremely nice plus a 50 cent cushion plus 99 bucks for install. You should be able to duplicate that in your area somehow. We are nothing special other than an honest flooring retailer. Boxers works for Mohawk so he should be able to get it done much cheaper...The middle weight and the heavy weight off the color wall will add about 50 cents a foot to each one.... |
I worked for Mohawk 10 yrs ago, but have a dealer that stocks it heavily. I went to HD to compare and there are lighter wts of Smartstrand that should be $2.69 or less. |
Two Smartstrand carpets I liked in HD are: Lifeline 4701 - 38 Oz face weight Twist 2.75x2.75 (forgot the price) and Port LaCroix 0076D - 36 Oz Twist 5.5x5.5 @$2.95 s.f.. Are those lighter weight or middle weight? |
- Posted by echoflooring (My Page) on Wed, Apr 7, 10 at 22:29
A lighter wait for smartstrand plush.. There 3 weighted products run approx 38 48 58 ounce from their light weight to heavyweight... |
- Posted by carpetgirl (My Page) on Tue, Aug 17, 10 at 10:28
Carydan - No - the Stainmaster lady's claims are totally invalid. Anyone making nylon is feeling a little threatened by the SmartStrand fiber and they're getting a little desperate. The notion that loops break is crazy....the only issue anyone ever has with loops is zippering...which means one end gets pulled and it keeps coming out. Happened on my Stainmaster carpet actually - which is ratyher ironic! That can happen with any loop of any fiber type. Typically it is a backing issue - never a fiber issue. As for sales - there are typically sales in the spring and the fall. CG |
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Updated Wed, Sep 11, 2013 4:07 pm
Updated Wed, Sep 11, 2013 4:07 pm
Two prison guards who were on duty the night of Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro's suicide are now on leave.
State gasoline prices are down 28 cents this year.
John Kasich will continue to launch Ohio's new $250 million education innovation program.
More in your afternoon update.


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Find a pet to adopt |
My name is Crixis!
Facts about Crixis
- Breed: Labrador Retriever Mix
- Color: Black
- Age: Adult
- Size: Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
- Sex: Male
Crixis's Info...
I am already neutered and up to date with shots.
All Operation Ava dogs and cats receive a wellness exam by our veterinarian and are up to date with vaccinations. They are spayed or neutered before they go to their adoptive families. Dogs over 7 mos. are tested for heartworm and lyme diseases and cats are tested for FeLV and FIV. All Dogs are micro-chipped and are eligible for a complimentary 30 day pet health insurance policy from Shelter care if you provide an E-mail address when you complete the adoption. We will ask you for a veterinary reference or three personal references, proof that you are allowed to have pets if you rent, proof of home ownership if that is the case, and valid identification. All members of your household, including other dogs must be present to meet the adoption candidate. Adoption fees are as follows: Puppies under six months - $350.00, Dogs - $275.00, Senior dogs (7 years and over) - $225.00, Cats and Kittens - $75.00. You do not need an appointment but please call ahead to confirm that the pet you want to meet is still available. 215-240-1240.
Other Pets at Saved Me
Why Adoption is a Great Option
Crixis, a Philadelphia Labrador Retriever dog was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Labrador Retriever for sale in Philadelphia, or seeking a Labrador Retriever dog from a breeder in Philadelphia.
- Rescues and shelter volunteers in Philadelphia already know the personality and tendencies of their pets. This means they can match you with the right pet. That will makes it much easier transition to owning a pet for yourself and your new pet.
- On average adoption fees are much less than you'd pay a Philadelphia breeder, or pet store. Plus most often rescue pets have already been to the veterinarian for a check-up, had a round of vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered. That is a lot of savings!
- You will become a hero, and give a needy dog or cat a loving home. In fact, there are even Labrador Retriever breeders who help with Labrador Retriever rescue. One puppy or kitten adopted in Philadelphia paves the way for another one to be saved.


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Reviewed Hash Brown Quiche
Jan 11, 2011 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"I made this last night, shredded my own potatoes and squeezed dry with paper towels. Used left over frozen ham from Christmas and 1% milk instead of half and half. This recipe is wonderful. Warmed up a slice in the microwave this morning and is still delicious. I think I will make this during the holidays."


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Sleeps | 8 |
Bedrooms | 3 |
Bathrooms | 2 |
Property type | house |
Minimum Stay | 5 nights |
This absolutely gorgeous home is situated in the heart of the South Florida Gold Coast just 10 minutes from the beach, close to several major malls & a limitless choice of great restaurants. The entire home has recently been remodeled with all the latest comforts and top of the line upgrades. The gourmet kitchen features granite counter tops, custom cabinetry, all new appliances & even a wine cooler. The family room/ kitchen area opens to the relaxing lanai and pool deck where you can watch boats on their way to and from the intracoastal waterway & the ocean. Fish from the private dock with gear & tackle provided for your enjoyment. The full size heated pool & expansive deck is the ideal setting for family fun in the Florida sun. The home also features a living room equipped with HDTV & DVD/VHS/CD player. The master bedroom which opens to the lanai & pool deck has a king bed while the second bedroom is a queen & third has twin beds. The family room has a queen sleeper/sofa.
Directly on an ocean access waterway.: The home is situated on Cypress Creek waterway and is just ten minutes from the intracoastal by boat (at idle speed) with only one fixed fifteen-foot bridge. Bring your own boat or a rental is available close by. You are truly in the best of both worlds with the ocean and beaches only minutes away while enjoying the comfort of a large luxury home on a quiet cul de sac. Managed and maintained by the local owner, this meticulously kept property is absolutely the best value in the area. Make this your choice for a wonderful vacation full of fun and relaxation in beautiful South Florida, the Venice of America.
Check in beginning at 4 PM. Check out by 10 AM.
Learn more about this home and our services by visiting our website.
Visit our website. www.covenantvacationrentals.com
Our property managment company, Covenant Properties was founded several years ago when it became apparent that many families were tired of paying higher and higher prices for vacation accommodations. Since then the luxury home vacation rental business has virtually exploded around the globe. South Florida, which has always been a destination for vacationers, has experienced a demand for home rentals that is unprecedented. Covenant Properties has grown to become one of the larger, well-respected property management companies in the area. We offer quality, luxury homes to the families that are looking for a home away from home at reasonable rates and managed professionally. These homes are typically two to five bedrooms, most with upscale amenities such as a pool, waterfront and near one of our pristine beaches. The properties provide a wonderful venue for families that are tired of the typical resort they would have to share with many others that may or may not be considerate those around them. Our goal is to have all of our guests have a great time experiencing the closeness of friends and family with none of the downside.
Our mission is to provide accommodations and services that exceed the expectations of our guests and to make their South Florida experience one that is filled with cherished memories.
Our first guests are still our friends and it has been the same with everyone we welcome into one of our homes! We have many guests that return year after year which tells us that we are continuing to succeed at accomplishing our mission.
If you would like to know more about how we can help you plan an absolutely perfect South Florida vacation please feel free to contact us.
Jan & Tom Brain, owner/managers
Call us today at 954-562-0835.
Jan Brain purchased this house in 1980
This particular property is our own home and we have recently remodeled it entirely. Only the finest high-end materials and fixtures were used in every room of the home. The kitchen is spectacular with all custom Kraft Made cabinets, granite counter tops, indirect under counter lighting and tumbled marble backsplashes. The floors are all procelain tile or in the bedrooms, top quality carpeting. The furnishings are new such as the all leather living room, dining table and chairs, the bedroom suites and the DISH HDTV entertainment center.
The pool and deck area overlooks a wide waterway where boats can be seen cruising by on their way to the ocean. This is truly the home in which to really experience the South Florida lifestyle.
Pompano Beach is just north of Fort Lauderdale, the Venice of America. Water and the tropical warm weather is the theme here. From waterparks to one of the best beaches in Florida, we have it all. Close by are golf courses, tennis courts, shopping malls, boat rentals, scuba/snorkeling, deep sea fishing, Everglades airboat rides, surfing and of course swimming. Many entertainment venues are here such as the theaters, casinos and all kinds of sports - Florida Marlins baseball, Miami Dolphins football, Florida Panthers hockey & Miami Heat basketball.
Rate Period | Nightly | Weekend Night | Weekly | Monthly * | Event | ||||
Dec 1 2014 -
Apr 30 2015
5 night minimum stay
May 1 2015 -
Nov 30 2015
5 night minimum stay
Dec 1 2015 -
Apr 30 2016
5 night minimum stay
Cleaning Fee | $200 + Tax |
Refundable damage deposit | $500 |
Pet Fee | $100 |
Tax Rate | 11.0% |
Notes |
Deposit of $500 required to secure your dates. Extra holiday rates may apply
50% due 90 days prior to arrival-balance due 30 days prior to arrival 11% state/local tax. Pool Heat optional - $20/day Credit cards, PayPal, checks, HomeAway payments accepted No smoking inside home. No pets Responsible party must be at least 30 years old NO PARTIES OR NOISY GROUPS Check in 4 PM - Check out 10 AM |
* Approximate monthly rate. Actual rate will depend on the days of the month you stay.
Payment is usually accepted in the quoted currency (USD) unless the currency and the amount is specifically agreed in advance with the owner / advertiser.


text: The Groom Tube combines two feline favorites - playing and grooming - in one ingenious tunnel. The Groom Tube's fuzzy microfiber exterior and polyfil-lined interior collect loose hair while your cat dives in, crawls through, and snuggles on its surfaces. Plus, the cloud-like interior invites cozy naps once playtime is through. The Groom Tube also includes a 1.75" dia x 5" long snap-on dangling catnip ball with feathers, sure to drive kitty wild (and entice even more frequent Tube use)! Thanks to its steel spring frame, the Groom Tube keeps its shape regardless of how often or intensely your cat plays. The Groom Tube measures 18" x 9" dia and is available in assorted colors. Shop all Cat Toys. Please click on "More Information" for usage instructions, care recommendations, and additional details. | ||||||


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Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse Return with 'Lampshades on Fire': Listen
Modest Mouse have returned with their first song in basically forever.
Modest Mouse Announces 2014 North American Tour
Modest Mouse already announced they'll be hitting a few festivals throughout the summer, but now they're officially hitting North America for a 10-date tour.
Passion Pit, Modest Mouse, MGMT To Play Monterey's First City Festival
Coachella promoter Goldenvoice has announce the first annual First City Festival at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.
Coachella Festival Grows
Just when you thought the Southern California festival couldn't get any larger, Coachella promoters Goldenvoice have announced a series of intimate concerts featuring a wide variety of festival artists performing at intimate venues around event […]


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SEND US YOUR OPINION: Letters to the editor should be no more than 300 words. The Post-Tribune reserves the right to edit or reject any letter. All letters must be signed and include your name, address and telephone number for verification. To send us your letter to the editor, mail to: 350 N. Orleans St., Chicago, IL 60654; or e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com. If you have questions,
call Andrew Steele, community editor, at (312) 321-2193.
Updated: July 24, 2013 6:05AM
Elected officials report to us first, then their religion
I'd like to remind all the senators and congressmen in Washington who feel their personal religious beliefs should be the guiding force of their decisions for the rest of us that when they were sworn into office, they placed their hand on the Bible to uphold the Constitution; they did not place their hand on the Constitution to uphold their Bibles. Keep your religious beliefs to yourself and OUT of public policy!
Michael J. Donelson
Calling someone a liberal is a compliment, so thank you
Thank you for printing Larry W. Lucas's recent delusional letter which only proves that he and his Conservative buddies are totally out of touch with reality.
In looking up synonyms in the thesaurus for conservative we find the words: bitter-ender, classicist, conventionalist, diehard, obstructionist, old guard, reactionary, redneck, right-winger, stick-in-the-mud, traditionalist, unprogressive.
In contrast, synonyms for liberal are: advanced, broad-minded, enlightened, flexible, high-minded, humanistic, humanitarian, intelligent, left, lenient, reasonable, receiving, tolerant, unbigoted, unprejudiced.
From these synonyms, I'd much rather be considered a liberal and thank Mr. Lucas for the compliment.
David D. Casson
All GOP wants to do is make the president look bad
Ever wonder why the Republican party willfully wasted $50 million of hard-earned taxpayer dollars trying to overturn the Affordable Care Act when they knew from the start that all 37 attempts were doomed to failure? The answer is not that the Republicans think that the ACA is bad and won't work. The answer is that the Republicans know it will work and it is what the American people need. Every time a new fact surfaces regarding the ACA, the better it looks and that is what the Republicans fear most.
The attitude of the Republican party is damn the American people, full speed ahead to fight against anything that will make the president look good. That's why you will never see an economic stimulus bill or an increase in the minimum wage. It's more important for the Republicans to make the president look bad than to act in a responsible manner and do what's right and needed by the American people.
If you think that anything but a circus sideshow is going to come out of Congress before the next election, guess again. The Republicans are trying to make themselves out as our saviors and heroes who will dig us out of the same hole they dug in the first place. Grandstanding and deceit have taken the place of responsible leadership. In short, the Republicans have the same problem that the children in the novel "Lord of The Flies" had, no adult leadership.
Michael J. McGregor


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C. B. R.N.E, Life Safety of Security, Bomb Threats, HAZMAT, Suspicious Packages, Incident Command, Fire Extinguisher, High-rise Evacuations, Mass Assembly Emergency Management, WHMIS, Fire Safety, Advance medical Training and more read more
National Life Safety Group is a trusted consultation firm providing workplace & infrastructure emergency management via safety and continuity of operations. We uniquely utilize leadership and experience from both private, and public sectors, utilizing the principles of emergency management in everyday operations.
Specializing In
- Fire & Life Safety Crisis Management
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- Canadian University - 2013
- Canadian Property Management Firm - 2014
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Updated: December 30, 2012 11:24PM
CULVER — Students from northern Indiana's Culver Academies are preparing to take part in President Barack Obama's inaugural parade, an event that marks the 100th anniversary of the school's first inaugural parade appearance.
Culver's Black Horse Troop made their first ride down Pennsylvania Avenue in January 1913. That year, the mounted unit served as the official escort for Vice President Thomas Marshall during Woodrow Wilson's inaugural parade. Marshall was governor of Indiana from 1909-13.
The South Bend Tribune reports that 59 cadets from Culver Military Academy's Black Horse Troop and 24 members of the Culver Girls Academy Equestriennes will make the trip to Washington for the Jan. 21 inauguration of Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Ninety horses will also make the trip.


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E3 2011 is underway, rumors are flooding the internet, news is coming in thick and fast and the sheer amount of video content is starting to get overwhelming.
To help keep it all manageable we've stuck every game video on one page for you to click and gawp at. We'll be updating this page as new videos are released so bookmark and check back regularly. You need it to survive.
Switch to full screen to get them in all their HD glory.


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France Can Take A Lesson in Religious Tolerance from Detroit's Interfaith Council
On these snowy days I admit I have done way too much trolling on my Facebook news feed. One alarming video clip that came across my newsfeed was a very disturbing video of Fascists in France waving a red swastika flag, shouting Jews Out! Jews Out!
Do they have the right to march peacefully and express their views in a democratic society? Maybe. Have these French citizens forgotten the history of WWII when the Nazis themselves goose-stepped through the streets of Paris shouting the same hatred? Absolutely.
Today's Germany would not stand for such hate marches, free speech or not. In fact, it is illegal to fly the Nazi Flag anywhere in Germany or have a Nazi rally.
I wonder, in this country which proposes to ban the wearing of any religious symbol or clothing, what they teach their children about religious tolerance.
A few weeks back, I had the honor of attending and covering a "Face to Faith" Journey to Judaism sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Greater Detroit. Sitting in the massive sanctuary of Temple Israel of West Bloomfield with 150 seventh graders, I felt right at home. And you know something, so did the kids. Even if they never set foot in a Jewish house of worship. Even if they never had a Jewish friend.
Cynics might wonder if such interfaith explorations organized by Detroit's Interfaith Council really teach tolerance. But, after you watch the disturbing and disgusting video of Fascists marching down a street of what is supposed to be the world's most civilized city shouting "Jews Out!" consider the alternatives.
Here is the article which ran in the Detroit Jewish News
What does a rabbi look like? To the uninitiated, a rabbi wears a long black coat, grows a long beard, and therefore must always be a man.
Temple Israel rabbis, teachers, and other volunteers at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield helped to dispel this and many other misconceptions about Judaism as they guided a diverse group of 150 seventh graders from six school districts through a "Jewish Religious Diversity Journey." The trip was part of a series of explorations into different religions created by the Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit.
According to the council's administrator Meredith Skowronski, Religious Diversity Journeys for the past 11 years has taken young leaders – 25 handpicked students from each school district – on six trips to a different house of worship to foster understanding and a celebration of cultural differences. Participating school districts include Berkeley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clarkston, West Bloomfield, and Walled Lake.
Gail Katz, a retired Berkeley teacher and the director of Religious Diversity Journeys, explained that the program fits in perfectly with the World Religions unit of the seventh Grade curriculum.
"The Journey only extends what they are learning beyond the textbook and the classroom," said Katz as she mingled with the students during a morning icebreaker. "We strive to increase respect and understanding among all students."
Rabbi Josh Bennett – who is clean-shaven and does not wear a long black coat – kicked off the formal component of the day of learning in the temple's large sanctuary. Students, impressed by the large golden ark on the bimah, learned about the three different branches of Judaism and the belief in one God, learning Torah and the connection to Israel, which unites Jews across every level of observance
Later in the morning, groups of students took turns touring the building and listening to Rabbi Ariana Gordon explain the cycle of Jewish holidays, the complexity of having a Hebrew calendar that is both lunar and solar, and the odd phenomena this year that was "Thanksgivingkah."
The students also visited the building's mikvah and viewed an open Torah Scroll with Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny.
"These trips are an invaluable lesson where kids get a hands-on learning experience and are made to feel welcome in different houses of worship," said Kaluzny after teaching a group about how a Torah scroll is made and written.
Over a Mediterranean vegetarian lunch prepared by Mezza of West Bloomfield and sponsored by Temple Israel, students expressed their appreciation for the program, which allows them to explore other traditions and pose questions that would seem inappropriate or uncomfortable in a classroom setting.
Ben Johnston of West Hills Middle School came away from the program with a better understanding of the different branches of Judaism and the customs and holidays his Jewish friends celebrate.
"This program is important to me because we have a diverse society," Johnston said. "We go to school with different kinds of kids, and as we get older, these are the people we'll go to college and work with. We must have the knowledge of their backgrounds so we can be more tolerant and understanding."
Ben Johnston, a student at West Hills Middle school, learns about the role of a mikvah in Jewish life during a Religious Diversity Journey.
Ashley Liles and Maddy Merritt, both of Sashabaw Middle School in Clarkston, do not go to school with many Jewish kids. The program allowed them to peer into a Siddur and not feel embarrassed to ask why it opens up backwards or why the letters look different than English.
Maddy Merritt left, and Ashley Liles, right, seventh graders from Clarkston's Sashabaw Middle school, examine Hebrew letters in the sanctuary at Temple Israel at during a Religious Diversity Journey.
The "journey" gave them a better perspective of the history and origins of the Jewish people. Not only did it widen their understanding of Jewish holidays beyond Chanukkah, but the lesson with Rabbi Gordon also gave them a broader understanding of a holiday they would otherwise only know as a "Jewish Christmas."
Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny of Temple Israel, West Bloomfield, displays a Torah scroll to seventh graders on a Religious Diversity Journey with the help of parent volunteer Janet Cummins of Birmingham.
A Warm Embrace
The first month of the school year is almost over, and with it a month that marked the Jewish High Holidays. Though the early mornings and late nights are starting to take their toll, though the unfamiliar hallways I walked through in my son's new high school make me sometimes wish we were back in our old digs and routines in Rochester, things are going well so far in Detroit.
One part of my Rochester life I am sorely missing is my weekly routine of writing my newspaper column. Fortunately, I have picked up several writing assignments in the Detroit Jewish News.
Here is my first piece, and it's about (what else?) being a transplant.
With the sound of the shofar, the High Holiday season signals the promise of a New Year. We pray for a sweet year of new blessings and opportunities. For the rest of Jewish Detroiters, all this "newness" will happen in the same old familiar surroundings among family and old friends you've known for years.
For my family of five freshly-minted Michiganders, everything about 5774 is new.
Last year, as my family prepared to celebrate Sukkot, General Motors announced it would be closing the Rochester, N.Y., research facility where my husband worked and moving his job to Pontiac. We lived in Rochester for 14 years. It was the only home our three children, ages 16, 14, and 10, had ever known.
After the shock of the news settled in and after my three children realized that no, their friends' families in Rochester could not adopt them, it was time for us to pull together as a family. The year 5773 was a journey filled with months of living apart from my husband, long-distance house hunting in a fiery-hot Detroit suburban real estate market, researching school districts, and many long and emotional goodbyes.
Moving can be a curse. In the Book of Deuteronomy, however, the Torah challenges Jews to find the blessing within the curse.
Contrary to what many of my New Yorker friends think, moving to Detroit is not a curse. Beyond the headlines of Detroit's bankruptcy, we are enjoying the brighter sides of Michigan culture. In the short time we have lived here, we traveled to take in the beauty "up north," savored homegrown cherries and blueberries, and climbed the Sleeping Bear Dunes.
I am learning how to make a Michigan left, which is scarier than a New Jersey jug handle.
We even stood on the curb of Woodward to witness the ultimate show of car culture in last months' Dream Cruise
We found the blessing in the warm reception we received throughout Detroit's Jewish community. During a house-hunting trip that fell smack in the middle of Pesach, friends here hosted us three times for meals. Our children, also blessed with long-standing friendships forged at Camp Ramah in Canada, were invited for Shabbat meals and out to the movies to meet other new kids. These friends have acted quickly to enfold our children into their social circles even before the moving vans arrived.
While we unpacked and set up our physical home with only one kid in tow (my oldest left Rochester on a bus headed for Camp Ramah), time was ticking for the quest to find a spiritual home. Belonging to a synagogue has been and will always be a top priority to our family. Not because we have to get High Holiday tickets, or have kids who need Hebrew school or a Bar Mitzvah date. It is because here in Michigan, far away from family, we need a community.
During our "shul shopping," we were happy to learn that we have many choices. Every congregation we visited this summer gave us warm welcomes on a level we never experienced in other communities. We were showered with greetings and given honors on the bimah within every sanctuary. Everywhere we go, people simply rave about their synagogue
One night, before going to sleep in our new home, I expressed to my husband about my worries of finding employment. He had his work. My kids had school. Once again, like many in my position who move to another town for a spouse's job transfer, I would have to reinvent myself.
"Don't worry," he said. "I'll make the living. You go out and make us a life here."
Wise and true were his words. While my husband worked at his office, I worked at finding doctors, pediatricians, dentists and orthodontists. I finalized details of moving out of one house and moving into another. I phoned school counselors on both sides of the move to assure the proper transfer transcripts and my kids would be signed up for the proper course work for high school. I did all I could so when they got off the bus in Detroit, sad to leave camp and even more saddened to be leaving all that was familiar, their biggest worry in their first days here would be how they were going to get through all that dirty laundry.
This year of transition has taught me many things. My kids are capable of stepping up more around the house. I can trust my husband to buy our next dream house even if I only saw it on Zillow. Most importantly, this move has reaffirmed for me the importance of keeping connected to the Jewish community. You never know where the road may take you, but our kehilah kedosha, our holy community, will always be there to take you in.
Will there ever be peace in the Middle East?
I thought about writing some long diatribe about how many times Israel holds out the olive branch and how the Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity to make peace with Israel.
Then, this fell into my newly revamped Facebook feed. Enjoy. If it wasn't so funny, it would be sad…