40

Friday, August 2, 1985

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Above, use Roberg carefully
completes an alphabet poster. At
right, she proudly displays the
finished product.

Drawing On
Success

use Roberg and Lynne Avadenka
turn Hebrew calligraphy into a
profitable business and a
religious outlet.

BY SHERI PICKOVER

Staff Writer

etting married today takes
a lot of work. There are
many details that need to
be worked out. Getting the
right dress, the right caterer, the right
invitations . . . and the Hebrew mar-
riage license.
In today's world of pre-nuptial
agreements and Xerox copies, any-
thing that hangs onto tradition is wel-
come.
Ilse Roberg and Lynne Avadenka
both understand this need. They are
both Hebrew calligraphers, drawing
handwritten original ketubot and invi- •
tationi.
Although neither woman adver-
tises, they both have steady business.
Customers hear about them from rab-
bis and through personal referrals.
Their ideas for ketubot designs
also come from similar sources. Roberg
uses a book of ancient ketubot, as does
Avadenka, and both women utilize
their own imaginations.
"I do it because I enjoy it," says
Roberg, who became a free-lance cal-
ligrapher 17 years ago. She came to
the United States in 1940 from Ger-
many, where , she had already learned
Hebrew calligraphy and was educated
as an elementary school teacher.
She taught Hebrew school with
her husband, Alex, for 37 years, and
became familiar with printing because
she "had to make bulletin boards all
the time." Mrs. Roberg began doing
calligraphy professionally when a
friend asked her to correct mistakes on
a printed invitation. "When my own

son got married, I made his wedding
invitation" and ketubah.
To use Roberg, making invita-