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Coming Together.

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The Robert Kornwise Weekend allows Jewish teens
to bridge factional differences.

BRUCE D. AFT

Special to The Jewish News

I

did not know him, but
Robert Kornwise must
have been a very special
young man. He had been kill-
ed in an automobile accident.
He had the capacity to bring
people together, the kind of
person who every parent
wishes his child could be.
His friend, Daniel Bree,
remarked in an article printed
in The Jewish News, "Robbie
always wanted to make things
right. He had a real interest
in politics. I think he said he
wanted to be president, and I
always believed that he could
be president. I thought he
could do anything he wanted."
Robert's father said in the
same article, "He was the
kind of kid you always
wanted. He was caring and

considerate, a good student
but very modest, and socially
and politically aware. He was
someone who wanted to make
a difference in this world.
Robert wanted to fight racism
and prejudice."
With this background, it
will become clear why the
weekend I am about to
describe is named the Robert
Kornwise Judaica Weekend.

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❑

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The Detroit Jewish com-
munity wanted a weekend ex-
perience to bring together
youth from Reform, Recoil-
structionist, Conservative, Or-
thodox, Secular, Young
Judaea, B'nai B'rith and unaf-
filiated backgrounds. B'nai
B'rith Youth Organization
Regional Director Arnie
Weiner and I wanted to do
this. Simultaneously, Adat

Shalom Executive Director
Alan Yost was discussing with
Weiner ways to bring young
people together with the
Robert Kornwise Fund, which
was established at the
synagogue by his family. We
sent a letter inviting students
to attend the weekend, co-
signed by presidents of the
major youth groups.
Forty-one students signed
up to participate in the
weekend, which was held
April 7-9, 1989, at Camp
Maas.
The program began with the
Talk to Us Troupe from the
University of Michigan, which
presented "interactive"
theater dealing with issues of
importance to teenagers.
By agreement, Friday night
services began before candle
lighting so a guitar could be
played. This was a com-
promise between the Reform

and Conservative students.
The Reform wanted a guitar
at all services and the Conser-
vative didn't want one at all.
On Shabbat there were a
series of programs, one to ex-
plore the similarities and dif-
ferences between the various
worship services and another
on building community.
The participants came
together at Havdalah, a ser-
vice in which differences
would be minimized. Saturday
night's activities included a
talent show while Sunday
morning's program, hosted by
BBYO, addressed Jewish
identity.
For the second year, another
letter was sent out building
upon the tradition of the first
year. The program focused on
the themes "Free to Be" and
"Tzedakah." The program was
held Feb. 23-25 also at Camp
Maas.

The first weekend had
established tremendous
credibility since it was truly a
format to bring students
together on a positive educa-
tional level to learn about
each other. Religious dif-
ferences in observance were
respected and all participants
had the confidence that they
would not be judged.
Ten alumni from the
previous Kornwise Weekend
who are now college students
helped staff the program.
We hope the weekend will
continue to grow and develop.
The third weekend is ten-
tatively scheduled for
February 1991. The oppor-
tunities to bring students
together, which increased the
second year with the addition
of the Orthodox youth pro-
gram (National Conference of
Synagogue Youth) and Young
Judaea, the presence of alum-

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

39

