Following Through

PREVIEW

FALL AND HOLIDAY 1994 COLLECTION
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

INFORMAL MODELING

1 PM TO 3 PM

A REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE

AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU WITH

YOUR SELECTIONS

ADRIENNE ViTTADINI

SOMERSET COLLECTION (810) 649-4470

TEMPLE BETH EL

presents

AN INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM

A 15 week seminar for
PROSPECTIVE CONVERTS,
NON-JEWISH PARTNERS OF JEWS
AND JEWS SEEKING
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF JUDAISM
led by

RABBI JONATHAN V. PLAUT
MONDAY EVENINGS, 7:30-9:00 P.M.
BEGINNING OCTOBER 3, 1994

Explore the richness of Judaism
in a comfortable atmosphere.
Couples taking this class together
will be charged a single fee.
To register call:
Temple Beth El Religious School, 851-1100.
Fee: $50 Members
$75 Non-Members

Ohr Somayach delivers Torah learning to participants at all levels of observance.

COURTNEY WEINER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

S

cott Dresner and Andy Sal-
Ian's contemporary, high-
tech office does not seem
like the most likely place to
study Torah. Every Tuesday
morning, computers, phones and
faxes are ignored while the busi-
ness partners concentrate on the
perplexing issues of life, religion
and morality.
Mr. Dresner and Mr. Sallan
are members of Ohr Somayach
International, a Jewish college
based in Jerusalem with outreach
branches in three countries and
throughout the United States.
One hour each week, Mr. Dres-
ner and Mr. Sallan are immersed
in the one-on-one study program
that Ohr Somayach offers.
Mr. Dresner recalled his child-
hood study of Torah as something
that was force-fed, something you
had to do. Unlike Hebrew school
classes that Mr. Dresner dread-
ed as a child, Olu. Somayach is "a
refreshing approach" where
learning can take place on your
turf."
Like Mr. Dresner, many of the
people involved in Ohr Somayach
have not studied Torah since
their bar mitzvah. Participants
are mainly those who desire to
learn more about their religion
but can not find the time.
Most of the people who are
studying have to make this a pri-
ority, said Rabbi Eric Krohner,
national director.
Local businessman Brent Tri-
est is one such participant. Mr.
Triest first began studying with
the rabbi after he was encouraged
to attend a lunch and learn pro-
gram offered by Ohr Somayach.
The program features a speak-
er once a month who discusses
Jewish issues while the audience
munches on kosher pizza or sand-
wiches.
"I knew of people who attend-

ed that were not religious, obser-
vant Jews and they enjoyed it,"
Mr. Triest explained, "so it was
intriguing."
Mr. Triest and his wife are be-
ing presented with the 1994 Tree
of Life award by Ohr Somayach
for their commitment to Jewish
education and Torah studies. Mr.
'Priest says that through his stud-
ies he feels "more connected to his
Jewish family."
Debbie Rosenberg attends the
lunch and learn program and she
has a private study session in her
home. In preparation for her son
Jordan's bar mitzvah, she wanted
to learn Hebrew. Ms. Rosenberg
began studying with Rivkie Wol-
mark, the head of the woman's
division of Ohr Somayach in De-
troit. She soon realized that she
could hardly remember the Jew-
ish history and tradition she was
taught as a child, so her meetings
began to focus on these topics.
"It's a great satisfaction know-
ing that when your children ask
you a question you can answer
them intelligently," she said. "I
always had the sense of pride in
being Jewish but learning more
strengthens it."
Because of participants like
Ms. Rosenberg who want to learn
more about Judaism, Ohr So-
mayach is growing at a rapid
pace. Two new staff members
were recently hired to help edu-
cate the 800 families now active
in the programs.
"We live right now, I think, in
a watershed moment in human
history and in particular in Jew-
ish history," Rabbi Krohner said.
"The American Jew today isn't
able to articulate some of the
most basic ideas of Jewish theol-
ogy and philosophy.
"Many people are indifferent
about their Jewishness," Rabbi
Krohner continued. "There's a

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great deal of apathy regarding
Judaism and Jewish education
and it requires a new approach
to education which I think Ohr
Somayach has."
This new approach translates
into a program that aims at
bringing world renowned Jewish
scholars into the Detroit area.
"The Ohr Somayach response
is one of treating the Jew out
there as a very serious learning
participant," Rabbi Krohner said.
"Someone who has the ability to
digest very sophisticated ideas."
What makes Ohr Somayach
successful, Rabbi Krohner be-
lieves, is that the scholars who
work with the organization often
have an expertise in both the sec-
ular and the religious world.
"Scholars from top universities
who are also Torah scholars have
the ability to communicate to a
contemporary audience."
The convenience of the one-on-
one Torah sessions is another ad-
vantage of Ohr Somayach's
programs, Brent Triest pointed
out. The sessions allow people
who do not go to a synagogue the
ability to study Judaism.
"The fact that you have the
chance to do private study is
number one," Mr. Triest said.
"If people have an interest in
moving forward observance-wise
then we're there to facilitate that,
but our goal is to make Jew-
ish education positive," Rabbi
Krohner said.
Rivkie Wolmark sees her role
in much the same way.
"My main interest is to make
women aware of what the Torah
says. Whatever happens from
there is wonderful," Ms. Wolmark
said. "A Jew is a Jew" no matter
how observant they are. ❑

Below: An Ohr Somayach session.

Inset: Rabbi Krohner.

