•
Studio in Harvayd Row Mall
CRYSTAL
/re/9y /,- uks'A/ait
Opening the ark, Mr. Masson
showed me the Torah scrolls
which rested on a bed of
Jerusalem stones. "Our members
carried these stones back from
Jerusalem, so that we would feel
that when we pray, we face
Jerusalem," he explained.
The synagogue was officially
dedicated Feb. 4, 1985, although
Beit Gil itself dates back to 1970.
"GIL" is an acronym for Groupe
Israelite Liberale.
With 800 members, this is a
very small congregation corn-
pared to the large Ashkenazi and
Sephardic Orthodox congrega-
tions, which have a combined
membership of 3000. But it is an
active one.
It is led by Rabbi Francois Gar-
rai, who has been with the con-
gregation since its founding and
was also active in founding three
French liberal congregations in
\-? Lyon, Grenoble and Strasbourg.
In French-speaking Geneva,
members of Beit Gil are also,
French-speaking. But their back-
grounds are varied, reflecting the .
cosmopolitan nature of the city
itself: They come from Tunisia,
Algeria, Morocco, Poland, Czecho-
slovakia, Germany, England, and
the United States.
Mr. Masson's own background
7 ) typifies the diversity of members.
He was born in Egypt to Protes-
tant parents and was raised as a
Protestant and even served as a
minister for 10 years. "I'm a Jew
by choice," he said with pride, re-
lating how he converted to Ju-
daism in 1960. He joined Beit Gil
when it was founded in 1970 and
served for many years on its
board of directors.
He's also president of the Swiss
7 D
chapter of the American Reform
Zionist Organization, which fo-
cuses on sending volunteers to Is-
rael.
As we talked, Mr. Masson led
the way upstairs where we saw
four cheerful classrooms, each
with a wide window overlooking
the river. This is where over 100
young people attend Hebrew
school twice a week. There's also
an adjoining social hall for cul-
tural programs, as well as wed-
ding and bar mitzvah receptions.
On the way down, we stopped
to see something surprising; Mr.
Masson opened a door to reveal
a sparkling clean, cheerfully tiled
mikvah. It is unusual for a liber-
al synagogue to have its own mik-
vah, since non-traditional Jews
do not usually observe the month-
ly ritual immersion.
But a mikvah also is used as
the last step before conversion to
Judaism. "We built this because
intermarriage is very frequent in
this environment, and our con-
gregation will welcome convert-
ed Jews as members," said Mr.
Masson.
\-) "Many visitors say they're
pleased to find us," said Mr. Mas-
son. 'They feel very much at ease
here."
❑
1 1 - day
Alaskan Cruise
SPO
Aug. 19, 1995
escorted by.
Barbara Rochlin
50°/0-70%
OFF
ALL NAME BRANDS
on the brand new Symphony!
• Vertical Blinds • Pleated Shades
• Levolor Blinds • Wood Blinds
Book by Oct. 31, 1994 to enjoy
an additional 10% off group rate.
21728 W. Eleven Mile Rd.
Harvard Row Mall
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10-5
Southfield, MI 48076
352-8622 ET1
Free Professional Measure at
No Obligation
Free in Home Design Consulting
ROYAL INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
New Rochester Hills 651-5009
31455 Southfield, Birmingham
.sc e.FAN14/- 1,
Out state only
644-1600 T 0 1,
(800) 521-1600
6
S)
Florida, Las Vegas,
California, Arizona,
New York, Chicago,
Israel, Hawaii, Paris,
Thailand, Australia,
AND MANY MORE...
FOR
AIRLINE
TICKETS
810-661.6677
•Airlines • Hotels • Tours • Cruises
LINA GORDON
TRAVEL
MOTOR COACH TOURS - 14 YEARS EXPERIENCE!
* WE HAVE CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY INSURANCE *
• "MISS SAIGON" — DETROIT
• Nov * 6 & 20 and thru Dec.
*
$94*
LUNCH & SHOW
* FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS-NIAGARA *
$199 *
* FALLS Dec. 10-11
* "MITZI GAYNOR" & "TRIBUTE TO *
* PATSY CLINE"
Experienced and
Personal Service
Christmas Space Available
Istanbul From $1199
For all your
TraverNeeds
CALL LANA
810-661-6677
* "PHANTOM OF OPERA"
* TORONTO - Nov. 11-13
*
*
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
WHEELING, W.V. Dec. 3-4
$255
$159 *
* STRATFORD — "PIRATES OF *
* PENZANCE"
$49 *
* OCT. 28
* NEW YEARS TRIPS – DEC. 30 - JAN. 1
* "JOSEPH & AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT' - CHICAGO
-
...$319 *
* PLAY, N.Y. DINNER & PARTY, TOUR & MORE!
"PHANTOM" & "SHOWBOAT" - TORONTO -
*
*
$389
* 2 PLAYS, N.Y. DINNER/party, TOUR & MORE!
*
FUN, AFFORDABLE & EXCITING!
*
WE ARE A FULL SERVICE TRAVEL AGENCY! *
(CRUISES, AIR, INTERNATIONAL)
CALL FOR DETAILS, OTHER TRIPS & FL YERS!
Prices p.p. dbl. occ. Group Discounts.
KEEP YOUR tt #11, ON THE
ARUBA fr. $429 pp
GRAND CAYMAN - fr. $399 pp
ST. LUCIA - fr. $299 pp
PUERTO VALLARTA fr. $369 pp
ACAPULCO - fr. $249
ST. MARTIN - fr. $399
CRUISES • UP TO 50%
on.
BERKLEY TOURS AND TRAVEL, INC.
JAMAICA fr. $299 pp
FLORIDA - fr. $99.90
DISNEYWORLD DISCOUNTED TICKETS
PHOENIX/DENVER/VEGAS - fr. $169.90
CANCUN - fr. $169.90
SAN JUAN - fr. $349
BIG RED BOAT KIDS SAIL FREE
•I
•
JI
559 - 8620 OR 1-800-875-TOUR (8687)
BREAKS
The Cruise & Vacation Shoppe of
6UMMIT 11:2AVEL
Based on availability
29214 Orchard Lake Rd. FarmingtonHills (S. of 13 Mile Rd.)
Open Saturdays 10:30-2 p.m.
810 932-1188
PASSOVER '95
Guaranteed ocean view suite
upgrade if booked by 11/1/94.
1-800-328-6870
eq
GIVE YOURSELF A
13 12GGGNM
CY)
DISCOUNTspVe u FOR CHRISTMAS
KEA LANI HOTEL
FAX: 1-206-216-2970
Glatt Kosher—Chabad of Hawaii
The Sterling Experience, Inc.
WAILEA /MAUI
ri
CALL TODAY • SPACE LIMITED • DATES VARY !
CALL 358 -5330
CADILLAC TRAVEL
CC
w
CD
O
71