Learning Minyan Meets Teachers' Needs JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COST A FORTUNE...ONLY LOOK LIKE IT! FEATURING • Wall Units • Bedrooms • Dining Rooms • Credenzas • Tables • Offices • mk1 SPECIALTIES • Formica • Woods • Stones • Glass • Lucite LOIS HARON 851-6989 Allied Member ASID PHOTOS BY GL E NN T RE IST DESIGNS IN DECORATOR LAMINATES, LTD. o an outsider, the partici- lead the group that is scheduled need more information' is hard pants in the Jewish Edu- to meet one more time this school to do." Last week in a classroom at cators Learning Minyan on season. "After the retreat, one of the Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Feb. 21 may have looked a little strange, wiggling and pump- participants said, 'It would be re- a smaller group of teachers ing their arms as they stood in ally nice to continue meeting,"' studied the Sh'ma and prayers Ms. Locke said. "We also thought said in the morning and the a circle facing each other. But to the group members, it would be nice to include every- evening. The group also studied reciting the Sh'ma in American one. So, we opened it up to all the differences between Reform sign language was just part of the learning ex- perience on the subject of prayer. "I never thought I'd be doing this," Temple Emanu-El teacher Judy Hudspeth said of the arm-waving, sign-lan- guage gestures. "But the funny thing is, I feel re- ally comfortable here learning this." So did other members of the group, many of whom returned for the second time to study prayers and the differ- ences between the Re- form and Conservative traditions regarding the prayers. The minyan, a three- Nira Lev, Elissa Berg and Shawn Locke sing at the minyan. part workshop offered to tradition and Conservative prac- teachers as a part of the Agency teachers." tice. Twenty-five teachers came to for Jewish Education's NIRIM Rabbi Aaron Bergman of Con- professional enrichment pro- Temple Israel at the first meet- gregation Beth Abraham Hillel ing in January to learn the Ami- gram, may be the first of its kind dah, to hear Rabbi Joshua Moses also gave a discourse about in the country. "It seems like such an obvious Bennett's discourse on the the Sh'ma which included some kind of thing to offer educators, prayers and to participate in an history of the prayer. "-We try to address a number but it is not," said Shawn Locke, of issues we know the teachers director of school services for the deal with," Ms. Berg said. "One Agency for Jewish Education. is the differences of prayer in the The idea for the learning Reform and Conservative tradi- minyan came to Elissa Berg, tions. There are a lot of teachers out there who are Conservative and teach in the Reform schools and Reform teachers who teach at Conservative schools." Planning a Spring Shower, a Summer Golf Outing, a Fall Wedding, or a Winter Bar/Bat Mitzvah? 5 Educators find a place to learn about prayer. HENANDOAH GOLF CLUB ' 121 111k, 1 •N 4, , • can accommodate your needs • Banquet Facilities for up to 300 people • 18 Hole Championship Golf Course • Driving Range • Golf Outings • Meeting Rooms • Friendly, Professional Staff "Overlooking Scenic Shendandoah Valley" HENANDOAH the PUBLIC GOLF CLUB with PRIVATE COUNTRY CLUB FLAIR 560 Walnut Lake Rd. West Bloomfield (810) 682-4300 Shawn Locke and Raquel Pomer- antz Gershon after the Jewish Educators Retreat held at the Butzel Conference Center early last year. The three now "We want to make people more comfortable with what they are teaching," she added. Raquel Pomerantz Gershon teaches Although the goal is to instruct the Sh'ma in sign language. the teachers on different aspects of prayer, the leaders hope the teachers walk away with some- Jeannette Tilchin asks the leaders a thing more. question. "It is not just skills we are look- ing for," Ms. Locke said. "It is per- sonal growth as well." evening prayer service. The group plans to meet again "Not too many professionals are willing to say, 'I am not real with Rabbi Elliot Pachter 7-9 sure about something I teach p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at Con- about,"' Ms. Berg said. "To say, 'I gregation B'nai Moshe. I]