JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER
The Institute for
Single Jewish
Mothers plans a
community debut
with a conference
scheduled Oct. 22.
14
rk
ulia Greenblatt knew the Institute for Single this,' " she recalled. "It was extremely hard build their own community within the ex-
Jewish Mothers had really taken off when because it was recognition to myself that this isting community."
she saw scraps of paper covering picnic tables is my status, and I was saying to the world,
Another programming goal is to help women
this summer.
This is my new role.' "
maintain their Judaism and pass it on to their
It was a warm evening for
children. Studies show that di-
the first barbeque hosted by
vorce has a serious economic
the institute. The women,
impact on the female spouse.
many of whom had carpooled
This further impacts single
to the event, had forged new
Jewish mothers because of the
friendships and were prepar-
cost of living Jewishly.
ing to gather their children and
For example, the cost of syn-
head home.
agogue affiliation, Jewish
Wanting to continue the
schooling and summer camp
spirit of the evening, a few of
can be a strain on any two-in-
the participants exchanged
come family. Take away one in-
phone numbers and address-
come and add the economic
es on the backs of napkins and
impact of divorce and the bur-
other pieces of paper.
den becomes heavier.
"You could see it happening,"
This is where the institute
said Ms. Greenblatt, coordina-
hopes to perform its greatest
tor of the Jewish Experiences
service to the women: empow-
For Families' program. "At the
erment.
end of the night, there were torn
At Shabbat meals, held on a
napkins all over the tables."
monthly basis, women receive
Since the institute — an ad-
kits to continue the tradition in
vocacy group that promotes the
their own homes.
plight of single Jewish women
"It is important for them to
and their children — hosted its
know that they are able to do
first event in August 1993, its
this on their own," Ms. Green-
mailing list has more than dou-
blatt said.
bled to 400.
Through advocacy, the insti-
Now the institute is branch-
tute has worked as a mediator,
ing out even further. On Oct.
helping Jewish organizations
22, it will host a community-
to understand the financial re-
wide conference at the Jewish
ality of the single Jewish moth-
Community Center. Featuring
er. The heart of the Jewish
off-Broadway actress Claudia
community, synagogues and
Shear as the keynote speaker,
temples have been a target of
the gathering will be a kind of
the institute's efforts because of
mainstream debut for the or-
the high cost of membership
ganization, which previously
and schooling, considered keys
hosted social and educational
to continuity.
events primarily for single
Although most congregations
Jewish mothers.
now offer some type of assis-
"We want to stress that this
tance to single-parent families,
is open to everyone in the com-
Congregation Beth Abraham
munity," said Dr. Lynda Giles,
Hillel Moses has a specific en-
chairwoman of the institute.
dowment set up to address their
It wasn't always this way for Julia Green blatt and Dr. Lynda Giles are the force behind the institute.
needs. Established this year,
PHOTO BY BILL HANSEN
the institute, a program of
the Schnipper Family Fund —
Jewish Experiences for Fam-
endowed by Natalie and Man-
ilies, which is a division of the Agency for Jew-
Encouraged by the response, the institute ny Charach on behalf of Rabbi Irving Schnip-
ish Education. When the institute started set up focus groups to study the needs of the per, Barbara and Hy Schnipper — provides
three years ago, it did not have the backing population and planned more activities. synagogue membership and Hebrew school
of a Max M. Fisher Jewish Community Foun- Funding was provided by a three-year grant tuition assistance to six families.
dation grant. Operating on a shoestring bud- from the Fisher Foundation.
Rabbi Schnipper became aware of the eco-
get, it held a few social programs, including
Since then, the goal of the programming nomic needs of the single parents when he at-
a night at the JCC in Oak Park and a con- has been to reconnect divorced or widowed tended a meeting of the Institute for Single
ference at Oakland Community College.
women with the Jewish community. Social Jewish Mothers.
The programs went over well with the events have a tie into community organiza-
"I learned that the woman is really affected
women, some of whom had never publicly tions, such as a night at the Jewish Ensem- by divorce and that her lifestyle changes dras-
admitted their new status.
ble Theater, an artist's showing at the Janice tically," he said. "She already has the short end
Vivian Honig of Farmington Hills was one Charach Epstein Museum/Gallery and a of the stick."
of those women. Two years ago, she was re- Chanukah party at the•Eugene and Marcia
"As a result, they (single women) find that
cently separated from her then-husband when Applebaum Jewish Parenting Center.
if they belong to a synagogue, they can't pay,
she was invited to one of the institute's gath-
"We try to get them used to the Jewish the dues or they can't afford the religiou
erings.
community's services," Dr. Giles said. "We school," he said. "I thought it would be nice to
"I said to my son, 'I am so nervous about want them to connect meaningfully and do something for these families." 0