PHOTOS BY BILL HANSEN

Not Juit For
Your Mother

Young professional women find a place

in Hadassah's Ruach chapter.

LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF WRITER

T

he roots of Hadassah's Ru-
ach chapter can almost be
traced back to the cornfields
of Iowa.
Kari Provizer was living there,
thinking about the difficulties that
would accompany a move back
home to suburban Detroit. When
she returned in October 1994, she
wanted a way to "network with
other young Jewish women."
Mrs. Provizer found 10 other
women who were looking for the
same thing.
They wanted to replace the
"old-fashioned view" — that
Hadassah is an organization for
mothers and grandmothers —
with the idea that the more than
80-year-old Zionist women's group
could be a place for young Jewish
professionals. The idea seems to
have succeeded.
In February 1995, the chapter's
first event, a cooking demonstra-
tion, attracted more than 100

on nutrition
and stress
management
to education
and outreach,
and a study
group meets
every other
month to dis-
cuss books
with Jewish or
Zionist topics.
Cindy Atler,
a 29-year-old
veterinarian,
says Ruach's
members are
"so accepting
and friendly —
I felt very com-
fortable. It's
very reward-
ing to meet the
people in the
chapter."
A native
Sherrie Singer, Ruach vice president, is excited at a chapter
Michiganian who
gathering.
expected to see
"the same people
rector at B'nai B'rith's campus Hil-
lel of Metro Detroit, heard about I already know," Dr. Atler says she
Ruach from a friend. "It sounded was surprised by how many un-
good to me because I wanted to familiar faces she found at Ruach
meet more people my age. I prob- meetings.
She joined Ruach last spring,
ably wouldn't have joined Hadas-
sah if it weren't [for] the young and is now co-chair of the upcom-
ing fund-raiser. She will be corre-
woman thing."
The young women's group hosts sponding secretary on the
at least one event every month. chapter's executive board next
Programs range from seminars year.

women, says Mrs. Provizer.
Then came the May charter-
ing of Ruach, which means spir-
it, as a group for Jewish women
between the ages of 22 and 35.
"We are hoping that as our group
ages, the members will remain,"
she says.
A decade ago, Hadassah's
Mitzvah Chapter made its debut
as the young women's section of
that time. As its members have
aged, the need opened for a group
for still younger members.
Within the Greater Detroit
Chapter of Hadassah, there are
about 13 groups that divide up ac-
cording to age or interest. Today,
Ruach claims more than 80 mem-
bers, says Mrs. Provizer.
Sharon Wise, 24, joined Ruach
last spring as a way to meet new
people. A native of Danbury,
Conn., Ms. Wise has been living
in Southfield for 21/2 years.
Ms. Wise, who is program di-

THE CUTTING EDGE JUST GOT SHARPER
INTRODUCING THE 3.00L.

And while the chapter started
out as a social vehicle, it will en-
ter the fund-raising landscape this
month for the first time. A Feb. 22
progressive dinner will be the ve-
hicle.
Beginning at the home of Hi-
lary Isakow, the president of
Hadassah's Greater Detroit Chap-
ter, participants will gather for
hors d'oeuvres before branching
off for formal, sit-down diimers at
members' homes.
After dinner, attendees will re-
gather at one house for dessert.
The cost is $25 per person, and all
proceeds go to Hadassah.
The members of Ruach are na-
tive Detroiters and transplants,
married and single, a few even
have children. Mrs. Provizer says
she never realized how many new
people she would meet simply by
joining Hadassah.
"It seems to be all people in
their 20s or early 30s," says Ms.
Wise.
"Most are professionals, prob-
ably a few homemakers, which is
very different from what Hadas-
sah used to know," says Mrs.
Provizer. "The face of Hadassah
is changing," she says. ❑

For information about the
Ruach progressive dinner, call
Kari Provizer at (810) 851-4993.

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