4 k Ot kat\ CLASSROOM page 20 student Vera Aleshker. 'Thanks erate in their own languages." to her we are not deaf or mute And for highly educated pro- anymore." Ms. Aleshker's late hus- fessionals, the infaritilizing effect band had been a doctor in the So- of being in a new culture can be viet Union, and Ms. Berger helped particularly frustrating. 'The sad- him to prepare for the medical ex- dest thing is when people go aminations in the United States. around introducing themselves in According to Rachel Yoskowitz, class and say, 'I was something director of the resettlement de- there and now I'm nothing,' " said partment at Jewish Family Ser- Ms. Berger. vice, "Joanna is a very gifted and Ms. Berger's teaching goes be- yond the classroom. "First I'm their friend, then I'm their teacher," she said, adding that she feels it is her moral re- sponsibility to ensure that her students "be- come happy, functioning people in [the Jewish] community." She gets her students involved in the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit by taking them to volunteer at Super Sunday and Joanna Berger teaches advanced English for new immigrants. Days of Decision. skilled teacher who has an en- Former student Aron Rozen- thusiasm and exuberance that she berg, who came to the United transmits to her students. We'll States in 1987, said, "She goes be- miss her." yond the call of duty. She's in- Although she will be retiring, volved in everyone's problems, she Ms. Berger plans to remain in- invites people over for dinners, hol- volved with the community. "I'm idays." An electrical engineer, Mr. retiring officially, but that doesn't Rozenberg said that he prepared mean I'm dropping my commit- his first American resume with ment to the community," she said. the assistance of Ms. Berger. "I'll be involved, but I won't be "She gave us her time, her locked into a school schedule." ❑ knowledge, her soul," said former Jewish But Not Religious The Birmingham Temple hosts its first secular book fair. LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF WRITER f you've been looking for a book that focuses on the non- religious, non-deity aspects of Judaism, you might luck out at the Birmingham Temple's first secular Jewish book fair, May 16- 19. "A lot of the books are about Jewish themes," says Pera Kane, the temple's librarian. But "if they are Jewish, they will be sec- ular Jewish, not religious Jew- ish. Secular and humanistic [movements of Judaism] do not deal with a supreme being. They discuss human issues. And so that would be the thrust —Jew- ish culture, Jewish interest, but not Jewish religion." A secular Jewish book fair has never been done before — cer- tainly not in Michigan and, ac- cording to Rabbi Sherwin Wine, nowhere in the world. "Celebrating Jewish literature and humanistic literature is a I natural for Humanistic Jews, especially in the spring when we honor all forms of creativity," Dr. Sonya Friedman: Stress and wellness. explains Rabbi Wine in promotional literature. • 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17 — Books on ethical, social and philo- Rabbi Wine will speak. He wrote sophical issues "that make our Staying Sane in a Crazy World. Jewish connection more open and • 11 a.m. Sunday, May 18 — more connected to the outside Barry Rudner has written chil- world" will be included. dren's books and lives in Keego Works by Katherine Graham, Harbor. Amos Oz, Leah Rabin, Carl • 2 p.m. Sunday, May 18 — Sagan, Anne Roiphe, Norman Norman Cantor, known as an ex- Mailer, A.B. Yehoshua and Nor- pert on the Middle Ages, is a his- man Cantor, among others, will tory professor at New York be on sale. University. Admission to the book fair is • 2 p.m. Monday, May 19 — free, and six speakers have been Audrey Kron authored Meeting invited: the Challenge: Living with • 8 p.m. Friday, May 16 —An- Chronic Illness. dre Aciman, a Sephardic Jew • 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 19 from Alexandria, Egypt, who — Dr. Sonya Friedman, former penned Out of Egypt. He cur- talk-show host, will speak on rently is professor of French lit- stress, illness and wellness. erature at Princeton University. ❑ 4 Seasons Fireplace &P Barbecue BBQ SALE FREE ASSEMBLY Fe LOCAL DELIVERY cast brass bu cast iron cooking grids 479.99 fas with tank I D3 . RESIN exquisitely detailed and generously proportioned ergonomically toured for extraordinary comfort and support (they look and feel good) $679. 9 D4 599 99 barbecue service & installation available 7-5';•••.' 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