Learning The Way
The idea of instructional services is catching on
in Detroit area synagogues.
LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF.WRITER'
A
ccording to Jewish law, , Rabbi Nevins held a six-month
you're not supposed to course called "Service of the
work on Shabbat — but Heart," an evening introduction
you can learn. And if it's to Jewish liturgy.
learning about Judaism, that's
On Saturday, the Conservative
even better.
synagogue in Farmington Hills
Two Detroit area congregations will host an opportunity for fam-
— Congregation B'nai Moshe and ilies to learn together. The "par-
Adat Shalom Synagogue — are ticipatory, educational service" will
giving Jews an option to learn be Shabbat morning, 10:30 a.m.-
what goes on at the weekly Shab- noon.
bat service. The idea is that the
When B'nai Moshe began look-
more you know about the service, ing for ways to teach Shabbat dav-
the more comfortable you may feel ening, shul leaders thought a class
attending and perhaps even par- might eventually "turn into a dav-
ticipating.
ening experience. But first it was
At B'nai Moshe, a Conservative designed to acquaint people with
shul in West Bloomfield, the learn- the way the service is organized
ing minyan is now more of a study — what sections are, prayers,
group, led jointly by lay leaders when to stand, when to sit, when
Len Wanetik and Marc Sussman, to lean forward: body language,"
and adult education coordinator Ms. Kaplan said.
Nancy Kaplan.
In fact, Mr. Wanetik has
At Adat Shalom, Rabbi Daniel penned a booklet, "The Sit Stand
Nevins has tried three different Guide," which people will be able
formats for teaching about Shab- to flip through to figure out where
bat davening. Last year, Adat they are in the service. It is in its
Shalom offered a Shabbat morn- final publishing stages, Ms. Ka-
ing learning service. This year, plan said.
A periodic learning minyan be-
gan last year at B'nai Moshe. It is
now held 10:30-11:30 every Shab-
bat morning.
`The primary customers for it
were parents of children in the
LIFE Program," Ms. Kaplan said.
While children in the LIFE school
attend Shabbat morning classes,
their parents are encouraged to
attend Shabbat services.
But the focus for the learning
minyan has changed — from the
service itself to the Jewish calen-
dar. Before Purim, the minyan
spent four weeks studying about
the holiday. The same schedule
was followed prior to Passover,
and now they are learning about
Shavuot.
What B'nai Moshe and Adat
Shalom are doing is not unique.
Thanks to the efforts of individual
shuls, the New York-based Na-
tional Jewish Outreach Program
(NJOP) and other organizations,
crash courses in Judaism are be-
ing offered across the country.
Since its inception nearly a
decade ago, NJOP has sponsored
programs at 20 locations in the
state of Michigan, according to
Melanie Notkin, marketing di-
rector. Within the past year, sev-
en sites have offered an NJOP
program, such as "Turn Friday
Night into Shabbat," Hebrew
reading "crash courses" or basic
Judaism.
Rabbi Daniel Nevins: Introducing Shabbat to families.
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