reen scenes

Greetings and salutations, fellow J News readers! In an at-
tempt to keep y'all updated with a hip-hop roundup of peo-
ple, places and events, welcome to Green Scenes. Once a
month, look here for a lively, fun and at times crazy overview
of what's going on in and around the Detroit area's young
adult Jewish community. I'll try to have the good, the bad,
the gossip, the questions you want answered — everything
you've been dying to know but were afraid to ask. (You can
help me, too, by sending in concepts, complaints, ideas, tips.)
Think of me as sort of a Jewish, younger and much thinner
Bob Talbert. Rave on ...

YASS, Sir

BERT GREEN
SPECIAL
TO THE
JEWISH NEWS

With a solid reputation in Chicago, Steppin' Out is trying to establish footing in
Detroit, billed as "an adventure experience" (I'm sensing a theme?). Spoke with Ac-
tivities Coordinator Jackie Kort, and she says the group caters to the 25-45 upscale,
professional set. They have a mailing list of over 1,000 names, with 240 "active" mem-
bers.
Past events included bar night-type gatherings plus volleyball, bike trips, capture
the flag and even an Israel trip. Former Detroiter Brian Giles has attended several
and says that "not only are they a lot of fun, but they put out an excellent spread of
food and drinks, and you can meet some quality people."
The only thing to beware of: Steppin' Out is for-profit, (business owner is Robin
Richman). Robin says they like active, athletic people. Interested? Call Chicago: (773)
509-8595, and get on the mailing list. I like the song "Stepping Out" by Joe Jackson,
and wish them well, but there is a lot of competition for our time and money. Time will
tell ...

'In-Tents' Concept

So there's this new group, Teva, which had
its first meeting recently at Raupp Campfit-
ters in Royal Oak. In Hebrew, the word teva
means "nature," and this group wants to mix
Judaism, spirituality and the environment. It's
the brainchild of Stacey Hoffer, who came up
with the idea after spending a year in Israel.
"I wanted people to have an out-
let where they could connect, in Stacey Hoffer:
Linking the
a hands-on fashion, with others
environment
who have an interest in the spir-
itual side of being Jewish, as well and Judaism.
as the environment." Huh?
More than 40 people showed up for the kickoff meeting, old and new faces. Susan
Langnas Feber, Joanie Berger and Rabbi Joshua Bennett helped out. The group
has four goals: outings, like camping and hiking; volunteer work (i.e. hands-on restora-
tion); spiritual activities (perhaps Shabbat under the stars); and environmental educa-
tional workshops. Interested? Call Stacey, at — note my use of the new area code —
(248) 546-4505,
or Joanie Berger
at (248) 642-
4260, Ext. 248. It
only took a cou-
ple of months
from Teva to go
from an idea to
an actual group,
so lots of mazel
to Stacey & Co.

Teva's first meeting
at Raupp
Campfitters —
interest abounds!

On a slightly more religious note (no, it's not Hebrew school revisited), the Young
Adult Shabbat Service (YASS) continue to be held at a once-a-month pace. Friday
nights, Adat Shalom Synagogue, a nice group gets together for shuling and schmooz-
ing. Organized by Ethan Gilan and Ellen Krivchenia about two years ago.
There's a good mix of prayer, discussion, audience participation and some sort of
Oneg Shabbat afterwards. A good way to get a dose of social life and you know the peo-
ple you meet are Jewish. YASS pulls in quite a crowd — sometimes up to 60 young
adults. If it's such a success, I wonder why the Reform and Orthodox shuls don't fol-
low suit? Or why isn't it held more frequently?
And while I'm at it, why aren't more synagogues reaching out to the unaffiliated
young adult? Today's attendees could become members tomorrow. Anyway, the next
one is Friday, June 20, at 7:30 p.m.

Yadda Yadda Yadda

This column isn't only about
events, it's about people, places,
what's hot and what's not. Like ...
Big crowds of you have been spot-
ted doing the "Cosmic Glowing
Bowling Disco Music Thing" late
on Saturday nights at area bowl-
ing lanes. West Bloomfield Lanes
and the Ark might be gone, but
it's a fun option — just don't ask
what some people score. (You
know, that frantic hand motion to
push the ball away from the gut-
Let's bowl! Brad Lerner, Scott Smith, Goldie Mantel, Laura
ter doesn't really work.) Fm think-
Slomovitz, Julie Rones, Stacy Lash, Jen Gellman, Joe Lash,
ing it's better to just watch! ... The
Todd Rones, Sandy Lumberg, Mike Lumberg.
YFL, or Yiddish Football
League, is alive and well. A dedicated group of 36 guys meet at Groves High School
on Sunday mornings to play some autumnal games of touch football. It started as eight
bachelors playing pick-up a decade ago, and my, how it's grown. I mention it now, in
the spring, because there are no less than a dozen new additions (children of YFL play-
ers). Even some twins in the herd, and pregnancy fever continues to hit the gridiron.
I guess getting up and out so early on Sunday mornings hasn't hurt marital relations
... Are Altoids, those curiously strong and addictive mints, kosher? The ingredients
lists gelatin, so I want to say no. A call to the importer wasn't returned, so buyer be-
ware ... Mazel Tov: to former J News star Ruth Littmann and Zvika Ashkenazi.
Nuptials are set for Memorial Day weekend, and by the way, kudos on the Yom Ha'Atz-
maut thing. Big success ... and to Mitch and Sari Cicurel on their recent arrival
— Noah Israel, born in April. They now have three little ones under 5 years old. How
do they do it? ... Speaking of love, what's up with the /3,11\7's personal ads? They are a
little tame, don't you think? Having only men-women/women-men categories is a bit
limited, isn't it (but keeps it Jewish, I guess)? Why not take more of a Metro Times ap-
proach (single Jewish male who likes 6-foot women with big feet ISO ...) ... Just won-
dering when the JCC's health clubs will be done with their "renovations." Maybe this
time the tile will actually stay down in the hot tub. ❑

Getting
Involved

-J

03

Sinai Hospital needs
you. I've been helping
out there for years and
can attest to the nu-
merous opportunities for
young adults to pitch in.
Call it tooting my own
horn, but I think it's a
good cause, worth help-
ing out and hey — you
could meet some cool
people. For info, call
(313) 493-5300.

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Hadassah's Ruach chapter installed new officers last week: Seated,
Lauren Dembs, Julie Sturman, Kari Provizer, Jennifer Wasserman, Debbie
Miller, Sherrie Singer. Standing, Stacey Welford, Cindy Atler, Robin
Senberg, Nicole Minkin, Karen Rosenberg, Michelle Rochlen, Karen
Davis, Michell Chapnick.

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