`—,
\>=-)
ment, concurs. "Our switchboard is
always lit up; people traveling all over
the world [call and] ask for the local
Chabad house number and contact,"
he says.
Traveling Alone
By yourself? If you want, you can
sign up for excursions planned
expressly for Jewish singles. Or, go it
alone — you might enjoy it. Just
remember a few basics like safety and
avoiding costly fees to room alone
(single supplements).
First, set priorities: what can you
spend? What will break the bank? Pay
incidental costs in advance, including
passport, photos, insurance, clothing,
luggage and guidebooks. In foreign
countries, it's often best to pay for
small items in cash because you can
CREATE YOUR OWN
VACATJ ON
BRITAIN & EUROPE
\-,
often negotiates, but large bills, like
hotel or restaurants, with credit cards,
for the best, up-to-date exchange rate.
Photocopy (three times) your pass-
port, birth certificate, traveler's check
serial numbers and any other official
documents. Leave your address book
at home, and make a list of names and
numbers of people with whom you
will be in touch.
Women should avoid carrying a
purse, as it makes them a target for
theft, according to the Single-Friendly
Travel Directory published by
Connecting: solo travel network. And
know and be sensitive to the customs
and laws of different countries —
especially regarding drink, drugs, dress
codes and the role of women.
In addition to publishing a 20-page
newsletter six times a year,
Connecting provides a service of solo
travelers who are willing to host other
solo travelers. For information, call
(604) 737-7791 or write P.O. Box
29088, 1996 West Broadway,
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6J 5C2.
Singles Travel
October
Oct. 30-Nov. 16
Israel Encounter's Young
Professionals Tour. Cost: $3,449.
(800) 223-YJLC.
November
Nov. 6-9
Las Vegas hike and gamble trip
with Steppin' Out (773) 509-
8595.
Nov. 11-24
Australia, with Premier Jewish
Singles. Cost: $3,499. (314) 994-
9600.
Nov. 24-Dec. 4
Star Singles fourth annual get-
away to Israel. Cost: $1,649. (800)
683-STAR.
December
Dec. 3-13
Cruise for Jewish singles in their
"middle years." Sponsored by
Photo b
the St. Louis Jewish
Community Centers
Association. Cost: $1,959.
(800) 628-3941.
Dec. 7-14
Singles Caribbean cruise,
ages 20-40. Sponsored by the
Jewish Community Center
of Pittsburgh. Cost: $1,548.
(412) 521-8011, Ext. 371.
Dec. 13-20
Southern Caribbean
cruise for Jewish young
adults. Cost: $475, $599.
(213) 655-0800.
Dec. 18-Jan. 4
Israel Encounter's Young
Professionals Tour. Cost: $3,449.
(800) 223-YJLC.
Dec. 22-Jan. 2
New Year's celebration in
Thailand with Premier Jewish
Singles. Cost: $2,350. (314) 994-
9600.
Dec. 24-Jan. 4
New Year's Eve celebration in
Spain with Premier Jewish Singles.
Cost: $1,945. (314) 994-9600.
January
Jan. 10-17
Skiing, Big Sky, Montana. Cost:
$1,349. Save $50 with deposit
before Nov. 1. (800) 666-4857.
Getting It Done
In the business world,
Jewish community and at home,
Sara Voight knows how to fly solo.
JULIE WEINGARDEN
Special to the Jewish News
rowing up as one of a hand-
ful of Jews — out of rough-
ly 1,800 students at Troy
High School — Sara
Voight, 27, had to make an extra
effort to practice Judaism.
"I really recognized people's unin-
tentional, ignorant prejudice during
high school: People wanted to know if
I had horns," says Voight.
She could have lost her Jewish iden-
tity, but Mark and Diane Voight made
sure their three
daughters —
Sara, Joanna
and Alana —
were exposed
to Jewish life,
whether that
meant driving
45 minutes so
they could play
with other
Jewish kids, or
battling teach-
ers year after
year, explain-
ing why their
Sara Voight
children could
not complete
homework during the High Holidays.
"I grew up in a non-Jewish com-
munity, and my parents made it clear
that I had to get involved in some-
thing Jewish." So Sara chose BBYO,
remaining active even after college as a
chapter adviser. "I learned a lot about
young adults today and what they are
going through," she says.
Voight grew up right behind
Kmart's corporate headquarters, where
she now works as a real estate account-
ing supervisor of payables. Since last
November, she's been the woman
responsible for making sure Kmart
Corp. pays its rent for the more than
2,000 stores it leases — totaling about
$65 million a month.
"I'm responsible for $1 billion cash
per year. When I think about it, I'm
scared, being in charge of this much
money. I would picture someone clos-
er to age 60 to be responsible for this
much money," Voight admits.
Before Kmart, she worked at Rock
Financial for 4 1/2 years. And before
that, she earned a master's degree in
accounting from Walsh College and a
bachelor of arts in political science
from the University of Michigan.
An associate member of
Congregation Beth Shalom, Voight is
also involved with the Young Adult
Shabbat Service (YASS) at Adat
Shalom Synagogue.
"It's not a singles group," says
Voight. "I want to learn a little more
Hebrew, so I can start to lead small
parts of the service." In 1996, she
helped form Beth Shalom's first female
seder.
In the slim time she spends at
home, Voight enjoys "Friends" and
"Frasier" on TV and listening to all
kinds of music — from Beethoven to
Aerosmith. She is also involved in the
Huntington Woods Garden Club and
spends time working with her father,
who owns a chain of bowling alleys.
"I want to own my own business,
and I will," says Voight, who comes
from a family with an entrepreneur
bent. "In my family, you don't work
for someone else — you work for
yourself, do something you enjoy and
succeed."
Like owning a home. Voight
bought her first, in Oak Park, three
years ago. A big personal goal was for
Voight to make it on her own finan-
cially. Done.
"I now know that I can buy my
own house and car, and I don't have to
wait around for anyone to buy them
for me or take care of me," she says.
Now that she has realized her inde-
pendence, Voight is more open to
"joining up with someone else.
She describes herself as shy, yet
sharp-tongued. "I have to be careful
because I can be blunt. I can say it like
it is in five words or less," she says.
With Voight in charge, it's no won-
der Kmart pays the rent.
"
9/19
1997
79